Sikkim

The world we knew was left behind us
Ahead spread out the rolling hills
Mist and clouds and mountains tall
The heaven’s air hung low here
Dreams that had faded in the city lights
Came back, like a faint, forgotten song……

New year wishes, 2009

In the coming year
May the sun shine brighter
and all our troubles are a shade lighter,
May there be a star everynight
to guide us to a path full of delight,
May we resist the temptation of cynicism
while the world weighs down under its own criticism,
May we not just pray, but work towards peace
for the dawn comes only to those
who light a candle even when the wind blows....

Ganga at Benaras

The ancient city
flows with the river divine
It speaks of sins forgiven
and hymns forgotten
lost souls lament at its shores
while those awakened flow to their final abode......

Fana

In his passion for the candle’s light,
The moth flew towards the flame - oh so bright!!
Ripped of all desire except Love’s grace,
He held the flame in his embrace.
How he glowed as it burnt his flesh and soul,
To be one with the Truth was his only goal
‘He has found what we seek!’ the onlookers exclaimed,
As the moth lost Self and mortal frame…,

-translated by this writer from Attar’s Mantiq u-tayr

One heart, one ring

A heart that beholds the world within,
A world that beats like one heart, one ring,
Is it too much to ask for such a thing ?
where man sees just man,
not caste, religion, country or kin ?

That which you seek

In the day you shall not find that which you seek.
for in darkness it hides and in light it cannot be revealed,
when the veil is thick and the dark night so long,
it is only Love that that can dispel an ignorance so strong,
and like mist it will be lifted to reveal the mountain peak,
and at last you shall become that which you seek......

New Year Thoughts

In the coming years let us look forward to hope…….
In these times of decadence let us look forward to a new awakening…
In these times of intolerance and violence let us look forward to peace and understanding..
We have bled this earth for long; let us look forward to its healing….
Let us look forward to hope where there seems none,
For they say that the night is at its darkest just before dawn.