Getting into the local adventure: Train Journey

Though its already past midnight here in Jaipur, I thought i must finish up this post before i hit my fluffy pillow. Just the other day, in my previous post on Respect your Limitation, i was hoping for chances to explore the boundaries of our limitation. And, today, it happened.

From Agra going to Jaipur, we had our train tickets all nicely arranged ( in the upper class, where there's relatively clean cabin with meal served). Skipping our breakfast, arrived at the Agra train station even before the sunrises; to know that our scheduled train was delayed for 7 hours! Due to the heavy fog, neither being helpful with the traffic nor the temperature.

We then managed to squeeze in some space on the bench ( standing by the singaporean spirit of kiasu), behind a wall at least to keep the wind away from us. There was a Dutch guy beside us alone ( Flo), and ended up we started chatted and trying to kill time. While some local kids started to get curious about the only 3 foreigners in the station, doing stunts to attract our attention.

Instead of the 7 hours wait, we grabbed another tickets over the counter for the next earliest train. Again, the time was re- scheduled umpteenth time, till i was even afraid to look at the time board. It was like a short burst of hope, and burst into disappointment. And finally, all in all, we wait 6 hours in total in the station, battling the cold.

My finger tips got numb, then my feet got numb, and the numbness ran up my ankles and calves. We didn't have much water ( to avoid the public/ train toilet as much as we could), and just eating bananas and more bananas.
The good thing was, we met Flo, we shared our travel stories and that really help to give one another some mental support.

When the train finally arrived, our tickets were valid only for the local cabin! The local cabin, not even the usual indians will opt for it. Its very male domineering, in that cabin; with at least Flo's presence, i did feel safer. We were very luckily to get seats once we board the train.

Opposite us were a bunch of local old men, in very humble clothes, frail and thin. One started to talk to us, requesting us to take a photo of him. I, being really on a high alert, and fighting mode, rejected his request. And still, he said a bunch of stuff in Hindi, and again asking for camera.

Once again, i didn't dare to even take out any gadget from my bag, feeling a little unsafe, i raised my voice and said, " photo nahii! photo nahii!" ( no photo! no photo!). Flo, took out his camera and satisfy his request.
Seriously, i didn't know that i would actually flare up, but because am scared!

Through out the 4 hours journey, in my mind, i thought i probably would not have survive through the long ride. We were sharing seat, and in a very awkward, uncomfortable, one- sided butt numbing position; My neck- shoulders were really sore from the heavy bag pack. The weird stench from the toilet, the frequent sight of the dirty toilet bowl...phew!

A mantra was running in my head, " Oh gosh, i think i'm not going to pull through this... am going to break down soon." i didn't know how long my physical body can take it.

Together with the random disturbance from the old man, am keeping my mind really busy--- by continuously mental encouraging myself to stay on, and also keeping alert of any potential harassment nearing us.

Babaji simply just lay against Flo's body, making himself really at home!

I gathered whatever hindi stuff i learnt for the passed months right at the tip on my tongue. And i did also learn a couple of mean & bad words in hindi... just in case i may need it!
Interestingly, i probably have to thank the old man trying to disturb us, that i did actually manage to converse with him in very basic hindi. And till he stopped his silly act.

Really counting my blessings, every other second, we did meet some really nice local in the same cabin to help us around.

As a home- grown Singaporean, i'm really surprise that we made through all these. For once, at any one time, i thought i'm really going to break my limit. My face was powdered with dust, hair was entangled with dust... so much that i felt like am a dust too. I'd no complains, in exchanged for a really rare opportunity to expand my horizon and limitation.
Its not too bad after all!

There was this old man on the train, who would walked over to our cabin, with a tambourine- like instrument and sang " Rama Rama Sat" every other stopover. And he sort of insisted us to sing with him, looking at us and said " its good it good... Rama Rama Sat!". After many trip over to our cabin, we did sing the last round with him when our station was approaching. Till now, i've no idea why he was doing it, and what was it about? 
Anyone who knows it, please share and enlightened us:)!

We cleaned up, and had a really good dinner treat for ourselves!

