ZeN mOdE 📿📿 LoCk dOwN diaries–1
Deep in
their
roots all
flowers
keep the
light…
( words ~ ` ~ Theodore Roethke, Flower:Crepe myrtle 💜💜)
The Muse…
One must give himself completely
To his art and not hold back.
Throw caution to the
Wind.
Embrace the muse.
•~• Harley King
Apply Within…
You once told me
You wanted to find
Yourself in the world –
And I told you to
First apply within,
To discover the world
within you.
You once told me
You wanted to save
The world from all its wars –
And I told you to
First save yourself
From the world,
And all the wars
Through.
( words : APPLY WITHIN by Suzy Kassem” )
Journey…
Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s
about un-becoming everything that isn’t
really you, so you can be who you were
meant to be in the
first place.
~ ` ~ Paulo Coelho
The songs of trees…
We are all
Trees…
.
The Green
smoke…
Listen to
it’s songs
…your own soul…
All our wisdom
is stored
in the Trees…
~`~ Santosh Kalwar
..Universe in
ecstatic
motion…
~`~ Rumi
Our most intimate
contact with
Nature…
~`~ George Nakashima
Grey Visage…
“ There is mystery behind that masked grey visage
, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty,
awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence
ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks,
great fires, and the sea.”
~ ` ~ Peter Matthiessen
Older wisdom…
Since we are the youngest children of creation,
our accumulated wisdom is young, too, and so I
search outside of the tiny and fragile box of
humankind’s insight and understanding for the
older wisdom, the more ancient and enduring
healing.
…I have documented the rich insights and mercies
brought to my life by my animal kin…I write about
the empowerment of meaningful and healing
relationships.
Many of mine are with animals and nature.
~ ` ~ Susan Chernak Mcelroy
Breathe in…
Breathe in with the deep awareness that you are a
human being.
Then breathe out and touch the earth,
a non-man element, as your mother.
Visualize the streams of water beneath the Earth’s
surface.
See the minerals .See our Mother Earth, the Mother of
us all.
Then bring your arms up and breathe in again, touching the
trees, flowers, fruits, birds, squirrels, air and sky– the
non-elements.
When your head is touching the air, the sun, the moon,
the galaxies, the cosmos–non-man elements that have
come together in order to make man possible–you see
that all of the elements are coming into you to make your
being possible.
Breathing in again, stretch your arms and be aware that you also penetrate other
elements.
Man helps make the other elements possible.
( Words : Thich Nhat Hanh )
Wildness…
The journey is into the wildness of your greater life.
The wilderness is your soul.
To merge with your destiny, you must locate,
liberate and live what is truly wild.
The soul is here to live its joy.
The uninitiated ego is here to keep things familiar,
safe and predictable.
Which path will you choose?
~ ` ~ Bill Plotkin
Who Am I …?
I am That I am..
I am that which I have created myself to be.
~ ` ~ The Gita
I am the answer you were not
expecting…
I exist
As I am.
That is enough.
~ ` ~ Walt Whitman
Knowing yourself is the beginning of
all
wisdom.
~ ` ~ Aristotle
Many have an Image of me.
Few get the
picture…
I regret opening up to
some people.
They didn’t deserve to
know me like that.
~ ` ~ Gold-Kushkloudz
Wondering on
myself,
by myself,
for myself…
I am a thinker
Not a talker…
I have travelled
through madness
to
find me…
Don’t ask
anyone
but me,
about me…
I am shy at first but…
I do the stupidest random
things when I
get comfortable
with someone…
I
hate being
Shy…
Never have I dealt with
anything more
difficult than my
own soul…
You don’t know me…
I put back my pieces,
differently.
( words: Internet )
Heart seeks…
From the clamor of crowds I flee,
my heart seeks
The kind of silence that would
mesmerize speech itself.
~ ` ~ An Urdu poem
Soul menders…
The way of these gentle giants..
&
how they heal us are
mysterious…
They are some of the most
accomplished
&
accessible
healers we may
ever
meet…
there is power that resides
in the heart of
a
species…
that..is
exponentially
higher than ..the power of any
individual…
The desire to know your
soul
will end all
other desires.
~ ` ~ Rumi
My soul is my
guide.
~ ` ~ Rumi
( words adapted from; “Animals as healers “.. pictures taken at Kaziranga national park,India )
True path…
Truth is one
&
the true path is one.
It does not belong to
anybody.
Its nobody’s
property.
it is only one!
there are not many paths really.
Many people walk on the
path,
but the path is one.
