Little Paper Boats #FridayReflections

Samara loved her little paper boats. She always wondered why but could find no logical answer for it. Floating her boats down the Kaimarama River and watching them disappear gave her immense joy. Her friends found it strange that in the era of technology in the year 2018, Sam still loved making and floating her paper boats. But the little seven year old found it magical and would say a silent prayer that her boats were safe somewhere. Perhaps someday she would discover where they ended up.

Now and then Dejuan felt a tug and raced to a little sheltered nook along the River Piedra. There the nine year old would wait and watch as little paper boats suddenly appeared in the serene waters. He often wondered where they came from and hoped that someday he would find the owner of these little boats. He collected all of them and placed them in a little wooden box in his father's shed.

~

It was the Spring of 1782 and Elizavita and Kuzma were glad the harsh Winter was finally over. The snow had started to melt and there were large puddles everywhere. While the other children jumped in and out of the puddles, Eli and Kuz would play with their favourite toys.

Eli would watch as Kuz deftly created little paper boats. "He is so clever", she would say to herself. Then he would hand her the boats and she would run to the other side of the puddle floating them one by one to Kuz. The sound of their laughter could be heard for hours.

The little ten year olds found great joy in this happy pastime and in each other's company. Both vowed they would be friends forever.

~

Wooden boxes fascinated Madhava so he was absolutely delighted when his father handed him an old wooden box for his twentieth birthday. Madhava wondered what was inside it but he wanted to open it with his special friend Meera and waited for her to arrive. Madhava and Meera were inseparable. It was like they had a cosmic bond that was unshakable. 

Eighteen year old Meera wanted to buy something special for Madhava's birthday. She wandered in and out of shops trying to find something that would light up his eyes. But try as she would she just couldn't settle on anything. She wandered into a roadside cafe to quench her thirst when she heard the strains of a bansuri (flute). She felt a strange sensation in her heart as if it called out to her. Meera ran towards the sound until she found the source of it. Bansuri clutched in her hand she ran home to get ready and prayed that Madhava would like her unusual gift.

The year 2185 had been special for Meera. It was the year she met Madhava on her eighth birthday. He was her brother Arjun's friend. From the first moment, Meera knew that Madhava was someone special for her but Madhava was a popular boy and he had no time for little Meera or at least pretended not to. Each night little Meera would pray "Hey Kanha, I know he's the one, but when will he know I'm the one"? And Madhava would lie under the stars and think of his little Meera and smile to himself.

Meera ran all the way to the beach where Madhava was waiting for her. "Hey Kanha", she prayed all the way "Please let him like my gift". With a tinge of apprehension she handed him her nicely wrapped gift. His face was expressionless as he tore off the paper and then he put it to one side and brought out the box. Meera's eyes were teary and she felt a sad tug at her heart but he was so excited about the box, so she hid her sadness and smiled at him. "I want you to open the box Meera" he said and handed it to her.

Slowly she lifted the lid and her eyes opened up in wonder. Tucked away neatly within the box were little paper boats. Spontaneously she cried "My paper boats" and then wondered what had got into her. She turned away confused and embarrassed for they were really his not hers. As she walked away to regain her composure, she heard the sound of the bansuri. Slowly she turned in amazement. Madhava and his bansuri were happily playing a little tune. "You know how to play?" she asked surprised. Madhava nodded. "Since when?" she enquired. "I've known all along" he said with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

~

Elizavita - Promise of God
Kuzma - Harmony, Universe
Dejuan - God is Merciful
Samara - watched over by God
Madhava - another name for Lord Krishna (Kanha)
Meera - was a devotee of Lord Krishna

~

Few days ago as I was listening to some instrumental music, this story took shape in my mind.
It was inspired by the song "Somewhere my love - Lara's Theme" from the movie Dr Zhivago.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrRMQsnSvAE


Written for #Friday Reflections prompt - Write an epic love story, fiction or nonfiction


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Bated Breath ... #writebravely #WriteTribeProBlogger #FridayReflections

This week's prompt at  #WriteTribeProBlogger Challenge  &  #FridayReflections is bated breath.

Dictionary meaning:

To wait with bated breath, is to wait in an anxious or excited way to see what happens next.

