A Soul-searching Saga to Calm Your Mind

Book Review: Karmic City- The City of Lord Brahma

Author: Hema Myer Sood

Rating: 4.5/5

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/35GvBxk

Hema Sood’s thought-provoking book ‘Karmic City: The City of Lord Brahma’ is deep, soothing, and insightful. It is the author’s first book in the ‘Karmic City’ trilogy. As I started reading this inspiring tale, I was enamoured by the vastness of the subject the author has chosen and the beauty with which she has expressed her points of view on a variety of ideas. The book encourages readers to dream and exercise the inherent power of their imagination. It elucidates how tapping the energies within us and channelizing them in the right direction can lead us to unravel the mysteries that have intrigued people since ages. 

This unconventional story revolves around an entity, aptly called ‘Soul’. The Soul guides the key characters in the book – Aditi, Vaidehi, Virat, and Kartik – towards their path of destiny and encourages them to deep-dive into soul-searching. The story progresses through the spiritual experiences and realisations of the characters and their conversations with Soul. Though the Soul talks about Lord Brahma and gives references from holy Hindu scriptures, this is not a book about religion. It seeks to establish the undeniable bond that exists between an individual and their soul. Each soul has its own journey and with concentration and meditation, one can attain wisdom. The positivity in the book is sure to rub on you.

The references to the Cosmos, the seven auric layers, and the five elements was invigorating. I learned something new and am intrigued to read the other two books in the trilogy now. Though I may not completely agree with all the concepts discussed in the book, I applaud the author on her extensive research, spiritual knowledge, and impactful insights. It is never easy to write a book like this one!

The author’s writing style is captivating and her language is flawless. The writing is powerfully soothing and, in many places, it reminded me of my favourite author Paulo Coelho. I was in awe of the beautiful poetry in the book, all penned by the author herself. 

This book is a guide to positivity and can help you focus on your chosen goal in life. Apart from those interested in spiritual readings and motivational books, I would highly recommend this book to students of philosophy and psychology.

Delighted to receive an autographed copy of
the book from the author :)

The Feeling of Guilt

How often does the feeling of guilt bug you? Do you lament over the thought that you are not being able to live up to your family's expectations? Guilt enters our lives in more ways than we can imagine.

You can feel guilty if you had that extra piece of chocolate which you forbade your kid to have. You can feel guilty giving a flimsy excuse to your family and sneaking out to enjoy your 'me time'. You can feel guilty for not earning enough. You can feel guilty lying to someone just because you want to avoid them. The list is endless.

More than anything, we feel guilty when we want to do something solely for ourselves. We think a hundred times before planning a quiet weekend, sceptical that it might offend the family. I know several people who have sacrificed their dreams only because they felt guilty about putting their own interest above the others. They have let years pass by. Now in their twilight years, they regret not having done what they always wanted to do.

That is exactly what guilt does to us. It eats into our present and disturbs our future. It makes us unhappy and forces us to unwillingly make sacrifices to please others. What we don't realize is that sometimes those repeated selfless acts turn into expectations.

For example, if you are spoon-feeding someone every day, you will be loved and appreciated initially. Soon, it becomes a routine. The day you stop, you will not just annoy the other person, they will blame you for being selfish. Because, it has become a habit for them to expect the spoon-feeding from you. Similarly, if you are offering money to an able family member in need continuously, the person is slowly turning into a parasite. S/he will always be in need of money and will have a tendency to take advantage of your goodness. Just refuse them the money once and you will see their true colours. Of course, only if you are able to get rid of your feeling of guilt first.

Photo by Mike Greer from Pexels

Perhaps there is no perfect way or approach to kill that guilt-feeling.

But you can always make a beginning by setting daily goals. For example, "I will complete these 3 things today, regardless of everything and NOT feel guilty." How often do we feel guilty for depriving ourselves of the little flickers of happiness we deserve to enjoy? Rarely. Those unfulfilled desires translate into regrets later in life.

