Shankar Tucker – Munbe va by Iyer sisters

Welcoming 2012

http://do512.com/event/2011/12/31/austins-new-year-2012

What is it to be human?

It is an extraordinary experience where one gets an opportunity to look at ourselves, others and things around us and enthrall in the superior, beautiful and intricate nature of everything. It is using the ability to think , analyze and coming to conclusions on our own.  It is looking at the beginning and ending of this experience and wonder in its creativity and not cringe in fear to find solace in very limiting beliefs.  It is embracing your own path in life without any resistance and accepting others path with as much as reverence as your own. It is a journey to realize the truth of  who we really are with absolute patience. It is not being vengeful and be accommodating of others mistakes.  It is about living in gratitude and awareness of your being. It is about recognizing the cyclic nature of everything and not fight to cease it.  It is in this dissolution of the resistance and total acceptance of  everything in this human experience, that as a human we could transcend and get to know the divinely grace.

What is it to be human for you?.

Vedic hymn sung by Enigma

Thirukural Remix by AR Rahman

Beautiful remix of some couplets of Thirukural by AR Rahman. Love the lady’s melodious voice in this song.

Here is the wiki entry on Thirukural…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirukku%E1%B9%9Ba%E1%B8%B7

Love this beautiful composition and the meaningful yet simple lyrics written in Tamil. Below I have tried to do some justice in translation.  Hope men and women everywhere stop being in conflict with themselves, each other and their environment. Life is a glorious celebration and an invaluable gift.  Let us cherish and be thankful always. Happy Friday.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Let White Flowers

Bloom all over the Earth

Let glorious yellow sunrays

Cradle this Earth

Let flowers dance in delight

Let every child awake

In the warmth of mother’s arms

Let every dawn come forth

With children’s smiles abound

Music of the winds

And songs of the rain

Can they gift us as much bliss

as silence bestows on us?

Millions of compositions and

Poetic grandeur of words

Could they convey in essence

what a drop of tear does?

Let every dawn on earth

Bring forth peace….

Guru Ashtakam

Beautiful, soul-stirring composition by Adi Sankaracharya.  And the musical rendering of his composition is awesome also.

Thanks to Varun, who created this video and also the translation to the verses. I have pasted here that.   Question is, who is the teacher that Sankaracharya is singing about?.

Ask yourself, and you might find out;) Let you be awakened, listening to this.

Sareeram suroopam thadha va kalathram,
Yasacharu chithram dhanam meru thulyam,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 1

Even if you have a pretty mien, a beautiful wife,
Great fame and mountain like money,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Kalathram Dhanam puthrapothradhi sarvam,
Gruham Bandhavam Sarvamethadhi jatham,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 2

Even if you have a wife, wealth, children grand children.
House , relations and are born in a great family,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Shadangadhi vedo Mukhe sasra vidhya ,
Kavithwadhi gadhyam , supadhyam karothi,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 3

Even if you are an expert in six angas and the four Vedas,
And an expert in writing good prose and poems,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Videseshu manya, swadeseshu danya,
Sadachara vrutheshu matho na cha anya,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 4

Even if you are considered great abroad, rich in your own place,
And greatly regarded in virtues and life,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Kshma mandale bhoopa bhoopala vrundai,
Sada sevitham yasya padaravindam,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 5

Even if you are a king of a great region,
And is served by kings and great kings,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Yaso me gatham bikshu dana prathapa,
Jagadwathu sarvam kare yah prasdath,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 6

Even if your fame has spread all over,
And the entire world is with you because of charity and fame,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Na Bhoge, na yoge, Na vaa vajirajou,
Na kantha sukhe naiva vitheshu chitham,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 7

Even if you do not concentrate your mind,
On passion, Yoga, fire sacrifice,
Or in the pleasure from the wife
Or in the affairs of wealth,
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Aranye na vaa swasya gehe na karye,
Na dehe mano varthathemath vanarghye,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 8

Even if your mind stays away in the forest,
Or in the house, Or In duties or in great thoughts
If your mind does not bow at the Teacher’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use? )

Phalasruthi:
Guror ashtakam ya padeth punya dehi,
Yathir bhoopathir , brahmacharee cha gehi,
Labeth vanchithartham padam brahma samgnam,
Guruor uktha vakye,mano yasya lagnam

Sun Salutations

This sloka needs no description.  I just simply love listening to it.

Do you ever wonder if Sun had a hard drive that recorded everything, wouldn’t you like to tap in to it and revisit all of human history?…mm would that help put aside our differences and brings us all together and live in harmony.   Also, do you wonder Sun offers its services for free?;)…imagine if it charged like a downtown parking garage did for every human….x dollars / hour of sun bathing….just a thought.  So least we could say is thanks?.

Suklam Baradharam Vishnum

When ever I listen to this sloka composition, it takes me to that special place where there is peace and hope.  Don’t have to know what it means, just simply listening to it is worthwhile.

Gayatri Mantra

I have been here but have not really been active in creating new posts.

I am back to actively trying to blog again…….hoping…….planing……thinking anyway….

As a first blog post for year 2010, decided to include this audio/vidoe rendition of awakening, soul stirring “Gayatri Mantra”

Personally, I have a deep connection to Gayatri.  When I bled from stomach ulcer and passed out, that’s what I kept reciting….

If you have never heard it and stumble on this post, hope you would listen once and let the sounds seep in to your being….there are mysterious things all around us weaving their magic…..if we would only trust ourselves and open up beautiful things would happen.  Enjoy!.

Well…happy belated 2010 to everyone!!!!.