I was just grazing through net for passing time and on some website tumbled upon above pic of a girl seating calmly on stone. May be she is doing some meditation. From her posture it seems to be she is feeling very clam and peaceful from inside.
To my surprise I have imagined myself in her posture so many times. When I just had a glance of the pic it somehow connected to me immediately. It also took me back to some seashore we had visited on our recent cornwall trip in UK. We all were just sitting watching sea waves waiting for others to join. Some were busy clicking photos. There I saw this alone rock. It was a bit chilly weather that day. Wind was making us little difficult to stand. But I went ahead and climbed the rock. Even the rock was very cold but I liked the feeling of its touch to my body. And then there I was in most peaceful state after so many days of turbulence inside my mind. Wind was flowing speedily not caring about my hair. There was mixed sound of waves and wind. But I was totally at peace.
I then had just remembered about nirvana rock in kanyakumari. Vivekanand swami had done his ‘Tapascharya’ on that rock. I have never seen any photo of the rock. But this rock in cornwall and the story of that rock in kanyakumari just mingled in mind. I started feeling more and more fresh after remembering that.
I have not tried meditation from long time (my meditation may not comply with formal definitions but still I feel nice when I say I meditate ;) ). But whenever I visit such places where I get immediately attached my mind automatically takes note of it along with voices around and surroundings. I visit those places with full tranquility while I meditate.
I remember roaring voice of Trummelbach Falls in swiss. It has 10 mighty waterfalls falls in various portions of caves and cavities. Its voice was so mind exhilarating. I could not record it because water force was so much that it was sparkling water droplets everywhere. But I still remember it clearly even now.
While coming down one lady asked ‘is it worth stepping up and seeing the falls?’ with expression ‘What’s there to see in falls? :p’. I spontaneously replied ‘A must go place for a lifetime feeling you get when you are at top.’ Being in nature’s vicinity and wonder gives a different calmness to your mind.
Then there are some places which on first sight seem trivial to me and also sometimes scary. But as time proceeds they become integral parts in my mind. I just switch my minds to those places and my moods swings from nowhere to clam.
How best can I describe my home in Portland, Maine when I was deputed on a short-term project assignment for 3 months. I had liked the first view of home(balcony) while removing luggage from car. I entered home to be welcomed by two sweet girls Shweta and Mitra (Sanghmitra). My first 2 weeks just passed by in getting acquainted with the jetlag, routine, work etc etc. I used to fell asleep by 8:00 PM while Mitra is chatting with her ‘Would be - husband boyfriend’ and Shweta has yet not arrived.
Then the day came when Mitra was leaving and she woke up me early morning to say good bye. I woke up and asked if I should wake up Shweta. And What she told really trembled from head to toe. Mitra told Shweta is not at home and often she stays at her friends place. I waved good bye but was fully shaken aback. Till then I had never been sleeping alone at home. I started badly remembering my mom. I had few sleepless nights after that day. It was winter season then. No leaves on tree , no sign of life outside your home. Those who have been in US with almost ‘No human being seen, no leaves on trees , no voices around to feel alive ‘ types of environments can relate my mental state. Though I had all communication equipment, phone and laptop, net with me, it was really a hopeless feeling of aloofness. Then one day as usual I was alone preparing tea it started snowing. It was so wonderful feeling of something coming as blessings from almighty God for my rescue. Suddenly my fearful and upset mood swung to ‘lalalala…’ mood J. It was beautiful feeling watching snow falling from home window. I just loved being alone at home then. J It made me so much comfortable with self. It introduced me with myself.
I often go to my favorite home while it is snowing softly outside when I close my eyes.
One more such unusual place for me is Guava tree in backyards of my childhood home ‘Deep-jyoti’ in dapoli. Those were freedom school days. I used to be more outside home than inside. There this was my favorite guava tree. I used to pass hours just sitting on some branch doing some vague imaginations like I am seated on ratha and waving hands to people alongside road. One fantastic imagination was I am some ADIVASI girl living on tree. This left branch is my bedroom and right one is where I keep my food (only guavas J). Whenever mom used to call me I used to say ‘lagata hai jungle me koi adami aa gaya ..’ ;) like mogali and run inside home. I used to take all my books to tree for study and just after 5mins go in my world on imagination. J I also used to imagine parrots who like guavas are my friends and will leave most tasty guava for me. I used to search for parrot tasted guavas and whenever I had found one it was happiest moment ever. There was some kind of belonging I always felt when I was near that tree. More often when I am bored of work I go to this my favorite tree and keep on swinging on its branches.
Then when I used to travel from my Mom’s home to office there is ‘Pashan Lake’ in the route. Since mine was a long journey of around 1.5 hr. 90% of public used to sleep. More often driver (because he didn’t had luxury of sleeping since he was driving) and me eager (HAVARAT ;) ) for view of lake used only be awake in the bus.
In mornings, my mind used to be a cute little bird whenever I spotted late from far. I used to then fly over and over the lake. In rainy season I used to talk with ducks and ducklings. In other seasons I used to just fly or float on top of water observing azure sky in my imagination. At night since its used to be dark, I loved to feel coldness near the water. Sometimes I used to see night lamp insects (KAJAVE) . sometimes just voice of frogs and other insects. It used to tranquil my mind for my frustration in office. Whatever my be happening tomorrow this peaceful place I am gonna see every morning and night. Some things can appease your mind just with their mere existence.
It’s not that I have these favorite spots which I have actually visited. I have this ‘Holy tree’ from movie ‘AVATAR. It’s a tree with blessing and positive energy. With its mere presence your physical , mental wounds get healed. I like to imagine myself just passing through its white hair like leaves and feel blessed. I have often smelled some divine smell and fresh air while doing this imagination.
There are some smells which I feel most divine and can sooth minds. PARIJAT ,SONCHAFA and RATRANI are my favorites. Physical presence of these flowers are best required but even when I remember I feel at peace. When I say PARIJAT, I remember its story about TAPACHARYA and getting these divine heavenly flowers in return. I say RATRANI it automatically takes me to some full moon and starry night in dapoli.
And most enchanting is Latadidi’s voice. I have been listening to her SWAR since I was in womb of my mother. She is my mother’s favorite singer to the extend Mom literally worships her. I am grown up tuning up with her songs. Mom also showed me magic of words when Latadidi speaks. Like when she sings ‘kabhi tanahayiyome yu..’ its literally you feel it’s an evening engrossing you all over your body. She sings ‘naina barase rimzim rimzim… ‘ and you feel someone is speaking your agony. ‘Savan ke zhule pade hai…’ you immediately smell, see and listen rains following. ‘Aj madahosh huva jaye re….’ and you are enthralled with sweet notes.
Whenever I listen to her songs be it happy or sad songs, I feel SHASHWAT companion whatever mood I am going through.
There are just innumerable places/voices/smells where I go in my imaginations. I feel so much enlightened as God has gifted us human being with minds which can go anywhere in a wink. If you set it free it can do wonders with your moods. I have no capacity within me to understand ‘Nirvana’ state achieved by our saints and sages. But for a girl like me who likes to indulge in worldly pleasures ‘Niravana Rock’ is her most happy moments experienced/imagined ever. It’s most beautiful part of mind to be taken care forever. So dear friends take good care of and freshen up your ‘Niravana Rock’ more often !!!!!!!!