Even on this day, there are thousands of school-girls especially in villages who feel guilty for going to school and not being able to help their mother with household chores. There are 21st century superwomen who feel guilty for going to office and leaving their child with a family member or a babysitter. There are people, both men and women who stay unmarried lifelong to provide for their families. They feel guilty that marriage might change them, because they are the sole breadwinners.

It is great to help others and always be there for them. But not at the cost of denying yourself what is rightfully yours. Go dance in the rain, enjoy that cool breeze, go on that solo trip, set your eyes on the unthinkable dream and achieve it. Because no one but you and you alone can stand up for yourself and live your dream. Shed your inhibitions, kick the guilt, and enjoy life till you have it.

Photo from Pexels

Some not-so-good days!

I would have liked my first post of 2015 to have been happier and livelier. But I guess writers have their bad days too, which may not be related to writing. The ideal thing to do during those times is to lie low and sharpen your claws. Hibernating is important when you want to bounce back all energized and positive. When you are spending time with yourself, one or more of the following work wonders.

1. A good book: Always have a good book by your side, for all days...good and bad. On good days, they will make you happier. On bad days, they will uplift your spirits. Some people prefer reading the same book over and over, especially on days they don't feel sunny. That works! For me, a Paulo Coelho book should be within reach, whether I am at home or travelling. Currently, I also have a very interesting 'The Constant Art of Being a Writer' by N.M Kelby with me. It lists some simple, yet detailed steps to becoming the writer you want to be. These kind of books discipline you when bad days distract you.

2. A soulful song: Whether you can sing well or not is irrelevant. In school, we used to sing a lovely song in Class I. The lines go like this:
Every body has a song
Every body can sing
All you have to do is try
Even rusty bells ring
Then further referring to the throat are the lines: Set it free now, let it be now, sing a song to me.
A good song often spoils a bad day and I just love that.

3. A notepad and pen: Doesn't matter what you write but when you let your thoughts flow freely, it is liberating and often helps you accept the situation you are in and plan 'what next'. You can stay distracted for a bit by surfing the Internet, but the bugs will be back to bite you when you are offline. As opposed to that, the notepad and pen will eagerly await your story, whenever you are ready.

4. A gooey chocolate: It has an immediate effect on the mind, the heart, the soul. It boosts your sugar levels. So unless you are diabetic, a chocolate or a chocolateyy pastry or icecream is highly recommended. Even people who don't like chocolates have felt good after eating one during their bad/sad day.

5. A brisk walk: Even better if you are able to run. Just enjoy the beauty of the nature. Once in a while blink when you appreciate something...like the sunset, a unique leaf or flower, a happy bird...anything. Closing your eyes for a fraction of a second will help you capture the moment in your mind's camera. Don't try this if your mood is sour due to high fever or any physical ailment.
 

Yearning to Write

Writing is an art. Not all great writers are born with a natural flair for writing. How do they develop the skill then? In a creative writing course, I attended a couple of years back, I learned the first simple rule – Always write for yourself. There will always be like-minded people who will like what you write. Similarly, there will always be those who will not. If you try to please others, you will never be able to develop your own writing style. It is almost like singing. I have often heard successful singers say that they sing to satisfy their own soul. That is true of any art form actually. Don’t we love artists who are in love with their art?

Reading also helps writing. The more you read, the more you think, imagine, and adopt. If it is a childhood habit, even better. But does that mean people who do not read don’t make good writers? Certainly not. I know of a few fantastic writers who don’t enjoy reading. But they write for themselves, uninhibited. They are observant, creative, and knowledgeable. Someone who doesn’t read much may enjoy music, audio books, travel, movies, sitcoms, social interactions, and more. A writer can explore limitless possibilities and write through experiences. Again, all voracious readers do not necessarily like writing.