Respect your Limitation

You know, the thing about limitation can be really irony. When limitation according to our truth at that very moment, we take it as a positive form of security. When the same subject matches out truth of another moment, we take it as a negative form of suffocation.

Many books may have written that people don't like changes, we prefer a stable and stagnant life. On the other side, i do see that many people like changes, they want changes, because it makes lives more colorful, instead of just black and white.

Just look at how people switch their phone and computers, cars and houses, travels and fashion. In a blink, everything changes. And because all these material changes offers tons of options, we can sort of mix- and- match our material sheath. We like it only when we give the permission for the changes to enter our life, when we're ready to receive it. 

We like changes, we like predictable changes; we like it only when changes goes our way, the way we change it, the way we plan it should be. That's when we don't mind changes.

How about unpredictable changes? How about immaterial & intangible changes? Changes we can't touch with our bare hands? We don't like it, we rather choose to breathe within our limitation, and try to survive as long as we can. The flow of our lives, the external environment, does not ask permission. They just enter. 

Life is juvenile, it don't usually like to go the way we wanted, if we try to control it.
Just like the sea waves, the fishermen, the sailors or the surfers, they can't control the mood of the sea for their personal activities. They merely have to wait, for the suitable time for them to enter into the situation; that's then when the sea too being part of their life experiences.

Since young, my mum rejects any of our request to even get near to the shoreline. Its was her limitation, and it became our limitation too. " Sea is dangerous", that a wall i'd build around myself too. My dad, the opposition party, would sneak us out to the beach and played with the sea water. Which does slowly melt away my fear, and turned out that i love water.

The salty- bitter taste of the sea water, how small i feel whenever in the middle of the sea, the beautiful sea world down under...

Personally, i am not ready or should i break any of my limitation; rather bending the flexibility of limitation and see how far i can go without breaking it:)







  

No Fear, no fun!

Last conference was an interesting one, more questions popping up among the crowd, and 3 teachers received certification for the year of 2012. It inspired me and felt touched a little, emotions stirring up.
They must have put in great deal of effort and commitment for years.

Someone raised up a question about fear, and how can we manage and handle fear during the practice.
Sharath chuckled and said, " No Fear, No Fun. Fear makes us learn, makes us more courageous, makes us more stronger. Especially during backbends, any backbends; where we face a great deal of fear, which is actually our own fear."

I've always treat fear as self- challenge, a chance for me to grow stronger as i so much want to dissolves any itsy bits of fear inside me. In the process, i do enjoy much when i witness how i expose the fear that i was hiding it sub- consciously. I enjoy backbends as much as i love the lightness in my heart:)

Fear, can be fun.
Fear brushes some colors in our life.
Fear brings us to a junction for a decision to grow or old.

I'm in the progress of digesting it:)

TGIM!

Thank Good Its Moonday!

Daily morning practice has been going more smoothly, and more intensely this week. Every practice, very thankful that i do get my drop- back adjusted; if no Sharath himself, it'll be Saraswati ( sharath's mother) or Adam ( student assistant). The first couple of day, i felt all is good... not too sore in the muscles.

Today, this morning, my heart is thumping hard, i was making effort to take long, deep breathing before diving down into the back bend. Adam was stand in front of my, hands lightly touching my lumber spine, as i crossed my arms in front of my chest and swung up and down three times.
With the last deep breath, i dropped back and dangle both of my arms in the mid- air.

Adam gripped my both wrists and led my arms so that i can grabbed my own ankles firmly. I quickly root my heels down, and i could feel my front thighs burning, my butt is heat up, and as much as i can stay in that position, i breath as if my chest was going to explode. No thought could intrude into my mind, accept to breathe.

At the 5th breath, i sprung up slowly, and a train of thoughts entered my mind. While i was making my way to a seated forward bend, and Adam was pressing me from the back to release the soreness... in that 10 breaths of forward bend...i thought:
" Oh gosh, i need a nap... i want some ice blended coffee, i want green tea latte from Starbucks, i need a hot oil massage, i want chocolate, i want coconut water, i just want to do nothing and sleep!"

