Life has always been ajourney. Just that over that last 4 years the journey has tripled its scenaries on the way to more plush, green,trinkling droplets of water and colorful birds flying down.
The Art of Living - Somthing that changed my life forever.Something that showed me a way to meet my bigger purpose in life. A purpose to make teh world the happier, smilier place.There are environmentalists to handle pollution,animal activists to stop cruelity to the animals,defence to huard teh citizens, doctor to fight diseases but the only one who caters to an inner world is the self.The very "YOU" who needs to be grounded,centered yet mainintaing the higest dose of enthusiasm cos Life is all about Living it!
The Art of Living has been just that to me.
To serve where and when it means the most, to make a society that smiles when you do, to empower every single Person in thsi place where he can stand up ,face a mirror and say with confidence "Life, I can handle you.Your chill!" , is what the Art of living is all about.
At the AoL, we dont help anyone. We only Empower them. Cos we arent doing any one a favour but out duty to serve a bigger purpose.I could have been born as a donkey,money,pig,worm but I happen to be human and I wanna live like one. Eat,sleep,drink,sex,hunt(earn) for living....even cockroaches do.
As human, I have the ability to go beyond all of this, and Thats what I do also completely enjoying what cockroaches do too!.
Life is about being explorative. Thsi means that apart from discovering new hills to trek, you do new things in life with all enthusiasm.The insecure ones call thsi an "escape". The cowards call it "an eyewash". The egoistic ones "too small for them". The fact lies that everyone is curious about it!
My husband and I are soon training to be teachers of the YES!+ programme of teh AOL.The YES!+ stands for "Youth Empowerment Skills".It is a programme that thouroughly empower teh youth of today with all they need to bring out their inert potential, get rid of their unecessary "crutches" and walk lion lion in their relationships,career and what not....
It is such a feeling to be part of change, a change that changes other lives to change your very own!
Love,
Kala.
Btw: To know what change we are part of visit http://yesplus.org/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A true experience of Karma Yoga
The last few days have been compellingly hectic and by yesterday I was drained out physically and emotionally. I had reached a tipping point and jumped into a circle of emotions. And then something happened which totally changed everything...
It was a done Sunday.About 9 in the night.I had to make a few calls and was clinging onto my phone when I heard a gleeful voice outside" Hello, I am from Global eastern company....". I opened the door thinking it was outside my house. I saw that teh person was at my neighbours door. I knew his next destination was my door, yet I shut the door assuming he will just go away. I was in a space and didnt want to be disturbed.
He knocked.I opened and teh same words rung again " Hello, I am from Global Eatern compay and I am doing a survey on Health supplements.Can you please help me with a survey.".There was something i him. He was plump and totally tired yet he had teh most magnetic smile I have seen in teh last few years. He said "It will take you about 30 mins to do this. Can you spare me that time.
Me:. "actually, I was just busy with some calls.Do you have some form online that I can fill"
He: "So sorry to disturb.No problem. can I come back later"
Me: longggggggggg pause.Somehow didnt feel liek making him run around. Dunno why. " I take supradyn, nothing else.. so wont be elpful for you..."
He: Same continued gleeful smile.
Me: "uh ok, lets do it now. I will do my other work later"
He: The gleeful smile just gets bigger." Really really???? You mean we can do it now? Thank you so much!!!!"
Me: "Nevr mid. Its ok. Pls come in.I was in 2 minds to let him in. You know teh usual stuff." Its night, was staying alone.How do i trust to let a stranger in?".Just said Jai GUurdev and invited him.
He was sweating profusely and was very evidently tired. I asked him to sit down and put on the fan for him.He again thanked me like I had done him a big favor.
I started with teh survey and as he said it took me about 30 mins.
Half way through I asked him how many people had responded to this today and he replied saying that I was teh 5th today and he had started work at 2 in teh afternoon.
7 hours and I was just the 5th!!!Yet that smile.... I ran short of words...