Writing connects you to yourself. Regardless of place, situation, or state of mind, writers always have a friend in their pen. Each new write-up helps the writer open up a wee bit more. The more we write, the more we get a glimpse of our soul, our inner self. Every writer has faced this situation at least once in their lifetime: I sit to write on a particular topic and start with the best of intentions. But I end up writing about something I had never imagined. Commercially, it may be a waste of time if I was being paid for that particular piece. But then, I discovered a part of me, in the process. Impromptu write-ups are precious, no matter how meaningless they may seem at that moment.

Writers have their own world. Writing keeps them passionate and self-motivated. Some writers like to write in the open, and get inspiration from the nature. Some like locking themselves up in a room when they write. There are annoying 'writer’s block' phases, but there are also happy 'writer’s delight' phases. Usually a delight phase is preceded by a block phase.

Writers are always cultivating their skill, even when they are not writing. Watch out ;)

Europe Calling!

2014 has been tough. Dealing with the departure of loved ones never happens. Perhaps it takes a lifetime. There were some sparkles of joy amid the tough times. The European vacation was one such breath of fresh air. I am writing this post to keep an account of the fact that we made our first trip to Europe in 2014.

Trinity College, University of Oxford

We travelled to three destinations – London, Paris, and Switzerland over 13 days. Thanks to Kesari Travels for organizing such a wonderful tour and sending such an amazing tour manager like Mr. Kedar Billay with us. My mom always wanted to visit Switzerland and she was thrilled when we reached her dream destination. My husband on the other hand wanted to spend time loitering around the streets of Paris. He did it too. And I had my heart set on London - especially as I wanted to visit the University of Oxford.  Done :)

 

Inside Louvre Museum, Paris

Though it is difficult to choose between any of the three destinations, I would say I loved Switzerland the most. It may be because we spent the maximum number of days there.

While the Trafalgar Square in London is amazing and nothing beats the Paris Eiffel tower, Switzerland is like a dream. Heaven. I haven’t been to Kashmir but now I know what they call it the Kashmir of Europe. 

While we were on a cruise on Lake Geneva, the tour guide told us an interesting story that left me in awe. Am sure aspiring authors would be inspired by this story.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Story synopsis: Sometime in the 19th century, the famous P.B Shelley and his wife Mary were on a holiday with Lord Byron and his wife in Villa Diodati, near Lake Geneva, Switzerland. The weather was too stormy and none of them could go for any outdoor activity. Since they had no option but to stay inside the house, Lord Byron suggested that to keep boredom at bay, each of them write a horror story.  Nobody took Mary seriously as she was a novice amid the great literary stalwarts. Mary was just 19 and took up the challenge to pen her story on that rainy night.


Guess what story she came up with? She created Frankenstein. The rest is history.



Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

Surprisingly, all through this trip, I had my favourite author Paulo Coelho's new book 'Adultery' in mind. When will I get to read it, would it be better than his previous books... I had been wondering. The book had not yet been released in India at that time. I knew I would pick it up as soon as I was back in Mumbai. When I finally got hold of the book a couple of weeks back, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story is set in Geneva! Coelho also mentions about Mary Shelley and Frankenstein in this book!! Besides, currently, Coelho is residing in Geneva! It was a wonderful connect though I was a little upset that I didn't know he was in Geneva when I visited. I feel good thinking I breathed the same air he did for a day at least. Simple joys of life :)

I have to go back to Europe again – to explore the English countryside and spend some more time in London and Paris. Besides, I have always wanted to visit Eastern Europe. I want to travel there, live there, and just enjoy the coffee there.

Till then, I wish all my friends a Happy Mahalaya and a wonderfully fulfilling Durga Puja. May all your dreams come true. Stay blessed.

A Sparkle of Hope

There is always a sparkle of hope that keeps us going. Life would be nothing if it was not for hope. 

I came across an interesting tidbit on Mughal Emperor Akbar and his sharp-witted court advisor, Birbal. Akbar once asked Birbal to write something on the wall that would make a happy person sad and a sad person happy. Birbal wrote, "This too shall pass". When I read it, for a moment I was still. A happy person would 'hope' that moment continues till eternity and a sad person would 'hope' that good times will follow. Hope has this amazing capability to help us move on with life, regardless of circumstances, incidents, emotions, and changes. 

