Ficus my bonsai
She sat in one corner of the room, forlorn and aloof. Her bony branches,stuck out naked, a maze of unkempt forms and shapes. Her frame reminded me of a danseuse caught mid motion, her slender form contorted with arms outstretched. A single row of leaves hung in there,ominous and defiant, all that remained of her once lush green leaf cover. I had got her from my friend when he moved to Texas. It was a ficus belonging to a pan tropical genus of trees shrubs and wines and to give you an idea the family of the majestic banyan tree. Best adapted for sub tropical climates with a lot of heat, rain and wind, they are a major draw for bonsai enthusiasts.
There were hardly any leaves excepting a few at the top and it being winter she had probably gone into maintainence mode. October had seen her lose all her leaves and had me worried for her health. All the leaves were gone in a couple of days and the stumpy gnarled form was all that was left. With a heavy sense of loss and trepidation I had watered it and put her down in a well lit corner of the room.
The sun was getting weaker as the days passed and a cold shrill breeze had taken over. The sun had shifted south and that meant only weak sunlight entered the home in the last part of the day. And so everyday around 3pm , Iki would stop whatever she was doing and open up the blinds. The sunlit window sill was where all for one hour, my ficus sat.
October gave way to Novemeber and things got only worse. Heat is what was called for and no the ficus didnt like the heat at home. She never took a liking for the space heater shedding 2-3 leaves in its proximity. Thats when I realised that the best bet was to put her on a window sill near the shower in the daytime when I was away at work.
One week passed and soon the holidays were just round the corner. I had given up the habit of checking on my ficus daily and usually tended to water her once a week. The dry form showed no signs of improvement and soon my schedule got the better of me. It was only after two weeks of hectic travelling that I finally got into my apartment a couple of days just before New Years eve. Two hours and a good hot shower later, I casually looked towards the window and to my surprise there sat my ficus, bare but with tiny green shoots making their presence felt.
Nature
Its eight pm and I was dead bored. Flipping aimlessly through the slew of channels; How I met your mother....yawn, Monk - not again, Friends- enough please, Food Network - maybe, the list was endlessly inane. And then my remote stopped working on channel 9 – PBS. I saw it was a nature programme and decided to watch it.
It was a story of a writer Jose Hutto who raised a rafter of wild turkeys from scratch or rather as fledglings. He cared for them as their mother and over the eighteen months he
spent with them( by the time which they had become full grown wild turkeys) there was a unspoken bond between man and bird. He even learnt how to communicate with them and
as he said they redefined the meaning of life for him. Obviously, they were wild turkeys and its in their DNA to eventually branch out and part ways. But the emotions were pretty heart touching to say the least and overall I could empathize the way he felt when the last of the turkeys flew away into the sunset after being bonded so long. It was an hour long and definitely worth seeing and refreshingly well documented in the writer's own words. So true, we have moved away from our natural selves so much that we have to pay now in order to be in touch with nature. We don’t see ourselves anymore a part of nature.
Culture, politics, religion all boil down to defining who each one of us is...an American, a Democrat, an Asian and so and so forth. But can we dig two levels deeper and see we are all human. Where is that spark, the utter realization that in the end we are all human beings in this unique one in a million stars, that we are all children of the same laws of the Universe? Can we ever ever break free of the dogma and rigmarole of identity as defined by rules and laws of our consumption based society and fancy networking sites. Is not our logic or what we call the sixth sense being obfuscated by our nonstop exposure to artificial stimuli; hooked onto the teeny weenie mobile devices or slumped in front of the big box, a passive recipient of "who knows who" promoted media, soaking it all in. Where has the questioning rationale of man come to? Or has technology made life so much easier that we now unconsciously tend to outsource our thinking to someone else in exchange for the co.
Cellphones are needed but mobile addiction is a bane. Everything has a limit and technology too should be kept within bounds before it consumes you. Throw away the handset for some time – believe me the world will not end. Head over to the nearest park or the woods. Walk among the trees, look at the pale blue sky, take in the fresh breeze, observe the ducks, dirty your hands in the soil and then wash them in the nearby stream.
Sit in a shady corner and do nothing just observe and you will find that the small place itself is abuzz with activity. From ants to birds to little spiders; its an entire universe out there. Nature is nothing to be afraid of;it is what was before all this ever was.
