Vikram Hazra's blog

Painting with light -- in black n white

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:32:00 +0000

The symphony of creation

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:45:00 +0000

Our shastras have described this entire creation as a play and display of one consciousness, one energy that manifests itself in infinite forms while being essentially formless. This utter abstraction which appears self-contradictory has baffled scientist and seeker alike for centuries.
The ancient rishis seemed to have no trouble in reposing in this dual nature of the world, much as modern physicists are happy to attribute both wave and particle natures to light.
Imagine the entire universe as one giant being, whose each cell, limb or organ constitutes a different planet or person or object or constellation. And imagine this being observing the occurrence of different phenomena as though it were watching its own fingers moving. Each particle of its body is distinct, but it never loses the sense of totality, of it being its own indivisible body. Call this being God or consciousness or energy or nature, it matters not in the least to the being (or shall we say Being?)
Nature has no issues with you attributing a million different names to its varied manifestations, it remains whole nonetheless. Man has cast God in his own image, adding deities, philosophies, rituals according to his own convenience or to better understand phenomenal reality from a self-create objective frame of reference. But each of these postulate man trying to subvert or internalise nature to his limited experience or understanding rather than sublimating himself in the obviously vast and infinite ocean of energy that we all inhabit.
Today I heard several voices, some strident, some confrontational, some complementary, some in unison and some indifferent, among them my own. Suddenly it seemed as though each voice had the same source as mine, it was one song playing through several different instruments. I was no longer singing God's song, He was singing through me as He was through every single person and object around me. The voices began to outline a harmony, a key, a theme, some ornate motifs, some freely evolving time signatures. They rose and fell like waves, as I, but a tiny component of this gigantic symphony, thrilled and swelled and yet lost myself in its entirety. As this ecstatic symphony reached an almost unbearably beautiful crescendo, all at once there was nothing. Silence. No thought, word, intention or desire. No regret, anger or even a semblance of any other emotion. It was beyond emotion, it was totality, it was sheer vastness that almost imperceptibly pulsed. to. expand. into. nothing

Sent from my iPhone

Moving forward

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:01:00 +0000

This past week, it has been a source of pride to me to meet and interact with scores of educated, dedicated young professionals who are determined to participate in bringing a widespread long-term change in India in a constructive manner, independent of caste, religion or political affiliation.

Volunteer For A Better India, to be launched nationwide next month, provides a platform for good citizens to join peacefully without vested interests and hidden agendas, and to rebuild the image of our nation which has been tarnished by fundamentalists, pseudo-secularists and politicians alike (with generous support from some sections of the media).

The drive, clarity and focus of the youth that I met was impressive, and this time it was infused with quiet determination rather than misplaced angst.

Some of them were insistent that I should blog more often/regularly, and I do agree. These past few months, all the good stuff I have written has actually been siphoned into the body of my upcoming books, at least one of which should be ready by June -- so I have been writing quite a lot, just haven't been publishing it on the blog.

Anyway, now that the core sections are done, I am free to share some views and concerns with you all again.

Meanwhile, Guruji has finally started blogging at http://srisriravishankar.org/srisrispeaks/ which is incentive enough for me to dive into the blogosphere once more!

I have never been a great fan of social media, especially Twitter, which I find both incestuous and inconclusive, and hence have stayed away from it.

Facebook has become like a community news bulletin and hence significant for me, and interestingly it is like a digital archive of the days of our lives. I find it better to have a select circle of family and friends with whom I share regular as well as minute details of my life, while maintaining a "fan page" where I reach out to the Art of Living community at large.

Please do join/like this page at https://www.facebook.com/art.of.living.vikram

I also have a couple of albums coming up, and before that I wish to share some of my thoughts on the kind of music I have been working on, and the process of bringing it to fruition. Do stay tuned :)

The Tintin cake :)

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Custodians of Mumbai

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:16:00 +0000

Plz note: These are color pics, not B&W :)

Guruji in Japan April 11-14th April!