Me:" May be if it was shorter, more people would have done it"
He: " Ya lah! Actually people are very kind.Lot of tehm wanted to help me but 30 mins is too long. And I dont find it fair to lie to them that it is only 10 mins because I know for sure it will stretch beyond that".
I was simply amazed at his honesty. Anyways he finished and left handing over a 10$ complementary voucher. I took it and was about to close to the door when what I saw changed what I was.
He was disabled with 1 leg. All thsi while, I had no clue about it.
A mixed bag of emotions came in. On one side I was very happy that I had not turned him away.On another I was like"why god?". Another , I felt grateful I had been blessed with all my limbs intact.I threw my garbage in my head out of teh door. I had no right itself to even blame that I was drained, had a tiring job, it was hot...blah blah.
This person name was David and I believe he came as a true messenger of god.It was a paper survey.He could have easily filled the forms himself with some random names and number and submitted it to his boss.He could lied to people and got them to do it saying it was just 15 mins.
As i watched him walk away I knew a lot had changed in me. I had dedicated 30 mins of that time for seva. Real seva happened. I realised how 30 misn of my time can actually make such a big diff in someone's life.It could be a meal, money for your family , a livelihood and above all a difnity they would have earned.
I smiled in thourough admiration as I saw him trot away. His way of walking now looked like a dance to me where he gleefully went to teh next door and said 'Hello, I am from Global eastern...Could you help me with a survey on Health supplements".
Yesterday morning I had told My class about Karma Yoga. David showed me what it was..... Bless you!
Very often we get so caught up in our lives that we fail to see anything beyond it.And it is when we have such a small perception of life, that our head gets cooked because we find things right and wrong.Just a sliht shift in it to include more people in your life and to make your life useful for others can make you realise that your "problems" are nothing and its is so easy to smile!
It was a done Sunday.About 9 in the night.I had to make a few calls and was clinging onto my phone when I heard a gleeful voice outside" Hello, I am from Global eastern company....". I opened the door thinking it was outside my house. I saw that teh person was at my neighbours door. I knew his next destination was my door, yet I shut the door assuming he will just go away. I was in a space and didnt want to be disturbed.
He knocked.I opened and teh same words rung again " Hello, I am from Global Eatern compay and I am doing a survey on Health supplements.Can you please help me with a survey.".There was something i him. He was plump and totally tired yet he had teh most magnetic smile I have seen in teh last few years. He said "It will take you about 30 mins to do this. Can you spare me that time.
Me:. "actually, I was just busy with some calls.Do you have some form online that I can fill"
He: "So sorry to disturb.No problem. can I come back later"
Me: longggggggggg pause.Somehow didnt feel liek making him run around. Dunno why. " I take supradyn, nothing else.. so wont be elpful for you..."
He: Same continued gleeful smile.
Me: "uh ok, lets do it now. I will do my other work later"
He: The gleeful smile just gets bigger." Really really???? You mean we can do it now? Thank you so much!!!!"
Me: "Nevr mid. Its ok. Pls come in.I was in 2 minds to let him in. You know teh usual stuff." Its night, was staying alone.How do i trust to let a stranger in?".Just said Jai GUurdev and invited him.
He was sweating profusely and was very evidently tired. I asked him to sit down and put on the fan for him.He again thanked me like I had done him a big favor.
I started with teh survey and as he said it took me about 30 mins.
Half way through I asked him how many people had responded to this today and he replied saying that I was teh 5th today and he had started work at 2 in teh afternoon.
7 hours and I was just the 5th!!!Yet that smile.... I ran short of words...
Me:" May be if it was shorter, more people would have done it"
He: " Ya lah! Actually people are very kind.Lot of tehm wanted to help me but 30 mins is too long. And I dont find it fair to lie to them that it is only 10 mins because I know for sure it will stretch beyond that".