Phew! Tomorrow is moon day, we get a day rest from the practice. And i'm going to try out the castor oil bath from one of the Ayuvedic Spa here. This is a traditional practice the local do every weekend and moon day. Let's see if i'll like it:)

Breathing beyond time

These days, i've been listening to different teachers sharing their thoughts on time; and concurrently i jut finish off a book about time ( The Time Keeper by mitch albom)... which makes all the little pieces of jigsaw puzzle making more sense.

A old music teacher who profession in Carnatic music;
Sharath, the teacher i'm practicing with here;
Laskmish, the teacher i attend for philosophy class...

A common point they mentioned all over again and again: Life beyond Time Frame.
The old music teacher mentioned how musicians today try to fit their songs and performances into the given time frame. When the music pieces are adjusted according to the rigidity of the time, the creativity part of the whole music creation disappears.

Similarly, both the yoga teachers pointed that one should practice not first build any time limitation for our own progression. As we travel beyond the hands of the time, we are in the moment, in the present. Neither fear nor hopeful for the future and past.

Bhajan bhajan!

This week is gotta be interesting!
Along the way, i get to know a couple of more people through friends. Though we are not from the same practice shala, there's one thing that brought us together i thought... that's is Music!

First a friend who coming from singapore brought us to a Hindustani music perfomance by where one one her relative is playing the tablah. At the same time, then with one more other friend who are getting into a friendly bhajan competition, this sunday! They were looking for one more person in the group, and there i am, joining them!

I've listen to bhajan, but not sing them. So far so good, i can work my vocal a little maasala way!
We're gonna perform some popular ones: Guru Mata Pita, Krishna Go Vinda Go, and Hari Sundara...
i like them:)

And so, we sat down, from trying out and selecting the songs that we suit the three of us, and a crash course for me. Luckily, Laskshmi is a really great singer, phew! We too invited a pair of father & son, Ganesh and Bharat to accompanying drum beats. Everything should sounds pretty well, huh?

Really thankful for them squeezing there time out ( given how busy Anu's Hut can be), for our little rehearsal last night:)

Alrighto! Let see how the event on Sunday will work out!

Fast Forward Practice

Yoga is 24 hours, 7 days. Yoga is not 1.5 hours of practice only. The practice does not stay within the four walls of the shala, it goes on outside the shala. Teacher Laskshmish had a discussion with us during the theory class.

Most of us started our yoga practice through physical movement, asana. And we thought that is what yoga is all about. He kept emphasizing that asana practice is just a tip of the iceberg, like what most teachers pointed out. Getting too caught up into the bodily practice, we become egoistic and competitive.

Teacher Laskshimish summed up clearly that asana helps releases body diseases, pranayama and meditation practices helps removes ego.  He gave a name for modern yoga practice in the society today “ Fast Forward Practice”. We want everything to come to us fast, we expect the teacher to provide all the information about the practice in one course, and using monetary as a transaction to shorten the actual learning curve.

A room filled with Body Canvases

Practice has been going well so far, i'm contented to have just enough assistance for my kumasana and deeper drop- back bendings ( which i can never did that myself at alone, not yet..!)

The yoga scene has been very interesting still, given the cold mornings; and rainy morning today, the heat in the shala is intense still. The wall is slippery wet and the windows are blurred by the condensation. My sweats are bursting out from my skin pores like usual, the air is heavy, with so many human heaters all around; the spirit and the energy are going strong!

Men practice topless, and females in their most comfortable yoga attire. Then as if i am walking through an art museum, ink work on body canvas. I remember while twisting to the right, there are "Aum" at any random person i laid my eyes on. As i did a upward dog, the person in from of me, has got a words in sanskrit says, " Ahimsa" ( non- violence).

Automatically, in my head, under my own breath, i trace the Sanskrit word, as what i learnt a little of my Hindi classes.. Ah- Him- Saa...oh...  that's non- violence. This all happened at just one deep inhale.... ( that how fast our mind can process information huh, interesting).

As i pulled back to downward facing dog, i brought myself back to my breaths again.