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 06:22:00 +0000

> Greetings from Art of Living Japan
> " Evening of Wisdom and Music"
> The Founder of The Art of Living Foundation, H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be visiting Japan between April 11th ~ April 14th 2012.
>
> Art of Living Japan is happy to invite you and your friends to a Special Talk by　
> H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
> Date　: April 13th 2012 [Friday]
> Time　: Doors open 18:00 Program starts: 19:00
> Venue　: Science Hall- inside Science Museum
> Pin: 102-0091 Tokyo ,Chiyoda ku.
> Kitano Maru Koen 2-1
> Fee　: Yen 1000 [ Un-reserved seat ]
>
> Art of Living Japan has been actively involved in the support activities for the people who were badly affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Art of Living has visited the temporary housing shelters of the Yuriage community - Natori shi, Miyagi Pref.and is supporting the revival of the traditional Maiwai dance by recreating the elaborate dance costumes which got lost in the Tsunami.In this event the volunteers from Yuriage community of Natori shi will perform the Maiwai dance and Play the Japanese Taiko .
>
> Event website : srisrivisit.jp
> Tickets can be bought through:
> 1.Event website - srisrivisit.jp /Credit card only
> 2.Register through mail info-tokyo@artoflivingjapan.org and pay at the venue.
> Seating Capacity limited to 400.
> Access to Science Hall:
> Map:　http://www.jsf.or.jp/map/
> Tokyo Metro Tozai line-Takebashi station- Exit 1b --- 7mts walk
> Tokyo Metro Tozai line/Honzomon line &
> Toei Shinjuku line- Kudanshita Station- Exit 2 --- 7 mts walk
>
> We look forward to see you on this occasion.
> Volunteers
> Art of Living Japan
>
>

The unbearable brightness of Being!

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:59:00 +0000

Every single day bursts with opportunity. So much to see, so much to learn, and so much to do! Sometimes I can barely contain my happiness -- how fortunate am I to be born on this bountiful planet -- that too at a time when mankind is witnessing its greatest technological advances as well as a resurgence of spiritual values.

At times it seems futile even to try and learn a single discipline -- music, art, architecture, medicine, photography -- each worth several lifetimes of study.

How much could I possibly grasp in this infinitesimal interval which I have been given -- to play, to live, to learn, to give?

Challenges, doubts, distractions and obstacles abound; yet they pale in comparison to the overwhelming good it has been my humble privilege to witness. Helping hands in an apparently selfish world; simple, innocent love in a place where trust is reported absent; abundance and generosity where lack would seem to loom large.

And running through it all like a leitmotif -- wonderful, complex music coupled with moments of utter stillness, samadhi. The Master's grace wafts through this existence, a fragrance of rose and sandalwood, turning each breath into intense prayer.

It's as though a giant hand obliterates the din, the traffic, the pollution, the crime and the grime in a fraction of a second; I stand renewed, recharged and refreshed -- helplessly and hopelessly unable to express my bliss.

Sent from my iPhone

The Quest for Kabir

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000

“Mat kar maya ko ahankar, mat kar kaya ko ghamand, kaya gaar se kaachi,” (Don’t take pride in your wealth, nor in your body, for this body is weaker than the mud upon the potter’s wheel). These words of caution were sung to his disciple Bhavani Nath by none other than the legendary weaver/poet/saint Kabir in the 15th century. Effortlessly melding strident socio-political commentary with transcendent spiritual experience, Kabir sang out loud and bold in the colloquial vernacular of his day, cutting across all barriers of caste, creed, religion and societal status. His message is equally, and perhaps even more, relevant today -- as evidenced by a sudden resurgence of interest in his work and, dare we say, in his popularity.

In fact, Kabir has become quite fashionable these days, with diverse segments staking claim to his message, resulting in some hilarious situations. In numerous conversations with people across the country as well as abroad, some intriguing aspects of how Kabir’s message is being implemented have astonished, amazed and often perplexed me.The most interesting one has got be the emerging trend where hardcore, card-carrying leftists laud Kabir as being a true Communist, speaking out against social injustice as well as bourgeois mores. Kabir’s well-known jibes against pundits and mullahs alike are naively taken to mean that he does not believe in any god, whereas in truth he steadfastly urged people to look beyond mere mechanical ritual and delve into the depth of divinity inherent within each of us. Kabir sings freely of Ram and Rahim, and his bhajans are sung not just in villages across Madhya Pradesh and UP, but have now become well established in the Hindustani classical repertoire as well, thanks largely to the late legend Pandit Kumar Gandharva, whose life story itself is a poignant reprisal of the Nirguni bhajans that he sang, and which fortunately are being carried forward by several prominent as well as upcoming young musicians.