I was simply amazed at his honesty. Anyways he finished and left handing over a 10$ complementary voucher. I took it and was about to close to the door when what I saw changed what I was.
He was disabled with 1 leg. All thsi while, I had no clue about it.
A mixed bag of emotions came in. On one side I was very happy that I had not turned him away.On another I was like"why god?". Another , I felt grateful I had been blessed with all my limbs intact.I threw my garbage in my head out of teh door. I had no right itself to even blame that I was drained, had a tiring job, it was hot...blah blah.
This person name was David and I believe he came as a true messenger of god.It was a paper survey.He could have easily filled the forms himself with some random names and number and submitted it to his boss.He could lied to people and got them to do it saying it was just 15 mins.
As i watched him walk away I knew a lot had changed in me. I had dedicated 30 mins of that time for seva. Real seva happened. I realised how 30 misn of my time can actually make such a big diff in someone's life.It could be a meal, money for your family , a livelihood and above all a difnity they would have earned.
I smiled in thourough admiration as I saw him trot away. His way of walking now looked like a dance to me where he gleefully went to teh next door and said 'Hello, I am from Global eastern...Could you help me with a survey on Health supplements".
Yesterday morning I had told My class about Karma Yoga. David showed me what it was..... Bless you!
Very often we get so caught up in our lives that we fail to see anything beyond it.And it is when we have such a small perception of life, that our head gets cooked because we find things right and wrong.Just a sliht shift in it to include more people in your life and to make your life useful for others can make you realise that your "problems" are nothing and its is so easy to smile!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Spicy Sippy!
This a juice/desert I came up with as an off shoot of another recipe on Bawa's blog!
Ingredients:
3 Cinnamon Sticks
2 Cloves
2 Cardamom pods
1 Medium sized lemon
3-4 few mint leaves
Honey
Method:
Boil water with the Cinnamon,cloves and cardamom pods split for around 15 mins.Then add teh mint leaves and boil for about 5 more minutes.Not too much cos mint can give a bitter taste then.Bring it off the stove.Add the decoction:water in the ratio 1:3.Add a tablespoon of honey and stir well.Sip piping hot on a cold day.
For those summer sizzlers, allow teh concortion to cool down.Add Cold water and it tastes heavenly!
Even better:Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream to the cold drink and enter bliss world!
Ingredients:
3 Cinnamon Sticks
2 Cloves
2 Cardamom pods
1 Medium sized lemon
3-4 few mint leaves
Honey
Method:
Boil water with the Cinnamon,cloves and cardamom pods split for around 15 mins.Then add teh mint leaves and boil for about 5 more minutes.Not too much cos mint can give a bitter taste then.Bring it off the stove.Add the decoction:water in the ratio 1:3.Add a tablespoon of honey and stir well.Sip piping hot on a cold day.
For those summer sizzlers, allow teh concortion to cool down.Add Cold water and it tastes heavenly!
Even better:Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream to the cold drink and enter bliss world!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Simple and Profound- Written by Shubhasree, my sister
The angel with her wand was to grant a boon,
The little girl said she wanted to be the luckiest soon.
The angel replied “that entirely depends on u”,
Don’t u understand or should I give a clue?”
The little girl wailed and said the angel did betray,
For this, so long she had to sit n pray.
The angel stroked her head with a touch so kind,
So pure was the touch that made the little one realize pure love was hard to find.
She wiped her tears and said “show me the way”,
And was ready to accept what the angel had to say.
The lesson did begin,
It was a lesson to be passed on to every kith and kin.
To start your day with a smile,
Was the tool to give you strength to run 100 miles.
To forget the past and be in the present,
For your worries was an evident vent.
By the rules of love one should abide,
Is something we should never hide.
To appreciate the gift of living in home,
Wiped away the dread of being alone.
To have parents to take care and shower you with love each day,
Kept u strong and healthy in every way.
To have someone love you the way no one ever had,
Was the richest gown in which you could be clad.
