The color of the mind

The color of the mind

……B L A C K

Black… The absence of light. Black… The dawn of the night.
Black… The beginning of life. Black… The shade of magnificence.
Black… The color of fear. Black… The language of the blind.

It’s amazing, how this one color has so many faces to it. On one hand if we say that death is the end of light and the beginning of black, on the other we have black, the darkness from which we are all born.

If the eyes see hues of colors, then what is the color of the mind??

Most ideas are born out of a shut mind. A mind that is left to itself no matter what the eyes see. You may be present in a situation of highest level of vigor and color, say a party… but your mind, your true self has its own thoughts.

The mind, so vulnerable can very easily detach itself from everything around and get into its own shell of thought… black???

Take a simple example of a little child in a classroom. The child can listen to the teacher and can also listen to his/her own self. While originally he/she is instructed to listen to the teacher, the child can easily get carried away by the smallest sound outside the classroom. A bird chirps, and off goes the mind of the child.

What the world may call distraction is the actual soul that lies in all of us. A soul and a mind that responds to nature’s smallest interaction with us. Thought triggers distraction and the mind triggers thought. Ah! What do we have here now? Is the mind an entity, a soul in itself? Is it true then, that who we are is what the world has made us by capturing our mind?

At this point you can give yourself two parallel lines of thought.
1. What will a mind, allowed to think freely grow into? A free soul or just a plain human being with raw qualities and emotions.
2. It is out of ideas from the mind that we have so many inventions all around us today. Most of which were outcomes of tamed and most of the times educated minds that thought freely.
In either case the pivotal role is that of the mind. A mind - in a state of thought. Can anyone for just a moment stay without thinking?

Ok. Jus for a moment shut your eyes… It’s easy… Black.
Now with you eyes shut, shut your mind. Easy? Try harder, don’t think. No, not yet. You are still thinking about trying not to think. Black, again… But is it fully black? No?

The color of your mind engulfs the most vivid thoughts, ideas and colors... So what’s the color of your mind now??

Say a little prayer

My son seemed to have a running nose when I picked him up yesterday afternoon while he was crawling all over the place, as usual. I wiped him clean and realised that I myself had a stuffy nose. That very moment I thought to myself, "Oh God, I hope he has not caught a cold!". Much later did I figure out that it was just nothing but a whiff of allergy that swept by since both of us are fine today. As any mother would do, my mind was brooding over the fact that I must be more careful since the temperature was dropping with every passing day. And then it struck me that it was after all a little prayer that I had said when I saw my baby's little runny nose. I began thinking even more deeply on the aspect, and for that moment atleast, felt God had answered my prayers.

Its a weird thing to say, but sometimes its such small prayers that are really answered. Probably because they come from deep within the heart. No matter how many times I pull myself to a religious place sometimes the real prayers come out only when they need to, and what more to be said, are answered!

No, im not trying to condemn those of you who go all the way to temples, mosques, churches etc. to pray. Its more about the faith than the act here. Im sure you agree to what I have here. Im sure you have been in a situation yourself where you buckle your fingers tight with complete hope and say that little prayer, not neccessarily addressing God, and want it to be answered from deep down in your heart and soul. At that instant, what you are praying for is what you want more badly that you can think. And then, we have people who claim themselves to be aethists... ahem ahem!!

America Votes - The world watches

On the morning November 4th, 2008 I woke up, finding myself turning on the television set to watch the US Elections. It was the very first time in my life that something related to politics seemed to nudge my latent interest in this domain. Honestly, I still don't know too much about the elections or what kind of repercussions the results of the same may have. But something about this election makes me want to keep a close tab on its happenings. What is it I wonder, for it has never ever happened previously, even in my own country, that it mattered to me as to who became the President, Prime Minister or even my states Chief Minister per se!

It felt so good just to watch the Americans wake up early in the morning and go to vote for their prospective President. Each and every telecast showed people standing in queues with a fervor similar to that of a teenager voting for his College Union President. When asked why they vote, one said - "Because my vote matters", another said - "Because it makes me a part of history". It felt good to hear this. Almost patriotic in a foreign land. Paradoxical as it may seem, I never felt the same back in India about our elections. Why dont we feel that way back there? Is it the media? Is it the hype of elections and the lull that follows? Or is it the message of the politicians?

My guess is its the last one. Although the campaigning goes on with similar energy, or perhaps even more (not to forget all the drums and dancing that happens on the roads!), I think its the words of the candidates that matter. Here in America, its not just another speech, its a commitment. Something that you can rely on and something that you know will definitly come in place when that particular candidate is elected. And then of course there is this other thing - Enthusiasm. A quick follower to this would be Selflessness of the candidates. I never heard any politician here say "I" in his or her speech.. its either "We" or "America". I guess we Indians have a lot to learn apart from just sporting western brands and accents!!

Open Up!!

Last week I bought myself a new watch. All metal and all worth its price. I placed it in my wardrobe thinking I will open the box the next day and wear it.