So here are some bated breath moments in my life:

   * Scanning the school board for my ISC results

   * Scanning the newspaper for my BCom results

   * Flying through a typhoon from Hong Kong to Singapore

   * Descending into Wellington in a gale force Northerly

   * Awaiting the outcome of an interview

   * Awaiting that little cry that tells you all is well with your baby

   *  Awaiting exam results of the kids

   * Awaiting the outcome of university applications

   * Awaiting the outcome of  hospitalisations and illnesses of loved ones

Bated breath moments can be very stressful. But I have been blessed that most of my bated breath moments have turned out favourably.

We all signed up to do this dance before we were born

~ Billy Fingers (from the book The Aferlife of Billy Fingers)

Commit to the process, detach from the outcome.
~ Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita

Share some of your bated breath moments or write your own post.

Written for:
#WriteTribeProBlogger Challenge
#FridayReflections


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The Steps Of The Temple #FridayReflections #SoCS

Update - my post was chosen as the featured post. Thank you Write Tribe

picture prompt at the Write Tribe.

Myra stood rivetted at the scene in front of her. There was something vaguely familiar which perplexed her as she had never been here before. Perhaps she had seen a picture somewhere or perhaps her mind was imagining this was familiar as she held the brochure in her hand.  The tour guide was explaining something so Myra turned her attention to him. But that nagging familiar feeling would not leave her.

Mirabai sat on the steps of the temple with tambura (musical instrument) in hand. She had dedicated her life to her beloved Lord Krishna. She would sing devotional songs to Him. People came from near and far to listen. Her poetic verses and the soothing sound of her tambura would put people into a trance like state. There was a feeling of divinity associated with her. The people felt the presence of the Great Spirit when Mirabai sang.

"This was the temple dedicated to Lord Krishna where Mirabai would sing her devotional songs" said the tour guide. "It is said that one day Mirabai walked into the temple and disappeared" he explained. "The people believe that the Lord Himself came to take her. All they found was her tambura at the feet of the idol of Lord Krishna" he continued. 

Myra felt a chill go up her spine. As they turned to leave, Myra heard the faint sound of the tambura. "Did you hear that" she asked her friend. "Not dreaming again are you Myra", her friend teased. Myra was silent, but the sound of the tambura filled her ears. "I need a sign" she prayed silently.

The little boy tugged at her skirt, a peacock feather in hand. He held it out to her. "10 paise" he said quietly. As she handed him the coin, the little boy grinned. "The tambura is blissful is it not?" he whispered.

 Written for:
#FridayReflections at The Write Tribe - Picture prompt
#SoCS - stream of consciousness - no editing - prompt Coin.

Sometimes prompts just fire up the imagination. Both prompts did that and got the thoughts flowing.



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Make No Promises #BarAThon

Make no promises. Promises keep you focused on what your mind wants you to do.

But it is the soul that knows the path you must take and that may not be the path you promised yourself or others.

When your mind is in alignment with your soul, you are in what sports people describe as "being in the zone".

How do you bring your mind in alignment with your soul - it is only with total surrender. It is what I call going with the Universal flow.

The way I exist is to simply live each day as it comes with total surrender to my Lord Rama / Lord Krishna  knowing without a shadow of doubt that He exists with me every moment of every day. And that he guides my path and takes me where I am meant to be.

I make no promises. I just know that I am in the zone when I feel the joy and bliss.

If you must make a promise, make the promise that you will do what brings your soul joy and then surrender to it.

Two years ago I wrote a post on "Paddling Downstream" as part of the AtoZ challenge. This post gives a more detailed perspective of surrender.

“The peace of God is with them whose mind and soul are in harmony, who are free from desire and wrath, who know their own soul.” 

― The Bhagavad Gita

The senses are higher than the body, the mind higher than the senses; 

above the mind is the intellect, and above the intellect is the Atman (soul). 

Thus, knowing that which is supreme, let the Atman rule the ego.

~ Lord Krishna to Prince Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita

image source http://www.widehdwallpapers.in/lord-krishna/krishna-arjuna-bhagwat-gita.html

I am participating in the Blog-a-rhythm Blogathon. A 7 day blogging festival. 
I am with Team #CrimsonRush
Day 7 prompt is Promise



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Wishful Thinking #BarAThon

As soon as I saw this prompt the song Wishful Thinking by Jim Reeves came to mind:

Wishful thinking daydreams fly

Happy visions fill the night

Untold memories fade to blue

While my heart aches just for you

Oh I would walk a thousand miles

I'd walk the seven seas

I'd come to stars in the Milky Way

Or leaves upon the trees

To see the twinkle in your eye

The devil in your smile

Hold your had touch your lips

For just a little while
(sung by Jim Reeves)

And that reminds me of Meerabai.