To love and be loved was the key,
To make sure that you are happy and lucky.
With this the angel did disappear,
The little girl now had a happy tear.
She ran down the woods with a skip and a hop,
With giggle and laughter that no one could stop.
The little girl said she wanted to be the luckiest soon.
The angel replied “that entirely depends on u”,
Don’t u understand or should I give a clue?”
The little girl wailed and said the angel did betray,
For this, so long she had to sit n pray.
The angel stroked her head with a touch so kind,
So pure was the touch that made the little one realize pure love was hard to find.
She wiped her tears and said “show me the way”,
And was ready to accept what the angel had to say.
The lesson did begin,
It was a lesson to be passed on to every kith and kin.
To start your day with a smile,
Was the tool to give you strength to run 100 miles.
To forget the past and be in the present,
For your worries was an evident vent.
By the rules of love one should abide,
Is something we should never hide.
To appreciate the gift of living in home,
Wiped away the dread of being alone.
To have parents to take care and shower you with love each day,
Kept u strong and healthy in every way.
To have someone love you the way no one ever had,
Was the richest gown in which you could be clad.
To love and be loved was the key,
To make sure that you are happy and lucky.
With this the angel did disappear,
The little girl now had a happy tear.
She ran down the woods with a skip and a hop,
With giggle and laughter that no one could stop.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Yeh Dosti!!!!!
Jumping into the water when neither knows to swim,Fighting to conquer the sigle plate of steaming sambar -vada yet saving it carefully for teh other when you have "outsiders" to compete with,blowing and bursting 10 paise balloons together,whisking away from the janta to do some really cool stuff in which neither are pros,getting the other to smell your socks as cleanliness checks before you wear it .....so many of these in a line... Only happens in freindship!
I have often wondered how teh same behaviour is called as "taken for granted with a frown" when concerned with formal fellas in life and it is called "liberty with joy" in friendship.What is it that makes freinds click!It boils down to love after all.There is something in that companionship that you wish good for them yet take their trip when you are bugged.Just being yourself ,truly,madly and deeply is what makes freindship grow and grow.
I have a whole of them who I do call for "event" but I am lucky to have a special handful of them with whom I call for an "experience"! And thats what makes them special in my life!I do have a lot of gratitude for thsoe nice souls in my life but trust me theyr are even more fortunate to have me in theirs!!!
Ok, now dont expect too much emo outta this post! I have no clue why i wrote it...just felt lotta "belongingness" to those "i-ssspesal" few and felt like sending out big stars!
Just realised, Guess its the Pre-freindship day virus that attacked! Sob sob!!!!! For those crackos in my life- Stop feeling senti and send me gifts!! ;)
Just realised, Guess its the Pre-freindship day virus that attacked! Sob sob!!!!! For those crackos in my life- Stop feeling senti and send me gifts!! ;)
p.s: I havent mentioned about the fighting part!!! that will take up an entire domain space you see!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Bride's Ride....
I was recently conferred the title of “Wife” amidst a huge applauding gathering in silk, jasmine and mustachio twirling . It was all a mixture of emotions then as I sat there on my dad’s lap popping my neck out for the thread I had long waited for. I clenched my fists real tight. Trust me my fingers would have fallen off if I hadn’t. I felt like an earthquake in my hands which was a seismic marvel of some 15.765 + for sure. Everything inside just shook. A wave swept from head to toe.It was a sense of blankness and fullness. Something like what he was to me. A state of nothing to everything.
All the family members crowded around. It was to happen at 10:05 sharp. Not a minute haywire. Excitement rolled as I felt a whiff of life in front of me. It was like an egg hatching-From its secure shell out to face life a totally new world .And then the priest gave the go ahead.I don’t know what happened in the next 60 seconds.I felt I had dissolved. Just dissolved into something…..
Something I later realized was called the union of souls in a marriage.
Phuff it was over and there I was his now.
