Lesson learned a beautiful way…..

Just like any other day – I shrugged off the voice in my skull and slowly (but steadily) departed the pleasure of home sweet home to go and spend 8 boring hours in office writing blogs, checking emails, forwarding jokes, chatting, meeting friends and making plans for weekends and get-togethers… and sometime (this happens once in a blue moon Literally – touch wood) work – Yaaawn!!!

Walking (read sleeping) in my own thoughts - I woke up just for a moment to find an empty auto - err an auto with a driver (Yeah! I don’t drive an auto) to drop me till office. The vehicle just started to take my sleepy body from one place to another when just out of no-where an shabby old lady came and enquired in eloquent English “I heard you are going to this place can I please join you?”. Well!! Giving a 2nd thought (just because she spoke such a good engrezi - broken slippers, worn out sari, torn handbag – hope this defines shabby and I am not exaggerating) - “Sure mam please hop in.”

OK! so now we are 3 of us in the auto and one of them doing the talking - no gifts for guessing who – Yaaaawn!!! She started with her kids - who are not studying well and the cost of their studies. The bike which her daughter has demanded a few days back. The computer course which will cost a bomb but she is allowing her son to go ahead with. The cost of living and Bangalore in general. I was half sleeping (Yaaaawn!!) half listening (Nodding!!). All the above conversation was in English – I believe she was trying to give me complex – but Nope I am the best... you wont succeed in your tricks.

Soon or not so soon (Yaaawn!!)– we reached my office and she took out 3 crisp 10 Rupee notes and told “This is my share” of course I work in IT and I earn a peanuts – I denied – her last prompt English words were “Please keep it beta – I work as accounts assistant in the GPO and earn 40 thousand a month!!” all of the sudden I completely got up from my sleep (as if someone just poured a bucket of water on my head) my entire attitude towards her changed and I felt quite ashamed of myself. I gave her a second look and before I could say anything she disappeared in the crowd.

Looking back I feel that pang of guilt and see a wrinkled smiley face.

Art of Living!!!

I was born free of thoughts.

Was happy living like everyone else… no one taught me how to live and I never gave a thought to living. I assumed the art of living was that I was living…

My life like anyone else’s life was filled with ups and downs – tensions and no tension times – good times and bad times. I used to be bored easily with nothing to do. Did not know how to spend time with myself. Not sure if I knew how to be happy with whatever I have, had no opinion on anything which would affect my life (or anyone’s life)? Infect I was scared to give any opinion. Hardly knew what I want from life and what my purpose of living is.

And all of the sudden I was made to realize I have grown up. I was responsible for what I say. I was expected to give opinion on things and expected to say right thing at the right time. I was still the same and was living.

Finally I thought of taking control of my life and decided to join the ‘Art of Living - foundation course’ (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s) between 17June2008 to 22June2008. The course spread over the course of 2 hours each for 6 days gives you nothing (according to me) but how to relax your body after making it soo tired that for sure you will need nothing but a few minutes of rest. Getting up early morning at 5am was enough reason to not go to the class, but still I pushed my limits to open my eyes and reach the class. Definitely after the class I used to feel more relaxed for a few hours, but I don’t know if the class really helped me with anything – due to lack of sleep I was always in the zombie state, annoyed at the slightest buzz and would loose my patience at anyone near me. Finally the class was over and I was relived that I could sleep.

For four days after my course was over my alarm buzzed every day at 6am and highly motivated (to learn the art of living) I used to get up and perform the ‘Art of Living’ courses gyan (Asana and exercises). On the fifth day the bug of laziness bit me again – I switched off the alarm and went back to my pleasurable sleep. Since then daily I am marking the recurring alarm not to ring the next day ;) – I guess by now the entire week is marked without alarm.

Don’t know if I learned anything different from the gyan which my parents, teachers, elders and everyone around used to teach me when I was young. Nor do I have answers to any of my queries with which my brains were disturbed from its lazy state before joining the course, but definitely I learned - 'Once we are lazy – we are always lazy. ' Not that I am planning to change this opinion!!

Anyways life goes on and I am still living … so I guess thats what is Art of Living.