Meerabai sat in front of her beloved Krishna and sang the poems she composed about Him: "Mere to Giridhar Gopal dusro na koi" (For me it's only Lord Krishna and no one else).

She had dedicated her life to him. And singing to Him brought her the greatest joy and bliss. 

There was this knowing within her that her beloved Krishna was always by her side and that she shared a unique, special and eternal bond with Him. She knew that someday He would come for her.

The people thought her fanciful ideas were simply wishful thinking. The Lord doesn't just come because you call. But Meerabai steadfastly sang her devotion to her Lord.

It is said that one day Meerabai walked into the temple and vanished. It is believed that in the end her beloved Krishna came to take her to His Spiritual Abode.

source https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mirabai_and_Krishna.jpg

I believe that when we wish sincerely with a pure heart, with true devotion and love and if our wish benefits many, our prayers are always answered.

Lord Krishna says that the way to reach Him is only through love and devotion.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMtPn6-fjq0


I am participating in the Blog-a-rhythm Blogathon. A 7 day blogging festival. 
I am with Team #CrimsonRush
Day 6 prompt is Wishful Thinking



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Tiny Shoes #BarAThon

Indra the King of the demi Gods was irate. "How dare they not worship me" he thundered.

Indra's thunderbolts created the fiercest storm Vrindavan had ever seen.

Little Krishna called the people to shelter under Goverdhan Mountain which he lifted with his little finger.

The storm raged for 6 days and all the while Krishna held the mountain aloft and played his flute.

Eventually Indra gave up. The storm ceased and the waters receded.

There are many lessons in this story but the one that matches today's prompt is:

Never judge anyone by the size of their shoes. Sometimes tiny shoes are extremely large shoes to fill.


Watch this little Krishna story for more details on Krishna and Govardhan Mountain.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOhVnUA5eE


The Krishna Govardhan Mountain story is one of my favourite Krishna stories. Do you have a favourite story?


I am participating in the Blog-a-rhythm Blogathon. A 7 day blogging festival. 
I am with Team #CrimsonRush
Day 5 prompt is Tiny Shoes

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Caught Red Handed #BarAThon

Young Kanha (Lord Krishna) and his friends looked around for the pot of butter. Krishna loved butter. But today they could not find any pots.

Yashoda maiya (mother) had cleverly tied them together suspended from the ceiling.

As Krishna and his friends contemplated their next move, a little bit of butter slipped from one of the pots. The treasure had been found.

The young boys climbed on each other's shoulders and reached those elusive pots of butter. Then followed a butter feast.

Yashoda maiya was returning on home and on hearing her footsteps the young lads ran. The door opened and maiya gazed in anguish at the pots of butter and at young Krishna.

Caught red handed the young Kanha cautiously licked the last of the butter off his face.

"Did you eat the butter?" demanded an annoyed maiya.

"Mein nahi makhan khayo" (I did not eat the butter) said young Krishna with the most innocent of faces and the most endearing of eyes.

"Open your mouth" demanded maiya. Lord Krishna opened his mouth and showed her the entire Universe.

Janmashtami is the festival to celebrate Lord Krishna's birth.

When I was young, the residents of the lane where I lived would tie a pot of yoghurt with some  money. People would simulate Lord Krishna and his friends to get at the pot.

They heralded their arrival with the song "Govinda Ala Re Ala" (Govinda = Lord Krishna, has come)

I really enjoyed watching them but I believe this is now banned in Mumbai.  Such a pity. This is one childhood memory that is etched in my mind.

Here is a video of a Bollywood movie depicting the festival.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z60TE_JDsJE


Share a memory of a festival you really enjoy.


I am participating in the Blog-a-rhythm Blogathon. A 7 day blogging festival. 
I am with Team #CrimsonRush
Day 4 prompt is Caught Red Handed

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O Krishna - A guest post

Gayatri Aptekar is celebrating her 4th blogging anniversary and to mark that milestone, she is featuring bloggers via guest posts on her blog.