Yet there are several in our country who are hesitant to use the word “bhajan” (which actually means “to share”) since it has an overtly religious context to them. They are far more comfortable in branding Kabir as a Sufi, since that word apparently has a “secular” sheen! It has reached a point where, if I sing Kabir “bhajans”, there are many who would label me as being communal or at best religious, whereas concert organisers have pleaded with me to sing the exact same songs but to term them as “Sufi”, which would appear to make everyone comfortable! Isn’t it this the very hypocrisy that Kabir lashed out against? “Hindu kahat hai Ram hamara, Mussalman Rehmana; aapas mein dou lade marat hai, maram koi nahin jana” (Hindus claim Ram as theirs, the Muslims, Rehman; they fight and kill in their name, but they will never know the essence)

He goes on to lucidly enunciate minute facets of the spiritual, inward journey, cautioning us of every peril and pitfall we may encounter along the way. Kabir’s descriptions of the experience of opening of various chakras (energy centres) in the body (“Nirbhay nirgun gun re gaoonga”) are spell-binding. Spiritual practitioners strive for years to glimpse a single moment of stillness and totality in meditation, whereas a poor weaver in a remote village so many centuries ago exhorted us to shun the impermanent, evanescent material world and revel in the indescribable exhilaration of self-knowledge. His experiences are his reality, the legacy which he has bequeathed upon us - a succinct map which charts the terrain most unexplored, the journey back to our source.

The pseudo-secularists, not to be left behind, have interpreted Kabir as being anti-ritualistic and hence anti-religious. To them, secularism means avoiding all religious activity or reference -- a far cry from Kabir’s equanimous view which sees all as equal, free from bias and prejudice. Several sections of Dalit society cite Kabir as their Guru and God, since he abhorred casteism. Among them, there are some who are renowned singers such as Prahlad Tipanya, who is invited to perform at all major festivals in his area (near Dewas, MP) and yet not allowed to enter the village temple since he is a Dalit! How ironic that Kabir’s teaching is so widely loved and yet not taken to heart.

It is a testament to the universality and accessibility of Kabir’s message that so many factions can claim him as their own, but to use that message to foster further division would be to crucify yet another reluctant messiah at the altar of our own self-righteousness.

It is said that on his deathbed, Kabir was dismayed to hear the voices of his devotees arguing about whether he should be cremated according to Hindu rites, or buried in a Muslim cemetery -- as if his entire life’s message had gone unheeded. The story goes that when they came to collect his remains, they lifted the sheet that covered him to find that the body had disappeared, and all that remained was a heap of flowers!

Today, the intelligent and sincere are left with his ever-fragrant dohas and sakis, and it is up to us to do with them as we please. Do we take the bold step of enquiring within, acknowledging the fickleness of our own mind -- and strive to realize our full potential? Or do we continue to hide behind a fragile cloak of intellectual pretence or crass commerciality while exploiting yet another savant’s message to our personal gain? Kabir, established in perennial bliss, a witness to all despite being an active participant in day-to-day life, couldn’t really care less!

Bhajan Chords - Lyrics - AOL

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:47:00 +0000

This blog post is in response to Questions asked by the blog readers. Checkout, ask questions and Questions and Answers List.

Q: Vikrambhaiya, Can we get the guitar chords of bhajans online?