" Aum" is holds the champion of the most high usage. Almost most "modern yogis" will have this symbol somewhere on their body.

Next runner up is probably a verse from the yoga sutra 1.2 yoga citta vrtti nirodha ( Yoga is the cessation of the movement of the mind)

Would i get one for myself too? Never think about it yet... given i know how my fickle mind works, i'll probably regret inking my skin after a week. For now, i still like my body like a white sheet!

Nevertheless, i am looking forward to see the next creative body art in my next practice!

Operating with three clocks, talking about time in India?!

It is very interesting here in India, when we talk about time.. such as " what time"... " how long will it take.." Whether if you've got your own watch that is accurately aligned with the world's clock... it  doesn't matter, when you're in India, you follow their "time".

5 minutes, can means a wait of half an hour up or more. I returned to the phone shop, as my card was not activated still ( after 2 days!), the boy old me 5 minutes... and we chatted and while i still keeping track of the time, i was sure he lose it with all the talking. Half hour later, i asked again, another 5 minutes. That will be an hour, my boy!
I went back, as he promise i will get my phone connected this noon, let's see.

For the class time and schedule, it stated on the paper.... " according to Shala time" ( means to check out the big clock hanging on top of the entrance door) " Shala time" is 20 minutes ahead of the accurate Indian time. If my class is 9am, i've to appear at the Shala at 8.40am; otherwise i'll be considered late!
To play safe, i always reach half hour before the stated time ( which is 10 minutes earlier than the Shala time).

Last but not least, we can safely follow our own time on the watch, if we've got private arrangement between friends, not locals.

Today was a Led class, i am scheduled for the 6am class. I reach there at 5.30am, already people are waiting outside the door; for the 4.30am batch to be release. As soon as we heard the closing prayer from the previous batch, the people outside stood up, all ready to squeeze through that small door. This year was surprisingly packed and crowded! There are people laying their mat all over the room, on the stage, the waiting area just outside the practice room, and even in the changing room. I manage to roll my mat right in front of the Men Changing Room, and two people were in there ready to practice. 
And yes, practically mat by mat, no space. 

Its interesting, but to be honestly, the energy in the room was amazing... sometimes i get goosebumps during the opening mantra. Its a feeling that i yet find a good word to best describe it. 

And so, the funny part that amused me is, Sharath recognize the students, not by name... but by nationality. There was one point i heard him said, " Russian, come over here.... Japan.. japan.. here... you.. French go there..."  

Miracles are not given by fairy god- mother, its a sweetness of your own sweat.

Shirly and i often catch up randomly, in the middle of the day, and keep one another posted about our classes, and sharing ideas and experiences we had met elsewhere. Just before i left for India, we were talking about the students we are teaching, more of the commitment from the students, makes the whole learning experience and progression more wholesomely.

Students being students, even like myself... asked many many questions. ( I'm glad my teacher, master paalu has been very patient with me, most of the time. Siting at one corner of the studio and sharing his time to teach me.)
Many people come into yoga, to search for a miracle--- to pull them out of the agony in just a couple of irregular yoga practices. Some requesting for twice a month of practice, and hope to have their physical body magically transform; or after 10 sessions of classes want to experience heaven.

The practice of yoga, seems no end to it-- but there is. Its a long journey. Some takes at least 10years, 20 years, 30 years or whole life time... even many life times to truly understand the taste of a drop from the ocean. And this..... is commitment, strong commitment.

As much as we want basic minimum commitment from students, its not happening smoothly. Oh yes, that's life... we can't always get what we hope we want it to be. I resume my teaching this year in March, and paused all classes in november. And yes, a mixture of students who appear on their mats every week; and some like chocolate chip cookies ( i see you, and now i don't). And yes, there's a thick line of difference of progression.

There's no comparison here. Miracles happens through strong commitment of hard work. Miracles is not given by fairy god- mothers, they are given by ourselves. With commitment, without expectation of the result... miracles will happen at the time we least expect. With expectation, it'll not happen.