And it is so vast
they may not meet
each
other
( words: Osho’s teachings )
Happiness…
On a cloudy day, the clouds hide the sun,
but the sun is always there in
the sky…
Like the sun, happiness is often hidden by
the clouds of thoughts & worries…
You have to scatter &dissolve the clouds to
experience it…
All you have to do is calm down your mind &
feelings, because when there is a quiet mind
& inner peace, happiness emerges
from within you…
You don’t have to create happiness, because though
you may not believe it, it is a part of your
essence , but is just hidden…
…happiness is there within you.
just calm your mind & stay relaxed...
…what you need to do is strive not to allow
your feelings get upset by
your memories...
Inner peace & happiness are inter connected.
you want more happiness ?
Learn to calm your mind make
it less restless…
It is an inseparable part of your consciousness,
of your essence, & comes out
where your mind
is free from disturbing &
constant thinking…
...when the mind gets quiet you experience the
happiness in you…
...the treasure is there , whether you see it
or not. so is happiness.
…it is always here , only hidden by
constant thinking
& worries…
Do not let worries
hide
your
Happiness…
Location : Samanar Hills ( Jain hills) keelakuilkudi, Near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. India (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanar_Hills)
Words: adapted from an article by Remez Sasson
Soul…
Souls recognize each
other
by vibes…
not by
appearances…
Where ever you
stand
be the soul
of the place.
~ ` ~ Rumi
Friendship is composed
of a single soul.
Inhabiting
two bodies.
~ ` ~ Plautus
The soul
cannot
live without love.
You are a spirit , you
have a soul and you
live in a body.
~ ` ~ Pedro Okoro
( Picture : Indian Gaur )
Chief…
The torn boughs trailing
O’er the tusks…aslant
The saplings reeling in the path
He trod,
Declares his might- our lord
The Elephant
Chief of the ways of
God…
~ ` ~ Tom Alter
Stillness Speaks…
Be still
stillness reveals
the secret of
eternity…
` ~ ` Lao Tzu
That the mind
is in
abysmal stillness…
` ~ ` Lao Tzu
Nothing in all
creation is
so like god
as
Stillness.
` ~ ` Meister Eckhart
Learning how to
be still,
to really be still
and let life happen–
that stillness becomes a
radiance…
` ~ ` Morgan Freeman
Even when in the midst
of disturbance,
stillness of the mind can
offer
sanctuary..
` ~ ` Stephen Richards
In the stillness of headstones ,
Darkness in my blanket.
And forever in my song..
In the arms if stare angles,
I ‘m not afraid.
Because finally and
completely,
I belong
` ~ ` Jordan Dane
Please also take a look at my other post..https://sriramjanak.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/speaking-rocks/
( location : Aritappati village…near Madurai. Tamil Nadu,
INDIA )
Alive…
It is beautiful to be
sensitive…
And if you are more
sensitive…
You will be more
Alive…
If you are more Alive,
then more life will
Enter your inner being.
You will be more
Open…
You can eat things with out
tasting; it is not difficult…
But…it is beautiful to taste….
become the taste of the food…
We are feeling vacant, empty and
we keep saying life is….empty
We are not filling it…
Be more alive, and you will be more Divine.
Be totally alive,
and there is no death for you…
( Words : OSHO )
A Hug…
Hugging is the ideal gift.
Great for any occasion, fun to give and receive,
shows you care, comes with its own wrapping and,
of course, is fully returnable. Hugging is practically perfect.
No batteries to wear out, inflation-proof, nonfattening,
no monthly payments, theft-proof and nontaxable.”
~~ Unknown
“Hugs are a means of transferring energy to
another person who is dear to you.
This will replenish depleted energy
at any time particularly when a dear person is sick.”
~~ Unknown
“Hugs are to pull two
people closer together
but why is it that you can never see the other
person’s expression when it happens?”
~~ Unknown
My favorite place to
be is inside of your
hugs where it’s warm and loving.”
~~ unknown
“As long as you hold me,
I am safe from all harm.”
~~ Unknown
Mind seeing…
I shut my eyes in order to see…
The poet, the painter, or the photographer who is locked into only the visual phenomena
may miss the heart of what was actually being experienced…
Internationalization closes
many doors…
Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enjoy the mystery .
All the good stuff is hidden in the dark corners.
It’s what gives life a sense of vitality…
The brush paints by itself,
the dance dances itself,
the poem writes itself.
There is no longer a gap between artist, subject,
audience, and life…
Just see, just hear, just taste,
just touch, just smell,
just see a thought without the need to give it a name or identity.
This way of perceiving will then begin to translate
into the way you express yourself through your art…
Only that day dawns to which we are awake
~`Henry David Thoreau
Develop the ability to experience things directly, without evaluation.
