Dream A Koan

Hey people I came up with this short poem this time, hope you enjoy it

Relaxing it is to sleep,

Wait!! Is it really??

Oh yes undisturbed we sleep

What of the dreams..

Is it in sleep

Or when awake?

The Artifact Deciphered

Hey people this is my interpretation of the story, that inspired me to write 'The Inner Artifact'

There is a reason, for why this story came to my mind. The whole scenario of the desert is pointing to the vastness of life (most deserts are vast isn’t it?). His walking in the desert is nothing but the flow of life from the past to the present, to the future. The sand of the desert symbolizes the past (sand is refined powder of old rocks).  The action of walking is the present tense, because the archaeologist is doing it, which symbolizes that we are in the now.  He places his foot deep in the sand, which signifies a strong foundation in the past. The dropping of sand off his shoes symbolizes that he is not stuck in his past. What he sees in front of him, while walking, are the opportunities of the future.

He realizes a vague memory, while walking (that is when one is in the flow of life), mindful of the moment, his/her inner voice emerges. To the archaeologist it has emerged in the form of a building (which points to the objective in general) and specifically it has roman architecture. I have said so because I have seen such buildings having sharp tip at the roofs, which in the story, symbolizes the sharpness in the purpose of the inner voice.

Most of the times when we follow our inner voice, we get a lot of opposition from the mind and also the external world (which is like walking in the scorching sun).  Of course we need to relax and ease ourselves. But sometimes when we are truly motivated, it is so powerful, that the motivation develops a momentum in us, to keep moving forward in our endeavour.

Seldom life itself offers certain obstacles, just to test us. Indeed that is the way of life right , “Test a person first and then teach the lesson.” In the story, the archaeologist comes across a sand dune, which is difficult to climb, but then he doesn’t give up, instead he motivates himself, more and starts climbing it, to later realize, that the monument is in that place. This is more like, life putting a person in one of the toughest situations, just before stepping on the last step to accomplishing the goal.

After he ascends the dune completely, he sees the monument, which was in his mind. This is more like after a person has conquered the most challenging obstacle of life, it is more likely for that person to realize his purpose.

Once a person stands face to face in front of his vision, it feels as though like a dream, something which is unbelievable miraculous. So when the archaeologist sees the monument, he goes through a similar experience and he feels that the castles were there all along, just to welcome him. i.e., it is more like our vision and goals are just waiting for us, to welcome us, once we tap our infinite potentials. I have stressed upon limestone for two reasons. One it was used by the people long ago for construction purposes, which symbolizes that our heart/inner voice, already knows what we want out of life(the pattern of life) prior to anyone (way before anything), and the second reason is that limestone gives me a gentle feeling, which is very similar to the solace in ourselves, after realizing our purpose (after self-actualizing in a broader sense). The archaeologist sees pores in the building (when I say pores in the building, I get the pore patterns, as that on cheese), which is more symbolic to his absorbent mind. When mind is too absorbent, it is ready to observe the subtleties of life, which are more like cues to his real dreams.

Once he sees the path of his heart, he is afraid and uncertain, to walk further, which is why he sees  darkness stretching way long in the central pathway. When a person trusts himself and walks the path of his heart, though he’s afraid initially, somehow he’s guided by the elements of nature, in the most suitable way to the destination. The archaeologist in the story is similarly guided by those statues of sand, which have a fire torch (symbolic to guidance). The joy in following one’s heart is as joyful as listening to soft music, so I have mentioned that background music. I have mentioned 7 doors as number 7 has a mystic role in nature (very similar to mysticism in the journey of actualization).

I have been influenced a lot by Jungian ideas, so I have given a Jungian touch to the description of the place that the archaeologist finally arrives. The place is square like in shape, which symbolizes materialism and a sense of confinement of the physical material world (because a square has sharp corners, which are like limitations). Every person does enjoy materialism, but then after some point, there is a sense of dissatisfaction, which is when he/she tries to transcend that realm to higher liberty. 

The archaeologist sees the edges of the square like pattern to be smooth. (Imagine a square, then visualize the blunting of the sharp edges). He perceives it to be circular. Circles are symbolic to the wholeness, which is the feeling in the archaeologist as well, after coming to that place. The roof of this place has wider pores, which is metaphoric to the nature of acceptance that the archaeologist eventually learns through his journey.

