Gathered Blooms

The poem “Still Water” reflects Oneness, the Oneness in Stillness despite the apparent duality and movement. The drop in the ocean and the ocean in the drop is but water. Stillness reigns, Drops of mind emerge and Drop back into the Ocean of Stillness. Every drop, a little ocean. In the stillness of the vast waters, Small whirlpools with each drop on the ocean’s breast, Still, still in the depths. Ocean in the drop, Drop in the ocean, All is water All is still, Stillness reigns, Stillness remains, Silently I am!

Om Namo Bhagavate Shri Ramanaya It is not some dry philosophy, but the day to day happening in each of our lives, from birth to death that we have missed to pay attention to- the waking state, the dream state and the deep sleep state. "The world is a changing phenomena, an illusion." A spiritual comrade uttered in the course of a casual conversation. The conversation drifted to the three states of consciousness-the waking, dreaming and the deep sleep states. They are alternating phases. A little scrutiny, and we can understand about these three states, which we experience every day from birth to death. By the term "Real", we mean "Original", in the things that we encounter in our day to day life. We call "Original" because there is no change in them ever. So are the three states of consciousness, the waking state, where we engage in day to day activities; and the dream state, where we move about in our dreams with a different set o...

The poem, "The Path Back Home," is a reflection of a peaceful stroll, alone in nature. The path leads and dissolves into the horizon, with me....  Tiny pink and yellow flowers,  made occasional patches over the ground. The breeze in the meadow brushed past, The sun shied, behind the clouds, A Kingfisher flapped its way towards me, unaware; and swiftly turned away with an alert chirp. The three-legged dog hopped and barked; intrigued and agile, A squirrel leaped from the roof of the cowshed, onto the branch of a nearby tree. I paced the path aimlessly that stretched in front, A flock of birds took to flight, to the left from the right. A peacock started off from a branch of a tree, and flew far beyond, surprising me. A glimpse of the "Wordless One" having revealed itself, from the depths of which thoughts emerged and sunk. Thoughts of chaos showed up and slid, back into the depths of peace--a seeming paradox so long hid! A prayer arose and me...

This poem is a plea to Bhagavan Ramana in the form of the Arunachala Hill in a mood of surrender to do away with the false ‘I’, or the little ‘I.’  It is written, inspired by the talks of Brahma Sri Nochur Venkataraman on ‘Ulladhu Naarpadhu’ of Ramana Bhagavan, verse 2. Here he exposes one to a broader dimension of the ‘Fear of death’, by extending it to the changes that are constant in one’s life and not merely the death of the body. If we reflect our actions are towards steadying ourselves in order to encounter changes in future, the results of which are not in our control. There is a fear of flux starting from our own body, mind, relationships, status, prospects, fortune etc. Therefore, death is immanent in everything and a way of transcending it as per Ramana’s words is to surrender the false identity for which these changes are apparent. Furthermore, the plea is to beseech Bhagavan to hasten the process, for the fear of being entangled in any forthcoming pleasure, w...

This poem highlights the nature of the moving mind constantly looking forward for the pleasures of the future. Belief in astrology and planetary transitions are most sought after ways to know the future. Its a prayer to   the sacred Arunachala Hill worshipped as Arunachala Siva, the immovable Self to grant its immobility drawing the ever restless mind to merge in it in surrender to go beyond time. Year after year, when the (planet) transit happens, The Guru (planet) swaps positions, Spelling fortune to a few For others, distaste anew Joy eludes for some, While others refereshingly hum. The mind enjoys the rejuvenating change, Or sinks in sorrow sudden and strange! The changing Guru may cast the way of life, Interchanging upheaval of pleasure and strife, But can one rely for bliss eternal, When the mind lost in the ethereal? The true Sadguru full of Grace, The seamless unchanging reality, Leads the mind out of the dual maze, Spreading bliss unperturbed for etern...

“Better to understand for a single day the fleeting nature of things than to live for a hundred years without such understanding” - Buddha Transience is the very nature of life. Change is the only constant thing says Buddhism, and also a matter of common sense within the experience of all. We cling to aspects of life - relationships, health, career, status etc etc. Little do we realise the aspect of change inherent in all the aforesaid aspects while we indulge in them. Realisation dawns only when a cherished relationship turns sour, when disease dispels sound heath, when there is a sudden change in career etc. Change also happens for the good, but in good days one is steeped in indulgence. Change speaks better in unhappiness.  It’s when the nature of transience is understood better. The positive way of looking at change is to not to look at it as a disaster, but to consider it as simply a change. However, it seems beyond the human grasp. A simple understandin...

Om Namo Bhagavate Shri Ramanaya! The womb of miracles is Grace, which is none other than the Self. Miracles here, may be defined as not the glaring ones as in Physic powers, Clairvoyance or materialising objects etc that bears the stamp of doership. They are simply divine interference in day to day life that are too very natural, and could often escape from even an alert eye. Such were those which took place in the presence of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Any ardent seeker's life is peppered with miracles or divine interference. There are two common outlooks towards miracles. While most intellectual seekers on the path of Self realization often have a self imposed indifferent attitude towards miracles, seekers on the path of bakti or devotion often get lost in miraculous happenings. In my humble opinion, I guess focusing on Grace, the underlying factor of miracles than focusing on miraculous happenings themselves, or being aware of miracles rather than b...