March 26, 2009

The "Self"


Last week I came to read a book titled
"CONSCIOUS IMMORTALITY".
It is a conversation with an Indian sage called "Ramana Maharshi"
(December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950), who lived in South India
(Uranachalam, Thiruvannamalai, TamilNadu).
The man who talks with Maharshi in the book is Paul Brunton, and he travels along with Sri Ramana's teachings about self-enquiry.

The book concentrates about Ramana Maharshi's thought about
"Self", the "I" factor. Author tries to get answers for his complicated queries, but Maharshi's answers were brilliant but simple. He guide the reader's mind for the quest of "Self". According to Maharshi, Self is the supreme power.
All complicated questions, we're seeking for, just ask to the "Self", you'll never fail to get the answer.

Once you get realized the "Self", then no worries no tensions no other thoughts.

Several things sticked to me after completing the book.
How to practise the teachings in the book, or how do I start the "I" thought?
Still I'm searching a way, a way of simple life which may lit a candle in my heart.

If you felt boring reading so far this blog, please press the X button at right top corner, and go back to your happy normal life. I never mind.
Thanks for visiting my blog.

Folks, thanks for being here again.
Never think these kind of thoughts are only applicable for highly spiritual people. Normal guys like us, if tried or if practiced hardly, we could make a difference in our life.
But how? Thats the tough question.
Just try our own methods, read books elaborately and practice with out bothering about the final result.
Yoga, praanayama, other sort of meditations are the primary paths for the thought or quest about "Self".
Always have a CHINTHA about, "Who Am I?".

Now consider about ourself, always we're immersed in unwanted worries and tensions. I agree that we couldn't get rid of those tensions completely. But atleast we could control 'em, avoid a few of 'em.

Just relax and think,
"What all things you need in your life?
What all things you don't need?"

Our mind is behind conquering everything he see with his eyes.
This has to be changed, have a clear idea about how our life should be.
Love yourself, it'll be the first step to "I" factor, then try to realize the "Self".

Lets eliminate unnecessary worries, thoughts; and concentrate in yourself.
Dont bother about external world.

Listen to your heart and be aware that you're happy, enjoying the bliss of life.
Surrender completely to the supreme power you believe, but it must be an undoubtful self-surrender.
Issues may creep in our life, but believe that he will take care of everything.
You just do your "Karma" 100% and be peaceful.

Realize the "Self", enjoy the life.


അഹം ബ്രഹ്മ്മമായി കരുതിയിരുന്ന ഒരു സംസ്ക്കാരമുണ്ട്‌ നമുക്ക്.
ശ്രമിക്കാം,
എന്നിലെ ചൈതന്യം കണ്ടെത്തുവാനായി;
താന്‍ തന്നെയാണു ബ്രഹ്മം എന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവിനായി...
--------------------------------------------------------------

I was silent since my last blog-post. But my Maam inspired me posting a new one. I dedicate this post to RekhaMaam, who always supported me like a gud friend/loving sister.
Maam, this is for you.

March 16, 2009

അവധിക്കാലം

കുട്ടികളെല്ലാം കാത്തിരിക്കുകയായിരിക്കും മറ്റൊരു അവധിക്കാലതിനായ്.
പരീക്ഷയെല്ലാം കഴിഞ്ഞു ചിലര്‍ക്ക്‌ ഒഴിവുദിനങ്ങള്‍ ആരംഭിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞു .
കണ്ടില്ലേ? ഇന്നലെവരെ പൂത്തുലഞ്ഞു നിന്നിരുന്ന മാവുകളിലെല്ലാം പച്ചമാങ്ങകള്‍ നിറഞ്ഞു; ഇലകള്‍ പോലും കാണാന്‍ വയ്യാത്തവണ്ണം. ചില്ലകളിലെല്ലാം ഇനി ഒഴിവുകാലത്തിന്റെ ഊയാലാട്ടമായി.

