Guru - thoughts on what is our/my understanding of "Guru".

It is fun to see how things are connected. Reading a book or 'reading from the book of life' as the Chinese say (which means to learn from experience - life itself) can make you see deeper, often very unexpectedly something reveals itself to you of which you were'nt even aware you were thinking of or had stopped thinking about for a while. When you least expect it, you read about it and the inter-connection/ relation takes you by surprise. In one such moment, I was reading 'the Zen commandments' by Dean Sluyter, where he elaborates about who is a "Guru",

"Related to the word "gravity", it signifies someone who's heavy where the rest of us are lite, who has the gravitas to be grounded, as immovably as a rock, in the unchanghing nature of reality, even as the rest of us our blown away like dry leaves.........In some Asian cultures one might call a dozen people "my guru". Every teacher, as he or she points toward infinity, stands in a slightly different place; the spot on the horizon where all those pointing fingers converge is where we want to go."

After reading this, I thought of the day I visited my girl-freind. She was in the midst of preparing her home for Diwali and when I asked her what she was doing, she said she was cleaning the space where she kept her "Gurus". I liked the fact that she did'nt say "Gods", by calling them "Gurus" she had intensified their benevolent presence. No more were they deities to be feared but Gurus, pointing to us the way.

Thinking about what the author says of having many Gurus, I feel fortunate to have been introduced to Buddhism, I don't take to it outwardly by way of rituals but have allowed it to grow slowly. I feel blessed to invoke Medicine Budda or as my husband affectionately and respectfullys says in Tibetan/Ladakhi - Sangyes Men-Lha and Sakyamuni Buddha or the historical Buddha. I feel happy to think of Guruji Goenkaji and my Reikhi teacher Dr. N.K.Sharma. Although, I may not see or meet my teachers/Gurus I feel happy simply to think of them, I am lifted even if it is an inch.

To all my Teachers of the Past, Present and the Future -
my deepest gratitude.

Love and Light.

5 Things I love/ am grateful for.

After reading Samantha Honey's November cheat sheet and blog I decided to make a list of things I'm grateful for. I've added my own take on it . I'm naming it as things I'm grateful for as well things I love since it is almost interchangeable for me. The list is supposed to be of a 100. But I'm making mine 5 at a time on this blog in no particular order. I have simply added as it came to me. So, here goes :)


1. Rigzin and his newspaper.
There are times when I wish there was no news, he can stay like that for what may seem like hours! Ironically, it is also what I love about him :)


2.Beads! love them, am always curious about different shapes, stones, colours....I only buy one when I feel I'm ready to enjoy something new. Here, I love the hand - painted look of the ceramic beads. It is an on-going love.

3.Butterfly! this pretty little creature sat on my fern earlier in the day...am glad I got a decent shot of it. Love such moments!

5. Sunlight coming through the leaves. Love mornings, afternoons of such translucent beauty. Simply watching the light is enough learning for the day sometimes.

5. Breakfast time. Am grateful for my time in the morning before I head of into the 'world'. It is time of quiet repose where I drink tea or coffee, watch the plants, trees outside, read the paper...simply be.

I hope you have enjoyed the 5 things I love/am grateful for. I intend to keep thinking of more.

Think of a list of things you enjoy and make one even if it is for yourself. I promise,it will most certainly leave you feeling happier

Have a lazy Sunday :)

Love and Peace

Gaurika's Rangoli.

This Diwali my girl-freind invited me help make the Rangoli. Of course, Gaurika did it all by herself but not without me babysitting her little daughter who made her own creations with the coloured powders. What remains of that afternoon are memories and these pictures. The Rangolis are all swept away making them so ephemeral, so beautiful.

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First, she draws a sketch (as you can see she has studied painting in art school), then she makes a base with a mixture of mud (suited for this purpose)and water. Then she draws out her lines with loose white powder. Next, she fills it in with colours that come to her, notice the turquoise and purples, so Piscean!
The final touches - much like in the sacred art of thangka painting where the 'opening of the eyes' brings the thangka to life, she adds fresh petals, candle and tea-lights giving the Rangoli its own radiance.
Happy Diwali!

Happy Diwali !

Tasting with Heart

A delightful gastronomi-cal series on National Geographic - The Food Lover's Guide to the Planet, has me lying on my stomach, sprawled in front of the T.V Set...and it has some brain food as well, meaning you travel around the world learning about – molecular gastronomy (!), trompe l’oeil in food, food bloggers and in the last episode, combining aromatherapy oils with food and a chef in France who takes inspiration from walks in his garden - plucking this, smelling that...mmmm....now we’re talking

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I partucularly loved the French scientist who apparently defined the term 'molecular gastronomy'. Here is a man of science after your heart, he says, good food is not about technique or skill it but about love! So go watch a programme about food and enjoy your dal chawal or even a chai at work even more or better still experiment!

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My Food Story

Spring time in Bejing, circa 2008, in a certain Golden Lake Cafe, I waited long for this steaming vision . The vegetables, sauce and the noodles were so delicious, I hurt my mouth trying to eat it quickly since I was getting late to be somewhere. This meal is one of 'the' favourite meals I have had the pleasure to..wait, not eat but to 'see, smell, touch and taste'. Thanks Chef! Xie- xie!

Bon apetit to all!

Love + light!