We Are What We Are

Broadband was down for about 24 hours; and I had to take a friend of mine to a psychiatrist- severely distressed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, his thoughts had taken a sudden turn towards suicide. I was naturally alarmed, and spent a good part of the day with him at the clinic. So, now, having publicised my virtuous deed and gained that extra shimmer you need to shine as a holy man, let me direct you to noble thoughts.

1. Belief can be so trivialised when read superficially- but it could hold within it an inner meaning: This is a common idol found in many temples-

But in the temple of Tyagaraja at Tiruvarur, this is associated with Ajapa-

It is believed that Vishnu fashioned an image of Somaskanda and wore the image on his chest and meditated upon it in silence.

The meditative silence of the un-uttered prayer (A - Japaa), accompanied by the graceful movement in both the vertical and the horizontal planes of the Somaskanda image, in synchronization with Vishnu's meditative breath is considered to be the root of the mystical Ajapaa Natanam.

- Templenet

2. Hope you listen to this: Upadesa Saram as recited at Sri Ramansramam at the early morning has its own resonance- I can never forget the mood it evoked: and here is a recording of Martin Wolff- it has its own magnificence, but different from the metre of the Vedic chants- Upadesha Saram (5:29) by Martin Wolff

3. And this is from Tricycle Daily Dharma- I am running all over the place with this post, but so what? We are what we are!-

"If work becomes part of your spiritual practice, then your regular, daily problems cease to be only problems and become a source of inspiration."-

-Chogyam Trungpa

4. And then let's move over to this beautiful poem by Shih Te:

Behold the glow of the moon

illumine the world’s four quarters

perfect light in perfect space

a radiance that purifies

people say it waxes and wanes

but I don’t see it fade

just like a magic pearl

it shines both night and day

Via Poetry Chaikhana Blog

5. The links today are a heavy stuff- something to do with what happened today, but that's alright. Let me finish this day with a link to this great post where Michael James explains why it is alright to say that self-attentivness is in itself nirvikalpa samadhi (whatever that be)- Happiness of Being

Be Happy.