A: Hey I'm the wrong person to ask since I don't know too many chords myself -- I outsource all the difficult parts to my highly qualified band-mates! I am, however, constantly striving to learn more about theory and harmony -- hopefully this year onwards I shall have more time for the same -- till recently my teaching schedule took up almost twenty days of each month, leaving precious little time for even the most mundane of domestic chores :)
The past few years I have been doing a lot of research into different styles of devotional music of India, especially from the folk traditions -- we have such a huge treasure trove of knowledge and art, most of which has never been documented.
I have had the privilege of listening to genius musicians and unheralded saints sitting in people's houses, or even under the trees, in remote villages whose names I cannot remember. The only thing I recall is being transported to heights of ecstasy, and praying that I could be blessed with such simplicity and lack of artifice!

For all those musicians who would like to play music in Satsang, here is a link to pdf files from the Art Of Living Website.

Aol Bhajans Lyrics with chords guitar or piano chords - Compiled By Christina (German Ashram).

You can find the online pdf file here

There are 3 more online pdf files with Bhajan Lyrics (these are lyrics to sing bhajans or devotional songs without chords).

Bhajan Lyrics 1

Bhajan Lyrics 2

Bhajan Lyrics 3

QnA.....

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:47:00 +0000

1: Darshana said...
JGD Vikram
What is the best camera to use for good picture (SLR or Not) what photo editing software do your use if any?
Thanks...
ps. I like the look of your new Blog :D

Hi Darshana
It is said that "the best camera is the one you have with you at that moment." Capturing the moment is the main thing -- whether it is done on a cellphone camera or a top-of-the-line DSLR. If you are serious about photography I would certainly recommend a DSLR -- they are now more affordable than ever before, and there is very little to choose between the top brands like Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc. A standard zoom like 24-70mm and a tele zoom like 70-200mm should suffice for most of your needs up to a fairly advanced level.
That said, if it's just a hobby, then you would be better off with a good quality compact ie point-n-shoot from one of the brands mentioned above, as well as from Panasonic and Sony.
I don't use Photoshop or Lightroom as most professionals do -- I prefer to keep editing to a minimum and simply sort the the images in iPhoto, occasionally doing a bit of sharpening, cropping or colour correction.
A photograph reflects your way of looking at the world, and provides an opportunity to commemorate and share your vision with others. Like any other art, it is primarily an avenue to improving oneself as a human being, rather than a narcissistic indulgence.
The blog will undergo further transformation in December, hopefully making it easier to access -- and with the added attraction of some downloadable music for you all!

2: Shruthi said...
Namaste,
Dwaitha and Advaitha - I wonder what the difference is. Aren't they both same in essence? my family has instilled in me the values of dwaitha philosophy ever since I was a child (I still am :D) These days when I listen to spiritual talks - most of them talk about non-duality. I know these are just concepts (reminds me of your song - Shabdon ke jungle mein...) and would make little difference in the spiritual journey. But it's a little frustrating not to know what I believe in. You have an answer right? =)
- Love and Light

Namaste Shruthi
Guruji said something very interesting a while back; "there is not much difference between an Astik (believer) and Nastik (non-believer/atheist). The Nastik says 'show me and I'll believe' while the Astik says 'I believe, now show me'!" Both lack direct experience of divinity. Our culture has always placed personal experience above all dogma on the spiritual path -- yet man struggles to qualify and quantify what he sees around him in the hope that it will provide the solace he seeks.
After Dvaita and Advaita came Vishishta Advaita as propounded by Ramanujacharya, wherein he said that divinity is one, but we do have the freedom to worship it in many forms :)
I would recommend that you go by your experience -- proper Sadhana/ meditation of course helps a great deal -- and don't worry about your beliefs, which anyways can change over time with knowledge.

3: Vikram Ji, do you have an album with Kabir songs like Naiharwa?
JGD, Kumar from New York

Hi Kumar
These days Kabir is a very hot topic at least in India (shall soon write a post about that) -- with everyone from Dalits to Communists staking a proprietary claim to his philosophy. Nonetheless, I do have a nice concept for an album of songs from Kabir, Guru Nanak and Meerabai -- if all goes well you shall hear it in Feb 2012. Meanwhile I would point you to Shabnam Virmani's excellent Kabir Project, which has documented many facets of Kabir's work.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

Back to work :)

