Tabebuias -Living Life in its Totality

On March 1, 2017March 21, 2017 By Durga Prasad DashIn Life-sutra11 Comments

Tabebuias – Flower full

Come February, and you will find these flowering plants called Tabebuias in the streets and parks full bloomed in their yellow, pink or violet versions. This one too is in its full flowering glory.

I am awe stuck by these plants. Off season, you will not find even a single flower on them. But when they flower, they flower as if the whole being of the plant has flowered.

It reminds me of children. When they cry, they cry with their whole being; when they laugh, they laugh with their whole being. There is no halfheartedness. That is what you call living life in its totality.

As we grow up we become more and more divided. In order to achieve 101 things, we loose our propensity to live in the present moment undivided in our being. As the society becomes more progressive and more civilized, crocodile tears and plastic smile replace our heart full expressions.

The plant also reminds us of the principle of fullness and emptiness. It is the emptiness that gives birth to fullness. Sun Tzu has enunciated this in context of ‘Art of War’. In fact it is the basic principle of ‘Meditation’, and in general, this could be applied in our attempt to master the ‘Art of Living’.

Ah the Tabebuias! How they remind us to live life in our totality. Either do something wholeheartedly or do not do it at all.

Indian Bloggers tangy tuesday 21317

Tum to Bade Jugaadu Nikle Mere Bhai

On November 19, 2016November 19, 2016 By Durga Prasad DashIn photo13 Comments

“tum to bade jugadu nikle, mere bhai”

“Funda of life is to give others a ride to remember”

Or, how would you caption it?

Connecting Blissfully

On November 7, 2016November 7, 2016 By Durga Prasad DashIn photo5 Comments

I am killing two birds with one stone. The above photo is my response to both ‘Bliss’ and ‘Connect’ challenge of #developyoureye I. The best method I know to experience bliss is meditation, which also connects one with oneself.

The header image, which is of the Art of Living International Centre at Bengaluru, also reminds me immediately of bliss. I have experienced many beautiful moments of bliss here.

Water also may mean disputes and scarcity

On November 5, 2016November 7, 2016 By Durga Prasad DashIn Society13 Comments

The theme of Day 3 of the photo challenge of #developingyoureye I is ‘Water’. Of course you may ask, where is the element of water in these photographs? For that, one has to visit the Google Map where these are beautifully marked water bodies.

Well, these depict the story of a couple of vanishing lakes of Bengaluru. Many other places in India may have the same story. The real estate sharks may be already on the prowl. Maybe, after some years nobody will remember that there used to be thriving water bodies here.

It is said that there used to be an ocean, right at the place where the mighty Himalayas stand now. Who knows, there might have been beautiful water bodies right at the places where many of our skyscrapers vie for attention.

In countries like India water also may mean the lack of it. In spite of being surrounded by the sea from three sides, being flooded by the thousands of rivers every now and then, the water crisis in many parts of India is a harsh reality.

Well, let us forget Latur and move on. And, of course, not to speak of the water disputes.

Street is where the action is

On November 4, 2016November 6, 2016 By Durga Prasad DashIn Photo Essay4 Comments

The street is a place of never ending ‘reality shows’ and ‘soap operas’, of fascination, beauty and ugliness. For this photo challenge, not only did I take some new photos, but also dug up a few interesting ones from my archives. Here are a selected few, along with some thoughts they evoked.

Don’t we have such streets in every part of India, where the road is perpetually under repair? A street where tangled wires carrying charges and messages hang menacingly. A street of heat and dust and partially open gutters. And, the ubiquitous holy animal.

Of course, let not the previous picture be taken as a representative image of India. I am not vying for any Oscar. Hence, I have no inclination to show only the ‘nasty’ part of India.

Street is where the action is. Sometimes some inaction. Many streets could be so beautiful and cosy, you would not mind having a sound sleep on its pavements on broad day light, as can be seen in the picture below.

Oblivious of the surrounding sounds, his chappals serving as his pillow, this old man takes a sound afternoon siesta on the hard pavement of a busy Bengaluru street.

Obviously, when it comes to quality of sleep, the quality of bed is immaterial.

III

While some step lightly into the day, hoping it to be a jolly good one ………

On the same street (in the same frame) there is some one getting prepared to shoulder the burden of the future.

street4 — “If only I could exchange my two small bags for a big bite of those two ‘happiness’ pieces.”

street2 — Things do change. The street of picture I, after two years.

Colours of a subzi bazaar – a photo essay

On July 17, 2016December 2, 2016 By Durga Prasad DashIn Photo Essay20 Comments

It is a Sunday morning. In spite of the plethora of companies offering online purchase and home delivery and the mushrooming of air conditioned super stores, one of the oldest vegetable markets of Bengaluru is abuzz with activities.