So when Gayatri asked me to be one of her guest bloggers I was so honoured.  And she made a special request for a poem.

Now poems for me are not something I can conjure up at will as I feel they are given to me from the other side. Of course I told Gayatri that would be no problem - ha! panic set in as I sat poised to write the words.

I tried to write some lines but really struggled. I can always tell that the poem isn't going to flow if the first line doesn't resonate with me. And after a few failed attempts, I sent up a silent prayer and down came the words ...

O Krishna play your bansuri (flute)

That brings me so much joy

That Universal melody

That makes my spirit fly

image from: Outside the Kitchen Window

O Krishna ....

Read the rest of my poem on my guest post O Krishna on Gayatri's blog Outside the Kitchen Window and wish her a happy blogging anniversary.

Thanks Gayatri for giving me this opportunity and congratulations on four years of blogging.

Linking to:
Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge



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Five Minute Friday - When

When life is humming and it is joyful, some of us are grateful and give thanks to God, some of us forget and claim life to be in our control and grasp, that we created and steered our own destiny.

When life is hard and we struggle, some of us turn to God for help and comfort, and some of us are angry at Him and blame Him for dishing out these hardships.

When major transformational change occurs in our lives through joy or hardship, these are moments when an opportunity to know God is presented. And then having lived through that, they provide us the means of Divine devotion. And from that some of us then claim to have surrendered to God. But surrender is not an easy thing to do.

When is surrender truly surrender? This is my interpretation of surrender and of course each will have their own.

When both sorrow and joy are accepted and treated alike
When we no longer work in outcomes and destinies and desire control
When the actions of others no longer upset us
When we no longer think of the fruits but only our actions
When all actions are done in love for Universal good and dedicated to God
When actions undertaken in helping others is done silently in joyfulness without need for appreciation or reciprocation.
When the only pride we have is in the love of the Divine.
When with every breath we take we are mindful of the Cosmic Breath
When we have made complete peace with our past and it no longer affects us adversely
When we are at peace with the present and ourselves
When we are at peace with the future without knowing what it is. But just knowing that it is just as it should be.
When we choose to be in the flow of the Universal force and we trust it unflinchingly.
When in every moment (good and bad) we can feel His bliss and know His truth.
When our only desire is to know God.

Then we have surrendered to Him and we are in a state of  Sat Chit Ananda 

Sat = Absolute/Divine Truth/Existence
Chit = Divine Consciousness / Love 
Ananda = Divine Bliss


How do you define Surrender?

~x~

I am the source of all spiritual and material universes, 

for everything emanates from Me.

Knowing this, the wise engage in My devotional service 

and worship Me with all their hearts.

~ Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita

Written for: Five Minute Friday - When

Linking to:
Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge
Blog-A-Rhythm


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Five Minute Friday - Keep

Contrary to last week's Five Minute Friday post, where nothing came to mind, this week it's just the opposite. So many thoughts flooding my mind for the word Keep.

I tried to stick to one theme, but the mind persists in moving in all directions. So in keeping with the way my life moves by going with the flow, I'm going with all the thoughts that are pouring in.

So here goes ...

Keep the faith when doubts start to creep in and keep hope alive no matter what. Keep the love in your heart and do all your work in the spirit of love. Love, Faith and Hope are the essence of life.

Keep the good memories alive for they bring us joy and light up those dark moments.

Keep all things authentic because keeping up appearances and trying to be someone we are not is very tiring.

Keep trying and don't give up. Sometimes success is just round the corner and too often we give up that wee bit too soon.

Keep your thoughts positive. All things are possible when we believe we can.

Keep life balanced. Trying to do many things does justice to none. Stop sometimes and smell the roses.

Keep life simple. Life just flows a lot more easily when life is uncomplicated.

Keep your focus on the important things in your life. My kids are my focus for they are my strength and joy and the breath of my life.

Keep Him forever in  our hearts and in our mind. For His love and care keep us going when life seems hard. That's certainly true for me.

What keeps you going?

~x~

Those who see Me in all things, and all things in Me, are never lost to Me,
nor am I ever lost to them

~Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita

Written for: Five Minute Friday prompt Keep

Linking to: Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge


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Five Minute Friday - Wait

Last night I started writing this post and my mind went blank. No inspiration, no thoughts, the fingers on the keyboard stood still.