Like what shirly shared with me this line from Prem & Radha during her training in Bali:
One will not understand the importance of being committed to the practice, till they are committed to their practice. 

And yes, i never understand why we need to practice as regularly as daily, till i did it myself before. So, when i find myself started to lose my practice to putting most of my time to other stuff. I know i need to get back on track and question myself again... what do i really want.

Back in "home"!

It good to be back (home)! I don't know why, there always this fuzzy feeling and excitement; and also breaths of calmness i am getting from the Mysore community. Though this isn't my first trip, each trip does help to open my inner doors... one by one.

Here... right here... the feeling of familiarity being in this land of spices is coming back to me again. Flows of thoughts, motions, movements, scenes; both of which i used to take them positively and negatively are surfacing.
The difference is, i kind of feel that this time, am a little more mature to be abel to handle my own stuff, bit by bit.
This year hasn't been as smooth as i thought, and its both of a thunderstorm and plateau i was surfing on. Within me, i slowly understand that there are some decisions i strongly want to stand upon, even nobody agrees with me. There's some impressions ( samsakra) i'm dying off to uproot all of them from my back garden.

Its truly good to be back here, not sure how my progress will be like, or i'm even able to untangle some knots--- but am surely is more clear of who i am, where i am going, who i want to associate with and who i want to be with.

I'll face my own destiny with courage, no body will and can do it for me.

A little about the story with Baggy....
During our first trip to Mysore in 2009, buggy was a new puppy in the house where we were staying ( Anu's Bamboo Hut).
We first met him unofficially, when this black puppy ran into our room, while were doing our practice, which the room door was wide open. Imagine, a dog ran around the room, while we're in downward facing dog pose! He must has mistook us for his playmates.
Buggy was a puppy only in age, physically like a grown- up dog. So, he was playful, very playful... pouncing on people, when he get real excited and happy, he's jump on me... too heavy for me to handle. So i got very caution about this puppy.

I always went behind shirly, so that she could take cover, distract the dog and i would run up to the room. Sometimes, baggy seemed to know that, and he ran after me... never fails, that i closed the door with my heart beating like mad!

After 3 years, here i'm back again. This dog has sure o grow up like a man. Though he's still too big size for me to handle, when a few attempts he wanted to jump on me. But i guess, i feel less scared now... understanding his hype. 

 Trying to take a snap with him ( Azyan was working hard on that).

 And then, he got so shifty, and moving around. I don't know whether he want to kiss me or bit me. Ganesh said he don't bite, so he must have been trying to kiss me...haha! Anyways, buggy has got a big face, i shunned off!

Then, he had got enough of me, turned his back, and went back into the house!
Buggy, you're still a cute dog!

India, I am coming again!

For just one more day, 3 more classes to teach, i'll be all ready to transport myself to Mysore!
Somehow, i can't cap my excitement even its a repeated trip, i so look forward to it. Its more of the yoga community and culture particularly in Mysore, makes me want to go back again.
Quiet cold morning, hugging the yoga mat when the moon is still to be seen, battling the harsh wind, slipper-ing down the uneven path, a sigh of relieve the the warmness in the shala touches the skin.

Thoughts does slow down tremendously, where and when i like to really sit down at outside the room, at the top terrace, gazing far ahead overlooking a part of Gokhulam, with all those cable wires hanging and antennas planting at the roof of the houses---- where i can slowly catch my breaths and really enjoy the moment of living.

Of which, it is really quite impossible to enjoy the same kind of lifestyle over here in Singapore. When the pace of teaching schedule starts to pick up, there's a resistance to slow down. In most time, i just want to grip hold of every ends of the ropes, and be in control of everything--- be it teaching, or other arrangements. And i know, i need to learn how to loosen the grip, and just go with the flow. While floating and flowing down the river, i treasure the time i can clear the junk in my head.

For a month plus in Mysore, why getting away for so long? People always asked this question many many times. Personally, i prefer long stay at a place to rushing to see the whole country in a short period.
Technically, most yoga teachers in Mysore, accept minimum commitment of 1 month practice with them ( unlike in most cities and Singapore, there are drop- in classes, trial classes...) I like the spirit! Its an traditional way of student who wants to learn from a teacher. Commitment.
Practically, doing nothing much... is the best!