Do this every day if possible at least every weekend and over time youe will see how much you have come to appreciate nature. The serenity, the peace, and the aura of wholeness no mobile app, nor game nor any TV show can even think of replicating. It will also start reflecting on our character and give us tons of peace. So important that we take our children and make them appreciate nature. One other reason, why those who love the great outdoors are never home.
It was a story of a writer Jose Hutto who raised a rafter of wild turkeys from scratch or rather as fledglings. He cared for them as their mother and over the eighteen months he
spent with them( by the time which they had become full grown wild turkeys) there was a unspoken bond between man and bird. He even learnt how to communicate with them and
as he said they redefined the meaning of life for him. Obviously, they were wild turkeys and its in their DNA to eventually branch out and part ways. But the emotions were pretty heart touching to say the least and overall I could empathize the way he felt when the last of the turkeys flew away into the sunset after being bonded so long. It was an hour long and definitely worth seeing and refreshingly well documented in the writer's own words. So true, we have moved away from our natural selves so much that we have to pay now in order to be in touch with nature. We don’t see ourselves anymore a part of nature.
Culture, politics, religion all boil down to defining who each one of us is...an American, a Democrat, an Asian and so and so forth. But can we dig two levels deeper and see we are all human. Where is that spark, the utter realization that in the end we are all human beings in this unique one in a million stars, that we are all children of the same laws of the Universe? Can we ever ever break free of the dogma and rigmarole of identity as defined by rules and laws of our consumption based society and fancy networking sites. Is not our logic or what we call the sixth sense being obfuscated by our nonstop exposure to artificial stimuli; hooked onto the teeny weenie mobile devices or slumped in front of the big box, a passive recipient of "who knows who" promoted media, soaking it all in. Where has the questioning rationale of man come to? Or has technology made life so much easier that we now unconsciously tend to outsource our thinking to someone else in exchange for the co.
Cellphones are needed but mobile addiction is a bane. Everything has a limit and technology too should be kept within bounds before it consumes you. Throw away the handset for some time – believe me the world will not end. Head over to the nearest park or the woods. Walk among the trees, look at the pale blue sky, take in the fresh breeze, observe the ducks, dirty your hands in the soil and then wash them in the nearby stream.
Sit in a shady corner and do nothing just observe and you will find that the small place itself is abuzz with activity. From ants to birds to little spiders; its an entire universe out there. Nature is nothing to be afraid of;it is what was before all this ever was.
Do this every day if possible at least every weekend and over time youe will see how much you have come to appreciate nature. The serenity, the peace, and the aura of wholeness no mobile app, nor game nor any TV show can even think of replicating. It will also start reflecting on our character and give us tons of peace. So important that we take our children and make them appreciate nature. One other reason, why those who love the great outdoors are never home.
In defence of dawn
Dawn is the best time of the day to turn a fresh page; practise a hobby or two . Just having been rested the night before, the mind is the most active.
Recently I had driven outskirts to a small village to spend the night. I walked out at dawn to feel the cool rich air, the light ever so faint breeze; the incessant chatter of the sparrows and the crows; maybe thats the time they have before the King of the urban sprawl wakes up.The rhythmic coo coo of the elusive cuckoo interspersed with the caw caw of our neighbourly crow. A light drizzle fell across the grounds and the wet grass was a welcome relief for the sore feet. The sun was not out and the darkness hung in the air. Up above the star spangled sky was in dialogue.
You soak in the air and feel one with the Elements. The air, the birds, the mist and the dew soaked grass have a very (purefying) effect on the human body. No wonder many a great writer or poet prefer the pure silence of dawn for their undiluted thoughts to come through;
with daybreak come the hordes of morning walkers soaking in the freshness and giving themselves a boost for the long day ahead.
Our mind is a sponge; it soaks in everything. In the morning, do nothing, just go out at dawn and take a stroll in the park and soak in the freshness; don't even look at the newspapers to feed our ever so impulsive need for information; don't think of work or anything; absolutely nothing, just go out into the green and soak it in.
Its the only time of the day so pure, so sacred and so unperturbed by anything.
Away in far horizon I could see the denizens of buildings and concrete structures like an eerie ghost waiting for the light of the day to burst into complete cacophony.
Recently I had driven outskirts to a small village to spend the night. I walked out at dawn to feel the cool rich air, the light ever so faint breeze; the incessant chatter of the sparrows and the crows; maybe thats the time they have before the King of the urban sprawl wakes up.The rhythmic coo coo of the elusive cuckoo interspersed with the caw caw of our neighbourly crow. A light drizzle fell across the grounds and the wet grass was a welcome relief for the sore feet. The sun was not out and the darkness hung in the air. Up above the star spangled sky was in dialogue.
