Friday, September 23, 2016

The Yogi

Yogi was not aware that as he was floating, he could have floated anywhere. He never knew the depth, he never could..there was no system, there was no breath that could tell him with a steep rise that this was it..stop!and as much as he enjoyed the flow, he was also perturbed that he was not in control. Suddenly a jerk to the right and he was awake, and she was standing, a lady in white saari, somehow very different from a human form..she was never meant to be standing there, how and from where did she suddenly come?

She knew everything. She was angry yet very kind, She said everything yet she was silent. Yogi could not move a bit, rather he understood why suddenly a lady, wrapped in while silk, was standing in front of her window right next to the bed and staring at him with those sparky eyes. It was Yogi's first night of sleeping alone in the other room, away from parents and he knew she was saying"Dear Yogi beta!don't wander across streets which is not yours. This body is your possession, do not loose it until its time". Gradually a current went through Yogi's body and the goosebumps made him feel more vulnerable to her might. Earlier he never had such visits. He never went this far too as he went today. Perhaps because a lone wolf becomes more free of surroundings and reaches out farther than usual. Whatever be but now as he felt helpless, he shouted in panic, looking away from the lady, and this time he was awake, for good! He could hear his father open his bedroom gates to go to the washroom outside. Yogi ran out and reached for his father but just not loosing his respect, as a boy entering manhood, slowly he said" hey pa, you are up too, lets visit the washrooms together" His father looked at him with sleepy eyes and that was the end of it.

Its been few years now after that incident. Yogi tried to wander the same way in his sleeps as he used to do when he was a kid, but somehow it seemed impossible. Gradually he started forgetting the incidents as bad dreams and tried to move up with his life. However, he would always discuss with his close friends, few interested strangers, and others about the phenomena where he felt like running in thick air in his sleep, more like jumping with very high intensity, and seeing the world at a very minute level from a very higher ground. Many people would would listen patiently, few would ignore telling him to concentrate on more constructive things. Some people would tell him that there are others who have also felt such things. Those people relate it to past life experiences, some would even say these are infatuations of a fatigue mind. But Yogi would always differ stating he was never tired as a kid when he had such encounters.

More years passed by, Yogi has become an adult now. He met a friend from Baba Ramdev's Yoga club. While he appreciated the effects of Yoga in his day to day life, Yogi somehow also enjoyed the enchanting silence that his soul experienced while doing yoga. Yogi had mastered many difficult postures of Yogasana- "Eka Hasta Vrksasana", "Sirsa Padasana", "Pungu Mayurasana","Gandha Bherundasana", "Sayanasana","Kala Bhairavasana", "Taraksvasana","Double Buddhasana", and so on. "Yoganidrasana" in particular had become Yogi's personnel favorite. His eyesight had earlier become poor since past few years but through continuous yoga practice now, Yogi was able to correct it to a great extent. Yogi was beginning to feel that touch of refiness in his mood swings too. He was able to feel more control over his body, soul and above all his mind.

He could feel the power within. One bounce at the edge and Yogi could now fly miles up, also having a view and control of everything around him and his body. He was away from the reach of his family deity also who had once controlled her while he was scared kid. She could now perhaps not match his strength, as so Yogi felt. Where is this unlimited power going to take Yogi, is there a next level, a different world, a different plane, with different set of rules? Is Yogi ready for all this?

Monday, September 19, 2016

Reflections of an auto biography

CHAPTER 1: My daily walk to School
(Excerpts from life of a man who devoted his life for others, a true story!)


I could not open my eyes though the daylight has already poured in. I explained my exhausted body that Perhaps I will sleep early tonight. Last night I could not manage. I had to finish my studies and I had also promised my cousin brother Devan bhai that I will wash out the dungs off the floor of his cow shed. I did that last night and perhaps I will study less today and have a good night sleep. I will sleep more than 5 hours. Yes, that will certainly take away the fatigue I am feeling now!
As, I prepared myself to help my mind get control of my body, I remembered there is a hell lot to do today. It was 5 AM and the air was pretty lazy but then I gathered myself to start my day.

The neem sticks cleared the pinches of dirt out of my mouth and I loudly goggled them out with the hand pump water. At 7 Am sharp masterji wanted me in the class. I never wanted to irate him but the school was 7 kilometres away, I could have always reached in time if I had one of those slippers that the son of mukhiaji used to wear. Even if he did not need those since his servant used to leave him at school by bicycle. I could have run faster with those slippers on! I could have always reached in time. However, masterji always showed interest in teaching me then daunting me for being late. He knows my father, who is a renowned astrologer in the village. And though masterji’s village is 2 villages away, he has this faith in my father that he allows me to learn and that though I am generally late but my enthusiasm for learning has never missed his eyes!

Today I won’t be late. I am finished with all my work and I only need a little breakfast. A sweet mango from the orchid would suffice. Talking to myself, planning the day ahead, I was suddenly stopped by Devan bhai’s strong remarks- Birju! What the hell are you upto! You are going to studies this early? What do you want to do in life? Chase big dreams and loose! Or take a small leap by learning cultivation and stuff ! Be a successful farmer! C’mon go and prepare food for the ox. We will go to farms then, once the oxen  are ready!

I couldn’t stop myself following his words. After all I was a 12 year old boy with little resources at my father’s footstep. I was born fourth among my brothers. I have looked upon my two elder brothers like my father. Being attached to my father, I followed his each word like words inscribed on my mind. I have always feared his eyes. I need never hear orders from his lips. His eyes were enough for me to follow.

This inculcation of respect for elders stopped me from replying to Devan bhai, who was pretty older than me. So I followed, however I wanted to tell him, I am a creature of unbeatable attitude brother. I will not stop, come what may. That I’ll stand by my loved one’s and I’ll still achieve my goals too. I’ll never say no. Engrossed in my thoughts, I realized my fingers were bleeding from the cuts of the grass cutter! I ignored them since I knew I can still reach the classes in time if I hurry. So I hurried. Applied soil on the wounds and hurried with Devan bhai to the fields. The ox’s were fast with their early morning diet so we reached fields before 6:30. Now, in few minutes, I’ll slip by when Devan bhai is engrossed in the field work!

The sun is up early today or I am late. Will I reach my classes on time? With my slate and bag of books, I was running at my peak, I had been crossing field by field in a hurry but still I think, I would be late today. I am happy that God has given me a father who understands education. I think knowledge is a necessary tool to carve a bright future. Even if I become a farmer, education will make me a wise farmer. Although, I adore masterji, and aspire to be like him some day. It is really fulfilling to let others know what you know, to impart in others everything you have.

I think that I have reached near the school because my legs are hurting exactly the way it hurts every day after this run. Drenched in sweat, I must first visit the well nearby because masterji’s regard for cleanliness is well known. As I drank the water and cleaned my clothes and legs to reach the class, the tiredness melted away with the water and thrust for the knowledge. This is not an irony that every kid is not born with a silver spoon but it would really be an irony for me if some day my kid will also have to run to his school like me. That will mean my generation will be stagnant and I will not let that happen. We will learn and grow generation upon generation and create a healthier and prosperous world, for our forefathers are watching us from the heaven and looking forward to us!

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