Remembering Bruno!

Bruno, our pet Doberman, had passed into the mist of time, on this day, 18 years ago. Lekha and I have still not got over his loss despite the passage of time. We remember his antics and delightful capers as they remain fresh in our minds even to this day. 

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Strange but true !!!

1. In spite of so many colours - White is considered class.

2. In spite of so many voices and sounds - Silence is considered ultimate.

3. In spite of so much to eat - Fasting is considered healthy.

4. In spite of so much to travel and explore - Meditating under trees and on mountains is considered superior.

5. In spite of so much to see - Closing your eyes and looking within is apex.

6. In spite of listening to all the outside world - Voice from inside you is eternal.....

Trust your senses.

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Why & Where to Return & How to Return?

Let me share Tolstoy's famous story with you to learn, understand and decide to return : Returning......is never easy

A man went to the king. Said he was poor, he has nothing, he needs help. The king was kind. He asked, "What help is needed". The man said : "A little plot". The king said, "Come here tomorrow morning at sunrise. Run as far as you can run, that whole plot is yours. But remember, from where you start running, you have to come back by sunset, otherwise you will get nothing!

The man was happy and excited. He started running at sunrise....kept running and running; the sun had climbed over head.....but the man did not stop running.....a little more hard work.....then rest for whole life!

Evening was about to come and the man remembered, he has to return, otherwise he will not get anything! He saw he had come far away......now he had to return.....but how would he return....? The sun had turned towards the west.....the man had full breath.....he could have returned....but time was passing fast.....a little more strength to be put.....he started running at full speed.....but now he felt tired.....and he dropped dead!

The king was watching it all. He went with his colleagues where the man fell on the ground and looked at him carefully and said, "He only needed few yards of land. He was running so much without any reason!

The man wanted to return....but could not return......he returned there, from where no one comes back!

Now imagine by putting yourself in place of that man, if we are not making the same mistake that he did. We don't know the limit of our desires. Our needs are limited but our desires are infinite! We do not prepare to return in the fascination of acquiring more. And when we do, it is too late! Then we have nothing left. I was involved in the race of life, where did I reach till today? Where do I have to go and how long will I reach? We are all running without realising that the sun returns in time. Even Abhimanyu did not know about returning. We are all Abhimanyus. We also do not know how to return!

The truth is that.....Those who know how to return they know how to live, but.....it is not easy to return.

I wish that character of Tolstoy's story could have returned in time! May we all get the conscience, strength and decision to return.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10 o'clock. Did my morning work. Achu left for Kochi by about a half past 12.

Had a long chat with Ajith. Gopu and Aniyan had called.