When we closely observe the nature/role of water, it is a cleanser (i.e. it purifies anything in its way) and gives rise to new life forms. Similarly here in the story, the archaeologist is purified by his journey and has a new understanding of life, which has emerged from deep within him (more of an inward journey). In the story it has been depicted through his action of digging deep and finding a treasure box. This treasure box has the artifact he was searching for, which is a golden mask. The mask symbolizes identity and gold, the infinite potentials (gold is lustrous, and glitters bright, once it is refined from the process of metallurgy). Similarly a person becomes content and radiant after he’s refined from the process of life.

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The Road Map To Artifact

The poem, "The Inner Artifact" is the result of a story that conjured up, in my mind.

Walking in the deserts placing his foot deep inside the sand with each step, he hears the sound of sand dropping off his shoes, as he lifts his foot for next step. It gives him some kind of joy.

The desert.

  

While walking, he has a vague memory of a monument like structure (which he must have read of somewhere) , which has castles on both sides and a main building, huge in size, with a touch of roman architecture. He feels this is where he would find the artifact that he’s searching for, as he is an archaeologist by profession.

The window of memory

  He keeps walking in the scorching sun, which is unbearable for long time, hence he rests in shady places, where ever he finds one. But he can’t rest for long, because the whole thought and image of that place (the monument) comes to his mind and motivates him to keep going in search of it, no matter what.

 He walks for miles with motivation and all of a sudden, he has a  strange jolt of current (of hopes) passing through his body, signifying that he is  getting closer and closer to the monument in his mind.. Finally he arrives at a sand dune and gets immensely inspired to ascend it. The moment he is up half the dune, he feels cool breeze passing by and sees a monument emerging in his field of view. He is enamored with the view and climbs the dune even faster and approaches closer to the monument.

The Motivated Footsteps

 

It looked exactly like how he had it, in his vague memory. He passes in between the two castles, which makes him feel as though they were standing there all long to welcome him into that building. And from what he had in his memory, he always felt that the whole monument was made of sand and limestone. To his surprise, when he walked closer to the walls of the main building, he could smell the limestone fresh and he saw tiny pores in the walls, as he closely observed them, which he felt was symbolic to absorption.(his absorbent mind).

The Monument.

 He takes a look at the central path way, which leads into the building. The whole path way stretches out way ahead and all he sees is darkness through the path. The whole pathway gives him a chill feel which in a sense comforts him. He starts walking inside, and is surprised to see statues made of sand, holding fire torch on either sides of the door, in the path way. While walking the path he hears soft music, very similar to the intro of Hotel California - Eagles. The music gives him a pleasant feeling and he keeps walking, until he finally arrives at a place, after passing through… say roughly 7 doors.

This place is square in shape, which has soft edges, which gives him the feeling of the place being circular. The place is so quiet that, he can hear the sound of pure silence. He gets tempted to remove his shoes and does so. As he places his barefoot on the ground, it is damp sand and he can feel his foot getting wet . The roof of this place has relatively wider pores, as compared to other places. Through those pores, comes gentle rays of sun, focused at one particular point, which apparently seems to be the center of the place. He walks to the center and instantly start digging it, with his tools (willing to take action), because he finds it to be more damp (inner gut instincts), relative to other spots in that place. As he digs for a while, he encounters the shoot of sweet mineral water which he drinks completely and after digging for a while he hits a particular point which feels hard, then he is so excited, that, he clears the sand with bare hand and finds a treasure box.

 He lifts it up and opens the lid of the box, finds a glittering golden object. It blinds him for a moment, then when he gently takes it out, he recognizes it to be a golden face, which gives him fulfillment of finding the artifact within.

The Golden Mask.

What were your thoughts and feelings, reading this article? Which other songs along with Hotel California, do you think suits?(Post it in the comment section below). Subscribe via E-maul to read the articles as soon as it is published.

P.S. Image Courtesy:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Tut_Ankh_Amun_Golden_Mask.jpg

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/apr/13-long-successful-search-where-memory-lives

The Inner Artifact

You dreamt of something,

Embedded in the past.

Motivated by it,

Walked in that direction.