You soak in the air and feel one with the Elements. The air, the birds, the mist and the dew soaked grass have a very (purefying) effect on the human body. No wonder many a great writer or poet prefer the pure silence of dawn for their undiluted thoughts to come through;
with daybreak come the hordes of morning walkers soaking in the freshness and giving themselves a boost for the long day ahead.
Our mind is a sponge; it soaks in everything. In the morning, do nothing, just go out at dawn and take a stroll in the park and soak in the freshness; don't even look at the newspapers to feed our ever so impulsive need for information; don't think of work or anything; absolutely nothing, just go out into the green and soak it in.
Its the only time of the day so pure, so sacred and so unperturbed by anything.
Away in far horizon I could see the denizens of buildings and concrete structures like an eerie ghost waiting for the light of the day to burst into complete cacophony.
In defence of dawn
Dawn is the best time of the day to turn a fresh page; practise a hobby or two . Just having been rested the night before, the mind is the most active.
Recently I had driven outskirts to a small village to spend the night. I walked out at dawn to feel the cool rich air, the light ever so faint breeze; the incessant chatter of the sparrows and the crows; maybe thats the time they have before the King of the urban sprawl wakes up.The rhythmic coo coo of the elusive cuckoo interspersed with the caw caw of our neighbourly crow. A light drizzle fell across the grounds and the wet grass was a welcome relief for the sore feet. The sun was not out and the darkness hung in the air. Up above the star spangled sky was in dialogue.
You soak in the air and feel one with the Elements. The air, the birds, the mist and the dew soaked grass have a very (purefying) effect on the human body. No wonder many a great writer or poet prefer the pure silence of dawn for their undiluted thoughts to come through;
with daybreak come the hordes of morning walkers soaking in the freshness and giving themselves a boost for the
Our mind is a sponge; it soaks in everything. In the morning, do nothing, just go out at dawn and take a stroll in the park and soak in the freshness; don't even look at the newspapers to feed our ever so impulsive need for information; don't think of work or anything; absolutely nothing, just go out into the green and soak it in.
Its the only time of the day so pure, so sacred and so unperturbed by anything.
Away in far horizon I could see the denizens of buildings and concrete structures like an eerie ghost waiting for the light of the day to burst into complete cacophony.
Recently I had driven outskirts to a small village to spend the night. I walked out at dawn to feel the cool rich air, the light ever so faint breeze; the incessant chatter of the sparrows and the crows; maybe thats the time they have before the King of the urban sprawl wakes up.The rhythmic coo coo of the elusive cuckoo interspersed with the caw caw of our neighbourly crow. A light drizzle fell across the grounds and the wet grass was a welcome relief for the sore feet. The sun was not out and the darkness hung in the air. Up above the star spangled sky was in dialogue.
You soak in the air and feel one with the Elements. The air, the birds, the mist and the dew soaked grass have a very (purefying) effect on the human body. No wonder many a great writer or poet prefer the pure silence of dawn for their undiluted thoughts to come through;
with daybreak come the hordes of morning walkers soaking in the freshness and giving themselves a boost for the
Our mind is a sponge; it soaks in everything. In the morning, do nothing, just go out at dawn and take a stroll in the park and soak in the freshness; don't even look at the newspapers to feed our ever so impulsive need for information; don't think of work or anything; absolutely nothing, just go out into the green and soak it in.
Its the only time of the day so pure, so sacred and so unperturbed by anything.
Away in far horizon I could see the denizens of buildings and concrete structures like an eerie ghost waiting for the light of the day to burst into complete cacophony.
Noise
i often think there is too much noise in this world, noise which we could very well tone down , if not live totally without.Our senses are bombarded with so much information daily,its little wonder that they start to malfunction at an early age.
I find comfort in the quietness of the night, when the lights are out and the city ever so unwillingly breaks for the day. I have always wanted to write. to turn to that oft ignored being in me; the debates, the endless chatting, the ever so restless being. But then writing has often evaded me, mostly my fault, caught in the conundrum of procastination.
I have made a promise to myself, that i shall write one blog a week, this being the first.
So coming back to noise, dont u agree with me that there is too much noise out there; that we have become little more mere pawns in the chessboard of life; dictated by the ebbs n flows of the captains of industry and the government,
No no, am not against capitalism or pro communism; don't mistake me, but I mean cant we all see that where our lives have gone. Day in and day out the never ending struggle to maintain status quo;your status as a husband, a dad, the manager of a company, a good frien; that we struggle daily to live up to these expectations. We have subscribed to this idealogy that one day one day, we shall b there....and what is there is upto each ones imagination.
