Say I am You

I am dust particles in sunlight.
I am the round sun.

To the bits of dust I say, Stay.
To the sun, Keep moving.

I am morning mist,
and the breathing of evening.
I am wind in the top of a grove,
and surf on the cliff.

Mast, rudder, helmsman, and keel,
I am also the coral reef they founder on.

I am a tree with a trained parrot in its branches.
Silence, thought, and voice.

The musical air coming through a flute,
a spark of stone, a flickering in metal.
Both candle and the moth crazy around it.
Rose, and the nightingale lost in the fragrance.

I am all orders of being, the circling galaxy,
the evolutionary intelligence, the lift, and the falling away.

What is, and what isn't.

You who know, Jelaluddin,
You the one in all, say who I am.
Say I am you.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi

O Maanjhi Re...

ओ मांझी रे
अपना किनारा
नदिया की धारा है

सहिलों से बहने वाले
कभी सुना तो होगा कहीं
कागजों की कश्तियों का
कभी किनारा होता नहीं
कोई किनारा जो किनारे से मिले
वो अपना किनारा है
ओ मांझी रे

On fate

If fate doesn't make you laugh, then you don't get the joke.

  --Gregory David Roberts, in Shantaram

Brother Donkey

Read an interesting story recently.

The God-loving Saint Francis of Assisi referred to his body as "Brother Donkey" because of its usefulness but frequent stubbornness. In Saints That Moved the World, it is told that when Saint Francis was building the church at San Damian, he "designated his own body to serve him as beast of burden. He lifted heavy stones, one at a time, and said: 'Now, Brother Donkey, carry it to San Damian.' And when Donkey Body broke down at times under the great burden, driver Francis would encourage and calm him and sternly he would add: 'Brother Donkey, the Father wills it, we must hurry.' Then Donkey Body would obey."

It's actually very human to have conflicts between the body and mind - such as the tension when the body wants the taste of a delicious meal but the mind wants to lose weight. Or between two parts of the mind, when one can't decide which item in the store to buy for oneself. And then there is the interaction between the body, mind and the silent observer behind it all. That's the chap who knows exactly how bad you'll feel an hour after stuffing yourself, or how you'll crave the food if you restrict yourself (because he's seen it before and remembers it), and who knows that whatever you pick in the store doesn't matter at all because you probably won't end up using either item very much. This chap isn't too bothered about outcomes though, he behaves more like an interested onlooker - and most people aren't aware of him; and thus make the mistake of thinking their actions are somehow terribly important.

Shocking

What a shock it is to learn that protectors of the law in Mumbai are condoning actions as heinous as sexual harassment. Mumbai used to be a safe city once, even if girls were walking alone; and now, even if they're walking with male company, the city not only refuses to guarantee their safety; but does not even expect them to be safe.

For a police force that prides itself on being the best in India, and arrogantly displays neon road signs proclaiming the thousands jailed for drunk driving and drug abuse; this statement and their initial reluctance to file a complaint is nothing short of hypocrisy.

Sexual harassment of any kind very serious - there is nothing more fear-inducing and confidence-shattering than being a victim of such a crime. And this incident was one of the worst of its kind - involving not just a few people but a mob of more than fifty miscreants. Surely we can't ignore this by saying, "it happens"! Do we really want to let these actions be a part of our moral fabric?

This isn't a new problem - but the fact that Indian society and law-enforcement have long ignored it has allowed it to mushroom into a much more vicious animal. Given the silent acceptance of so many people towards this, it is no wonder that the perpetrators are becoming bolder. The only way out of this is to ensure that there's enough awareness of this problem and a will to combat it. That begins with recognizing that we have been grossly negligent in dealing with this issue. And then demanding action from the authorities that are tasked with running our society.

Do follow Shobha's post for more thoughts and developments.