So instead I decided to wait and watch what thoughts emerged overnight and if in sleep my mind found some inspiration.

Then this morning I woke up with the thoughts of sharing some words that will inspire. Again I sat and pondered over what words I could share.

And then when nothing comes to mind, I turn to Him for my inspiration. And my mind turned towards my Bhagavad Gita deck. Words from above, from the Divine Himself. What could be better. And so I will share the words that He wants us to hear today.

All good things come to those who wait. So often we are impatient and do things rashly. I think if I was determined to write the post last night I might have written one that just didn't feel good for me. In waiting I found, for myself at least, the perfect post.  So well worth the wait.

I hope the words I will share will inspire some of you.

~x~

"No effort on the yoga path is ever lost, nor can any obstacle ever hold one back forever. Just a little progress on this path can protect you from the greatest fear".

~ Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita 

Yoga in this context is spiritual practice

Written for: Five Minute Friday prompt Wait

Linking to: Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge


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Life's Jigsaw - War and Peace

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 26
The W Piece - War and Peace, The internal battle

Understanding the Vibrational Energy (or chi, prana) that flows within us and trying to stay in balance wasn't the case some years ago.

I've been through many internal wars before arriving at a place of peace.

Internal wars doesn't mean destruction it just means that I have questioned many of my own beliefs, beliefs of others, beliefs that have been passed through the ages, learned some new things, excelled at some and failed at others, left others incomplete. And there are some "wars" that have occurred between mind and heart.

Eventually my beliefs have evolved from the sum total of all these experiences and no doubt they will keep evolving.

But whereas previously I was uneasy and my mind was forever running in many directions and I felt disconnected and discontented, now I am more at peace with myself and with my world.

There came a point in my life (not long ago) when I learned to surrender completely to a higher and Divine power. That doesn't mean that I kick back my heels and expect things to be presented on a platter. It just means that I accept the course of life as it comes, to know that whatever happens is for a reason, to keep an open mind about things, to act responsibly but without attachment to the result of the action, to be contented with whatever I have.

It has truly simplified my life and it is much easier to live in the present rather than forever dwelling in the future, plotting and planning and creating unnecessary stress.

I have no idea what the future holds, I don't plan my life any more. I simply go with the flow knowing that whatever happens is just as it should be.

Peace comes from total surrender that goes beyond faith.

Abandon all attachment to the results of action and attain supreme peace.

~ Lord Krishna, The Bhagavad Gita

Wishing you peace and joy.


The Jigsaw Pieces of my journey so far

Check out some blogs participating in the AtoZ Challenge


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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LIfe's Jigsaw - Universal Divinity Speaks

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 24
The U Piece - Universal Divinity Speaks

What an awesome moment it was to see the Temple in the sky.

I believe that the Universe and the Divine constantly send us clues and messages, answer our questions or simply affirm.

They communicate with us in various ways though not always quite directly, allowing us to use our little grey cells or to seek the answers from within, that is from our soul. For the journey of life is as much physical growth (advancement of human beings) as is spiritual growth (progression of the soul to its ultimate purpose of meeting with the Divine).

I have figured out for myself that it communicates with me mostly through songs, through blogs, through certain friends, through dreams.

Most times my spirits are high and I am at ease with life but yesterday I was feeling uneasy, a little fearful of the future, my mind was at unease.

If you read my post yesterday, I was unable to form a post for the letter T. That usually happens when the mind is moving all over the place. I was also questioning my theme for this A to Z Challenge - did I pick the right theme, am I writing sense or is this the ramblings of a crazy mind?

And then I see the Temple in the sky.

Each time I am in need of some direction or some comfort, my beloved Lord speaks to me. In the last few years, my beloved Lord has spoken to me so many times - all through Divine Darshan (Divine Vision).  For the followers of my blog I have written many posts and poems on those Divine moments.

I feel blessed.

May you feel His presence in every moment of every day. Blessings to you all.

Some posts where I have written about these Divine moments:
Rose Petals At Your Feet     My Sweet Lord     The Vision of You     The Lesson

The Jigsaw Pieces of my journey so far

Check out some blogs participating in the AtoZ Challenge


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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Life's Jigsaw - Temple

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 23
The T Piece - Temple

So having written about my Soul, what could possibly follow on from that?

