Karma Yoga at the end of the world....

I must admit, the title of this article, doesn't suit me because, I cannot claim to have any credible understanding of the famous treatise of Karma Yoga from our scriptures, but the concept of doing one's duty and not expecting anything back is a an oft repeated statement, mechanically or otherwise and yet seldom truly understood...

Today I decided to stay up late and watch the famous documentary - The March of the Penguins. It is an 80 minute film of the trials and tribulations of the penguins in Antarctica. This is probably one of the best National Geographic documentaries I have had the opportunity to see. To watch these amazing creatures, almost comical in their mannerisms, survive Nature in her harshest element is both educational and at the same time almost spiritual…As the narrator well said, it was more than a tale of survival, it was a tale of love… a love that many of us may not even comprehend, in spite of our claim to fame as being gifted with the powers of the mind and intellect...

It was fascinating, tragic and overwhelming to see the mother and the father of an unborn penguin take turns to walk 70 miles from the nesting ground to the sea to return with food for their mate and their child, it was heartening to watch them huddle together in this frigid terrain and climate as the other parent went in search of food. The guttural sounds and cries of these funny animals sounded almost human as they searched out their families in the huge herd.

The parents went back and forth and shielded the egg and then the new born chick from cold winter storms, predatory birds, and other hostile members of their race. A few of them never made it, but those that did, grew up with the warmth that is unimaginable in a place like Antarctica. They took their baby steps as they came out into the light from within the secure shelter of their parent's pouches.

All through the 9 long months of harsh winter, each parent went without food for several months at a stretch so they could stay and protect their little one. In spite of dire starvation, they made their march to the sea so they could bring food back to their young in the nesting area and yet, it was the conclusion of this documentary that left me in awe...

After ensuring the little chick is secure to face this world on its own, this family of mother, father and child parted ways, never to see each other again. This father and mother who put their lives at risk to protect the labor of their love, took a plunge into the ocean without as much as backward glance… it was almost they had done their duty with every honesty and diligence conceivable in Nature, and it was now their turn to return to where they came from. The little chicks stood along the ocean shore helplessly watching this but not for long. After a few years they took the plunge into the icy waters to continue the cycle that has gone on thousands of years...

Wonder if we as humans are capable of this kind of diligence and detachment... they say Nature is the greatest teacher, this documentary showed me today what the Gita has said so eloquently on the concept of selfless duty. Maybe the romantic nature of my soul makes me look for metaphors where they don't really exist, but today, for me, these amazing creatures were more than a National Geographic wonder, they taught me one of the most difficult concepts of our scriptures, with a simplicity which was as beguiling as it was poignant...

Of, friends, faith and fireworks...

Not the most conventional title for new year resolutions and such.. but it seems to capture the gist of the randomness of my thoughts at this point. It is funny how in life, things sometimes become as clear as crystal before your very eyes and you find answers to questions you never asked, and when it happens in the first few minutes of a new year, it kinda makes a point, and renewal takes on a whole new meaning.

Spending new year's eve at Las Vegas was a fun idea, being there with friends we really enjoying hanging out with was even funner.. LV is an interesting city.. they call it sin city.. but everytime I go there, I almost feel sorry for al the people who thrive in this City that never sleeps.. Behind all the lights, glamor and spirit.. u see very tired faces, dark circles around the eyes, slot machines with little old appendages in the form of wrinkled faces and bodies, and when you visit this city on the 31st of Dec.. it is a different story.. Standing along the strip, under the Flamingo restaurant, you watch teeming thousands of the popuplace of the United States.. and what a strange melting pot it is ? After a while the faces, outfits, hairdos, all seem to blend into a wave of human forms.. and nothing or no one really stands out..

But if you happen to be a part of this teeming crowd and are being jostled from all directions and have suddenly lost total sense of vision and direction because of the "mob" mentality, panic attacks are not uncommon.. I experienced my first such attack a few mintues after 2006 was welcomed in. Amidst the screams and shouts, pushing, shoving and climbing walls.. I realized the most important thing I was missing to see myself through this difficult moment.. when walls of human beings are crushing you, the one that can really take you out of this is your faith in the one Above. I seemed to have lost that in that moment of adversity and it shames me to no end to think about that.. I have never been one to say, I would do things differently in hindsight, but this time I would.. instead of panicking I would pray, instead of asking for help around me, I would ask the ONE who truly is one prayer away..

That moment lasted all of 2 mnutes, but it renewed my faith that I needed to strengthen and helped me focus on what is truly important and in my life...

They say, a little push can get you started on an arduous path, the kind I received was just what I needed to do a better job in my path to retrospection..and it happened in a flash when my friend showed me the picture of a diety she kept pinned on her jeans and had on this New year eve, she didn't carry this pendant with her.. my friend helped me something I may not have comprehended the way I have today, I am so very grateful to her...