A day will come when i will have a million dollars and then then I shall put down my shovel. But alas, the million dollar dream will always elude you because when you have made your million, the bar has been set even more higher. Its a never ending game, the more u win, the more u want.
Yes work has its own special position in the chain of life; to channelize your existence into something productive both for society as well as yourself. But in todays world, work no longer signifies that basic essence; the sanctity of work has become intertwined with commerce, wealth and money.
So now when we work to get money, its a totally different meaning which we have given to work. Thats why so many people shuffle between 2-3 jobs. As long as we subscribe to this lifestyle and this never ending saga of the haves and have nots, we will have to suffer this noise.
so what can be done to reduce the effects of Noise on oneself.
One needs to revisit himself every second day, to connect with his inner self. meditate, read a book, paint, garden develop a second hobby or a lifestyle, something which he always liked. This will take away to a large extent the stress that comes with noise.
(my apologies to those who might feel that I was very preachy)
I find comfort in the quietness of the night, when the lights are out and the city ever so unwillingly breaks for the day. I have always wanted to write. to turn to that oft ignored being in me; the debates, the endless chatting, the ever so restless being. But then writing has often evaded me, mostly my fault, caught in the conundrum of procastination.
I have made a promise to myself, that i shall write one blog a week, this being the first.
So coming back to noise, dont u agree with me that there is too much noise out there; that we have become little more mere pawns in the chessboard of life; dictated by the ebbs n flows of the captains of industry and the government,
No no, am not against capitalism or pro communism; don't mistake me, but I mean cant we all see that where our lives have gone. Day in and day out the never ending struggle to maintain status quo;your status as a husband, a dad, the manager of a company, a good frien; that we struggle daily to live up to these expectations. We have subscribed to this idealogy that one day one day, we shall b there....and what is there is upto each ones imagination.
A day will come when i will have a million dollars and then then I shall put down my shovel. But alas, the million dollar dream will always elude you because when you have made your million, the bar has been set even more higher. Its a never ending game, the more u win, the more u want.
Yes work has its own special position in the chain of life; to channelize your existence into something productive both for society as well as yourself. But in todays world, work no longer signifies that basic essence; the sanctity of work has become intertwined with commerce, wealth and money.
So now when we work to get money, its a totally different meaning which we have given to work. Thats why so many people shuffle between 2-3 jobs. As long as we subscribe to this lifestyle and this never ending saga of the haves and have nots, we will have to suffer this noise.
so what can be done to reduce the effects of Noise on oneself.
One needs to revisit himself every second day, to connect with his inner self. meditate, read a book, paint, garden develop a second hobby or a lifestyle, something which he always liked. This will take away to a large extent the stress that comes with noise.
(my apologies to those who might feel that I was very preachy)
a wish
Far from the medley of humanity
into that valley of peace
where everlasting peace and happiness
nestle among flowers of abundance
and neither strife nor work of indignity thrives
Where flowers of all hues and colours
let forth the fragrance of love
and many a bird that roam
the endless firmament preach
the fruits of honesty and of right living
there unto myself will I build a hut
not too much just a hut and with
hands long caroused by age
plant a banyan in whose girth
long afternoons caressed by sleep
pass endless the journey whence ceases to be
in whose slender trusting tresses
children play fearlessly and in whose branches
sparrows and cuckoos and many a bird alike
sing song the beginning of a new dawn
where no fear and hence no violence
where no man goes without food
and yet no strife and no peace disturbed
where all are equal and none no more
and thus a lifetime shall pass
into that valley of peace
where everlasting peace and happiness
nestle among flowers of abundance
and neither strife nor work of indignity thrives
Where flowers of all hues and colours
let forth the fragrance of love
and many a bird that roam
the endless firmament preach
the fruits of honesty and of right living
there unto myself will I build a hut
not too much just a hut and with
hands long caroused by age
plant a banyan in whose girth
long afternoons caressed by sleep
pass endless the journey whence ceases to be
in whose slender trusting tresses
children play fearlessly and in whose branches
sparrows and cuckoos and many a bird alike
sing song the beginning of a new dawn
where no fear and hence no violence
where no man goes without food
and yet no strife and no peace disturbed
where all are equal and none no more
and thus a lifetime shall pass
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