Sunday, April 26, 2009

Slow down baby...


I love the desert. Last month my soulsistah friend Nina from Canada visited me here in Muscat. One of my former Omani students who would become my soulfriend, Yahya, took us out to the desert. It was my first time in the Red Desert. I bonded with the red sands of Wahiba (Sharqiyah Desert). At one particular moment of contemplating the sands, I felt that time stood still. And simultaneously questioned myself,  what's the rush in life? And what is there to hold on to? Like the sands in the desert that seem to dissolve into thin air as the wind blows, so will all the other events in life: past, present, future. These events become rarefied. Like a dream.  I love the desert not only for its sheer purity and beauty, but also for the gifting me that moment. 

So...in keeping with the Taking It S L O W theme-
Here is groovy message from a page that I randomly turned to from one fabulous book, "Celebrating Love" by H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

On The Path

Often you are in a rush in life.  When you are in a rush, you are unable to perceive things properly.  This takes the charm, thrill and beauty from your life.  You can never be close to the truth when you are in a rush because your perception, observation and expression becomes distorted.  

The rush to enjoy robs the joy from life and only denies the happiness and freedom of here and now. 

Often you do not even know why you are in a hurry.  It almost becomes a biological phenomenon to be in a rush.  Wake up and become aware of the rush in you!

It is ridiculous to be in a rush to slow down.  Just be aware of the rush and it will take care of itself.  Slowing down does not mean procrastinating or being lethargic, though it is easy to be at the extremes of either rushing or lethargy.  Rushing is caused by feverishness, and feverishness arises out of deficiency, a need to achieve.  Dynamism is an expression of fulfillment.  The golden rule is to be awake, and when you are awake, you cannot help but be dynamic.

The moment you realize that, you are awake.

Wow. Yours truly is doing her best to be wide awake then.







Saturday, April 25, 2009

Tour-de-FOURS

I have been in Oman for four months now. Four months this fourth month. And what a beautiful journey it has been. Life has not been without its ups and downs, yet the last little while proved time and again that I am responsible for my choices in life. I am truly enjoying it so far... I wish I had updated in the last four months, but life in a new place with new people and new everything does take a lot of energy. Everyday I have to replenish my reserves! I have been busy adjusting and living in my new-found environment. I have also met a lot of good people.  Soul friends for now and Soul friends for life. 

I am taking a good look at my Royal Life Anew and I am liking what I'm seeing!

I am back on track now. It is my intention to record moments of wonder and awe as well as angst and disgust! Pura Inspiração is back and it's alive and kickin'. I'm getting jiggy with it!
So here are a few samples of what it has been like so far. Definitely more next time!