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:58:00 +0000

It's not that I haven't had anything to say -- in fact my head has been bursting with ideas these past few weeks -- but I have been content to process them internally, and focus on applying them to my life. You see, I have never been able to easily articulate my thoughts, and especially my feelings and emotions. Often, if suddenly called upon to react to a situation, or respond to an emotionally charged moment, I draw a blank; I would rather retreat to that sanctuary from where I merely weigh and witness events. I used to think that I am very judgemental, but I have realised that I tend to acknowledge both sides of every case and hence find it difficult to indict people, since their own pressures and liabilities come sharply into focus, revealing them also to be but victims of circumstance!
I'm home most of next week and should be writing (as often promised) -- but why don't we get back to work with a series of Q&A?
Please send me a few pertinent (and impertinent) and sincere queries and let's see what comes of them.
Jai Guru Dev :)

Sent from my iPhone

Midnight musings

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Nokia really is going through a rough patch. They have just not been able to cut it in the high-end smartphone market, and at the lower end the Chinese have pulled out all stops and left them struggling to resolve what is nothing less than a brand identity crisis. To compound matters, they ran a full page newspaper ad in India the other day announcing the launch of their new OS, unfortunately named Symbian Anna. I guess it's a Finnish name -- I'm told it's pronounced ayn-naa -- but in a country where Everyone Is Anna this week, it was almost as if the universe had conspired against them.

It's not just the folks at Nokia who are perplexed this week -- I am sure it's most of us who have been trying to make a semblance of logical sense out of the wildly disparate viewpoints and stances that have been on display over the Great Anna Imbroglio -- aided and abetted by a flailing media machine, somehow resulting in bringing large chunks of urban India out onto the streets.

I'm sure that each and every person or group involved in this has their cogent and valid reasons for their respective stands, but to a concerned citizen some of it is hard to fathom.
An old Gandhian social reformer steadfastly lies dying in Delhi -- should we not be trying to save him first? Or is a "fast unto death" only successful if the person dies?
How can a government be utterly deaf, dumb and blind to the needs of its people, and yet sit comfortably in power?
Of those out clamouring to bring down the aforementioned government, how many will actually vote in the next elections?
Will a Bill actually end corruption in a country where people are willing to stampede in a temple, litter everywhere, drive without concern for anyone and not extend even basic human courtesy to others?
How come so many Communists are against a Bill that is by nature "Of the people, by the people and for the people"?
How come Arvind Kejriwal wants to have nothing to do with any political party, and yet wants the Bill passed in parliament?

Hey, these aren't complaints -- I'm totally for the Anti-corruption campaign; I don't pay bribes, I pay my taxes and I am furiously passionate about my country. But there are so many factors at play here which nobody seems to even want to consider. For instance, with a population as large as ours, implementation of even the most basic of laws becomes a well-nigh impossible task. I have met several really committed civil servants who, despite their best intentions, have absolutely no way of completely covering the area under their jurisdiction during their tenure.

There are so many parts of our country where women and children are denied their basic rights, not by law, but by hidebound mores and chauvinistic, retrograde practices. It's easy to say that corruption is at the root of the lack of infrastructure in this country, but thats a rather trite and incomplete definition employed, I feel, to suit the current flavour of the moment. These issues have been there forever -- many of us have been working to amend them for years -- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's YLTP programs have empowered hundreds of so-called "educated unemployed" rural youth to become change agents and create self-sustaining economies in some of the poorest regions of India. And yet it seems like but a drop in the ocean -- there are over 700,000 villages in our country, and most of them lack basic literacy, leave alone a proper education. Conspiracy theories abound, naming everyone from Macaulay to Manmohan Singh as the sole reason for this backwardness and poverty, but at the end of the day it's high time we square up and acknowledge that we must start imparting a wholesome, value-based education to each and every citizen, an aptitude-based system which would enable and empower them to choose academia, trade, entrepreneurship, artisanship or employment as the need or choice may be. Then alone can we hope to truly nurture "the world's greatest democracy" into a people that not only know how to groom and choose their leaders, but also hold the power to force them to step down if they do not deliver.

