Synergetic Symbiotic

 

I have written about this way too long, yet it keeps coming back. Seems to be no end to how we are born and meant to exist.

Symbiotic synergy is what we are to pick up on. The human body holds more alien cells than its own. This is what creates the synergy to grow and live. Though we feel that who we are is separate from a fungi or a bacteria or even a virus – truth be told – we are the subconscious collective of all of this hence manifest into existence. We are a combination of various cells from various eras. There is memory from every single cell of existence which ever was here which is in the air waves. This is what makes our conscious and unconscious part of memory and brain activity.

The physical realm of the body as I said is filled to the brim with other forms of life which act in a symbiotic manner to cooperate to exist and indeed grow till life – breathe falters. This is marvellous – almost like a beautiful tree – which exists and lives in one and all moments.

With this grand flavour – Neelam and I went recently to Kodaikanal – albeit during the non monsoon season but still invited by the greenery and cooling nature of the atmosphere to give us weary city dwellers a respite from the incessant heat (of course that be our fault – with all the rampant mountain breaking, tree cutting, ac running and head breaking to make paper money – we have not taken care of what takes care of us in the first place)

Kodaikanal remains a distant memory and a refreshing restart, it has a colonial hangover. The people almost all Tamil folks (from the nearby villages with a deadly hunger to make the quick buck from stupid tourists like us) and the rest few the innocent sholay tribal folk (who are till date a little more innocent thanks to the atmosphere  around and in the mind)

There is synergy abound – when we looked everywhere with the flowers in bloom and the trees in glee. There seemed to be no end to the vast beauty and majesty of nature intertwined with animals and humans. Living in peace and serenity.

We walked towards Vattakanal; which is around 10 km away from the main city. We got a shortcut and made our way through the meandering forest – our first landmark is the now very polluted pambar falls – which is a small waterfall which may once have been extremely beautiful but now with increasing human inhabitation around Vattakanal (which has become a hippie joint of sorts – where some indians and many foreigners land up to consume shrooms and trip in the beautiful scenery year around), the falls has kind of become a waste water collection unit.. The road meanders down in height from kodaikanal’s height – > Vattakanal goes down to Dolphin Nose – which is a view point facing the Panani Hills. (I had visited this place 4 years back and when I went back here – the route to this place was more dismal than I had expected – with the wannabe crooks and who not hippies trying to live in shacks and away from the prying eye of the curious and often annoying indian tourist.

I knew a place close to the starting point of Dolphin nose – this was recommended by the local tribal folks the last time i had come and indeed it leads to a very beautiful view point – showing the panani ranges in full majesty. It is indeed an awe inspiring sight.

The Kodai ranges are indeed blessed – they hide in plain sight a very beautiful form of tree system called Sholay (which in Tamil often means a special bush forest). Sholay is indigenous to this place and does not grow anywhere else in the world – a mix of deciduous forest but not quite – the trees look very intriguing and indeed refreshing. To be found all around Vattakanal and in often places in the east coastal belt in Tamilnadu (at heights only)

We spent the entire day here taking some photos of beautiful trees, meditating and walking around. Albeit there were more stoners here than usual (i had not figured this isolated place has become such a busy trippers joint). None the less Neelam and I could see the mountains (which are indeed so very old) and spend some time in peace.

While I was contemplating this thought kept recurring that we are composed more of alien genomes than our own, yet we have the selfishness centre which defines what is us and what is not based on superficial ego consciousness and nothing more. And so when I looked at the mountain and the beautiful scenery around us hosting so many different forms of life (both micro and macrocosmic) it seemed that indeed nature too was not one yet a composite which acted as a singular entity. This singular entity did not have any understanding of itself in the classical sense like how we do. There is no ego involved – only symbiotic synergy

This is not the first time i have felt such – but have always felt it in one new way or other amidst nature – this time under the time and space diffusing substance of the mushroom. Which has its roots deeper and longer on this earth than anything else. The mushroom causes the mind to slow down, causes it to rethink and act in a manner which it may when it may have been conceived and in this manner makes you see the interconnectedness of things better than anything else in nature. Though not a strong emotion – the feeling of this substance can be felt even by the faintest and the foolish most.

This time it evoked yet again the feeling of symbiotic interconnectedness both inside the body, of the thoughts bound in space time and of course within the macro – sensory nature itself. I sat amused and bemused at the same time – looking around at the beautiful colourful life that we all are part of, and at the same time thinking we are better or different from the dirt, dust and ash which consumes us and makes us.

When we started our way back, we saw a huge male alpha wild bison grazing on the hillock near some folks houses, neelam wished to take its photo (its back was to us, and this was the only way we could take any photos.. the massive beautiful beast had huge and i mean immense huge horns and must have weighed around 800Kg to a ton) but before she could click away – an old lady in fright who was passing by warned us – please do not take its photo – a single flash or hint of someone taking its photo may affect it. Please don’t. There was a tourist driver who was also standing looking at it and he told us go ahead and take, yet neelam who is a true sweetheart knew what the lady said was absolutely right. The beast could anytime get angry and wreck havoc on the houses and small fields nearby and perhaps even kill innocent folks of vattakanal. When I looked at it the second time in detail – I remembered that I had watched this beautiful beast the last time I had been to vattakanal somewhere over 3 years back. Even then it was here with its family (This time too we had seen his family below where we were spending time in peace).