After a month plus in Mysore, with another friend--- we're going to explore the " Golden Triangle" in the North; that is New Delhi- Jaipur- Agra... you know the famous Taj Mahal . Been dreaming to go there... finally!

Packing up luggage is the last thing i like to do, i started packing just 3 days ago! The funny thing is, whenever i'm going away, suddenly there are many request for class from students. I'm squeezing myself to the last bit, and am done by tomorrow afternoon class! All ready to snooze all my way to Mysore;)

coconut, autos, rupees, chapati, panipuri, horns, noisy street, beautiful morning kirtan, great book stores, many exotic fruits, doing nothing, dust and sand, children running....

On the consciousness, Off the fight for rights.

A great line from a book name The Immortals of Meluha authored by Amish. A juicy book that my Hindi teacher insisted that i should read it. Bingo! i'm an addict now...
"..if the entire society was conscious of its duties, nobody would need to fight for their individual rights..." 
This particular line caught my attention, that i re-read again and again. I stopped at this line, close the book, shut my eyes and gave it a good thought while the train was moving like a lullaby tune.

Everyday, on the newspaper booming tons of articles that the society is fighting for in any kind of rights. We practically abuse anything that we have, trust... power... lust.... greed...
Pretty much demoralizing to start the morning everyday reading the newspaper, no wonder so many people are unhappy about their days.

If, if only, we tickle this little conscious that had been hidden so deep under inside us, that we push that button to activate and awaken our consciousness, no fighting will fire up. Fight for rights, is like treating from the symptoms. Touching the connection of our consciousness is treating from the root.

Those who has connect that consciousness, sees it. Those who have not, can't see it.

614 steps to Gomateshvara (Bahubali) statue

A vertical climb up 614 steps, will bring you to the peak of Vindhyagiri Hill; viewing the statue of the Jain deity, Gomateshvara (Bahubali) (17.5m), said to be the world's tallest colossal status one can see.

Putting the bare soles on the first step at the foot of the hill, it’s the start of your own little pilgrimage. Considerably a comfortable climb, as the coolness of the stone-ground is not affected by the blazing sun.

While still fixing the eyes at the hill top, do take some intervals and turn around for a breath-taking view during the journey. Not to be surprise to have companions of local young children, monks and elders making their way up hill.

 

Do take a breather when hitting the first entrance, you are half way through. There are more steps leading into the temples and to the statue. On the way, drop into a place of worshipping, while appreciating the ancient architecture of the building.

More than 800 inscriptions have been originate at Shravanabelagola, dating to various times from 600 to 1830.

A great number of these are found in the Chandragiri and the rest can be seen in the Indragiri and the town. Most of the inscriptions at the Chandragiri date back before the 10th century. These inscriptions include texts in the Kannada, Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, Konkani, Marwari and Mahajani languages. The second volume of Epigraphia Carnatica, written by Benjamin L. Rice, is dedicated to the inscriptions found here.

Every 12 years, crowds gather here to attend the Masrakabhisheka ceremony. The statue is quenched in holy waters, pastes, powders, precious metals and stones.

The upcoming is in 2018.

We’re all kids, anyway

The day we are born, we’re starting to die; even now.  We all have to grow, a process that’s unavoidable. One way is to grow old; the other is to become mature. Remember how carefree our laughter can be during childhood, and when we started to move into adulthood… we simply smile. And with all the struggles of life, we forgot how to smile. Yes, sadly.

I remember watching a new report: in Japan, there are “Smiling training” courses for the student, because those hippie youth had lost the ability to smile! They were in some confusion of expressions. It was pretty shocking for me though.

“When was the last time you laugh?”--- This is one question I’ve like to ask in random.  Huh… What a question?!

Yes, I am curious… when was the last time you’ve laugh like a child? If I ever post this question to you--- feel free to laugh at me; and there!  You will be given a chance to laugh a child.