I couldn't make up my mind what to write for T.  I thought of Tranquillity or Thankfulness, but no words came to mind. I have written on these topics so many times that somehow writing the same thing again didn't feel right and  trying to find something new eluded me.

And then as I was looking at the sky through my lounge window this caught my eye:

And the thought that came into my head instantly was the Dwarkadhish Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

I've never been to Dwarka, Gujarat and in fact I have no idea what the temple looks like so I had to look it up and I was quite astonished at what I found.

What a totally amazing moment it was when I saw the Temple in the sky.

I am so thankful for this joyful and thrilling moment that brought tranquillity to my soul.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take

but by the moments that take our breath away. 

~ Hilary Cooper

Enjoy this very tranquil and melodious bhajan dedicated to Lord Krishna. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6JrW8e-FP0

Wishing you all moments that take your breath away.

Thank you for stopping by. Blessings to all of you.


The Jigsaw Pieces of my journey so far

Check out some blogs participating in the AtoZ Challenge


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


Drop by my facebook page Suzy's Ilation and if any of your posts needs some tlc, leave a link there and I'll drop by and give it some love.

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Life's Jigsaw - Paddling Downstream

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each little piece is an aspect of our journey through it. And when at last we find that last piece and fit it into place, we eventually see the meaning of this life.

UBC Day 18
The P Piece - Paddling Downstream

So having obsessed enough about things and with the slow dawning that life is just as it should be, that things happen for a reason far beyond what we can imagine or comprehend and that I am perfect just the way I am, I have concluded for myself (and this is for me only) that the Universe has a plan all of its own.

Life becomes easy when we accept and follow its plan even when the plan at that moment makes no sense.

Yet more often than not we continue to stubbornly follow our own plan and make life infinitely harder than necessary.

We seem to love paddling upstream, resisting the current, striving to change the course of destiny that in the first place we ourselves set up to achieve in this life.

“Do you know that you can paddle upstream your whole life, 

make yourself miserable for one reason or another 

and when you croak you’re going to go with the Flow.”

~ Abraham Hicks

The Universe has reminded me time and time again, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly, that it holds the blueprint of my destiny and that it is its plan that eventually will dominate.

I no longer plan my life.

And I have learned to have the faith and paddle downstream, to Be Here Now, to Go with the flow, to be Zen, and to Let it go.

Joy comes not in achieving a self created goal, which in my case is constantly being erased and replaced by a Divine plan, but in enjoying the moments that make up my journey through life.

You don't paddle against the current, you paddle with it. 

And if you get good at it, you throw away the oars.

~ Kris Kristofferson

The flow of the river takes all things along its path. And when the rock resists, it sits there until eventually the greater force of the river and its persisting flow wears it down.

I'm paddling downstream, going with the flow of the Universe. I've been a rock too many times that has been swiftly and strongly worn down by an ever knowing and ever loving Divine hand.

Be a doer of my works, accept Me as the supreme being and object, 

become my bhakta (devotee), be free from attachment and without enmity to all existences; for such a man comes to Me, O Pandava.

~ Lord Krishna to Prince Arjuna, Bhagvad Gita

image source: google images

Wish you a day when you are in the flow with the Universe.


Written for: A to Z Challenge and The Ultimate Blogging Challenge


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Warm Regards

Devotion and Dilemma

Written for
The Write Tribe 100 words prompt - How do I tell her him about you
The letter D at ABC Wednesday - A story depicting Devotion and Dilemma


It should've been a day of happiness and excitement, of new beginnings and love. It was her wedding day and it should've been a joyful one.

Instead she sat in the temple room in front of her beloved Giridhar Gopal and gazed at the serene face whose bansuri filled her soul with eternal bliss.

How could she love another for she had dedicated her love to him, locked him in her heart and placed her life at his feet.

Tears filling up her eyes, Meera joined her hands together and prayed. "My Lord, how do I tell him about you?"

image source: google images

Giridhar Gopal = Lord Krishna
bansuri = flute


Have a blessed day.

Drop by my facebook page Suzy's Ilation and if any of your posts needs some tlc, post a link there and I'll drop by and give it some love.

