I did not die..

Beautiful one..


Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

- Anonymous

For my favorite little one..

गोपाल दस नीरज ..

धर्म   है 

जिन मुश्किलों में मुस्कुराना हो मना,

उन मुश्किलों में मुस्कुराना धर्म है

जिस वक़्त गैर मुमकिन सा लगे,

उस वक़्त जीना फ़र्ज़ है इंसान का..

लाजिम लहर के साथ है तब खेलना,

जब हो समुन्दर पे नशा तूफ़ान का..

जिस वायु का दीपक बुझाना ध्येय हो,

उस वायु में दीपक जलाना धर्म है..

हो नहीं मंजिल कहीं जिस राह की,

उस राह चलना चाहिए इंसान को,

जिस दर्द से साड़ी उमर रोते कटे

वह दर्द पाना है ज़रूरी प्यार को..

जिस चाह का हस्ती मिटाना नाम है,

उस चाह पर हस्ती मिटाना धर्म है..

आदत पड़ी हो भूल जाने की जिसे,

हरदम उसी का नाम हो हर सांस पर

उस की खबर में ही सफ़र सारा कटे

जो हर नज़र से हर कदम हो बेखबर,

जिस आँख का आँखें चुराना काम हो,

उस आँख से आँखें मिलाना धर्म है..

जब हाथ से टूटे ना अपनी हथकड़ी 

तब मांग लो ताकत स्वयं ज़ंजीर से,

जिस दम ना थमती हो नयन सावन झड़ी,

उस दम हंसी ले लो किसी तस्वीर से,

जब गीत गाना गुनगुनाना जुर्म हो,

तब गीत गाना गुनगुनाना धर्म है..

हाँ फिर..

फिर से हर सहर का वो सूनापन 

फिर से उसे भुलाने की वो नाकाम कोशिशें 

पर कुछ तो नया है, 

हाँ .. कुछ तो नया है..

अब मैं अकेली नहीं, 

तू है, 

और अब तेरे ही सहारे मेरी हिम्मत

हर पल अपने को एक नयी उम्मीद से बाँध दिया करती है,

यूँ ही ज़िन्दगी से,

कभी ऐसे, तो कभी वैसे, नए सपने निचोड़ लिया करती है...

The real Rebel

We often talk about being a rebel..
I was lucky to witness a live rebel in front of me yesterday.
It was a toddler, around 1.5 or 2 yr of age traveling in the Delhi Metro with his mother and enjoying the panoramic views outside through the window. As restless as he was, there were so many facets he displayed in front of all of us in oblivion. Mom kind of pretended to be angry at him for asking so many questions and being so hyperactive. As she expressed her pretended anger through her bulging eyes, to our total surprise the kiddo smiled innocuously and showered his kisses and hugs over her, melting her so called anger all at once, and letting her an entry in to the NOW again.

A few excerpts,
Mom - Ganda bachcha hai ?
kiddo -"Mummy main ganda nahi hun, main achcha bachcha hun, aur aap bhi aachche ho.

Mom- Police ko bulaungi, token de de
Kiddo - hmm.. police ko? Bulao.. Laao mujhe phone do, main bulata hun!!

Mom- Pitai karun teri? Bhoot hai aagey, bhoot aa jayega yahan..
Kiddo- Mummy, pitayi kar do. Bhoot ki, meri nahi!!

ek do yun hi...

क्या खोखली बातों में जिए जाते हो मित्र, 

ज़रा तुम भी कर लो थोड़ा ज़िन्दगी का इत्र,

तो जानो के खामोशियाँ भी कहानियां सुनाये जाती हैं. 

````````````````

क्या उधार की ये ज़िन्दगी जिए जाते हो, 

क्या गैर की तस्सली में खुद को यूँ ही मनाये जाते हो,

कभी खुद ही आग के शोले बनो तो दहको तुम, 

कभी किसी प्यास में ही बेखुदी तक पहुँचो तुम, 

तो ये इल्म हो ज़रा सा ...

के ये ज़िन्दगी किस मासूमियत के वासते जी जाती है.

The regular cleansing in life ..

As I was going on with the regular jogging schema of mine around noon time in the park right at the back of our apartments there happened some insights that I share here..
A gentleman aged around 50-60 yr was brooming the fallen leaves and other stuff off the walking track. What stuck me was the patience with which he was doing his work and the gentle and timeless perseverance that was so visible. Now, those leaves will fall again, and some other stuff would be again scattered there on the tracks, still he would come again and again and do his work of cleansing with the same presence in the moment and the same concentration.
This is what I call the regular and unending process of life. We just have to do our work of cleaning the dust from the life again and again. Don't worry yourself if they keep on reappearing. your job is "to clean them up". And life is nothing but a constant process of learning and unlearning....

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

If I find myself going down and down and stuck in a vicious circle.. Here is something that when taken in with ultimate absorption, brings you back to compassion, gratitude and to life itself.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.