Towards the end of 2013 and at the dawn of 2014, I received terrible news from multiple quarters. I lost two dear friends and an adored relative. They left for a better world, but this was definitely not the age to go there! 

Towards the end of the January, I was reminded of the day my father left us to raise a toast with God. It has been 7 years now but it still seems that I spoke to him just yesterday. I have never written about him before. But today I am surprised by my ability to pen this down. He is my guardian angel and there is solace in the knowledge that he is happy with God. I am sure he has got a hoard of followers there with his incompatible ability to make people laugh and feel happy. And my doggies are also there with him, eating all those icecreams and chocolates that were forbidden. Ah, what a party they must be having! I know I will meet my father, my friends, and my beautiful doggies up there one day. So yet again, it is 'hope' that helps us to take baby steps when life seems futile.

On the career front, some of my friends have either turned entrepreneurs or have had glorious moments to celebrate at work. I know how hard they have worked and how long they have waited to see this day! They truly deserve this moment of celebration and I wish them all success in the years to come. Cheers!

On the personal front, two friends got married to each other :)). We couldn't be happier. I wish them a life overflowing with happiness in abundance.   

As we get ready for the upcoming months of 2014, I hope and pray that this year brings good health to everyone I know. 

I hope we have the strength to help people in need, the courage to stay honest to ourselves, the empathy to love animals as one of us, and the passion to follow our dreams.

Stay healthy and stay happy! God bless.
 

  

Memories...

I don’t know if I am experiencing this state of mind in anticipation of year-end festivities or for some other reason, but today somehow I have been reminiscing the happy moments of 2013. The general mood around me is happy and my mind seems to be constantly replaying the cherished memories of this year, like a recap.

It’s no surprise that the good memories almost always are a result of the people in our lives or the people we welcome into our lives. New places, exciting events, good music, books, great food etc. remain – but more than often they are memorable because of the people with whom we enjoyed the moments or the people we remembered while experiencing them.

I cannot say that I had a perfect 2013. I had my share of ups and downs but the few moments that made the year special will always be with me and be the reason for more smiles to follow even several years down the line. February had been a very happy month – the Sula Fest, Valentine’s Day, and simple chit-o-chats with new found old friends made the month special. The trip to Thailand in October again resulted in beautiful memories as did my week-long stay in Pune when my mother visited Mumbai. This year I spent a lot of quality time with friends and family, which resulted in a myriad of happy memories to last a lifetime.

I thank god for the people in my life and for the memories they help me create. We don’t realize when moments become memories and smile back at us through pictures, letters, mails, videos or flashbacks in the mind. Some people become permanent in those memories and can never be part of our lives again. Nevertheless, the love we have for them just refuses to fade away. On the contrary, it grows deeper and the memories become invaluable with time. We cannot hug them no matter how much we want to. Perhaps they know. Perhaps silence speaks.

The most painful happy memories however are those where there isn’t even an iota of possibility that the person in your memory can talk to you again. That’s when God chooses to call them to reside in heaven happily ever after. Yet we feel those souls around us, blessing us like guardian angels.

But in the end, all is well. I have learned that people who stay in your life will stay regardless of everything – even if that means coming back after years of silence. In the true spirit of Christmas, there is always hope. The good always prevails over the evil. Just have faith and love life.

Merry Christmas everyone!

"The only reason people hold on to memories is because
memories don't change when everything else does."
- Anonymous

God and godliness

Just the moment I was about to give up hope, God appeared from nowhere. Yes, the same God we know, worship, love and immortalize. I was taken aback. “Is this really God?” I wondered, “or just a figment of my imagination?”

God didn’t address me as 'my child' nor looked very godly. But intuitively, I knew that God was standing right in front of me.  It is difficult to describe what God looked like. God did not wear traditional god-like clothes or come with a halo hovering over the head. But God was wearing this unending smile that was infectious. It touched me instantly and stuck to my face ever since. People I meet may think I am funny and smiling for no reason. But that’s what god wants I gathered – for us to keep smiling in life; you don’t always need a reason to smile.

