Vipassana – The Standstill Phase of My Life - (9 Oct – 20 Oct 2013)

It took me a good 1 year to wrap my brain around the concept before I even signed up for the course. I read lot of reviews about experience people had, including who completed 10 days and the ones who left it mid-way. Completely understandable, living like a monk or a nun is not for everyone. They say – you cannot do it when you are at extreme end of happiness or sadness and also if you do not see the real reason behind it. That ways, I felt, I was just at the right phase of life to do it. This was the time when I am not closed and could allow my conscious to see where the magic lies.

I called the management in Jun 2013, to my surprise, they didn’t have any vacancies until Oct and so I simply grabbed it.  Neither my friends nor my family could believe it was something I wished to do. Though, my strong head had let me stay with the idea of doing it, I cannot deny I had few moments that made me re-think about the decision.

At any rate, I thought I would write about my experience right away, but there was no way to put into words what I had been through. Apparently few relaxing weeks were also necessary in order to get out all the experience I'm about to spew on you.

I still wasn’t sure why I was there.  And I definitely didn’t know how ten days of silence could possibly solve all my problems and misery. Damn, I didn’t even know if I’d last the ten days.

But there I was.

Somewhere out in the middle of Victoria country side called Woori Yallock at Yarra.

I made the right turn towards the entry of ‘Dhamma Aloka Vipassana Meditation Centre’ and right away clicked the picture of the centre entrance board to put on fb to let the world know I was right there! Before I could refresh the page, my fb notification tinkled. It was from one of my alter ego commenting on the picture – “Turn back”. She thought I was crazy. I smiled and drove in. There were very few people around so I went on to get a first look of the centre. It was not that depressing as I thought – small cottages on a hilly area surrounded by tall pine trees gave it a peaceful and tranquil feel.

It was only post registration and parking my car in ‘female’ car parking zone I realised, I happened to do the detailed tour of Male property and not ours. I laughed at myself for being so dumb not to take notice of the tiny placards kept at small distance on the ground. But I am glad I did as thereafter I never got the chance to go in that area till we finished off with the course. This was the time when I gave away my lifeline tools (mobile and my car keys) and felt as if I have been trapped. Really, I could not go out, I could not contact anyone. No one would know what’s going on with me?? I immediately felt naked.

Happy Birthday Village Grown-up Young Boy - Bittoo

Proud of this village grown up lad who picked himself up from a little place to climb up to make this big dazzling Dubai his home. Proud because he earned it by himself, proud because he saw it all, proud bcoz he wasn’t scared to do that hard work, proud bcoz he dared to dream about it, proud bcoz he didn’t lose it during bad times, proud bcoz he created a better life for himself and his family. It doesn’t matter if you are missing on few things in life. If you look back, you would see few good times and the stories you can tell. Like it wasn’t long ago when all you wanted to was play pranks and today we see you doing big business deals. Years down the lane you will miss Arhaan’s toddler years that makes you smile today. So, as long as you have good funny life moments to talk about that makes you and others smile – Life is Good....Isn’t it?  And then there are few special days like one today and that’s about only You.

We wish lot of success and happiness your way our dear ‘Bittoo’. We wish you ‘Happy Birthday Bittoo’...Love from Our Big Clan...!!!

A Bundle Of Joy - Dushyant Singh Mor

A Bundle Of Joy!

That is what comes to my mind when I think of this boy.

If he was around you could be sure of few laughs and smiles. His smile had an aura around it. I remember this one time when we visited one of our dad’s close friend whose wife was a doctor. We were there for about 3 hours or so and the whole time she found Dushyant laughing. She commented while bidding us bye – this young boy seemed to have a funny bone.

Why Knot.....The Rule Book..???

I do have abstract, unconventional yet strong line of thoughts on Marriage & Infidelity issue. This topic discussion started this morning and I thought I need to pen down my views.

When 2 people decide to marry, they dream of a world together and do not wish to have things go wrong at any stage. Point is when you have tied the knot and are not happy. Ideally, you realised, you go separate..Simple, isn't it??  But we know it – It isn’t because it involves other lives...!!! Marriage may not be successful because of reasons other than infidelity. At the same time, infidelity can happen other than the reason of deceiving your partner as a mere ‘fun’ element. We need to understand, down the lane, we all change, our priorities change, our perceptions change but the quest is – Will the relation stay going through all of it? Marriage is a commitment zone but this relation is no good when forced upon ourselves.

I completely discard ‘infidelity’as a man or woman issue. We, by ourselves, gave or assumed that it is okay for men to go out at any stage. But when it comes to woman, no lenience expected. Also it is wrong to define‘infidelity’with the character of a person. As we say, do not judge as you haven’t walked the path. I believe, Infidelity may not happen in a relation who is not even bound legally because it is shielded by certain elements. We should be educated more on the word ‘Relationship’ rather than the word‘Marriage’ as ideally marriage should blossom out of relationship.

So, without second thoughts;  Friendship, Trust, Loyalty matters but it ‘Only Stays’when the relationship is continuously nurtured with the same intensity of “Love, Care, Respect & Understanding”. If that doesn’t happen than irrespective of what culture we belong to, we are emotional souls and we have a ‘heart’ so it would hurt..and then whatever may be the result, it will not be a pleasant one.

So for me - Marriage is not meant to be ‘Have to be done’ concept; it has been created for our own good so rather than “Entering in it with a Rule Book”, it should be regarded as something that give your life a new beautiful meaning  where there is no space for the word ‘Infidelity’..!!!