This showed me how man and beast can live together, how man and others have lived in continuous symbiotic love and peace over so many centuries. There is nothing to it. This is one and the one breaks apart from itself to view itself as another. Sometimes it doesnt work out all that well (how its in today’s world where we cannot spend the moment in peace and love).

There seems to be love in vain, there seems to be no inspiration for the higher to manifest anymore – and this is our true challenge – To break apart from the reillusion and reunit with sensitivity to our fellow lost souls. All in a breakthrough urge to reuinite. To be one

Om Na Ma Ci Va Ya

Land of Lakes–Warangal Oasis (Kakatiyan despair!)

 

The central part of India – called Deccan plateau – a flatbed with few high rising hillocks is one of the prettiest and perhaps underexplored parts of the country (cause well its so accessible, no one bothers visiting it). Being close to Hyderabad, had an opportunity to drive down 150 odd km to the former capital of kakatiyas – Warangal. Now in telengana district and laid to ruins, the place in former days was the seat of human power and surrounded by thick semi arid forests of lore.

Visiting the beautiful old Jain temple on the way (dedicated to Lord neminath and adinath) with a stopover, finally reached Warangal on a sultry hot day (pre-monsoons Indian subcontinent is one pile of sweat). Put up in a government lodge and freshened up to go out and check out the beautiful ruins within the city. Could see the thousand pillared temple and other artefacts (but none of them looked really glorious to be frank – especially compared to other parts of fame in India); and before I knew it – it was evening time.

Headed to the the large (and perhaps man made lake) called Durgam Cheruvu – where on its banks lies the beautiful and powerful shakti pith for mother goddess – patron goddess of Warangal and kings. The deity looked so immense and beautiful, I was really without any words; one of the largest deities in size I have seen; covered in vermillion and yellow sari. She looked divine and powerful. Saw that in front of her there is a small Shri Yantra – and it struck me that perhaps Adi shankara would have been there – to install the same. Checked with the temple priest and he confirmed that it was not perhaps adi but one of the shankaracharya’s and currently the temple was overseen by adi shankaracharya.

Spent the evening twilight in peace and some meditation (albeit with the mosquito biting furiously). My mother and I felt very happy – and I particularly that I was with my own mother in a power place witnessing a beautiful sunset on the lake. We saw many a fisher folk on the lake – working together to try to net – to catch some fishes (but I really couldn’t see any one of them get any – perhaps cause they were laying the nets – or perhaps they were all drunk and there were no fishes in the lake!)

Had an early local dinner at our hotel (cause Warangal is really not well known for any tourist amenities – like hotels/restaurants etc). The food was spicy telugu rice material (as this area is mainly non-vegetarian and I am not!) and I gulped it down with loads of water and went for an early night’s rest.

Spent the next day travelling to close by lakes of lore – first visiting the very famous Ramappa temple – which is one stand alone temple very far inside and away from Warangal. The temple was of great importance in the past and the black marble idols looked glorious (even today ramappa is the host for famous dance festivals in the region; as it was in the distant past during kakatiya dynasty’s rule)

The temple is in ruins – and it looked initially like cause of an earthquake (it was confirmed by the priests that invasion after invasion and an earthquake and of course the unmentioned neglect of the locals was the reason). It was a hot day but still could spend time to walk barefoot and check out the various compartments within the temple premise before packing off and moving another 20km in our car to see the ramappa lake. The lake is humongous – and a forest lake lodge made by government stands for folks who want to stay there – the place looked pristine but like a ghost town – no one was living there – and I really wouldn't say its the safest vacation getaways – with the naxal and unemployment influence. No one was inhabiting any of the 10 huge beautiful lodges on the banks of the lake – and even the restaurant was barren.

We saw a beautiful ruined temple on one its banks and I spent time to see what the interior looked like – it was a smaller replica of the ramappa temple – same style of sanctum – even the gandharvas and idols mapped on the stone pillars were same! All in ruins, I was tempted to take a small souvenir for myself – but remembered that these are objects and experiences of blessings and curses. Better to be left unto themselves. Walked around the back of the temple – and saw a wonderful grand reservoir – where water was flowing nay gushing out at incredible speed from the lake – perhaps a dam, for the water to be pushed into a particular direction. Wonderful to see water flowing at such maddening pace! Chaos amidst perfection. Never to be missed i must say!