That moment was a moment of multiple transitions at one shot.
........ At one shot, I was no longer Miss! Mrs you see.
........I was no longer a “young” girl. I was still 25 but now I was a “grown up”.
........It was funny when people around said “She is a family woman now”. I was like “Sorry? I thought my parents were part of my family too!!”
........I was suddenly supposed to be coy, quiet, head bent all the time (no it was eitherways bent due to the weight of the 8 kilos of garlands), Compulsarily!
........I was just not supposed to address the guy whom I had grown up with for a quarter of my life by name, when all I knew to call him was by his name and by other names of god’s creations from the animal planet!
........I graduated from being called “akka” to “auntie”.(grrr!)
Oh but I loved it! That feeling still stays fresh and comes alive everytime I think of it. It was a moment of complete surrender,one of persistence for the rest of the life..
Well, like they say…Be there to know it… It was a true ride from the head to the heart to the soul….
Ah... and yeah..thats the pic which says it all...
All the family members crowded around. It was to happen at 10:05 sharp. Not a minute haywire. Excitement rolled as I felt a whiff of life in front of me. It was like an egg hatching-From its secure shell out to face life a totally new world .And then the priest gave the go ahead.I don’t know what happened in the next 60 seconds.I felt I had dissolved. Just dissolved into something…..
Something I later realized was called the union of souls in a marriage.
Phuff it was over and there I was his now.
That moment was a moment of multiple transitions at one shot.
........ At one shot, I was no longer Miss! Mrs you see.
........I was no longer a “young” girl. I was still 25 but now I was a “grown up”.
........It was funny when people around said “She is a family woman now”. I was like “Sorry? I thought my parents were part of my family too!!”
........I was suddenly supposed to be coy, quiet, head bent all the time (no it was eitherways bent due to the weight of the 8 kilos of garlands), Compulsarily!
........I was just not supposed to address the guy whom I had grown up with for a quarter of my life by name, when all I knew to call him was by his name and by other names of god’s creations from the animal planet!
........I graduated from being called “akka” to “auntie”.(grrr!)
Oh but I loved it! That feeling still stays fresh and comes alive everytime I think of it. It was a moment of complete surrender,one of persistence for the rest of the life..
Well, like they say…Be there to know it… It was a true ride from the head to the heart to the soul….
Ah... and yeah..thats the pic which says it all...
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Heroes of the True kind....
My fingers tremble as I type this out.Tremble out of a mixed bag of emotions.Of emotion, of fear, of overwhelming joy,of something so powerful that I call affection.
I had to stay up late at work today to finish up some never ending work. It was almost 11 when I reached home.I stepped out of the Office cab.I closed the door with my usual smiles.Little did I know that the next 5 minutes were going to shake me up.I picked up my bag ,adjusted my dupatta to make sure it didnt sweep the road.It was a chilly day in Bangalore and I turned around from the vehicle.Home sweet home, I saw it about 10 houses away.My mom had left the portico light on.I knew she hadnt slept yet and was waiting at the window for me.I smiled at the thought of being taken care of.
I moved the first step.From nowhwere I suddenly heard a swoosh. Faster than lightning. Before I knew what was happening I saw it. I was being attacked by Bangalore's most dangerous- The street dogs. 2 dogs ran towards me from a packof them.I knew I was going to be helpless.I just stood there.I gripped the dupatta over my head and stood firm.Running was not an option.Before I knew it, i heard an entire pack of them coming.I had no choice.I stood still. In fear and prayer.
And then god appeared.2 other stray dogs who "belonged" to our street jumped in from no where and stood right in front of me to confront my "attackers".I stood still.This time in surprise.