Look at the children, see how they play with one another, how they are so willing to share their stuff and happiness and listen to their giggling conversations. Children response to according to situation, while adults react based on their memory. That’s why we see that children are temperamental, and adult suppressed their emotions.

Surely I don’t mean that we should behave like a child as we grow, but we can live like them. Not childish, just child-like. No doubt, each of us has a child inside us; we’re piling layers and layers of “conditioning” as we grow, unknowingly. Just as we peel them of one at a time, there you see a child hiding inside you.

An incident in my first year of yoga teaching, I was only 22. Based on my age, it’s pretty normal for the little credibility people had for me. With this pretty establish firm, I was running a workshop for the corporate. The guy in charge reminded me repeatedly before the class that I need to be very tactful with the group, as they were from the top management with very tight schedule.

The group came in with suits and ties… as the class started, I got them to remove their shoes, then their coat, then their ties; some even pulled out their shirt, unbuttoned the collars and pull of their socks. At the end of the session, who I’m dealing with were not anyone from the top management… they were all kids having games.

I was just a kid, playing with a bunch of children:)

Reflection from iRobot

1 December 2010, 10pm, Kovalam Beach in Kerala

Lazing on the bed; stalling a little more time for some digestion work to be done in my stomach after munching a sandwich and fruit platter. Located on the beach, I can hear the sea waves from my room… just like those recorded sea waves we can find in the music stores. The TV was screening iRobot, it’s probably the 5^th time I’ve watched it. For which ever reason, it is a good show… and of course for Will Smith! If you’ve watched it, do have a thinker about the messages in their conversations.

In the show, Spooner had a strong dislike for robots, all because they were too logical. That caused the death of a 12 year-old girl. And that ticked me a little that 95% of us are living like robots. We’re being programmed, that we often trained to follow instructions from the 5% of the population. We’re given a “life manual” and tries to follow the instruction as closely as possible--- satisfied and comfortable, a false believe that’s life all about; no desire to question.

Why should I do what others are doing? Has this question ever pop out in the head for all these years of slogging and complaints? This is what happened when we behave like a robot. Robot has a mind, no heart. Robot is highly logical, no emotion.  That’s pretty much are happening to most people. Too logical, too afraid to do crazy things, too much fear to move into changes--- missing a big chunk in life. 

Our mind is just like fire. A good servant, but a real bad master; fire disasters happened and we get burnt if we don’t know how to used them. Just like the mind; our life will turn disastrous when we burnt our heart if we don’t how to make the mind work for us.

Life’s not too difficult if we want it not to be. All we need is to stay still for a while, close the eyes and listen to ourselves, and with a pinch of the logical mind--- that will do. 

The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live

~Norman Cousins

Is there miracle?

...still bumping around in Kerala, there's so much thoughts running through; trying to get some of them sorted out and splash them onto my blog posts.
Collection of information started when i was seeping into India. Along the way, i'm witnessing more sights, soaking colourful experiences and great chats.

Am totally shacked physically by the 5 hours of bumpy trip; going to let my body rest for a bit... and today let's talk about Miracles...

When i was still a silly little kid, i started not to believe in miracles... the time my grades started sliding down. And still don't think such stuff when i started working. Or let's put it this way: i do not really understand what miricale is and how it works.
At the third stage of the seventh year in my life, things flipped. Yes, miracles do happen... only if we want to.

This trip to Kerala is surely a good one, at least for a spiritual discovery. When one can get such a close touch with the nature, one eventually become part of the nature. My vision had sort of upgraded from a magnifying glass to a telescope! I'm exceptionally in love with the wild flowers, blooming along the road side, the borders of the hills and all over the rough-patched wall. They don't share the fame of roses and sunflowers; fancy in their own little way, shouting out loud for the zest of life.

" Let wait for miracles to happen"... and nothing's gonna happen. With just a little more of awareness to the surrounding, miracles is all around us. Very close to us actually, and we just need to put in a little more effort for the magical moment happen. We don't create miracles, because it has already been created by the Creator. And our job is to discover them, and everyday can be a miracle.

