My first attempt at Poetry !!

This is my first attempt at poetry writting. Written sometime around November 2014.

The poem is dedicated to one of my closest friends and fellow adventure seeker; when he announced his wedding and the thoughts that followed.

"GUBU"

As time passes their numbers grow, 
as he settles, their count is up one more,

Mountains, ravines together we explore,
Gorging on natures beauty we adore,

People and places we love to discover,
Being restless and weary, we simply abhor,

I pray to thee to not curb those urges,
Just ring me when the child in you surges,

Will he stay as carefree as days of yore,
Or will he became an old wedded sore?

Our Deepest Fear

This inspiring poem on our deepest fear is taken from Marianne Williamson's book A Return to Love.

I first came across this poem whilst watching a Hollywood film Coach Carter. The poem is recited by one of the student when asked by the coach regarding their no-show. The poem imbibes the confidence in the student’s to give out their best and importantly shed all inhibitions.

It also highlights our reluctance to openness and being content with mediocrity.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? 
You are a child of God.

Your playing small 
Does not serve the world. 
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking 
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, 
As children do. 
We were born to make manifest 
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; 
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, 
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 


As we're liberated from our own fear, 
Our presence automatically liberates others.

How to grow your own fresh air?

This blog is adapted from a TED talk by Kamal Meattle.

Kamal  Meattle is a Delhi based businessman. Some 17 years ago, he became allergic to Delhi's air. His doctors told him that his lung capacity had gone down to 70 percent, and it was killing him. With the help of IIT, TERI, and learning’s from NASA, he discovered that there are three basic green plants, common green plants, with which we can grow all the fresh air we need indoors to keep us healthy.

The three plants are Areca palm, Mother-in-Law's Tongue and Money plant.

Areca palm is a plant which removes CO2 and converts it into oxygen. We need four shoulder-high plants per person.

Mother-in-law's Tongue, which is again a very common plant, and we call it a bedroom plant, because it converts CO2 into oxygen at night. And we need six to eight waist-high plants per person.

The third plant is Money plant, and this is again a very common plant; preferably grows in hydroponics. And this particular plant removes formaldehydes and other volatile chemicals.

An experiment conducted by them in a 50,000-square-feet, 20-year-old building having to 1,200 such plants for 300 occupantsshowed 42% probability of one's blood oxygen going up by 1% if one stays indoors in this building for 10 hours, reduced incidence of eye irritation by 52%, respiratory systems by 34%, headaches by 24%, lung impairment by 12% and asthma by 9%. Also a reduction in energy requirements of the building by an outstanding 15 percent.

Vedic Wisdom - Eating with one's hands

Eating food with the hands per an old saying- “eating food with your hands feeds not only the body but also the mind and the spirit”.

The practice of eating with the hands originated within Ayurveda teachings. The Vedic people knew the power held in the hand. The ancient native tradition of eating food with the hands is derived from the mudra practice, which is prevalent in any aspects within Hinduism.

The hands are considered the most precious organ of action. This is linked to the Vedic prayer of

“Karagrevasate Laksmih

Karamule Sarasvati

Karamadhye tu Govindah

Prabhatekara darsanam”

(On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi, on the base of your fingers is Goddess Saraswati; in the middle of your fingers is Lord Govind), which we recite whilst looking at our palms. Thus, this shloka suggests that all the divinity lies in human effort.

Our hands and feet are said to be the conduits of the five elements. The Ayurveda texts teach that each finger is an extension of one of the five elements. Through the thumb comes space; through the forefinger, air; through the mid-finger, fire; through the ring finger, water and through the little finger it is earth.Each finger aids in the transformation of food, before it passes on to internal digestion. Gathering the fingertips as they touch the food stimulates the five elements and invites Agni to bring forth the digestive juices. As well as improving digestion the person becomes more conscious of the tastes, textures and smells of the foods they are eating, which all adds to the pleasure of eating.

This is a prime example of how many things within Hindu culture may seem weird and unusual at first glance, but once a closer look is taken it is surprising, but a vast amount of knowledge is revealed.