The process of learning also feeds the Ego, creating a mist around our subtle faculties that perceive the world. It sometimes leads us to believe that we know everything. Therefore as part of our development, it is important to remain humble and associate with people who are more knowledgeable. Here...
From vantage points spread across Laohuzui, observing the meticulously crafted rice terraces, I was reminded of the process of internal growth as I have understood. The internal faculties of our subtle body comprising of Mind, Ego and Intellect are preordained with specific functions, which they faithfully perform, resulting in...
If my body were frozen in the Himalayas even then my mind would not be free of disease. Guru Nanak, page 62 of Adi Granth For ages, Himalayas have signified asceticism. Needless to say, it is more than coincidence that certain practices are...
That alone is a temple, where He can be known. Through contemplation in human body, one understands His omnipresence. Don’t look for him outside, He dwells within the Heart. The ego-willed cannot appreciate this fact, in mere worldly pursuits he wastes his life. He pervades everywhere,...
Kalari (कलाड़ी or کلاڑی) – “mozerella cheese of Kashmir”, the taste of which is still fresh on my palette from the servings made by my mother during my upbringing at Gorakhpur, a place far away from Kashmir. This special cheese is indigenous to Kashmir region of India and Pakistan. Since...
During a visit to Jamia Masjid, the largest mosque in Old Delhi, India, on the roof I found two boys engrossed in their prayers to Allah. Photographing them, I was reminded of the verse below by Saint Kabir on page 1349 of Guru Granth Sahib, the spiritual scripture of the...
Sometimes beauty is overshadowed by popularity! Mount Bromo (2,392m) in Indonesia is popular because it is an active volcano, constantly throwing hot gases. In it’s distant horizon lies the larger Mount Sumeru (3,676m), which is also active. Mount Batok (2,470m), though lying adjacent to Mount Bromo, is overshadowed by the...
“vivid colours, chiseled forms of rocks and mountains stand out in brilliant clearness, divested of any trace of vegetation, like the world on the first day of creation, when only heaven and earth were facing each other in the primal unity.” by Govinda, Lama Anagarika from The Way of the...
Why should one fight a challenging situation? Rather working with it, one can capitalize to an advantage. At Tawang Monastery, watching a group of Monks dance, photographically it created a challenging situation. The camera was directly facing the setting sun, creating dark silhouettes. So I decided not to...
Postman to my father, “Sunder Singh, this is a strange postcard and I believe it is for you.” With a two line address that just read “Sunder Singh, Gorakhpur,” it could only be a divine intervention that the postcard sent from Rawalpindi (Pakistan), found it’s way to my father...