As It IS

When we see all it is as it is
The willow is green
The flower is red
The sun is bright
The moon is silent

When we see all it is as it is
Breath is life
Life is living
Death is dying
Both are the same

When we see all it is as it is
A world of browns, darks or whites
They are but naked, colourless souls
Travellers of life-times
Embodiment of Truth

When we see all it is as it is
The Inner world is a mystery
The outer world oblivious
The inner world is the truth
The outer world is civilized

When we see all it is as it is
The oak is beautiful and so is the bamboo
Seeing existence as it is
Appreciating what ‘is’
The world reflects what we are and that is what it is

Contributed by Dhruti Shah

The naughty Makhanchor!

this day brings back many memories ,
how i dressed as krishna and my sister as radha as kids.
how i ate curd like The makhan chor..
how mom n baa told us umpteenth number of krishna stories ..
how i danced the popatyoo (a rasgarba step),
how my fifth grade friend sang 'lala ne makhan bhave re' (Baby Krishna loves butter)
and how mesmerized I was when my cousin performed the Bharat natyam Abhinaya on 'Krishna ni begane baro'..

i have always felt part of krishna.. merging with him.. there was no abyss between me and him.. he was attainable, ever-present and responsive.. emitting his energy and left me when i stopped recognizing him, connecting with him.. as my mind took over.. it was only recently he came back to me.. handing a Bhagvad geeta in my hand.. n i felt the immediate familiarity and rendezvous with the divine Lord Sri Krishna- a God of immense love, emotional release bringing tears to the eyes and smile to the face.. the friend , guide , philosopher residing in us , an overwhelming force, the fighting spirit to preserve n outlive, the very game of chess, manipulating the universe, the Santa and the genie saying your 'wish is my command' n conspiring to bring it to us..