The Whispers Of My Heart

Jackets, heavy pullovers were rare, very expensive then. As children, we had to brave harsh winters, torturous cold winds sweeping down from the Shivalik mountains, with simple home made sweaters. While readying myself for the school once, I complained to my mother against the chilly wintery morning, "माँ, ठंड लग रही है" ( "Mother, extreme cold is hugging me" ). My mother laughed and wisely retorted, "तू ठंड को लग जा" ( "You also hug the cold hard. Make it your friend" ). In order to protect oneself from infectious diseases, much importance is now being given to boosting one's immunity Many herbs like tulsi, mint, coriander are very effective in increasing immunity. Yogasanas also help a lot. But I have found that one of the best ways to shield oneself from the impregnable, deadly bacteria, viruses is to make friends with them! Avoid paying too much attention to hygiene. Acclimatize yourself. Start living in harmony with these...

Often I come across many friends and acquaintances who glumly complain that life is punishing, a great hell. Well, I have realized in my fifty years of existence on this planet that one can surely make the journey of life enjoyable by : (a) Minimizing one's desires. (b) Expecting less from others, one's relations. (c) Not accumulating more than necessary. (d) Sharing with others the gifts that one has received from the Almighty. Believe me, "givers" are definitely happier, more blissful than "gatherers". I have written the following lines in this context : सफ़र दुशवार नहीं, रास्तों को दोष न दें हुजूर आप के जूते में फंसी होगी कोई कील ज़रूर Don't complain about the "journey". This "journey" is not so difficult, onerous. Look beneath your shoe, it is highly probable that a sharp nail may have penetrated into it that is making the "journey" gruelling! ~ Sanjay Gargish ~

In order to substantiate that one sees, listens, interprets according to one's own peculiar perspective, Gautam Buddha once, at the end of His sermon, adviced His adherents, "The night has fallen. It's the most opportune time to do more work." Next day, He called His disciples to find out what the adherents did last night. The disciples found that for a thief, who was present among the followers, "more work" meant executing a big burglary. So last night he looted the house of a wealthy trader. For a prostitute, "more work" meant serving more customers. So last night she sold her body many times. A meditator, on the other hand, perceived "more work" as spending more time in meditation. So last night he meditated, prayed longer than usual. Fully subscribing to the wise sayings of Gautam, I also believe that one's personality is hugely influenced by one's surroundings, the company one keeps. I have written the followi...

उस जहाँ में जानें के लिए, यह संसार है द्वार समझ इस संसार को, यह संसार ना नकार If one wants to merge oneself with the Supreme, to put an end to the miserable cycle of birth and death, to attain true bliss ( मोक्ष ), then this world is of paramount importance. Don't negate this world! Understand fully this world. One would then find that in this materialistic world, everything is ephemeral, a relationship lasts till it serves one's self-interest. Lasting bliss is nowhere to be found in this mundane world. When this awareness dawns, one develops detachment (विरक्ति) with this ever changing, disloyal world. One then becomes eligible for the blissful union (योग) with the Almighty. ~ Sanjay Gargish ~

About two years ago, I started writing, mainly on spiritual matters as I found that although there has been phenomenal rise in prosperity all around, the "thirst" for hoarding more and more has also increased exponentially. I introspected and found that material affluence invariably creates a bottomless void which can never be filled! Well, I do not advocate complete shunning of material life. Yes, I strongly believe in taking bare minimum from this world if one wants a blithe life. Trust me, one would then have no frustrations, disappointments. One would sleep soundly without fear of an impending raid by the taxman! In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna emphatically tells Arjuna that all the mortal beings are part and parcel of Him - The Immortal Supreme Being. Taking inspiration from Lord's statement, I have written the following lines. आदि-अंत से आज़ाद हो, तुम सागर गंभीर बार बार बनना-मिटना, हम लहरों की तकदीर My Lord, You alone have neither any beginning nor an...

The one and only book that I always place beside my pillow is "Bhagavad Gita". Whenever I study, ruminate over the various श्लोक (stanzas) spoken by Lord Krishna, my stupid mind becomes quiet. I find absolute tranquillity. In one of the stanzas, Lord tells Arjuna that He is omnipresent. He is present everywhere, in all the beings - living or nonliving. The following lines of mine have been inspired by the sayings of Lord Krishna. मिट्टी के इस जिस्म में पानी है, आग है, हवा भी है मुख्तलिफ़ है रूप जिसके, हर दिल में खुदा भी है In this body made of earth, there is water, fire ( according to Ayurveda, food is digested only because of the fire element present in living beings) and air. These are the various forms of the God. The fact is that God Himself is present in the heart of all the beings. ~ Sanjay Gargish ~

I have deciphered that "Friendships" or "Enmities" are based solely on external appearances. An enlightened person realizes that beneath the varied appearances, the "core" or "soul" of each and every creature remains same - an indistinguishable part of the Supreme. A truly spiritual person neither hates nor likes anyone, anything. He remains just equianimous. Famous mystic Kabir once said : "ना काहू से दोस्ती, ना काहू से वैर" Translation : Now that Kabir has realized that the same soul resides in all, he has neither  friendship nor any enmity with anyone. Ignorant animals alone believe in "Enmity" or "Friendship". As they don't have the required understanding, animals fail to perceive beyond the different "dresses". Taking an inspiration from Kabir, I have written the following lines : तोता, मैना, शेर या मेष, अजब धरे हैं सबने भेष शक्लों से है सबकी यारी, शक्लों तक सीमित है द्वेष Tran...