Tuesday 13 July 2010

Make your own Paradise....


Yesterday I was like a drunken monk once again, with a severe attack of vertigo. As someone who is a minimal "sipper" of the nectar's of the gods (!), I cannot quite fathom why anyone would of their own choice, desire to weave through space in a state of tipsyhood!!!! As I valiantly moved about with the extreme self-consciousness of an idiot with sea legs, I had my friends and family protect me from falling into an untidy (heavy!) heap whilst I went out to attend to some chores, since painting was a little out of the question in my wobbly state. It was hilarious to see that I was immediately relegated (inside of their heads) as being a bit like a child that needed "strict" monitoring, and I was dealt with in an absolutely "no nonsense will be tolerated" manner. Strict wagging fingers to indicate that bending was a no-no, food intake insisted upon and "sit quiet" instructions galore! All I can say is that I knew just how much I am loved from all of this.


Which brings me to our mad home of many dimensions! The ease with which Surendran, Mithun and I have altered our ways to accommodate new ideas and experiments that are about introducing new energies and concerns into our lives and life style, comes from desiring to have an adaptability that allows us to maximize our resources, and never to remain stagnant or narrow in our thinking.


Closing oneself away from changes holds the danger of never learning new things that can bring unknown magic to your life. The risk to be open allows for many wonderful surprises, and the small bruises (if any) that may occur from this process will fade with the right methods of addressing them too.


Today we have this wonderful collective where learning sessions spill over into those interludes of sharing green tea together at night; and cake and ice cream can trigger a discourse on taste and visual aesthetics on a Sunday afternoon! Who know what tomorrow may bring into our home. I like the idea that the door is always open and that we do not feel challenged by change, and are able to adapt to things that benefit the process of our learning. My adopted granddaughter Aditi surprised us by making a power point presentation on global warming on her birthday, and by gifting each of us in the collective a present made from recycled materials. We sat in awed silence and completely humbled by the wisdom of this twelve year old child. It is precisely these magic moments of learning that risk and change can bring to one, and I am grateful that we have stayed unshackled by predictability and gifted to ourselves so much that enhances us today.


Maybe this is why our home is called Sauparnika!






4 comments:

  1. As usual, I lapped up your post with relishment...You certainly have a delightful manner of expressing yourself, even the most banal incident is given a thought-provoking dimension... there is one thing that has left me wondering...in previous posts and in this one too, you mention Aditi as your adopted granddaughter... Somehow the word ADOPTED stares at me in the face, giving me suddenly a feeling of ignorance and uneasiness...Knowing that she is being brought up with great love and care by you all,I am unable to fathom the necessity of this constant reminder that she is not of your flesh and blood...perhaps the explanation is simpler than I imagine, please enlighten us, your followers...

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  2. Aditi Kim Karolil is our best friend's daughter. Her mother is Korean artist Kim Kyoungae and her father is Prof. Ajith Prasad,a renouned archeologist, at the M.S University of Baroda. When Aditi was born, Surendran and I pledged to be her grand parents (preferring this to the tiltle of God-parents).We coined the term "adopted grand parents" because in fact she has her biological grandparents within her own personal history. We are registered at her school as her adopted grandparents and we consider her our first grandchild, as our son has yet not chosen to become a parent himself. Aditi LOVES her "title" and honors her relationship with Surendran and me in the manner in which all grandchildren do with their grandparents. For her our son Mithun is her brother whom she has nick-named Mimi since she could first utter his name! We have many "spiritual" children in our lives where their emotions and finances, their struggles and their dicipline, their heartaches and their joys and all else that makes up their lives are attended to, under the umbrella of our embrace and love. Our home holds many different relationships in its fold, and who knows what other affiliations of love and commitment will be added to this alternative family structure in the years to come. What matters is the heart and passion with which each relationship is made special.

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  3. Thank you for responding to my query...having read all your posts, I was certain that 'adopted' was not a word used with the purpose of shouting out loud a kind deed done, rather, it is just a way of naming a relationship of tenderness... Your family is certainly very lucky to have you in its environment. May I tell you something about myself? Some months ago, I had a fervent desire to meet people who would show me the way of making my life worthwhile, shake me out of a routine-like existence, guide me...one can call it a heartfelt prayer...well, believe me, since then I have been surrounded by many positive persons who inspire me in various ways to live a far more enriched life, to widen the circle of fraternity, irrespective of age, sex, caste or creed... and among these persons, is you... what does it matter if we may never know each other personally, I shall always be thankful for the opportunity that the net has given us all to help and be helped by anonymous human beings around us...so thank you once again for letting me share a little of your space and a little of your sun...

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  4. Just to rectify a phrase which seems quite away from reality...your family having 'you in its environment' I would prefer to say that you play the pivotal role in your environment, starting with your family, friends, students and even society!!! I liked your last post on our poor infrastructures...wish it didn't fall on deaf ears...alas!

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