ഓര്‍ക്കാറുണ്ടോ; പരീക്ഷചൂടില്‍നിന്നും മീനമാസത്തിലെ ചൂടില്‍നിന്നും, കുളിര്‍മഴയായി നമ്മളെ കടന്നുപോകാറുള്ള ആ ദിനങ്ങളെ?
കാണുന്ന മാവിലെല്ലം കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞു കൂട്ടുകാരോടൊത്ത് കുസൃതികള്‍ മാത്രം
കാണിച്ചിരുന്ന രണ്ടു മാസക്കാലം...
വി. ടി. യുടെ ഭാഷയില്‍ പറഞ്ഞാല്‍ "ചക്കകാട്ടി കളിച്ചിരുന്ന" ദിവസങ്ങള്‍.

തിരികെ വരില്ല എന്നറിയാമെങ്കിലും, ഇന്നലെകളെ കൊതിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ആ കാലം
മറക്കുവതെങ്ങിനെ? നമ്മുടെയൊക്കെ അവധിക്കാലങ്ങള്‍ മിക്കവാറും ബന്ധുക്കളുടെയും അമ്മാവന്മാരുടെയും വീട്ടിലായിരിക്കും. പുതിയ സൌഹൃദങ്ങളുടെയും കളിക്കളങ്ങളുടെയും ബാഹുല്യംകൊണ്ട് കൗതുകങ്ങള്‍
നിറഞ്ഞ ഒരുപിടി ദിവസങ്ങള്‍, അപ്പൂപ്പന്‍താടി പോലെ എത്രപെട്ടെന്നാണ്
എന്‍റെയടുത്തു നിന്നും കൈ എത്താദൂരത്തേക്കു പൊയ്പോയത്?
കഴിയില്ല എന്നറിയാമെങ്കിലും മനസ്സുകൊണ്ടൊരു തിരിച്ചുപോക്ക് ആഗ്രഹിക്കുകയാണ് ഞാനും, നിങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ.

ഇന്നത്തെ കുട്ടിപട്ടാളങ്ങളും അവധിക്കാലം അങ്ങിനെത്തന്നെ
ആഘോഷിക്കുന്നുണ്ടാവുമോ? അറിയില്ല.
കാലത്തിനൊത്ത മാററങ്ങള്‍ അവരിലും ഉണ്ട്ടായെക്കും.
പക്ഷെ മനസ്സിലെന്നും ഒഴിവുകാലത്തിന്‍റെ ഒരു മാമ്പഴക്കാലം
എല്ലാ കുരുന്നുകള്‍ക്കും ആസ്വതിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയട്ടെ;
അവരുടെ സ്മൃതികളില്‍ അവയെന്നും മായാതെ നിറഞ്ഞുനില്‍ക്കട്ടെ.


March 11, 2009

Lakshadweep Yathra

This is about Lakshadweep trip we did last weekend with my friends at Infopark. After that I got a couple of queries about the journey, so decided to find somespace here to write about the same.



Lakshadweep (hundred thousand Islands) is a collection of islands called Andrott, Minicoi, Agatti, Kavarathi(Capital of LDweep), Bangaram, Kalpeni etc.
And our tour package was to Kalpeni Island in MV Minicoi ship[MV stands for Motor Vessel]

The "Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports"(SPORTS) is the society promoting L-Dweep tourism and you could get the tickets for travel from their office situated at Kochi Port. Other agencies are also there from where you can get the service, but ultimately SPORTS is organising the tourism packages. Not much formalities required, no need of a Passport, hope you're that
Lakshadweep is a part of our state, Kerala.