You will be able to see, hear fell taste, smell…
As your attentiveness and awareness increase with practice….
you will begin to notice little things that you have been seeing everyday
but barely noticed in passing…
Only that day dawns
to which we are awake
~`Henry David Thoreau
Each one of us is n artist
Whether we realize it or not…
When you learn to trust yourself implicitly,
you no longer need to prove something
through your art…
If the energy is really flowing freely,
the brush paints by itself. the camera pictographs,…
.the sculpture forms…the words write…
To be nothing…to want nothing…
to do nothing…
it has to be experienced…
( Words: zen arts, Minor white, Ryoken, Zen creativity…)
Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful new year…:-)
Muddy…
check your mind
Be on your guard
Pull yourself out
as an Elephant from mud…
~~ Buddha
If the mud ain’t flying
You ain’t trying…
Go through the mud
They said
It isn’t deep
they said…
Dontcha
wish your daddy
could mud
like mine ??
The world is
Mud luscious
&
puddle wonderful…
If you pray
for rain
be prepared for
some mud…
make mud
not war…
(words: internet posters…)
Ocean…
“How inappropriate to call this planet earth
When it is quite clearly Ocean “
~` Arthur .c. Clarke
Life is always beautiful,
just find where you stand &
enjoy it…
Every wave has a
story to tell….
“ In a drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans….
in one aspect of you
are found all the aspects of existence “
~~ khalil Gibran
Walking by the ocean…
following birth and death…
Dreaming big….
unlearning…
“The wonder of nature
with it’s infinite form & colors ,
the sages call : Illusion “
~~ Upanishads
( location : The Andaman, Havelock, Neil islands…India )
Living rocks -Jain hill – Aritapati
Silence and Self-control is non-violence.
~~~ Lord Mahavira
Half a mile to the north west of the village of Arittapatti is a hillock called Kalinjamalai
( Arittapatti village is Near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, In India )
Arittapatti was to be a flourishing Jaina centre until the
Ninth century…
This is confirmed by the period rock carving of a seated Tirthankara, canopied by a triple umbrella over his head;
Non-injury to all living beings is the only religion.” (first truth of Jainism) “In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves.”
“This is the quintessence of wisdom; not to kill anything. All breathing, existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure unchangeable Law. Therefore, cease to injure living things.”
“All living things love their life, desire pleasure and do not like pain; they dislike any injury to themselves; everybody is desirous of life and to every being, his life is very dear.”
Yogashastra (Jain Scripture) (c. 500 BC)”
On the eastern face of the hill is a cavern with a drip-ledge cut into the outer face of the rock.
On the brow of the cave is found a Bramhi inscription which has been dated to between the second and first century B.C.
The inscription, engraved as a single line with 33 letters and running for 3.10 metres, reads as follows: ilanjiy vel mapparavan makan emayavan nalmuzhaukai kotupithavan.
It means, “Emayavan, son of Mapparavan, chief of Ilanji, has caused the carving of this auspicious cave.”
“Mahavira proclaimed in India that religion is a reality and not a mere social convention.
It is really true that salvation can not be had by merely observing external ceremonies.
Religion cannot make any difference between man and man.”
~~~Rabindranath Tagore
Jain Thirthankara sculpture is carved out with engravings below.
“We learn from scriptures (Sashtras) and commentaries that Jainism is existing from beginningless time.
This fact is indisputable and free from difference of opinion.
There is much historical evidence on this point.”
‑‑ Lokamanya Bala Gangadhar Tilak
The beautiful rock formations was what which drew me to this place…
do take a look at my post Balance... here
These rocks hide some deep meaning ..
only our eyes need to see them…
These rocks give you a Religious sense of Awe…
The silence is very real….
You can feel it..
Seemingly close enough to reach out
and touch…
They don’t talk..
and that’s what I like about them…
But..
each rock has a story to tell…
( Source: Jain heritage site; The Hindu )
Balance…
” What I dream of is
an art of balance…”
~~ Henri Matisse
Life is Balance….
Everything that you see as life…
Everything that you see as yourself is
beautiful…
only when it is in
Balance..
Your body,
Your thoughts….
Your emotions…
Everything is beautiful…
only if it is Balance…
Balance IS
Beautiful….
~~ Miyoko ohno
(words : jaggi Vasudev )
Living rocks -Jain hill – Keelakuyilkudi
Climbing over the zenith of the Rocky Mountains,
I caught my first glimpse of this bass relief,
which is arguably the most beautiful of its kind, in southern India.
And right then, right there, I was hooked…..Actually I had fallen in love with the rock formations around Madurai
you can see some of the photos here..
https://sriramjanak.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/speaking-rocks/
I live in madurai , a city ,in the state of Tamil nadu , in the south of India.
