Life's Problems!!

Kiddo {after a tiring day, read each line after a pause}: I want to watch the movie. I also want to sleep. I also want to hug & sleep with you.
Me {as always..... in ignore mode}
Kiddo {after a deep sigh & resignation}: Problems in my life!

I have no idea how I controlled myself from bursting out loud laughing!!!








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Salvation

She : What does your husband do?
Me {totally bored of this routine}: I am divorced
She {after a pause}: You should come with me. I will take you to my church.
Me {phrasing thank you, but no thank you in my mind}: :-)
She {sensing a reluctance in me}: Jesus will help me with your salvation. He is our savior. He will help you rid off your sin. He is your only savior.
Me {finally propping my halo correctly over my horns}:  Oooh! Thats very sweet. You have found your Jesus. I have found mine too. He is named Vishnu.

Did any one say religion is of no use????

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Elites????

Scene N
A : Does your family have caste issue?
Me : Whaaaat?
A {Rephrasing as I didn't understand it the first time :-P} : Is caste going to be a problem?
A {Continuing after a brief pause}: No... Just checking. Many of the upper caste I know are not comfortable, especially when there are elders at home.

If only A  knew where I belong!!!!

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How did you?

She {wide eyed & excited}: Wow! Kiddo got into Isha Home School?
Me {enjoying that sparkle in her eyes}: You are the first person outside the yoga community to know Isha. You have no idea how relieved I am.
She {her excitement rising a note higher}: How did you get through?
Me {now confused with that question}: Err.... I applied, she cleared the assessment, she is now in.
She {continuing with her excitement}: That is a great school. There are people I know who have been trying & couldn't get through. Isn't it very difficult to get through? How did you manage to get it done?
{And it went on for some more time..... }

Her excitement made me realize... There is a plan. The other day, I was complaining, when will things start falling into my lap. At this moment, I was rather thankful for the so-called challenges I had to tackle while I was pursuing this for Kiddo. I can now see how insignificant they were. That was my Karma. But... The universe does have a plan for her......... Prayers.

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Karma Yoga!!

"Everyone in life serves a purpose..."

I finally found the reason why Kiddo is in my life...... To teach me Karma Yoga!!!!

Thanks to the patriarchal attitude of the society, it was drilled into me that Kiddo is never mine. I am merely the caretaker. I admit here that... This concept was bitter to me until I finally connected all the dots. Now I see it as.... The patriarchal attitude help me severe any attachment I had towards Kiddo. {Check}

Thanks to the growing teen in Kiddo, now I have reached a stage where I am doing things because I have to do it. You have no idea how much of self control is required for that. You feel like strangling yourself for bringing this upon you, but... you cannot do that. Nor can you strangle the child. So... Go on with your Karma... Do what is required. {Hey... that is another check mark!}

Now all that remains is... To not get affected by the outcome. Smile at the chaos & carry on with my personal journey.
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Aaaah!

Well.... I am not as far as I used to be... It is just a matter of time dear... matter of time...
Yes! Was trying to make sense out of the third chapter of Bhagavat-Gita
O:-)

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Where are you???

Disclaimer : I am toning this down to something I can relate to. Sage Patanjali (in his Yoga Sutras) was talking about how to reach that state of eternal bliss. The mere mortal that I am... I have no clue what this so-called state of eternal bliss is. So.... I am trying to connect it with my teeny-tiny-restrictive universe. I am sticking to the usage 'practice'. It could range from your plan to go walking daily to studies (for students, age no bar). 

Some background to what I am going to say. In verses prior to the one discussed here, Sage Patanjali talks about Samadhi. Everything about Samadhi was a total bouncer for me. But then verse 1.21 & 1.22 caught my attention. 

Tivra Samvegaanaam Asannaha (One can reach the goal if they show the desire & put in appropriate effort into it) 

Mridu Madhya Adhimaathratva Tataha Api Visheshaha (And... The desire & effort can be of three grades - Mild, medium & intense) 

This was the starting point for me - You need to analyze, understand and accept where you are with respect to your conviction & practice. Based on the above two verses, we can draw up a 3x3 matrix. 

From the look of it, the worst place a person can be at is when you have - All the time in the world for your practice, but absolutely 0 conviction in what you are doing (The Mild-Conviction-Intense-Practice space). We all know that person who literally slogs his __ out, but the effort never translates into anything. Imagine a situation where you are working day in & day out, but there are no results. 

And... Don't you think the best place to be at is.... Intense-Conviction-Mild-Practice???? If we can made great things happen with the least amount of effort....... Aaah! 

Now, once we figure out where we are, we can prioritize things and work towards moving to the best place in this matrix. 

So.... Where are you today?? 

Sources : 

     Patanjali Yoga Sutras - made easy by Dr Padiki Nagaraja Rao

     ww.swamij.com

108

Me : Should we give it a try? Lets not worry about the final count, just give it a try. Like this was an experiement?? Should we?
Kid1 : Okay
Kid 2 & 3 too agreed.

It was the day after Rathasapthami. I was leading an asana session for children. This conversation happened while I was explaining the significance of Rathasaptami. We just decided to give a try at 108 Surya Namaskar. Just a trial... A personal enquiry. The kids were never trained to do a 108. The aim was not to complete 108 rounds, but to look inside and find out.... How far we can go, Are we bound by our own limitations etc.

The result??? Ooooo... One completed 108, One came close to 90 and the other around 70. The smile on their faces... Extremely humbling experience :-)

Their happiness did inspire me to participate in the 108 conducted in our community. This wouldn't be the first time I am doing a 108. I know that I can still do it. I was not planning to spend time on something I already knew. But the smile on the children's face did inspire me to pick my mat & walk to the ground.

Kiddo too had promised to join me. When she picked her yoga mat, I had mentally prepared myself to listen to her wailing around 20th round. Well... She did surprise me by completing 108 without any complain. Okkay... According to her... 107.5. In her defense, she was tired towards the end. I had asked her to sit down until she is ready to continue. She did initially sit down, but the crowd's energy made her jump up & continue. So.... she completed her 107.5 & I my 108. This is to our first 108 :-)

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