I hear the sand

Off your foot,

Fervor in each step

Feeling the impulse,

Of finding the treasure.

You dig deeper and deeper,

Awed are you,

To find your artifact.

Ain’t ends there.

You cleanse it,

Analyse and observe it,

In solitude.

With gentle experiments,

Helping you conclude.

Symbol of the treasure unlocked.

Share your first impression of the article in the comment section. 

P.S. Image Courtesy:Archaeology Of Ancient Egypt

The Flow Source

I came up with the poem, "The Dual Flow", when I found a similarity between rivers and people who have created history (people who are great reformers, scientists, philosophers and so on).

Rivers have a glacial origin, which is their source, symbolizing birth. Once we are born, we are destined to do something, follow a particular path just like, how a river has its own course of flow.

Glaciers, symbolizing birth.

When we go through biographies and autobiographies of scientists who have made breakthrough discoveries, life of great ascetics, pioneer business people, or be it achievers from any domain, what we commonly observe is opposition to their paths, at their initial stages. (do check Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Steve Jobs, Gautama Buddha, Edison, to get a feel) What is most astonishing in these kind of people, is that, they have followed their beliefs, (inner voice) which is so strong that, it has designed their path, which is very similar to the flow (symbolizing immense enthusiastic energy) which creates a path for the river (here river symbolizes the people) to flow amidst all the rocks (which symbolizes blocks/opposition of the society against such people).

The Tree symbolizing firm belief

 The path of the river (revolutionary people) amidst the mountains(odds of life).

When the river flows in a particular path (land), it fertilizes that land, which nurtures the growth of crops and other life forms (as you read further, you will realize that, this symbolizes growth, growth for the better), which I feel is the purpose of the river.

It gives me great joy to juxtapose the life of extraordinary people to this aspect of the river. These kind of people have been great source of inspiration for others around them, who would have observed them (the extraordinary people) from close quarters. This inspiration nurtures a new way of leading life, which would lead to the betterment of the society and the generations that come.

Fresh grass symbolizing new ideas and way of life.

Even the river can never escape the cycle, i.e. seasons (drought and rain). Amidst that, it follows its course and joins the ocean (the whole). Similarly great souls also, can never escape the ups and downs of life and yet are so committed to their purpose,  that their purpose leads to Oneness with nature and a memory in time.

The path and the joy in oneness following the fulfillment of purpose.

P.S. Dear readers your comments are a great source of inspiration for me. 

The Dual Flow

The Dual Flow

You have an origin

Like I do.

You have a course

Just as me.

You give all your best,

Cleanse your path,

Cherish life forms

And the generations that come.

I go speechless,

For the channels you create.                  

To irrigate, nurture;

As that is your purpose.

Portraying your flexibility

In Her cycles.

Joining the ocean,

Realizing oneness.

On The Shine Of The Night

Hey lovely readers welcome....
I've come up with the interpretation and my source of inspiration for writing the poem The Shine Of The Night.. Hope you have an amazing experience, going through it. Your ideas and comments will inspire me to post more articles.

The inspiration

I was feeling very private and secured. In this state, I was listening to this song called Reflection, by Tool

 Reflection, with lyrics

Click the link above to check it out..

A certain phrase caught my attention, and that was, ‘The moon tells me a secret’. So I went out, was staring at the moon and again was listening to this song. The way the song flows is awesome. This took me to a completely different state.

I started a thought experiment, and this is what inspired me to write the poem, it goes like this…

It is dark out there, and I’m lost in the woods, I’m confused which way to go. I put in all my efforts and try to find my way, meanwhile I even hear the creepy sounds of the forest and also dominantly of the crickets (I’m sure most of you would know how it sounds). My way is filled with tall trees like the eucalyptus, and also trees with huge trunk, like the banyan, which are spread in chaotic patterns which always mislead my way……. (Just imagine the whole scenario for a while). Isn’t it paralyzing?? Then I make up my mind, take a deep breath which relaxes me. Now in this relaxed state, I look up at the sky for an instance; and WOW I see the moon, FULL MOON and now I have an amazing feeling and under its light, I continue discovering my path.