Our package was for one day(Rs.4500 per head including all expenses with food) at Kalpeni Island, and we started journey in MV Minicoi ship from Kochi Port around 4PM. Minicoi is a small ship(120 travellers capacity) compared to other LDweep ships like MV Kavarathi and Bharat Seema.
Before journey SPORTS provided us Tourists ID card, T-Shirts and caps.
Ship crews welcomed us inside the ship; luggages kept atin separate locker rooms. Interior of ship looked like A/C chair car in train :)
It was my first experince in Ship and in deep sea. Each second in sea and Island gave me moments of wonder and amusement. The color of navy blue sea and waves; itz hard to put into words, its beauty.
[If I were an artist I could have drawn a picture in the sky with that blue color :) ]

After couple of hours, we could see only water all around us , and the ship is moving towards the setting sun.

Refreshments and dinner, you'll get it from the ship itself, which is included in the package. Crews provided us night jackets, but we spent the whole night above the deck, with uncountable stars in the sky, guiding us to the
island like a fairy tale.


Itz about 158 Miles of journey from Kochi to Kalpeni Island, ie. around 285 Kms(1 Nautical Mile = 1.8 Kms). If lucky enuf, you could enter into the Ship Cockpit, there we could see Compass, Rradar equipments, Sea scanners etc.
The ship was running in auto piloting mode that time, and took 13-14 Hrs of journey to reach there. Sea was so calm, so that none of us had any kind of sea sicknesses.

By 5:30 AM next morning we reached at Kalpeni. Ship got anchored about 100mts from the shore and small boats taken us to the Island. Tourism guys received with tender coconut and guided us to SPORTS resort for refreshment and breakfast. That resort is not upto the mark, when the facilities are concerned. Families will find it difficult to adjust.

After breakfast we went to small Islands called Tilakkam & Pitti, which is 200 mts away from resort via boat. Our wonder world starts there. There we did snorkeling.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snorkeling)
We could see corals and fishes like we did in Animal Planet and NGC.
(Picture below is not my snap, taken from net)

I dont get words to describe the feel we got after snorkeling
and boating. Those who go with shoes, pls remember to take chappal while going that place. Never try with bare foot[like I did :)], Corals are very beautiful to see but itz very sharp. Collecting corals unscientifically is strictly prohibited.
It was worth spending 2-3 hours there.

After lunch and cultural programs at Resort we moved to Light House and a Banyan factory. The entire Kalpeni is only about 2.5 Kms long and around 200 mts width, "A small big-Big ship floating in the Coral reefs" :)

The north part of Kalpeni is Tip Beach. The shore is so beautiful with white sand and full of corals accumulated. The color of water is a mix of pale green and blue. Most of the viewable areas are tranparent like crystal glass. You could take a sea bath there, but it'll be very hot.

The smallest Island in Lakshadweep called Cheriyam Island is also very close from Tip Beach. Cheriyam is still uninhabited and didnt get chance to visit. After enjoying the Tip Beach the trip comes to an end with tea and snacks from Resort.

The island is full of Coconut trees, and the sunlight could hardly enter even at noon. 99% of Island is Muslim people. Commonly they speak Malayalam language, but from local people there, we came to know about a language called "Jasari" which is scriptless. "Mahl" is another language which is commonly used in Minicoi Island, which is a standard language used in Maldives, very similar to Arabic. The Island inmates have to depend on Kochi for most of their needs, have to wait for the arrival of Ship for everything. Otherwise itz a good place for a peaceful life, without much wants and greeds of a common man.

At eve, around 6PM the ship came to take us back(Pls dont make fun with pic above :) it wasn't our ship). The schedule and timings of ship is subjected to change at any time. Luckily, we were able to finish the trip in time as planned,and we reached back Kochi next day morning by 8:30 AM.

============================================================================
May to September is monsoon season, so better avoid the trip that time.
According to my knowledge SPORTS will not allow tourists via Ship,
during monsoon. Air India recently have started services to L-Dweep
from Nedumbassery in alternate days.

For more info Contact: 0484-2668387, 2666789
http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/contact.html
E-mail : -
laksports.reservation@gmail.com
sportslak@gmail.com
Folks, if you are planning for a trip, I'm always ready to share what I know.
You could reach me at sujithes@gmail.com