Paths to Glory

As we march on in this world, the pursuit of happiness has always been at the heart of everything we do. We chase the ice cream man through the streets, after having begged for some money to enjoy the ice lolly. Pure Joy! Or the elation as the birthday draws closer, new clothes, gifts and much more. Did I forget, cake? Ahh… Heaven! Our pursuit of happiness has been tied to basically everything under the sun, except the one thing that matters most. Discontent, fear and loneliness continue to bare their fangs inspite of everything around us being calm and bright.   What then stops us from achieving the eternal bliss that eludes us every time we reach it? Is it the deep rooted fear of losing it? Is it plain selfishness and desire? Or is it what the priests, swamis, and gurus say, the unsatiated thirst for more? Is there all that is to it? I am enamoured by the story of the musk deer. I am sure that it is an oft heard story and one which has more to offer than all wisdom...

Uski nazrein to kahin aur hai Ab hamara dard unko kya dikhega Mar bhi jayein hum agar Kafan bhi na odhane vo ayega Chalo ab ye gum bhi seh lete hain Zindagi ko vida kar chalte hai In aankhon ne dekha hai Tadap teri us insaan ke liye Kar nahi paaya mai kuchh teri qasam Dil ke haathon majboor the kiye Chale jaana chahtey they tumse door is kadar Ke nafrat me tum dekh , mujhe yaad na karo Kambhakkt yadein itni taazi hain aaj Tere har ghav ki, Pyaar me bas pagal hun,rahunga. Mit jaun aaj mai is qadar is dunuya se Koi hai nahi mera tere siva Tujhe to chahiye us bewafa ka saath Meraa pyaar kahaaan padega poora Faaslon ne mujhe har waqt tadpaaya Khush rehna tum oh meri jaan Teri yaadon me manzoor nahi rona Mil jaaon mai mitti me, qabar ho ya masaan

So much to say, no words today What can i do, my life just gray Wanted to paint the rainbows of life Turned to see, my heart in strife. Where do I go? Where shall I hide? My eyes well up at the thought in tides! What answer does my heart seek in its grief His love made me full in this time brief.. He has no answers to what my mind asks The heart in his love wants to bask Little does he know, what my life has been It has plunged into murk from all the sheen I wish today in tears for two hearts, I would have still danced to Mozart But God decided to give me just one He sits high up there, has fun. His words pierce like dagger through the soul Like feet on a stony path, in a ragged sole Praying for his love shield, I cried, I begged I knew, this path only to my grave led. Heart writhing in pain doesnt speak Just lets out a little squeak All is well I say to the broken pieces This is all the work of Iblees That day will come, when he will the exp...

There are times when I just sit back and think, Of a time far behind; the past I see, Regrets and memories lean precariously, Circle in a line, sadness on its heels. The mind buried in thought of the future, Myriad cares of the world; the present, Hope and happiness abound in me, Circle in a line, thoughts pleasant. Cares and worries weigh on my soul, Where do I go? Where do I hide? There is no place to find solace, Circle in a line, I have to lose that pride! The wondrous touch of friendship, Luminous anchor of joy and hope, There is a place for that face grim, Circle in a line, the time to cope. The beautiful drops of pearls, On tendrils, leaves, buds and flowers, The beautiful morning, the soft rays of dawn, Circle in a line, choicest blessing showered. I wonder of the times I think too much, Of what will happen; the future may not be kind, I am sure now that my overthinking mind, Just wants it to be a Circle in a Line. x...

'Let me think', screams my mind, Confused at the epiphany I just had. 'Just let go' beats my heart, I am confused, I am going mad. Thinking about life, fickle existence, Smiles, tears, worries aplenty, Holding close my heart, my mind, Trudging the eventful monotony. Comfort in soul, silence disconcerting, The tongue set free, the mind racing, A beautiful life, filled with sorrow, Thoughts abound, breath pacing. The confidant thinks of the weariness of relationships and credence, Doubtful trust, conviction dusted off A voice familiar trails , Could I be trusted? Hurtful dialogue, immense pain, The heart numb, the mind bleak, The soul cringes, my being shrinks, One word, all havoc wreacked. Tongue tied, shoulders drooped, I sink into the darkness within. Trying to win over thoughts melancholy, I gently breathe in.