The moon is so beautiful, that I keep looking at it often.. And I see stars at distance. And I’m so impressed by the beauty of the moon, that I’m connected to it in a deeper level. I can feel the moon conveying something, and I slow down and focus so that I can listen to it. This is what the moon told me. ‘Look up there at those distant stars, they have their own shine, so will you keep continuing your journey’ I get inspired by these words and I continue my journey….

I’m so engrossed in my journey that, it was dawn and I didn’t notice it. My inspiration by the moon’s words were so intense, that I had finally found my way out of the woods, and it was broad daylight, by then, and the sunrays were spread all over, as though it had embraced the whole place.

So that’s about the thought experiment. I’ve put some pictures, in order, to help you visualize the scenario ( While reading the thought experiment, think of yourself whenever you come across I)

Lost in the woods

The Cricket Chirp

The way with eucalyptus and banyan

the full moon

Dancing, inspiration from the moon

The inspiration from stars

The dawn and a walk through it

 The Shine

      

The Interpretation

Now I’d love to explain what the whole thing points to

In the thought experiment, the woods/forest symbolize confusions and the darkness symbolizes the uncertainties in our lives of which we are too afraid, so on a broader sense darkness symbolizes fear, whatever it is that we are afraid of.  This fear is so intense in us, that it paralyzes us most of the times, like we wouldn’t know what to do or how to do what we want to do. In this state we give ears to others’ opinions. (That is what the sound of crickets point to) Somehow at times, it doesn’t satisfy us ( I mean the opinions) may be because it isn’t what we expected it to be. Hence again we are disappointed. Now I think, when we are in this state, we need to pause in life ( which implies to relaxed breathing in the thought experiment) take some time, and make sure that we make an effort to think and do things in a better way, which raise our standards,. (that’s why I look at the sky in the experiment) Then when that happens, I think we get a little clarity as to what we want to do, where we want to go, and develop a desire to work towards it, which acts as our guide (the moon, which is the shine of the night, is the heart of a person, and moon’s light is what one’s heart desires or what one truly wishes to be). Now this burning desire is what keeps a person going. This desire is so inspirational to the person that he* keeps coming back to it for more motivation. The stars symbolize the great people of the past (past symbolized by the huge distances at which the stars are) , who followed their hearts too, which lead them to shine eternally. One can use these as well to get inspired. Once the person is inspired, he’s driven so immensely by it, that he’s in the flow of finding out his way, and bothered about nothing at all. So he’s determined to shape his life in a new way. (which is symbolized by the dawn, meaning a new day)

In this state even before he realizes, he would have found his way out (which is the purpose of his life) which makes him feel fulfilled and would have attained clarity (symbolized by broad day light) which is eminent in all walks of his life. As a sign of gratitude for his life (that is the journey) he starts working for the betterment of others, filed with compassion, which spreads as the shine everywhere.

Truly indeed ‘The moon does tell me a secret!!!!

*he: I’ve written he, referring to he/she       

The Shine Of The Night

Hello there my dear readers........ I know this is after a very long time. Today I'd like to share a poem, that came to me instantly, like a flash, when I was thinking of the moon. I initially named it, ' The moon tells me a secret'. But later as  I finished the poem, I thought this title (The Shine Of The Night)  would better describe the poem... Anyways read and enjoy, feel free to comment and spread a word. I'll publish the poem's interpretation shortly

Off there I see you
As a hope, bleak 
And you tell me
They are your stars.

Asking me to always look up,
I know what you symbolize!
Walking me,
Through the dark,
Into the dawn;

Portraying me to
The true shine, 
Whose rays embrace you
In gratitude and compassion.

THE VAGABOND

I wrote this poem long back, when I found it tough to express my feelings to anyone, and when I felt that my mind was completely lost.... Hence the title, The Vagabond.. Read and enjoy

Walked miles aimless

Aimless in time

Let me, be it

Time made patterns

Opened the book of life

Startled, chaos out of pattern

 Pattern out of chaos

Finally realized I

Tuned, vanishing illusions

The Untitled Ecstasy Of A Friendship

Hey cherry spectator

Earth and Sky you and I

Where it shines and rains

Droughts and Springs

Yet you are Earth and I’m Sky

At times for the birds that fly

You have springs and shrubs

On the whole we are the whole

Symbol of distant rendezvous 

Image Courtesy: unsplash.com