There...

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

There is a field. I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase "each other"

doesn't make any sense...

-Rumi

Urdu Day #2

Am i dreaming?! I certainly think I am... i know it might not be a great deal for a lot many people to learn a 'language' but learning Urdu script is a dream come true!
And... just now my teacher (actually anyone till now..) just told me that i have a nice handwriting!!! :O
I don't think that is ever going to happen in English... but this script itself is a work of art!

So why Urdu? what am i going to do with it? (a typical question, that was asked in my first class)
There are many reasons though i was never able to say all of them.
a) I knew for quite some time that both sides of my grandfathers used to write in urdu...but never got an opportunity to learn from either of them. =( So how can the art in the generation not be kept alive?! :P
b) As i said, i always found it as a work of art... and at some point (hopefully) i'd want to use the script in MY art too
c) Read and write of course. I am big fan of poetry... would want to try and read as much as i can !

Hoping to never lose this excitement... ;)

My second class already... and sharing the first short story that i deciphered and copied!

~desiring perfection...

Small wonder

Ready and packed! An order of 30 newspaper pens for an exhibition... :D Look who's in demand ;)

Perpetual beggary?

A few months back I was cribbing to my theatre teacher, expressing my fears of thoughts of never being able to earn a living owing to my wandering mind and expensive 'hobby' of art. I was told to pick up a biography of any artist, and I picked up Lust for Life. And here we have Vincent describing his state of perpetual beggary along with many other artists. * holding my stomach and laughing* [not on them ofcourse, but on my silly fears... holding me back.] I have got my lesson, hope you have got yours! =)

Two birds sit on the golden bough

of the pippal tree

One eats

the sweet fruit

The other watches.

Both are happy

One is happier.

Which?

-Svetasvatara Upanishad IV:6

drawing inspiration: The Art of Looking Sideways

"You show me Me, and then I show You more of Me..."

What do I know 

of you and me,

of who gets caught 

and who goes free?

-Kabir

Power of Swar

I have always felt this strong connection with sounds/words/speech, also as previously mentioned in a post, connects me to my name and has taken me to to spaces unknown and undiscovered by my Self. The power of 'swar'/note can be reverberating... seeping into your soul never really making you forget the Feeling itself. there is a strong connection with words and sounds that can almost tie you up to people and ideas. I might have left my training in hindustani classical music, but I live in music and sounds. The communication it holds is beyond imagination...

No wonder classical Sanskrit language, the language of the sages and mantras emphasizes on swar and it's accurate pronunciation to create a vibration in the Universe.

My quest for Self and swar/words/sounds brought me to experience a beautiful rendition of Katha Upanishad and Dhrupad music (which stresses more on sounds than words). I got goose-pimples when i experienced it live and recently again while viewing the webcast.
These moments of 'anand' is all that we live for?

'Seek and ye shall find...'

Sharing Swar Katha Upanishad by Sunaad, tale of the Kathopanishad, a dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama (the God of Death).

Pls do follow the link and watch the beautiful rendition. =)

swar-katha-upanishad

Love and Light