WHEN YOU EAT, EAT... WHEN YOU SLEEP, SLEEP





Pic.: Chetna Shetty

 Slowing down is the solution for many, many of my problems... I know it; but, I keep ignoring it... And, then, some crisis happens... and, the truth stares at me again... Just as it does, right now:


When I eat... If I can shut off everything else and only focus on my eating... see the food which is there before me... its color, feel its aroma... eat slowly, chew well in my mouth... experience its taste fully, enjoy it as it gently passes down through my throat and stomach...

With less quantity of food, I can have a satisfying, healthy and kingly meal!

When I taken bath... If I can shut off everything else and only focus on my bathing... see the water falling off the shower or the tap... feel its coolness or warmth as it touches my body... experience the cleansing process... the shampoo and soap experience, the steam that comes from the bucket or the tub... the fragrance, the smoothness of my towel...

The bathing experience can be, in deed, a meditative experience!

When I work... If I can shut off everything else and only focus on my work... react less, panic less, worry less... trust more,  smile more, hope more, understand and empathize more... be patient and tolerant...Enjoy the work I am doing, bless the work, bless the boss, bless the colleagues... feel the gratitude, feel the prosperity and peace...

The work done with poise can be leisure of top order!

When I exercise – whether in the gym or at the playground or in the yoga or aerobic class, or just as I take my walks... If I can shut off everything else and only focus on the exercise I am doing... feel the breath... feel the stretch... experience every pore of my muscle... feel the heartbeat, feel the rhythm... feel the health and the healing process...

The exercise done with attention, care and respect to my body can be just like praying in a quiet temple!
And, when I pray... If I can shut off everything else and only focus on my prayer... Just trust, just be thankful, hopeful and peaceful... just surrender, let go... feel the presence of God in my soul... feel His touch, his grace... the protection...
The prayer done with total surrender can be its answer, too!
When I read, if I can only read... When I write, if I can only write... When I ‘watch’, if I can only watch... When I love and appreciate, if I can only do that...
Yes, if I can only do that... do it slowly and enjoy the experience... Yes, as the wise words advice: “When you eat, eat; when you sleep, sleep”...
How peaceful it all can be!
I know it; but, I keep ignoring it...
GERALD D’CUNA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi...
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How ...
Read more

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT A FAIRY-TALE... IT IS A CHOICE"

Image
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone… It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Lathe of Heaven T welve years ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married, the world began to hail the couple as ‘Brangelina’. It became a fashion for couples around us to call themselves so… Norbert and Teresa renamed them as ‘Noresa’…  Amol and Vishaka baptized their relationship as ‘Amoshka’… and, Salman and Nargis became ‘Salgis’! I and my wife, too, got tempted to re-christian our matrimonial relationship as ‘Germa’... That is, Gerald and Anima, to be precise! B efore I proceed any further, let me make it very clear, here… that, I have no business to judge on the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina’ Jolie’s marriage. I have no inclination to go into why, how, what when etc behind it… The couple ‘chose’ to split. And, it’s their choice… Only they know how good or bad… how joyful or pain...
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...