If you smile every now and then, it will create enough reasons for more smiles. When you greet people with that contagious smile, you will be amazed to witness how quickly it multiplies and surpasses all mathematical calculations. One beaming smile can lead to ten, twenty, hundreds, or thousands more smiley faces. That is miraculous! Miracles are always hiding behind simple gestures and simple deeds. That’s what God told me today. I needn’t wait for any miracle to happen. A simple a gesture as a smile can create miracles right here, right now.

I suddenly try to visualize God’s face as I have seen in photographs, statues, pictures, and in my dreams. I try my best to compare that image to the God standing in front of me today. Though the face looks familiar and like someone I have met before, there is a unique appeal that is refreshing. I wondered if the smile did the trick or is it the magnanimous energy emanating from God that is making this meeting so beautiful. Perhaps the bright radiance of a new dawn, assurance in abundance and a bundle of hope make us go back to God time and again. When children pray, they see a reflection of their own souls in God, which makes their conversations with God interesting and candid, almost like a chit-o-chat with a friend.

Reverence is like loving your child or your dog – it is unconditional. It results in peace, happiness and a sense of security. Selfless love for someone for want of nothing in return is also a way of appreciating God’s creation of the human emotion we call love. Praying to God can also mean embracing your dream and following it with single-minded devotion.

As we get closer to God, we know that religion has got nothing to do with God. God is all about love, peace, strength, resolve, and happiness. If we focus on the positive in life and greet every adversity with courage, we have an opportunity to meet God every day. 

A spontaneous evening date with the sea

Off late, I feel closer to nature – especially to the sea. I don’t know if this is because of the decisions I made recently or due to the rains. Spending time with nature is always refreshing, rejuvenating and comforting. There's some magic in the embracing openness of mother nature that helps me shed all inhibitions and savor the peaceful, silent moments.

Yesterday after work – I found myself planning an impromptu visit to the seaside. It was raining and the sea beach is at least an hour-long journey from my office. But then my heart said ‘let’s go’ and I didn't want to kill the impulsive wish :).

I walked by the sea for sometime and then entered a coffee shop adjacent to the sea-shore. It is among my favorite tranquil corners in this busy city. I got myself a cup of tea while rejoicing the beauty of silence. The only sounds that my ears would register were that of the roaring sea waves and the soft 'whoooosh' of the gentle sea breeze. My tea was cold in seconds but that did not matter. My date with the sea was far more intriguing.

I kept gazing at the sea waves and the rocks that they crushed against, time and again. It was as if I was witnessing a love story. I set my imagination free. Silence can speak volumes! 

Each time the sea wave approached the rock she said, "Here I come again. Don’t let me just go past you- hold me and let me stay with you. Or better – why don’t you break into pieces and we can flow together?"

The rock did not move an inch. But he became shiny and lively each time the sea wave kissed and embraced him. 

"I want to come with you’ – the rock said. "But I cannot. Don’t you see that’s how I am? If today, I ask you to stand still beside me as a rock, would you be able to? Oh would you?" 

The sea wave replied – "I wish I could. But just like you, I am also bound by nature. I will come back to you every day – but will never be able to stay with you. Isn't it beautiful that we cannot do without each other and yet we cannot stick to each other? Our differences make our relationship so beautiful."

"I love you" said the rock. 

"You are my lifeline" replied the sea wave. "Our love for each other ensures we bump into each other’s arms a hundred times, every day".

The rock smiled and took his time to respond. "It is these moments that make us love each other so passionately, perfectly. No matter how far we are from each other, we will always co-exist. Again, no matter how close we are, we can never be tied to each other." 

‘I’ll always come back to you – even if you don’t move or come along with me", the sea wave promptly added.

"I will wait for you forever" replied the rock, "No matter how much you hurt me with your violent mood swings".

In response, the sea wave suddenly hugged the rock tightly and said, "I cannot say - don’t leave me and go. But I look forward to hugging you once more – oh just that one more time". 