On the second day in Munnar, there was a strike among the taxi driver ( yellow plate). We had a wonderful guide, Jee jee. We decided to drive out as much as we could, while the rest of the cabbies closed for the day. And when as when we thought we probably get to experience some stone-throwing in town, nothing actually happened. We managed to move according to plan.
If we have not persisted, we've have not seen so much. If Jee jee would have refused to drive us around, we'll be staying in for the day. It's a miracle.

And this reminded me of a talk with the sawmi who's staying in the cave. He who pointed that a plan will always remain a plan, a dream will always remind a dream--- nothing will happen, unless you put them into action. To act is one of an important element for magical moments to happen...

Colour me Up!

2010, another brick-house is standing in Operation Shanthi--- a home to stop straying life for the cats and dogs. Thanks to Tracy, we got a great opportunity to splash some creativity on the walls. And we decided to flow with the theme--- Animals.

"Make me a White House"

Tama Mahesh @ work

Painted by lovable kids... check out the faceless monkey & cat

Colour mixing station ( myself & shirly)

Jo-anne the joker

Under the Sea



Clown or cow?



Animals in Sunset

It was yet another enjoyable time splashing paints on the wall; great therapy to unleash some of my creativity! Whether its "Chapatti making" or "Mural Arts", it gave me great opportunities to interact with the kids to understand a little bit more. Some of the bigger kids ran straight to the wall after school--- for an Art Appreciation period; where they had contributed their brush strokes with dignity.

They may not have the most exciting days... am sure they're leading colourful ones!

Volunteerism

The very first touch of a volunteer was picking up rubbish along the beach at Pasir Ris Park. On and off, volunteer works were part of the school curriculum. Truthfully, I would think those were transactions instead---in exchange for the points on my report cards to move on to the next level.

My teacher once said, “Many people do volunteer activities not for the needy; they do that for themselves. How do you feel when you’re volunteering? Feel good.  

We are all selfish. People volunteers because they want to feel nice, feeding the desire of inner-emptiness. You walk down the street, give some money to a street beggar--- and you feel good. Are you really helping the beggar? You are using them to make you feel superior. “

I couldn’t quite catch this idea at first. It probably sounded a little too harsh for me. From time to time, I started to be more awareness of my emotions and thoughts. Quite right though.

Commonly in Singapore we would hear “Please call 1800-112-XXXX to donate” after screening the life stories of the needy. Tearing in front of the screen; grabbed the phone and pressed the buttons. And right after, a surge of good feeling slipped in! Ah… done a good deed today. One may not witness this coming, while still enjoying the gush of emotions.  Why?

When the act of helping is part of our everyday activities, whether it is for your neighbors, family, friends or strangers--- it’s a norm to us. If this act is not something that we used to do; and do it only for certain reason--- it’s an occasion, especially different.  

Of course, there’s absolutely nothing bad about being a volunteer for which ever reasons. We all have to start somewhere--- selfishness to self-less ness.

Having myself to be involved with small-scale projects has given me opportunities to know myself better. It doesn’t matter whether the needy are from Singapore or India--- there’s no ground of comparison.

Instead of looking for the differences that create bricks between you and me; why not discover our similarities which encourage unity among humanity?

A place worth going: The Tibetian Settlement, Byla Kuppe

One place that probably worth for a second or maybe few more trips is.... Byla Kuppe. A Tibetan settlement located near Mysore ( 2 hours drive); where the Tibetan refugees started their own town in this part of the land--- villages, monasteries, universities, shopping area, temples.

Monks and nuns from Bhutan, Tibet, India for Tibetan studies and practices.

Golden temple, one of the big temple where most tourist will visit. Where the monks and nuns lodge and study here. 



 

In the chanting room. Stacks of scripture wrapped in cloth cover.

At the back wall of the temple. Turning the wheel of Karma.

 

Another University, 4 km ride off the main temple.
Serajay Monastic University, for advanced Buddhist students.

Just ended their 7 days of pooja (ritual). The rice grains will there after the ceremony for 3 days, beforethe place is clean up.

meditation lamp made from butter

Beautiful designs... its just so colourful!

All knackered!