Live Empty

In his book “Die Empty”, Todd Henry exhorts us to finish all that is most important to us, so that we have no regrets left when we die.

This put me to a thought—what about living empty? Can I live a life empty—empty of corruption, coercion, and cacophony?

Why do we allow people to corrupt our minds? Why do we let others to coerce us into doing things we don’t wish to? Why is that the cacophony always shuts our own voice?

The answers to my questions bred more questions. To get answers to the WHYs, we need to know the WHOs, WHATs, and WHEREs—the 3 Ws which weave us into woes.

What corrupts our minds? Who coerces us? Where from the cacophony comes?

I found simple answers. The culprits in each case are the authorities, or symbols and institutions of authority. Culprit is also our own slavery to the false and frivolous. They control, regulate, and mould our minds and lives. They rob us of our simplicity, free will, and joy of living.

Not all, but the worst among the society and its organs, the government and its myriad agencies, the religion and its various instruments, the hydra-headed politics, and the media in its traditional and modern avatars are these Whos, Whats, and Wheres.

Can we break free from their shackles? Bad news. In order to exist, we have to live with most of the monstrosities, including ourselves : )

I wonder whether we can try and choose the lesser evils. Can we select a lifestyle where the impact of the unwanted is minimal? Is it possible to create our comfort-cocoons where we can live the rare moments of joy and bliss?

To steal such moments, I have tried to let go—let go of the toxic, the negative, the nonsense.

I am able to let go when I cuddle the child in me, bring it out more often to play with me. The child in me, then, surrounds me.

In sunny winter mornings, I put my head on the dew kissed grass and leg up in the air, smile, and whistle the signature tune from the Clint Eastwood masterpiece: https://youtu.be/LdLQf1Ef9Ns

At such child, whistle, and leg-up moments, ‘The Good’ stays with me, ‘The Bad’ and ‘The Ugly’ leave.

These moments I live empty— free of cobwebs, clutters, and complexities… So empty, so light, so buoyant.

I live these empty moments every moment I want.

I think I can die empty if I live empty.

What do you think ?

Pics: “Live Empty” Moments

What More I Want ?

What more I want

I don’t pursue happiness. Nor do I run after enlightenment. I have tiny times when I am content. That is when joy, like a dancing butterfly, enters and sits lightly on my soul.

I have this bliss when I bend to admire a Parijat*, and the dew on it flies to kiss my eyelashes. I smell it in the wonderful words of an old musty book. It touches me when a child tiptoes from behind and closes my eyes with little palms. It comes to me when the rains falling on the swaying trees wet my feelings. I felt it this morning when the season’s first fog filled my senses.

These sensuous moments make my life and are mine for a lifetime.

What more I want?

*Parijat: A tiny white fragile flower with orange stem

Image: Fog: Austin Schmid; Books: Peter Kratochvil

LET’s REGAIN THE PARADISE LOST !

WITH DEFERENCE…. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! 

There is a difference between what we force ourselves to think what makes us happy and what makes us happy.

We weave a web of artificiality around us with threads of self-deception constantly seeking approval, affirmation and admiration outside, from others, from reflected glory, rather than from our inner self, our own core.

Very often we do and say things in order to prove to ourselves and to showcase to others that we belong, we are part of: “the happening, the in, the cool”, that we have arrived. We mindlessly ape, fake, run after the pseudo.

Whiling away time on the false n frivolous, shallow n superficial, there is not a while to spend on the important, the worthy…that which is fulfilling and those who matter. We search far n wide for what we ourselves extinguish what is inside and immediate….our priorities in people, places n pass-times.

Is this really what we want? Have we lost it all?

Joy from a child’s unadulterated laughter, re-reading umpteenth time that favourite book in tatters which warms the cockles of the heart, rhapsody of that uplifting symphony, magic of the silent fireside moments spent with parents, nostalgic scent of the first rain, camaraderie of sharing a stale joke for the Nth time with back-slapping buddies in worn out tees over chai pakoda, sinfully savouring stolen chocolate well past midnight, or the liberating feeling of breaking into a shower-dance to the tune of Rod Stewart’s “some guys have all the luck…”….Ladies n Gentlemen, if that is not bliss what is ?

Face it…not everything can be found on Facebook, we can’t order happiness on Swiggy, and we can’t Google Joy!

Let’s regain the paradise lost!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CSSite AND WHY I AM IN LOVE WITH IT ! A Tribute to my Clan…..

“CSS”…..Have we seen a Clan so Smart n Suave ? Oh….what Style, what Substance…be it men or women, girls or boys ! CSS…lo behold…..here we belong ! CSS….the name unfolds history, centuries old genesis, legacy of the illustrious ancestors ! CSS…the name brings nostalgia and  many a maudlin moments !  CSS…where the relationships are unfathomable ….as very deep they go, and defy distance, age n time ! CSS where it is not incongruous to find uncles often offering exotic wine n cousins Assam tea : )

CSS…where life is celebrated every moment, at every turn…not to speak of colourful events n vibrant wonderful weddings ! Ohh CSS…when we all meet the joy intoxicates, happiness overflows and the back-slapping camaraderie enthrals.! CSS…where we have immortal iconic Gola, where gatherings are gay, and festivities galore! CSS… where the light- hearted banter, the jokes, the leg- pullings, the odd sermons, the pics of events in our lives…. shared in person and on the App keep us anchored ! CSS…where concern by all for all in the clan is genuine, love unpretentious and warmth abundant ! CSS….where the ancient family tree has grown humongous and branches spread out far n wide…but roots keep us rooted, united ! CSS….how blessed are we, for the family here is friend !

CSS…where gaiety rules, fun never ends, and laughter never dies !  CSS…where there is drama in real life and life is lived king size ! CSS…where, songs are songs of life and dance is spirit of freedom ! CSS…where there is pride, but no prejudice…..where proximity breeds care, not contempt ! CSS…where bonding breeds bonhomie n belonging brings bliss ! 

CSS phenomenon….eyes light up at its mere mention.…It’s Rare, It’s Infectious, It’s Crazy, It’s Beautiful, It’s Magnificent !

Cheers !