It is famously known as the temple city or the Athens of the east.
Madurai is surrounded by several mountains. Madurai city has 3 hills as its city boundary.
Yanaimalai, Nagamalai, Pasumalai named after Elephant, Snake and Cow respectively.
Many stone statues and other artifacts are present in these hill
I have been exploring these hills alone and with friends for the past year or so.
I will share photos of these beautiful statues , inscriptions and the rock formations on these hills in the series
“ Living rocks“…
I will start this series with…
Jain hill at Keelakuyilkudi
An 8 feet high Theerthangarar figure with an inscription at its foot is seen
at the cave known as in the southern part of the hillock.
(Jain scriptures define the term tirthankara as follows: the contrivance which help to cross the great ocean of worldly life is called Tirtha and the person who makes that tirtha is known as tirthankara )
The most beautiful bas-relief of the Tirthankara in Madurai ( if not in Tamil nadu )
A Jain temple prospered here from 1st century to 10th century with large number of students.
It remained as a worship place for Jains during 8th century.
Tamil-Brahmi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil-Brahmi ) script on a boulder on the hill’s terrace.
The script is engraved on the boulder in which a drip-ledge has been cut and
beds excavated on the rock floor for the Jain monks to rest .
Also Theerthangarar figures are seen near the spring at
the cave at the top of hillock.
Ancient inscriptions are seen below these figures.
Central Archaeological department preserves this hill.
Archaeologists consider that once a Theerthangarar temple should have been present at the top of this hillock.
Kings, landlords and village heads had supported this Jain temple.
Speaking rocks….
you just need to touch them…
in the southern part of the hillock. Inside the cave there
are 3 Theerthangarar and 2 Iyyakki Bas -relief figures
Baby & I…
Dear Friends…
It’s exactly one year since I started my blog
Living with a damaged skull
I started with my first post.”unconditional love” .(.https://sriramjanak.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/babys-day-out/)..about elephants babies…
And I thought It would be appropriate to celebrate this I st anniversary with another post about them …
My thanks to all my blogger friends who have supported me through out…..taken time to be here with me and also like /comment on my posts..
The past one year has been a great learning experience for me and I also did damage my skull ( literally ).. 🙂 .which I hope makes me better in the coming years… :-).
This post is for you my friends…
Take care
Sriram Janak
A wee bit of heaven
Drifted down from above—
A handful of happiness,A heart full of love…
The mystery of life,
So sacred and sweet—
The giver of joy,
So deep & complete.
Precious & priceless,
So lovable, too –
The world‘s sweetest miracle,
Baby, is YOU..
~~ Helen Steiner Rice
Mommy says
I am cute….
If you think
I am cute….
You should see my
Butt….
I may be small..
But I am the Boss…
Babies are the link
Between angels & man
~~ unknown
A baby is god’s opinion that
the world should go on…
~~ Carl Sandburg
Sometimes the smallest bundles bring
The greatest joy…
~~ Unknown
Every baby needs
A lap…
~~ Henry Robin
Sometimes the smallest things shine
brightest in our lives…
~~ unknown
Some times It’s the smallest things that
take up the most room in our
Heart…
~~ Winnie the pooh
soul…
If they breath they live….
If they live they feel….
If they feel they love….
If they love they are aware…
If they are aware ..
They have a SOUL….
( words : Anthony Douglas Williams )
Memories…
Learn to be in the present,
withdraw your energy from
the past . Don’t waste your
time in Memories , what is
gone is gone__say goodbye
to it & close the chapter.
~~~ Osho
Do no dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on
the present moment..
~~~~ Buddha
Don’t let yesterday use up too much
of today.
~~~ Cherokee Indian Proverb
In the carriages of the past
you can’t go anywhere..
~~~ Maxim Gorky
The living moment
is everything
~~ D. H . Lawrence
Its not what if…
It’s what now
~~~ unknown
what you are is what you have been.
What you’ll be is what you do now.
~~~ Buddha
Hands…
Moving away from Nature …
I am presenting something different..
There is no special teaching:
The most ordinary things in our daily
Life hide some deep meaning that is yet
Most plain and explicit; only our eyes
Need to see where there is a meaning…
There is nothing to achieve, nor to go
just let life flow.
“The silence has its language:
knows to be understood.”
-Buddha
Don’t look for anything
Life is now
Time passes.
Without rejecting,
or obtain
only in deep contemplation.
Here and now!
Not knowing
It is the most
intimate.
Zen is live everyday life
enjoy this moment without attachment.
