ॐ
I am out of words to describe the beauty, intensity and essence of my recent three months stay in India. It was a truly magical journey, and the spirit of the experience as a whole still lingers very close to my heart… Had I written a postcard from Tiruvannamalai, this is what it would have said:
I’m at a loss for words… sitting on rooftops, sipping chai and keeping quiet…
Rangoli in Tiruvannamalai
The vibrant colours and elaborate patterns never cease to amaze me… Rangoli – also known as kollam in Tamil – is such a wonderful art form! It is popular among women, and is commonly done in temples, at doorways and outside homes all over India.
»God,« aunty says and smiles affectionately, touching her hand to her heart. I smile too. I don’t speak her language and she doesn’t speak mine, but with that one word she manages to express the essence of the intricate piece of art that is quickly taking form on the ground in front of us.
Karpagambal Mess, Mylapore
Omigod, I was so inspired to write some notes from the road… what I’ve been up to here in India so far. And then… and then I read back on the Twitter updates since last time I came online. AARRRGGGHHHH!!! I can’t belive this!!! Life is so bloody cruel, teasing and tempting… withholding.
VT Station, Mumbai
I’m in a yellow and black taxi just outside Mumbai airport, on my way to a hotel in the Fort Area. The full moon is shining between rooftops, appearing between hoardings boasting Hrithik Roshan’s gorgeous Provogue ads and curious pictures of 67 year old Amitabh Bachchan in his role as Auro, a 12 year old child suffering from progeria in the upcoming Hindi film Paa.
Mumbai, India
The full moon’s reflection is dancing in the sea thousands of metres below us, playing hide-and-seek… revealing itself only in sparkling glimpses between scattered islands as we move swiftly across the sky, wings spread widely. Beautiful cities between sleep and awake, resting in a blur of light and darkness… trains silently wriggling across the land as if they were glow worms… A quick stop and change of flights in Istanbul… and on the other side of midnight Mumbai is waiting for us, with arms wide open. (3 dec)
Taj Mahal
There’s a million and one reasons why I love India. Now and then I get completely overwhelmed with a deep and urgent longing for all things Indian. When that happens I usually light a couple of incense sticks and hug my mug of masala chai for comfort, silently counting the days until I’ll return… India is my Guru, and although it’s true that geographical distance doesn’t mean a thing as long as there’s a heart connection… I’m still yearning to be close to India again.
Today is one of those days, and here are some of the things that are on my mind right now.
This picture of Dal Lake (situated in Srinagar, Kashmir, India) touches me in mysterious and intimate ways. I’m at a loss for words. Thank you.
Quietly breathing through the bittersweetness of Shiva's tough love; discovering the art of becoming empty, disentangled, being undone... ॐ
ooh!! dharma!! beginning good ... middle good... end good...
"It's all stardust, equally so."~ Adyashanti
Quietly breathing through the bittersweetness of Shiva's tough love; discovering the art of becoming empty, disentangled, being undone... ॐ