On a lighter note, for all we know, the Anna issue is but a launchpad for the Congress' premeditated retirement plan, a scenario where they make an apparently shamefaced exit and go into hibernation, ostensibly to lick their wounds, but in reality to finally take time off to enjoy some of the thousands of crores that they have set aside for just such a time!

Sent from my iPad2

Worlds within worlds

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:42:00 +0000

The Yog Vasishtha, that ancient scripture wherein the sage Vasishtha unravels the secrets of the universe to the young, perplexed Lord Rama, is at once fascinating, revelatory, convoluted and confusing. The suggestion, especially, that each one of us creates, and then proceeds to inhabit, multiple universes simultaneously, seems to be a bit hard to swallow even for the most committed spiritual seeker.

It is rightly said that life mirrors our innermost thoughts and desires, and we do know that our minds freely wander from topic to topic without rein of any sort. For instance, when 26/11happened, all we could see was our beloved Mumbai at siege, yet no sooner did the recession hit America did our vision just as easily embrace the global economy.

Last month, we were concerned about Gaddafi's fate and now, there seems to be nothing more pressing than Anna Hazare's health! That which currently occupies us is paramount in our consciousness, often to the exclusion of all else -- certainly we do create and occupy a myriad of interwoven and parallel realities at once.

Sent from my iPhone

Some more posts/articles you might like to read on this blog.

Pancha Kosha: The Five Sheaths

The grand delusion

Premonition

Don't let the Indian drive

Coming unbinged: The story of my experiments with truth, food n samadhi

What a blunder!

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:32:00 +0000

How could the government not have expected the reaction of millions of Indians to Anna's completely unjustified arrest? They really pressed a raw nerve by swooping down on the non-violent septuagenarian who is a model of righteousness, when noted criminals and purveyors of terror are either left scot-free or mollycoddled in the name of "democracy/secularism"!
It's a great relief to be in India today, as all of us who have been working to improve our systems in so many ways finally feel that we are not alone, and that in future there will be so many of our concerned countrymen who will continue to stand by us instead of apathetically saying, "magar isme main kya kar sakta hoon (but what can I do)?" For a change, it's a pleasure to watch a news channel!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

Berlin WCF was stunning!

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:07:00 +0000

The Grand Delusion

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Perhaps the greatest hoax that we perpetrate upon ourselves as human beings is the delusion that we can "figure out" how life works. Guruji often tells the story of the man who spends all night making his bed so that he can have the perfect sleep, only to see the sun coming up when he is finally ready to get into bed! This is the way that many people miss out on the entire experience and mystery of this wondrous gift called life -- and I am certainly a prime example of this phenomenon -- if I were to add up the time I have spent trying to understand and figure out the fundas behind things, it would add up to years and years of wasted time.

This is not to say that one shdn't endeavour to understand the world -- it's just that beyond a certain point it becomes counterproductive. Eg I have spent years taking apart guitars and rebuilding them, modifying them with endless varieties of pickups, strings, setup options etc etc, with the result that I know an incredible amount of guitar minutiae, but honestly I feel that at least half that time would have been better spent in actually playing the darn things!

At the same time, I'm not a big votary of those who simply jump in and take action, and scarcely spare a thought about the mechanism that implements the grand design -- all too often their lives run on momentum alone, and when they suddenly run out of gas they find themselves in a vacuum, frustrated and depressed. Of course, people like me would have ended up frustrated and depressed to start with, had it not been for Guruji and the deep insight that His knowledge provided.

Increasingly, one is able to revel in each moment, while leaving a wide berth for human error and ego; additionally, the better one meditates, the more one sees things in perspective, rather than through the restrictive filter of one's biases and limited experience of the world. I can tell you this much -- it makes the journey infinitely enjoyable, and fills each day with adventure and gratitude. Is there a final purpose or point to this exercise called life? At the moment I have no idea, and it doesn't look like I'm any closer to seeing it than when I first started out! Oh well....