This time is the only thing that exists
Silence is something that comes from your heart,
not from the outside. Does not mean not to mention,
means that nothing disturbs you inside you,
there is no internal conversation…
The practice consists of finding silence in everything you do…
“The hatred with non-violence, beat”
defeat the evil with goodness,
conquer the miser with a gift
“and a liar with truth” Buddha
All we need is love &heart
There is no hurry
Every place is here
all times
It is now.
Not he meditates to get something
He meditates to get rid of everything.
I support you;
you I lean.
I am in this world to offer you peace;
you are in this world to bring me joy.
“being happy is simple how difficult is to be simple”….
Darkness…
From silence emerges
Everything,
and everything returns
To silence…..
Just like …
everything emerges ..
and goes …
Back to darkness….
Inner peace…
” Do not let the behavior of others
destroy your inner peace. ”
~~ Dalai lama
My wishes for a beautiful & peaceful New year…
Trust…
Every child is born with trust.
You came with trust
trust was there ,
trust is there,
trust will be there…..
You are trust…
Shadow…
You think the shadow is the substance:
so to you the substance has become a cheap toy.
Wait until the day when that substance
freely unfolds its wings.
Then you will see the mountains become as soft as wool,
and this earth of heat and ice b
you will see neither the sky nor the stars,
Angel…
E very blade of grass has its angel
that bends over it and whispers,
“grow , Grow “
~~ The Talmud
Path…
To follow the path
Look to the master
Follow the master
Walk with the master
See through the master
Become the master
~~ zen
Whisper a wish…
As the Indian Legend goes;
Whisper a wish to a butterfly,
since a butterfly can make no sound,
the butterfly cannot reveal….
The wish to anyone but the great spirit.
In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom,
The great spirit always grants the wish…
So , according to legend, by making a wish & giving
The butterfly its freedom…
The wish will be taken to the heavens
and
Be Granted…..
Understand them…
“ The beast which passeth all others
in wit & mind “
~~ Aristotle
to understand them…
Just intellect is not enough…
To Understand them…
you will have to go on the same path they traveled…..
To understand them …
it is essential to understand what they feel….
To understand them…
without including their emotions is not right…
Inner sun…
As I walked on my way, I realized that it is not only the sun
which can make a day much brighter.
How is it that we deny ourselves an inner sun, shinning through the silent words of
Nature?
Even your inner colors change as the patterns of
your inner self dance to a new rhythm in life.
This must now be part of your daily movement: to recognize, greet, and
listen to all forms of nature, from the lowly moss to the greatest tree.
All share in he one life , all dance to tha same rhythm , all blend
their notes in the song of the universe.
We rejoice, our brother, for soon that song will blend into your pattern of color ,
and the doors of a new and deeper sharing will be thrown wide open…
You listen to the silent song of my
Voice….
( words : Michael J . Roads )
Heaven’s gate…
-
- There is a place, or so I’m told,
- With Landscapes lovelier than gold,
- And all who enter will never grow old–
- Again
- There’s only one door to this land so fair,
- Enter with a true heart, a dream and a prayer,
- And only love can bring you there —
- For love is the only key.
( Poem : by Christine B. 1966 )
Better day…
I’m walking away from the troubles in my life,
I’m walking away oh to find a better day …’
~~ Craig David
Mystery…
” Every art has its mystery
its Spiritual rhythm”
~~ D.T Suzuki
“Mystery
is usually associated with the darker side of life….
In religion & art , mystery is light itself …its the life blood that pumps through true religion & artistic practice…….”
“…Mystery is the itch that you can’t Scratch ,
the driving force of spiritual & creative
journeys…”
” Mystery is the seed of
discovery…..
Mystery…
” having a spiritual meaning that is neither apparent to
the senses nor obvious to the intellect .
It is direct subjective communication with ultimate reality…”
( words : John Daido Loori )
Sharing…
Sharing your blissfulness is the only charity.
Sharing your joy is the only gratitude.
Existence has given you too much, share it.
The more you share the more you will have it
The less you share the less you will have it.
If you don’t share it you won’t have it at all.
~~Osho
No ripples…
The pond stood still
No ripples
To grow lilies
We must leave it dirty
The water invites the frogs
Croaking singing now every night
To grow lilies in the still pond
We must create an entire world
Create a
universe…
is this how it all began ?
to grow lilies
( words : Divyam Surabhi )
Above the clouds…
I heard it
in my sleep
calling me softly
it was
my mother
speaking from her grave
my son !
there is no heaven
above the clouds.
WHAT !
yes, heaven is in your heart.
( words : Don Mettera )
Spreading itself
over mountain tops…..
Promting us to travel beyond limits….
Living with a damaged skull 