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UBC Day 13 - Strangers in the Night

Written for: Ultimate Blogging Challenge,  Write Tribe,  BlogaddaWOW

Write Tribe - 
Strangers in the Night (my prompt) - to be written in 100 words

Blogadda WOW -  
Your post must contain the word Love and you have just 5 sentences to complete your story

Update - this is now a WOW post 

In times of sorrow you comfort me, in times of joy it's your face I see.

When I stumble and fall or when life sails by smoothly, it's your hands that lift and carry me safely.

When I am weary it's your shoulder I rest on and that gives me strength to keep moving on.

You are the Light of this world, the earth, the sky, the love that touches my heart and makes my soul fly.

If perchance we meet here you'll be a stranger in the night, for I only know you when you are out of sight.

image source: google images

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Postscript:
The Strangers In The Night prompt is taken from Frank Sinatra's song that just happens to be one of my favourites. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHuko5BCFzA

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Going places - Krishna Yatra

I am taking part in the Write Tribe Festival of Words from September 1 - 7. The theme for this festival is "7" and mine is:

Going Places -  7 journeys I would like to take.

This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be but eventually I made a list and then culled back to the 7 that my heart truly rejoiced with.  And as I closed in on my 7, I was surprised that all 7 turned up in my beloved and beautiful homeland of India. 

I've always wondered what it must've been like to live in the times when the Gods walked the earth. And since I won't have the pleasure of experiencing that in this lifetime, the next best thing would be to visit the places where they lived and perhaps imagine myself in that time.

There is no particular order to my journeys, but as I'm also linking this post for the letter G at ABC Wednesday, my first is a Lord Krishna Yatra (pilgrimage or journey).

Krishna and Radha 

image source - google images

Lord Krishna was the 8th avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu one of the three Supreme God's in the Hindu religion.

Lord Krishna also lovingly known as Gopala (protector of cows), Govinda (one who enlivens the senses)  was born in Mathura and spent his childhood as a cowherd in Gokul and Vrindavan situated on the banks of the river Yamuna (a tributary of the Ganges) in the Mathura District of Uttar Pradesh. Thereafter he moved to Dwarka in Gujarat where he ruled for many years until his death.

Lord Krishna was also adored by the Gopis (cowherd girls) of Vrindavan with whom he danced. It is said that he would appear in front of each Gopi serenading each one separately. This was his Ras Lila (Divine play). The most famous of them was Radha who was the beloved of Lord Krishna. The Gopis were enchanted by the sound of Lord Krishna's bansuri (flute) and would dance while he played. Rather than a romantic twist, this was Supreme Bhakti (selfless devotion to God) and the Lord's equal love for all beings.

The Bhagavad Gita, the song of Bhagavan (God), the Hindu scriptures, was relayed by Lord Krishna via a conversation with Prince Arjun during the battle of Kurukshetra in the epic The Mahabharata. The Gita provides us with the teachings of Lord Krishna in particular the philosophy of karma. Kurukshetra is situated in the state of Haryana.

My Krishna Yatra would consist of  Gokul - Vrindavan - Mathura - Dwarka - Kurukshetra. But more than the worshipping part of the Yatra, my aim is to feel the spirits in the air, to hear the mesmerising sound of His bansuri (flute) and imagine the ras lila, to hear the comforting words of the Lord reassuring Arjun that He would return from age to age to protect the righteous, annihilate evil and re-establish dharma (right thought speech, action and duty).

And hopefully being there will transport me to that the time and place when my God walked the earth.

from Google maps - all places are approximate

Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna 

picture source Wikipedia

Vrindavan 

picture source Wikipedia

Dwarka - Dwarkadheesh Temple 

picture source Wikipedia

Prince Arjun and Lord Krishna (his charioteer) on the battlefield at Kurukshetra

image source Wikipedia

Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanir Bhavati Bharatha

Abhyuthanam Adharmasya Tadathmanam Srijamyaham.

Parithranaya Sadhunam Vinashayacha Dushkritham

Dharma Samsthapanarthaya Sambhavami Yuge Yuge 

Whenever there is a fall in righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, I manifest

For the protection of the good, for the annihilation of evil and to re-establish righteousness, I appear millennium after millennium.

~Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita~

Join me tomorrow on my second journey.

Have a Glorious day and if you get some time drop by and visit the day 1 posts  and the letter G

(my 7 journeys series can be viewed here )

Warm Regards


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