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad2

Panorama shot on iPhone fm Taj Bbay

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:56:00 +0000

Langkawi panorama at dusk

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:56:00 +0000

The bookworm turns

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:32:00 +0000

It's not that getting an iPad will make me more productive; the iPhone has already taken care of that -- it's amazing what the Apps can do -- and this without even requiring a 3G or wifi connection; simple Edge on our local provider is good enough!
What the iPad has really done for me, though, is brought me back to reading in a big way. I'm currently revisiting classics and old favourites from Wodehouse to Emerson, and from Bertrand Russell to Conan Doyle!
The other great use I have found for the iPad is as a PDF reader -- in fact I have more PDFs than books in iBooks. PDFs are usually really boring to read, but on the iPad they seem to come alive. Also, most of the gadgets I use have PDF versions of the manuals, including some in full colour -- so I'm finally getting round to reading them whenever I'm on the road :)
My next task is to use the iPad to edit photos, uploaded directly from the camera using the camera connector, so that I can process my pics while travelling.

Sent from my iPhone

Guruji's parents

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Shri RSV Ratnam (Acharya Ratnananda) and Smt Vishalakshi, known to us all as Pitaji and Amma, will always live on in our hearts. We are indebted to them for all they have shared with us.
Pranams and Jai Guru Dev

What dreams may come :)

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:05:00 +0000

Is it only in dreams that we are able to perceive reality as fluid, multi-dimensional, evanescent and flexible? Do we "wake down" to our mundane reality and then transcend to dream once more, and then step into the blank nothingness/everywhereness of samadhi, where all simply "is"? Who, then, dreams -- and who transcends -- and who observes all this?

Forging ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:17:00 +0000

As you can see, we have been trying to incorporate new elements into the blog without changing the basic structure and look too drastically. Please do bear with us over the next few days as Alpesh (my tireless webmaster) and I try a few experiments. I hope you like the page with all my photography on it, as its something I am very passionate about -- I felt I would rather share it directly with you all here, though I do have the option of using Flickr as well.

There are so many exciting developments taking place on the web these days; I am constantly looking for ways to integrate these into one's lifestyle eg healthcare, education, culture etc. Sometimes I wake up at night bursting with ideas, and of course the trusty notebook is always on hand to serve as a repository -- Alpesh says I should share even those random thoughts -- I always keep postponing, saying its not yet perfect; guess its time to adopt a more balanced approach :)

Meanwhile, do use the Shoot Your Questions link to send in some more blog post topics and of course your personal queries.
Blog ho!!!
JGD

Question from a seeker

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:29:00 +0000

This blog post is in response to Questions asked by the blog readers. Checkout, ask questions and Questions and Answers List.

Here are some questions I was sent by a "seeker" yesterday; I suspect similar thoughts run through many other minds as well, so here is the mail, along with my replies: well, must say my answers are a lot shorter than the questions!

Q1. ABOUT FAITH
I am relatively new to AOL(only 1 yr) and I want to be sincere enough to admit that I dont have such GREAT faith in GURUji, as i cant see a bus coming on time for me when i go late to BUS stand as a miracle which i am sure many devotees explained to me as a miracle after coming to AOL, and i want to develop the faith with/without experiencing miracles.
I am just being authentic (as GURU ji asked us to be in one of the talks) and truthful to myself. I dont feel the urge to run after his car and give him flower. I just dont feel like it and i am really jealous of the people who run behind his car just to give a flower. How can i develop so much love towards GURUji and faith?

A: I feel it is very shallow to see faith as being based solely on "miracles" and that too trivial ones. There is absolutely no need to run after your Guru; in fact usually it is more of a disturbance and an inconvenience to people around, and I am sure no Guru would teach such things.

Q2. About being enlightened
I am relatively new to AOL and I know GURU ji is wonderful and enlightened after the reading few books of GURUji, but i feel (during satsang sessions, question and answer session) GURUji is providing more of a solace to people than trying to wake up people to the truth and make them realize and experience the truth. ( I know i may be wrong, but i desperately want to change my opinion) . I know providing solace is important but solace is secondary for me, i want to wake up and realize the truth of life , how can i feel that GURUji wants us to wake up in life to truth rather than just wanting us to be happy.

