“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Acceptance
In memory of Smt. Rajeshwari Padmanabhan
In memory of Rajeshwari teacher.(1939-2008), daughter of Lakshmi Ammal and grand daughter of Karaikudi Subbarama Iyer (the elder of the Karaikudi Veena brothers), was a ninth generation descendent from the Karaikudi Veena tradition.
Nostalgic at this time of the year. Memories of Rajeshwari teacher and Kalakshetra keeps rushing through me…. It’s the fifth anniversary of the passing away of my teacher and Vainika Smt. Rajeshwari Padmanabhan. Her relaxed and meticulous style of playing the veena comes to my memory. She used to sing the sahityas along with the veena sometimes, matching the veena so perfectly that you were not really sure who was singing – the veena or she! A wonderful and gentle woman who will always remain in the hearts of those who came across her and who were blessed to have been in her presence.
Smt. Rajeswari Padmanabhan passed away on the 15 August 2008.
©ekta25
Nothing is Static
Nothing is static…
Everything is changing constantly.
No one can be static even if they wanted to.
Each moment in time is perfect.
Being in the moment and appreciating it.
This moment won’t come back ever,
Nor will it ever be the same again.
One day we will be left with only memories.
Even at that moment,
We will have to be in that moment of time.
But when we have the privilege of looking back,
Let those moments be moments of sweet memories….
©ekta25
Some people say: “In this big universe, you’re just a speck of dust.”
You may be a speck of dust, but oh, what a speck of dust.
In this speck of dust, the infinite and the finite are fused;
and you are the threshold of the two.
Here, the mortal being comes as close
as it possibly can to the immortal.
The same power that drives the universe breathes us.
We have been chosen to be the platform for life.
~ Prem Rawat
The seven principles of Huna
These are the Seven Spiritual Principles which create the core philosophy of Hawaiian Huna.
As the world attempted to eradicate the teachings of ancient cultures of Native peoples around the globe, Hawai’i’s wisdom was hidden in the chants of the Ancient Ones and the Hulahula (Hula dances).
They beautifully and simply describe who you are and what is possible for you. These are some of the most ancient teachings on the planet.
In Memory of Smt. Rajeshwari Padmanabhan ~ (1939-2008)
The Yajnavalkya Smriti mentions:
“Veena vadhana tathvangna sruti, jathi, visartha talanjaaprayasena moksha margam niyachathi”
(“The one who is well versed in veena, one who has the knowledge of srutis and one who is adept in tala, attains salvation without doubt.”)
August 15 th 2008 is an unforgettable day to me. This was the day Smt. Rajeshwari my guru left her mortal body. I haven’t kept in touch nor seen her for many years, but her memory is still freshly etched in my mind. Nostalgic thoughts of her still keep recurring. To me she will always remain a very special and beautiful person. The one and only Rajeshwari teacher…..
The passing away of Rajeshwari teacher came in as a shock. Even though you know that everyone has to go some day, every time we hear of someone passing away especially if the person happens to be someone you have known leaves a feeling of loss. A motherly figure, she was someone who was gentle at the same time a strict disciplinarian. She was my teacher 30 yrs ago. She is amazing as always. I cried listening to a recording of her on the veena. Her music will always bring nostalgic memories .
Rajeshwari teacher was a very modest person who rarely revealed what she possesed. One has to watch her play the veena to realize what a talent she carried. We have lost a musician of par excellence. It is rare to find someone like her. My prostrations to the great legend our Rajeshwari teacher. More of her music should become available to the public.
©ekta25
In every breath
In every breath
if you’re the center
of your own desires
you’ll lose the grace
of your beloved
But if in every breath
you blow away
your self claim
the ecstasy of love
will soon arrive
In every breath
if you’re the center
of your own thoughts
the sadness of autumn
will fall on you
But if in every breath
you strip naked
just like a winter
the joy of spring
will grow from within
All your impatience
comes from the push
for gain of patience
let go of the effort
and peace will arrive
All your unfulfilled desires
are from your greed
for gain of fulfillments
let go of them all
and they will be sent as gifts
Fall in love with
the agony of love
not the ecstasy
then the beloved
will fall in love with you
~
Rumi
The Songbird…
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“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer . It sings because it has a song. ~ Maya Angelou
In fact this is also supposed to be a Chinese proverb…
My friend Howard, Â said this to me when I told him that I could not write anymore, Â it has been a while and my ink had dried up….
“The caged bird sings because it has a song to sing and not because it wishes to sing” …
This want is simply an expression of  it’s existence– an emanation of it’s  individuality. The bird does not sing for you or me;  it sings because it must.  In each one of us, there is a need to express. Sometimes it is so compelling . An expression of the soul or heart or mind… whatever we want to call it’s root as …
There is an innate need in us to express, be it music, writing, poetry, dance, painting or any other form of art ….
 Each one of us has a way of manifesting this , so unique to ourselves. It is perfect as it is inbuilt…  It is for each one of us to recognize what the medium is. When it is the natural mode of expression, which comes without any pressure or pain, we will understand what it is.  It will be joyous and natural…Â
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I have to thank Howard for putting some inspiration in  me to want to write again….
And the bird will sing , because it has a song !
©ekta25
Taking Responsibility…..
Take 100% responsibility for your life. Blaming others, giving excuses, or coming up with victim stories only keep you from getting what you want. Successful people practice asking “How did I create that situation?“, “What did I do or not do to have this outcome?”. When you blame others for setbacks, you become a powerless victim. Whatever the life situation, you always have the power of choice. While you cannot always control outside situations, you do have the power to change yourself and respond differently.
When you believe that you are a victim, by law of attraction, the universe will bring you more reasons to strengthen the belief that you are a victim. Only when you bring the focus towards self and start taking complete responsibility for your life experiences do you start to become the powerful creator of your life. In other words, taking complete responsibility moves you from being a victim towards becoming a victor. ~ Sudhir Krishnan
The amazing Vidya and Vandana Iyer sisters …
Fell in love with this rendition by Vidhya and Vandana  and  can’t help but keep listening to this song again and again …..
This classical South-Indian composition was sung by the amazing sister duo Vidya Iyer and Vandana Iyer. The Raga is Darbari Kannada.
Song: Nee Nenaindal
Composer: Periasamy Thooran
Raagam: Darbari Kannada
Performers: Shankar Tucker featuring Vidya & Vandana Iyer
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