Before I knew it, these 2 heroes growled the pack away. it was about a minute.I thought it was over and turned around again, when the villians came back.More ferocious this time.I didnt know where what to do.BY this time, my cab driver had seen some swift movements in his rear mirror as he drove away.He knew it was this. He jumped out and came forward to help. I just shouted at him to get back into the car. He could have been attacked too.Besides, it could just panic the dogs further.He couldnt hear. I just kept shouting , standing right there. He just stopped where he was. The villians were really close this time.Completely surrounding me.My heroes growled their loudest possibly, and actuallly jumped on the most ferocious dog of the lot.They fought and fought until the villians had got their message.I stood there...in gratitude.
The fight was one I have never seen before.After that my 2 heroes, growled into the air.It sounded like the victory shout I had seen in the Jungle book cartoon when I was a kid.By now, tears were rolling down.Now it was just me and my heroes on the road. I turned around and started walking.I walked with my head held high.On either side of me was my convoy.Each of the dogs walked one either side with me, till I reached my gate.Then they just walked back like saying "Dont worry , we are here". I came in and locked my gate. I stood there- overwhelmed with the love that was shown. It would have been a different story altogether if it was not for them.
And to tell you, I have not even for once fed those hero dogs or ever explicitly done them favors.All I would do is smile at them when I would see them once in a bluemoon...And I thought they never understood that smile of mine!
I came up and wrote this.Am sure they understood my gratitude too....
For the heroes that they had been to me, Damn! I wish they could sign my autograph book!
I had to stay up late at work today to finish up some never ending work. It was almost 11 when I reached home.I stepped out of the Office cab.I closed the door with my usual smiles.Little did I know that the next 5 minutes were going to shake me up.I picked up my bag ,adjusted my dupatta to make sure it didnt sweep the road.It was a chilly day in Bangalore and I turned around from the vehicle.Home sweet home, I saw it about 10 houses away.My mom had left the portico light on.I knew she hadnt slept yet and was waiting at the window for me.I smiled at the thought of being taken care of.
I moved the first step.From nowhwere I suddenly heard a swoosh. Faster than lightning. Before I knew what was happening I saw it. I was being attacked by Bangalore's most dangerous- The street dogs. 2 dogs ran towards me from a packof them.I knew I was going to be helpless.I just stood there.I gripped the dupatta over my head and stood firm.Running was not an option.Before I knew it, i heard an entire pack of them coming.I had no choice.I stood still. In fear and prayer.
And then god appeared.2 other stray dogs who "belonged" to our street jumped in from no where and stood right in front of me to confront my "attackers".I stood still.This time in surprise.
Before I knew it, these 2 heroes growled the pack away. it was about a minute.I thought it was over and turned around again, when the villians came back.More ferocious this time.I didnt know where what to do.BY this time, my cab driver had seen some swift movements in his rear mirror as he drove away.He knew it was this. He jumped out and came forward to help. I just shouted at him to get back into the car. He could have been attacked too.Besides, it could just panic the dogs further.He couldnt hear. I just kept shouting , standing right there. He just stopped where he was. The villians were really close this time.Completely surrounding me.My heroes growled their loudest possibly, and actuallly jumped on the most ferocious dog of the lot.They fought and fought until the villians had got their message.I stood there...in gratitude.
The fight was one I have never seen before.After that my 2 heroes, growled into the air.It sounded like the victory shout I had seen in the Jungle book cartoon when I was a kid.By now, tears were rolling down.Now it was just me and my heroes on the road. I turned around and started walking.I walked with my head held high.On either side of me was my convoy.Each of the dogs walked one either side with me, till I reached my gate.Then they just walked back like saying "Dont worry , we are here". I came in and locked my gate. I stood there- overwhelmed with the love that was shown. It would have been a different story altogether if it was not for them.
And to tell you, I have not even for once fed those hero dogs or ever explicitly done them favors.All I would do is smile at them when I would see them once in a bluemoon...And I thought they never understood that smile of mine!
I came up and wrote this.Am sure they understood my gratitude too....
For the heroes that they had been to me, Damn! I wish they could sign my autograph book!
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