A: You shd listen to Guruji's commentaries esp on Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Narada Bhakti Sutras and Ashtavakra Gita; esp Ashtavakra Gita which is literally like a manual to enlightenment

Q3. Advance course during Guruji's Bday in ashram
During GURUji' s bday i did weekly advance course. It was second time i did that course. During First adv course last year when no issues were there in my head. it was wonderful, i could feel sudden change in me. But this time i felt literally nothing.(zero impact on how i feel)

A: Thats absolutely fine. Advance course does its job regardless of what one "feels" (or wants to feel)

Q4. Depressed during GURUji's Bday
-- I saw thousands of people deperately wanting to touch GURUji and want to talk to GURUji but i dint feel anything like that. I thought i am a defective human being , and went into depression in the ashram room.
How do i develop so much attachment with GURUji whilst being authentic and truthful to myself. ?

A: If having a Guru means desperately trying to touch His feet, even if it means trampling and pushing aside old people and hurting bystanders, then maybe it is better not to have a Guru. I respect each one's devotion and expression, but it cannot be at the cost of common human decency and courtesy. Being in His presence is certainly very important -- thats why we go to satsang -- but at the same time following the knowledge will take you much further.

5: Your answers can turn my life and make me fall head over heels in love with GURUji.

A: It really doesnt mattter whether you love your Guru or not -- His love for you is total and unequivocal nonetheless. Realizing this, we hv a sense of gratitude and become very relaxed and confident!

A small clarification

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Mon, 09 May 2011 05:41:00 +0000

For over fifteen years I have served as Program Director for the Art of Living foundation. The past couple of years I have also taken my music to a professional level, which means that I now make a living from my bhajan concerts. Must admit that it felt a bit strange to call myself a professional musician at first, since I am so much in awe of my friends who are "real" composers and performers of such high caliber.

Of course, all the satsangs I do for Art of Living projects and centers all over the world are done as seva, which means I do not charge a penny for them. This has helped my colleagues fundraise for several projects and rural schools, and I am proud that my singing has been able to provide not just spiritual solace but also material comfort to underprivileged communities in every part of the world. My professional, paid programs are coordinated by my manager and dear friend Ajay Kadam, whereas my seva activities are set up by the various Art of Living apex bodies and teacher coordinators.

This past year has also seen a wonderful new development: The so-called "Big fat Indian weddings" of North India typically begin with a Ganesh Pooja and a Mata ki Chauki on the first day. Increasingly, people have been inviting me (along with my hugely talented band) for a Bhajan Sandhya on such occasions, and the experience has been simply wonderful. Indian weddings, while being wonderful opportunities for large numbers of people to come together in joyous celebration, have also been criticised for being vulgar and wasteful. Also, there are a lot of logistics involved, resulting in a fair bit of stress for all concerned. To this end, a soulful evening of bhajans adds a much-needed spiritual dimension to the festivities, soothes frazzled nerves, brings a sense of calm, and opens everyone up to the fact that holy matrimony must be facilitated by divine grace and with the blessings of the ancient sages. It also helps that our AOL bhajans are so vibrant and joyful, and people find themselves swept off their feet!'

On the other hand, there are many who have been pressing me to also sing at Chauthas; since it is a time when the family of the deceased must unite in strength and harmony, and spend some time in peaceful contemplation and prayer, that the departed soul may smoothly journey on to its next adventure. Having attended some very boring Chauthas in the past, where the bhajan singers were so morose, and a pall of gloom engulfed everyone present, I am inclined to agree.

The other benefit for me has been that when I do a few such professional, paid programs, it leaves me with at least twenty days a month to do seva -- teaching, travelling, coordinating rural development activities -- without which life seems incomplete. What better blessings than to make a living doing what I love most, and spending a fair bit of quality time pursuing issues that I am passionate about! Such is the grace of the Master!

In short, if people need to invite me for a professional program, they need only email my manager Ajay Kadam or mail me on this blog; whereas if an Art of Living chapter needs to invite me for a satsang or a fundraiser, then the respective Apex body or Teacher Coordinator can mail me on my work email id.

I hope this clears up any confusion over this issue, as expressed by some of you in your queries to me.

Glimpses

noreply@blogger.com (Vikram Hazra) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:23:00 +0000