The Labyrinth of Silence

I don't know why, but for for last few days these words are echoing in my mind "i want to be in my labyrinth of silence".  Honestly I didn't know what do these words mean... even literally. I thought labyrinth was some narrow pathway. Probably, i got this idea from Biology lessons of human physiology, structure of human ear. So, I was quite surprised that a word is hitting me again and again, and I don't really know what it means.

And, it was strange that I, in all the clutter surrounding me, was looking for some introspective time, and these words kept coming back to me.  So, i felt like writing about it and only then did I google search it. And this is what I got :

"Labyrinths are geometric forms that define sacred space. They have been around for over 4000 years and are contained in every major religion. To walk the path is to make a pilgrimage that calms the mind so the person can reflect on the journey of life.

The centre is surrounded by 6 petals said to symbolise mineral, vegetable, animal, human, angelic and the divine. Some believe labyrinths were used to track lunar months and depict the orbit of the Mercury.

Walking into the centre of the labyrinth is the period of letting go, calming and empting oneself. The centre is for determining what it is that one actually requires from life and walking out is for gathering together oneself and experiencing wholeness and integration. [Adapted from writings by M. Crosby] " Content courtesy this site.

Then, here I got the symbolic meaning of the word ' labyrinth'. What I understood that is that walking in a labyrinth, you spend time introspecting, and  somewhere you can connect to yourself. So, a path created like that called labyrinth is actually something you can create in your mind too.... doing the same thing in your mind.

I don't know whether I can actually afford to go so quiet, but there is something in me, which is forcing me to go silent somewhere.... may be I am already silent on some level.

It's a strange thing, when you are talking with people, working in office, teaching your kids and still silent, inside.

Does that happen to you too?

take care

RESTLESS

PS: Am sorry dear pals, I'm just not able to read your blogs.... hope u'll understand.

Don't Fall........ RISE in Love

It's Valentine's Day today.

A lot has been said against the celebration of this day... by many.... for many reasons.

But still, love is one emotion without which human existence may not be possible, or else I should say, we are not worthy of being called "human beings' if we cannot love.

It is said that love of a mother for her children is the purest of all followed by that of a sister for her brother.  It's unconditional.

And without love for your woman or man, life on earth cannot be possible.

What can I say about love, so i just thought of putting some quotes on love (the man woman context) , which make a lot of sense to me.  Here they are:-

“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don’t, they never were. ”          - Kahlil Gibran

"Our love is a relationship. And when love is a relationship, it creates misery. When love is a state of being, it creates bliss. A Buddha is also in love, but he is not trying to love you. Simply because of the way he is, love spreads. Love becomes a perfume and goes to the far comers of the earth."                                                                   -Osho

"But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."     

                                                                                              - Khalil Gibran

                                                                                                         

"Love is not a relationship between two persons. It is a state of mind within yourself. If you are loving, you are loving to everybody — not only to persons, but to things as well. Love moves from you to objects also. Even when you are alone, when no one is there, you are loving. It is just like breathing. If I take an oath that I will breathe only when I am with you, only death can follow. Breathing is not relationship; it is not tied to any relationship. And for the etheric body, love is just like breathing. It is its breath."                                                                                      

                                                                                                  - Osho

Have a lovely day!

RESTLESS

Pic courtesy:http://infinityiitd.com

Dhobi Ghat - The Intersections of Lives

Watching Dhobi Ghat, the movie, was like eating a gol-gappa or pani-puri or pani-patasha, whatever it is called in the different States of our country! You chew the crunchy crust.... relish on the soft and subtle boiled potato pieces laden nicely with some sweet and sour chutney.... no break in between (!).  But just as the spicy masala water of gol gappa hits a little later, the same way the movie... its impact hits you, at least it hit me slightly later.

Amir Khan

I have to say that, although there was no story as such, no beginning and no end, as we are used to see in Hindi movies, but this movie does make an impact on the audiences' mind.  It's subtlety hits you after you thought you have seen what you were shown.  Each character has been chiseled out with appropriateness.  The motive of each one is subtly reflected by their actions.  And the overall view of the movie does not let you move your eyes away from the screen throughout those one and a half hours.

The beginning fascinated me. The frames showing the vast difference in the living or rather the structures of the buildings of Mumbai.  A slender building labourer works tirelessly against the backdrop of the many high rise buildings.  A phenomenon seen in every city, but captured by very few.