Life’s choices are like that. We can choose to be the free-flowing sea wave or the solid resolute rock depending on situations that life challenges us with. 

The stubborn eccentricities of true love!

Film Review - Lootera

Starring - Sonakshi Sinha, Ranveer Singh

Music - Amit Trivedi

Director - Vikramaditya Motwane

Producers - Anurag Kashyap, Ekta Kapoor

Based on- O'Henry's 'The Last Leaf' (partly)

Backdrop - Bengal in 1950s

A romantic to the core - I was bound to enjoy Lootera –an emotional saga of true love beyond possibilities. What I didn’t expect was the maturity with which the lead actors portrayed the depth of a simple emotion like love. 

The story is fresh, sensitive, and romantic. Perhaps I instantly liked the movie because Pakhi (Sonakshi)- the main female lead, aspires to be an author. Despite the hardships, her passion for writing keeps her going.

I don’t know if many people believe in true love these days. In the age of social networking (which is a great thing by the way!) and the ease of having multiple choices for everything—sometimes we miss the ‘real’ thing. But when the feeling is pure – even if ties get severed, the truth gets established sooner or later. When the conscience awakens, lost love comes back – even if only to apologize. 

I am a firm believer in true love. Just like adversities don’t deter true lovers, misunderstandings don’t destroy everlasting friendships. After all, there is still more ‘good’ in this world than ‘bad’ – that’s why ‘life goes on’.

Lootera delicately explores a plethora of these emotions in the backdrop of post-independent India—mid 20^th century rural Bengal to be precise. This was the time when the newly elected Indian government decided to abolish the zamindari system. The history angle has been fitted into the movie very intelligently. 



While we focus on the love-story between the Zamindar’s daughter Pakhi Roy Chowdhury (Sonakshi Sinha) and an archaeologist Varun Srivastava (Ranveer Singh) - there is a strong narrative in the background highlighting the social situation and the plight of the Zamindars in the 1950s.

The first half of the movie keeps one captivated with the magic of new-found love. Simple moments made extraordinary just by spending time with each other - no exotic locales, no out-of-the-world conversations - just two people enjoying ordinary days together and gazing at each other as if there is no tomorrow. Some of my friends found the movie boring. On the contrary, I thought it was poetic, romantic and very classy. It successfully created a 'wow' factor which has been lacking in the recent few flicks I have watched.

In the second half, Lootera becomes even better. There is a sudden twist in the story and the female protagonist’s life falls apart. Strong storytelling and diligent direction have contributed to excellence in each scene.

Possibly only in an idealistic world can one love someone so unconditionally - despite betrayals, shortcomings and a world of ruthlessness. One may fail to see logic in loving someone who has been an estranged lover and a disloyal friend. But love and hatred are emotions beyond our control. Like me, many others will relate to the emotional dilemmas that Pakhi goes through. 


Pakhi realizes that it is impossible to think of harming someone you have loved - even if they have humiliated you in the worst way possible. Perhaps that’s why true love is immortal. There is so much depth in the emotion that words are unnecessary, explanations are meaningless. 

Hat's off to Sonakshi Sinha - a powerhouse of expressions and acting. She looks beautiful and exudes an innocent appeal onscreen. Ranveer Singh is brilliant and charming in the underplayed low profile character he portrays. The music is melodious - especially 'Sawaar Loon' by Monali Thakur.


The supporting cast - Pakhi's dad Zamindar Roy Chowdhury, Varun's friend Dev – excel in acting. But Divya Dutta is wasted in the short cameo.

The metaphors used in the movie - the Raja's story - about life of the King being locked in his favorite parrot's heart- drawing a parallel to the father-daughter relationship - and the emotions they evoke is fabulous. The inspiration from O' Henry's 'The Last Leaf' works very well in this flick and makes the emotional viewer leave the theatre with moist eyes.

Lootera is a must-watch. We don't get to watch too many movies in this genre these days - don't miss it.