Day two of new watch at home and I end up being late for my doctors appointment! But, I so so so HAD to wear my new watch. Just as if my doctor would notice and say "Woah..! Nice watch" instead of giving me my routine check up! I got ready and decided I will wear it come what may and then it began. Ironic as it may seem, on one hand time was running away and on the other, it was in my hands.

The darn packaging had to be so good, I thought to myself. I plunged into my kitchen drawer and fished out my scissors. Before I knew it I chopped into the thick plastic wires that fastened the watch to its casing. Oops my kitchen scissors... but who cares, I needed this... and I needed it NOW! Finally, finally the casing gave way. Thick, black and villainous - I thought.. At least that is how I felt back then since it kept me away from my watch!

And just when I thought I was a few seconds away from wearing my new accessory, did I notice that it seemed to be reluctant to come out of its box. Ok! Now what? I tugged harder as the clock ticked away. Oh my doc can wait a few minutes, she makes me wait anyway! Argh. It dint seem to get any better. I dashed for the knife, the next best thing I could find from the place I stood. I began working my way through the hind of the box to allow the watch to fall through. I cut and cut and cut.. almost using the knife as a saw.. and then, there it was - My WATCH!

But before I knew it, I heard metal clunk against the flooring and saw a little piece glass roll toward my kitchen trash. Symbolic? It was gone. Oh! it was....actually gone! After all the struggle it was gone! And time was too.. I was so consumed in breaking open the box that I was too late to go to the doctor.

Then I saw it... a little sign embossed on the box that said "Press here to open". I did so and it did too. Open up! Could I hate myself or the box or the manufacturers or what?

Ive been here so many times... trying to do one thing fast, before another more important one. And end up not gaining anything worthy at all. We all have been here I'm sure... Messing up priorities. But in the end there is one thing I have come to hate. Packages!!!! See how much one can lose? Why in the world do they not print the 'Open Here' part in a more visible way. I guess they just like to have fun with us, poor consumers. My blog has become a crib-forum, I know..last time it was toll free numbers and now packages. But, ain't I right? Its happens with cookie boxes, baby's toys, medicine bottles, frozen foods, electronics, canned foods... you name it!

And what did I do with my watch? I managed to get the glass fixed back in place AND decided to return it... Yes. Don't ask me why! I don't really know. Some things in life go unexplained. This is one such thing for me. Getting the watch back into its box was a story all on its own. We'll get there some other day....

The Secret Life of a Foodie

Hmm... Snack. Munch. Swallow. Binge. Gulp. Hog. Devour. Dine... Call it by whatever name, its just one thing - EATING! An act of bringing food to the mouth. Simple, sweet and probably the most fussed over thing in the world - after money, maybe!

We're all chasing ourselves from pillar to post, here and there, to make a quick buck, but,
right from the day we are born - its all about food. But have you ever given it a thought as to how much eating can affect everything - Health, Moods, Parties, Weddings (yes), Relationships (now you're thinking), Business Opportunities (now we're talking!).

If that's going too far... How about that day when you ate that pack of cookies but ended up loathing it because it just did not have enough chocolate chips? Or complained that the vegetable gravy your aunt made just for you with all her love was far too "not-your-type"? And, never went to a restaurant just because you dint like one item that you tried on their menu a decade ago?

I'm not sure when it happened to me. When eating transcended from just, well, eating.. to being a mood setter. Sometimes a hearty meal even makes my day. I'm sure it does for a lot of you reading this. After all, imagine going back to work on a boring afternoon after eating a meal that did not satiate and satisfy you.

Its easy to call someone a foodie. Besides its very debatable as to whether or not being a foodie is good or bad. No, we are not talking about people who devour food just for the sake of eating. But under the superficial layer of a person who is a food lover, lies a genuine interest to relish every bite. To savour, to indulge, to absorb every ion of taste.

Among everything else, just the way there is a child in everyone, I believe that there is a little foodie in everybody. Even if you belong to the category of people who simply eat to live, there would have been most certainly one day in your life when you craved for something. Even if its just something different from the routine makes a difference. And that day you feel good!

Then again, its a very hard task to be a foodie in this generation. Whether you are a compulsive eater or an intuitive one, finally what matters is relishing every morsel. Also, with globalization bringing cuisines from across the world together right at your next door restaurant, picking an item to eat is just as hard as trying to look up the web for the right information. Seen yourself in this situation? Caught you, dint I? And you thought you dint belong to the "Foodie" category. Think again....its a little secret hidden in all of us...the secret life of a foodie!

The "Mommy" Returns....

Ok its been a while since I got here... a year to be precise! Any guesses what kept me away? Oh yeah, motherhood and all its glory. Life can be hectic with a baby around, but nevertheless it did not leave me longing to get back to do what I like most.. Write!

Credits credits - I have to mention it was my friend's sister who inspired me to get back to blogging. With two babies and a toddler, hats off to her for actually making time to sit and write about everything happening in her life.

And then there's my little son, Samvit, who will turn six months in just a few days. So if you find me missing for a while, you know why! Ill probably be just folding the warm clothes out of the dryer or stirring the simmering gravy or changing a soiled diaper or mopping the house or...

So here I am, back again.. to keep you occupied,bored,intrigued,bugged and everything in between!