Interestingly, the story is a depiction of lives for four people living or who have lived in that space, at that time. I shall not be writing about the storyline.  But a genre of a movie like this definitely begins an era of movies where the portrayal of a common man is more real... away from the fantasy land... away from the idealistic way we want to see our heroes.  There is no "I love  you" and there is no hero chasing the heroine and no villain and no fighting.  It's not about love, for a change! It's about the ordinary life people lead... their desperations, their aspirations, their desires and their disappointments.

One thing which surely moves you is the way the character of Praeek Babbar is shown, and the way he has done justice to the role. He is really impressive and he surely takes the limelight away from all other characters in the movie, not that Amir Khan was wanting to steal any.  As a poor boy from a small town, now working as a washer man, dhobi, and basking in the appreciative eyes and smiles of a beautiful and elite young lady, he has done a fabulous job by being just right - shy, embarrassed, infatuated, and even hurt.... things were subtle... yet they move you.

The only one thing, which I don't like is the title "Dhobi Ghat". Why? because it does not really capture the whole essence of the movie. If someone asked me (!) I would have named it as "intersections"  as the lives of these individuals intersect at some point... sometimes faintly, but it does.  Dhobi Ghat, i feel, simply tries to capture the urban village aspect of our cities and also tries to showcase the Indianness, the ordinary Indianness of the people.

Praeek Babbar

The best part of the movie was the many unsaid things, the many unsaid relationships which, for a change this time does not proclaim about the  "janam janam ka pyaar"(!!!).  The temporariness of relationships, or rather i should say causal relations, sexual relations of need, of desire, of lust, of convenience where strewen around.  Does that show the changing face of our society?  Does that not show how convenience prevails in relationships?  Does it depict what was prevalent in the society always but was not really expressed before?  Does it not show that love is not the only thing which brings people together... in non-committal bonds of convenience and physical proximity? Somewhere it disturbs you.

Some where you seem to be facing the real picture.  An Indian audience, so carried away by the dreamy world of lush green fields, or rose gardens full with plump flowers and the love laden young, well dressed and good looking boy and a girl, finding their way in the open blue skies... aren't we so happy seeing those almost dream like pictures?!

This movie sheds light on those unsaid moments, those unsaid emotions which may not find a name, a respectable name in the dictionary of those who thought relations have to be sealed with commitment.  (By this am not expressing my personal views about commitment in relationships).

I can't call it a path breaking movie, or a arty movie which you want to relate back after some time, but definitely it leaves a mark on your mind, just as the the spicy gol-gappas remind you of it's flavour much after you had it!

Have you seen the movie? Let me know how you think about it? Does the fragility of relationships based on convenience disturb you? Let me know.

RESTLESS

image coutesy:imageworldblog.blogspot.com and bollywoodhindimovies.net

Sweet Nothings - Salty Somethings!

At times, there are so many things I want to say to you, dear blogger pals, but it just happens that the idea or the time just slips out of my hands, like sand.  Just because I want  my idea or thought to be well worded, well researched (most of the times), that I miss out on those small little expressions, those small little sweet nothings I want to say!  And at times, when something rough has got rubbed against my skin (winter dried!!) I want to just scream and tell how do I feel and think about it, so those Salty Somethings also run out of my hand.

So, I think, I'll be writing those small or sometimes big thoughts in my blog as mini posts - which I will be putting in the new tag called - Sweet Nothings - Salty Somethings !!

How about that?!



I just had to look up.. and this beautiful view awaited me... even the branches devoid of leaves are so beautiful!



Ok, To start with, I was thinking that how do you know you had a great vacation?  I mean, it doesn't happen always that you go for a well planned vacation and it turns out to be equally great and relaxing, sometimes things go wrong also - hotel bookings or too much of travelling, which make us feel even more tired after we are back from the vacation. So, how do you know, you had a great vacation? What's the barometer for you?

As for me, which I have just realised, is that, when you don't feel like working and being in your normal set of life and you still miss the place of vacation ( Mountains for me!) then you know you had a great time!

I am missing that week long vacation, the mountains, the snow, the friends group, the food (which I just had to order, ah relief from cooking!!) and the loads of fun we had together. 

I know, and thank God!, I had a great vacation!!

How about you? Did you ever found yourself missing the place you visited for a short while?  Tell me!

RESTLESS