We travelled from here another 40 odd kms to the next biggest lake in the region – called lachnavaram – truly a delight if not for the hostile looking environments and people around – our car was temporarily stopped by little kids – who were imitating their jobless seniors in a mock way – stopping the road with a block and trying to throw stones on the car – and our driver was indeed a bit shaken up. The lake is deep within jungle – and is surrounded by naxal influence. We didn't spend much time – but the lake had a number of small islands in between connected by bridges – the place is well known for migratory birds which come from as far as Siberia during the Indian winters – to nest and chill.

We spent some time in the hot mid day sun appreciating the natural wonder of a lake and started off on the long way back to hyderabad. Journey back uneventful but overall a beautiful getaway at minimum turbulence – to see the once mighty empire fallen unto dust – as usual; as always.

Peace

 

Walk Pilgrim Walk

I think about the most insistent/persistent/consistent thing which I have done in my life, and the answer is clear.
I have walked. I walk and as long as my legs shall support my breadth, I shall walk.
I have been told that I started using my legs, exactly on the day of my first birthday. I could stand and walk in one go, and I am thankful for this grace bestowed. For this is one of the fondest and most meditative acts which I have been able to do time over with relish.

Walking is at some level genetic, instinctive and eventual in any humans life. Those of us who haven't been able to enjoy walking for one reason or other (mostly laziness) can never enjoy the true carnal pleasure of wanderlust. Of absolute freedom from direction or rules. Freedom to go where one pleases, when one wants and when one chooses!

I am not a big fan of man-made transport. Its needed in concrete jungles where walking is sheer pain rather than pleasure. But when we have the open space above and beyond us to explore. Then the walk becomes the goal-less goal. The pathless path. The meditative spiritual state of reality- where the truth is that there is no walker- there is no walk- there is no path. There is just one-ness.

I know for sometime now- that when pilgrims/walkers are able to go long distances (just like myself); they experience special peaceful states (theta brain wave states) which are absolutely the same states which lucid dreamers and meditation experts can extract.

There are many pilgrimages in India (way too many), and its really wonderful to walk ways which lead through Indian rural sceneries to places of power, the act of walking is so slow and strenuous that in a period of time; the pilgrim starts experiencing a slower pace of the mind. He starts with viewing the external world in a slower light (try it.. cause the only way most of us know how to move is with a car/bike/mechanical transport- which takes us through our visual externals at a faster pace, but walking is so slow- that it allows you to change your scenery at a constant slow pace- inducing visual delight to the pilgrim to enjoy and understand the external world around us, while enjoying the internal rapture of walking meditation).

There is a beautiful movie on walking pilgrimage which I recently saw, its called "the way" starring martin sheen in a very composed and strong lead.  He walks the ancient pilgrim road- "The way of St. James" or the "El Camino de Santiago"  spanning over 800 km's. The movie is a sheer visual delight as they show a lot of pit stops which the pilgrims go through as they make their way to the holy ruins of apostle St. James located in the west most point of spain in gallacia. The entire route is laden with holy power places where pilgrims can rest and contemplate. Most pilgrims walk to and from santiago atleast once in their lives.
I loved the movie which was able to show case the serenity and rest that a wanderlust-ing pilgrim on his way to his maker feels. There is no maker on this earth, but there are such beautiful natural power-places strewn all across- that its quite literally a sin not to walk on our feet and explore the beauty of this green earth!
And that is what walking is for all its worth. Its that innocent sense which most us city dwellers have left far behind... Imagine being able to walk amidst dense jungles, or snow peaks or uninhabited islands, or green misty valleys and so much more... exploring and seeing things for the very first time! Thats what nature's grand vision to teach us is... to show us the beauty of heavens right here on earth, but these beautiful mysterious grand visions won't come to us if we sit and slack inside our 4 wall cubicles. These mysteries and visions are not there on a road map or even on a road... they are there where man has yet not visited, and I assure you that our mother-this earth has many many places like this. Completely invisible to the fool, and only pleasing those who work hard and walk silent without expectations!

Walking makes one a man! It brings patience and faith of a just path/goal. It brings strength and endurance to stop the world/or atleast slow the world (stopping the world- quite literally stopping what the external is projecting). Walking brings out being and character. It is a conversation (not a monologue) which one has with oneself. It results in ending of the conversation, replaced by the true state of one-ness.
Walking appeases the beast in man, It cures wanderlust and the diseases which ravage the mind and body. Depression and insomnia, obesity and lust, materialism and hedonism. Everything is balanced when one walks with his walking stick (you can see ancient iconography of most gods of ancient lore- and you will see that most carry a walking power stick in some form or other). Everything remains in perfect equilibrium... this realization so strong and in grand magnitude hits the enduring pilgrim, who walks day and night; sun and star to no end and to the end of the world for the pleasure of it.

I love to walk. I love to see this beautiful perfect Earth through my eyes, No I wont have it- that someone else will tell me about what is what without me seeing it for the very first time myself, and this is what walking is eternally. Seeing and being for the very first time. Like never before. It couldn't be so without the strength in my legs and the fire in my heart. It could be only so... with the wind in my hair and my eyes in awe twinkling like stars! Feels like seeing things for the very first time!

Peace