10

Stillness

Sometimes it feels I am constantly in search for something! Though mostly the search is not far, as the answer always resides in the proximity of observations.

 

I have found that stilling the mind and driven by a passionate desire, an indescribable energy always manifests to naturally gravitate towards culmination of the search. Muddy water becomes clear if allowed to stand undisturbed, and so does the mind become clear, if stilled.

 

Through my photography, I look for an essence that is normally hidden within the observed frame. I believe that nature is constantly communicating philosophical secrets by enacting them, but if we only engage in the frenetic activities of daily life, the ability to interpret them is foregone.

 

At Tso Moriri lake (15,000 feet) in Ladakh (India), the stillness of the early morning air was creating perfectly clear reflection of its surrounding. The scene was similar to the stilling of the mind to create a reflection of our quest within.

 

As I stepped ahead to capture the beauty of this stillness, these beautiful verses resonated within,


“Kahey Rey Ban Khojan Jayee. Sarabh Nivasi, Sada Alepa, Tohi Sang Samayee”

Guru Tegh Bahadur, page 684 of Adi Granth

 

Translated the entire verse reads.

 

Why do you look for Him in the forests?

Though unattached, He dwells everywhere, always your companion.

Like the fragrance within a flower, and like reflection in mirror,

He dwells within; search your Heart.

Outside and inside, know Him as One; the teacher has imparted this wisdom.

Nanak says, without knowing your own self, the moss of doubt can’t be removed.

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

 

Tso Moriri lake, Ladakh, India

Tso Moriri lake (Ladakh, India)

Comments(10)

  1. Reply
    Mandeep singh says:

    Wow…. Wonderful bhaiya….. It’s awesome ….. 🙂

  2. Reply
    Baljit singh Sidhu says:

    Amardeep
    I enjoy your photography very much. I too have deep interest in hiking new places. My interest in hiking also started when I was in high school at YPS Patiala from 1958-64. Col Goldstein was my headmaster and he made it compulsory for the entire middle and high school to go hiking in the mid term break during fall. I have hiked the Simla hills Kulu Manali area and beyond Rohtang pass. We plan to go to Leh sometimes.
    Our next trip is going to be Machu Pichu. Hope to meet you sometimes. I am semi retired Orthopedic surgeon living in Virginia.
    Baljit Singh Sidhu

    • Reply
      Baljit as Sidhu says:

      Amardeep
      These photos look as mesmerizing as the did in October 2013. Thank you for sharing them again. I love your comments,” muddy waters……” This is very true. I hope to master a technique to make my mind ‘still’.
      Keep up the great work. Warm regards
      Baljit S Sidhu

  3. Reply
    Ajay Tripathi says:

    Great images, never seen before. It just locks the viewer. You have very aptly connected the mind with nature’s look. But your line has said most – “Muddy water becomes clear if allowed to stand undisturbed, and so does the mind become clear, if stilled.”!

  4. Reply
    Ash says:

    Awesomeness.

  5. Reply
    Surupa Chatterjee says:

    So so insightful, your notes and your breathtaking captures…looking for silence in mourning a great common man– our beloved Ex president Abdul Kalam and your posts made it easier…as the silence in them speaks intimately as do your thoughts…Thank you Sir

  6. Reply
    Mohindra Chadha says:

    As always beautiful photographs of a lovely lake Tso Moriri and it’s surroundings in Ladakh. You always have some beautiful verses from Adi Granth to embellish your photographs.
    Thank you for sharing.

  7. Reply
    Moninder SIngh Modgil says:

    Great Images, Amardeep – congratulations! Ripples on water surface are driven by the wind. One would expect a certain stillness in the air – along side that of water. But seeing the clouds and the height, there should be wind. Was the weather windy when you shot the images?

  8. Reply
    Sharad says:

    Dear Anardeep
    The photos are beautiful, your words comforting and filled with fond memories.
    Thanks for sharing these gems.
    Regards,
    Sharad

  9. Reply
    kishore kumar biswas says:

    When we are away from ‘ silence ‘ and immersed in the sea of ” sound ” we miss the real music of this world. The divine melody is then submerged by ugly howling.One of the ‘ chord ‘ of this howling is the roar of our ‘ ego ‘.
    It is better if we try to silence the ‘ howling ‘ in and around us to listen to the melody of ” silence “.Only in the deep silence of dark night we can listen to the music of twinkling stars.
    Amarddep through his pictures brought us the melody of silence.

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