ugadi

Today is the beginning of the Telugu new year (Ugadi). What is the first season (rithu) of the year? It is the season of spring (vasantha-rithu). What is the most important month in the year? It is the first month of the year (chairtra masa). The bright fortnight (sukla paksha) is the better part of the month. Among the days, the first day of the lunar month is important. As all these important elements are present today, it has special significance as marking the commencement of a new year (described as Ugadi).

i was there

at the art of living silver jubilee celebrations at bangalore, india from 17th-19th march 2006.

sanskrit

"The extraordinary thing about Sanskrit is that it offers direct accessibility to anyone to that elevated plane where the two - mathematics and music, brain and heart, analytical and intuitive, scientific and spiritual - become one."

sanskrit - the mother of all languages: website.
a tribute to hinduism - sanskrit: website

funeral

the album i'm listening to currently is funeral by the indie band
the arcade fire. a very good album - nice sounds and melodies.
the songs really grow on you.

read the album reviews at metacritic.

on happiness

Pleasure depends on things, happiness does not. As long as we believe that we need things to make us happy, we shall also believe that in their absence we must be miserable. Mind always shapes itself according to its beliefs. Hence the importance of convincing oneself that one need not be prodded into happiness; that, on the contrary, pleasure is a distraction and a nuisance, for it merely increases the false conviction that one needs to have and do things to be happy, when in reality it is just the opposite. But why talk of happiness at all? You do not think of happiness except when you are unhappy. A man who says "Now I am happy" is between two sorrows, past and future. This happiness is mere excitement caused by relief from pain. Real happiness is utterly unselfconscious. It is best expressed negatively as: "there is nothing wrong with me, I have nothing to worry about".

- nisargadatta maharaj

3-iron

saw 3-iron, by korean director ki-duk kim. he makes varying and pretty interesting movies. other movies of his i've seen are "bad guy", "the isle" and "spring, summer, fall, winter,... and spring". i've noticed that in all the above movies the main character(s) hardly speak.

this one is about this homeless guy (he never once utters a single word throughout the movie) who breaks into people's houses when they've gone out on vacation or something - stays there for a day or two, uses their bath and kitchen, clothes etc.; but doesn't steal anything, and moreover repairs any broken stuff, does their laundary and keeps everything back in place before leaving. the movie eventually becomes a touching romance - visually poetic, emotionally poignant and makes very beautiful use of silence.

"The movie notes that the human eye is able only to take in 180 degrees of vision, and it strongly recommends using the remaining 180 for our heart's most secret desires. As long as we're very, very quiet about it."

I Promise - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

If I had to promise you something, what would it be?
I can't promise you'd always be comfortable...
Because comfort brings boredom and discomfort.
I can't promise that all your desires will be fulfilled...
Because desires whether fulfilled or
Unfulfilled bring frustration.
I can't promise you that there will always be good times...
Because it is tough times that make us appreciate joy.
I can't promise that you will be rich or famous or powerful...
Because they can all be a pathway to misery.
I can't promise that we will always be together...
Because it is separation that makes
Togetherness so wonderful.
Yet if you are willing to walk with me,
If you are willing to value love over everything else
I promise that this will be the richest and
Most fulfilling life possible.
I promise your life will be an eternal celebration.
I promise to cherish you more than
A king cherishes his crown.
And I shall love you more than
A mother loves her newborn.
If you are willing to walk into my arms,
If you are willing to live in my heart,
You will find the one you have waited for, forever...
You will meet yourself in my arms...
I promise.

For more on Sri Sri click here.

am back

came back from the india trip day before yesterday night. the trip was nice - the "Art Of Living" course and mahakriya went well, roamed around bangalore, hyderabad and delhi; went to rishikesh too, had a great train journey , caught up with some old friends, ate a great variety of indian dishes, shopped a lot, and had a good time overall.

feel a bit different and strange after coming back - guess still stuck with some india blues. the food here seems to suck as of now, and the whole place seems bit empty and lifeless. guess will take some time to get used to here.