I lay down bedazzled by the irony of life, Being stabbed at by a jagged knife, Nursing and licking the wounds, Receding into my newly build cocoon. My voice has failed me, a mute, My soul no longer yearns the truth, My mind feels restless, empty, A thing of the past, its beauty. My ears have I turned off, deaf, My heart of all emotion bereft, Blinded by the light of one's pride, How can I just take everything in stride? A rage boils over, spews fire The mind is unsettled, peace desires, But a slave to human urge, It just feels like another purge. There is no loneliness in this time low, My trusted aides, my heart they know, By my side they are, the way they show, At a time when most of the world is a foe

I have the baton in my hands, To save, to care, to nurture. I have the baton in my hands, To nourish, flourish the future. I hold the future in my palms, To grow, to show, to learn. I hold the future in my palms, To love, to give, to discern. I have the light shine in my eyes, To lead, to glow, not follow. I have the light in my eyes, To truth, no lies, bright tomorrow I hear the voice in my ears, Advise I need to listen. I hear the voice in my ears, Strength to travel the distance. I feel strength flow in my feet, To walk the path to greatness. I feel the strength flow in my feet, Taking me closer to (self) awareness A sense of calm in my heart, To suffer, to endure, be brave. A sense of calm in my heart, To experience, to encounter, to sustain! I sense the awakening of my soul, To harmony, to calm, to quietude. I sense the awakening of my soul, To consciousness, to peace, to nirvana!

Empty mind, evil thoughts . To the mind that has been accustomed to overthink, the love for finding a reason to worry is pocket change. A small change in attitude, driven by unrelated elements, may stretch the imagination to think of the worst. Why the mind tries to play such tricks on the pitiful souls, one will never know. But, arguably, no amount of cajoling is enough to put to rest the insecurities that lie buried in the mind. Being of such emotional nature generally makes the heart weep at the thought of being separated from the recesses of the soul. An over thinking soul would always find his way to a fear. There may be nothing beneath the wraps, but the mind knows the trick to play up on insecurities. The mind finds a way to prey on the inner peace, all it needs is a time to pounce and what better time than when there are no other thoughts dancing around. The dance of insecurity Loneliness breeds insecurity. The desire for companionship, friendship and acceptance drives the...

Lust not love, harsh reality staring in our face, Love has left the heart, for it there is no place, Jumping and sprinting with the fast life to keep pace, Where has the love gone,  left without a trace! Everyone wants to show the world the trophy in hand, To any lengths they would go, to show the world they can, Long chats on ear phone padded ears, beyond my ken, No one in the world, seems to want to use the pen. Long ago did Shakespeare write the tale of Juliet and Romeo, The undying story of love, pain, death and sorrow, Todays Juliet has many romeos, who are but callow, No one knows if the love will see the morrow. Insipid, clandestine tales of love, of passion, Stemming from want for some, for others just passing fashion, A trophy to hold, not to behold but pride on his possession, The beauty of the greens, the park bench r enascent.

A stroll in the shade of the greens, The serene breeze jogs my memory, How beautiful is life that gives, From the bounty of its treasury. There is always green grass to see, A fence to cross and believe, That everything is possible, Nothing you dream, cannot be achieved. Crosslegged, I sit on the bare earth, It pulls me to a time where I might be, Regrets, sadness and grief inescapable, In the liberation of the mind is the key. Wonderful, chaotic mind on chariots of fire, There is always a way to get all you desire. Amazed I watch the clouds floating by, across the scattered blue, shades of white, The heavens signal the advent of hope, It's coming again, all over a time bright. The beauty of the rain? In its chaotic calm, Ploughs out beauty from the belly of the earth , Spring out of the hope within, the shoots of greatness, You alone are judge, you know your worth! The rains unleash bittersweet memories, With hope, the battered man rises, It will be the w...

A silver beam tears through the window, My eyes damp soak the pillow, The calm and still night, The battle continues, I have to fight! Trudging ahead, looking behind, No love left, no eyes kind, With a judging heart they stare, Oh how I wish I couldn't care! Serene and silent the night comes, Draining the strength; I had mustered some, The bugle sounds, a soft screech, Peace within is out of reach. I wield my pen, my woes to write, Drenched eyes stain the paper white, As ink meets paper, hands write, The future does seem a little bright! The battle within can I contain? From the war can I abstain? All my love and trophies lay bare, Oh how I wish I couldn't care! My eyes look at the starry sky, My heart is down, I want to cry, The twinkling little things, from far away smile, Hope rekindled, albeit for a while. The moon in all its splendour shines, Even with its blemishes shines, Finding flaws with all that I am, When will this end, damn! Smiling at t...

Trapped in the labyrinth of life, Looking for a way out of the mess, The heart silently beats away, The mind seems calm, at rest. As my temple touches my knees, Tears roll down my cheeks, My being cringes at the thought of another war, My mind is relentless, the heart meek. Another challenge of life seems near, All the energy ebbs out, drains me, A warrior without a sword, I walk on, I just need to be! But how long can I face this monstrosity? How much will I have to suffer? How will I gather my strength? Will I make it? Will I survive? Things that are wrong, things that pull me down? The strength of will or the strength of might? Trudging on to make my life.... The force of dark or the force of right? No answers seem to come to mind, As I trudge along the solitary way, Not even a Solitary Reaper, Whose song would make my day! Well, as days go by, I surely will, Find a way to make the way uphill, I will plant the flag o...

Living for years in the solitude of my being, Listening to the jargon of my feud internal, All I want is to break free from the shackles, All I want is to be free, natural! What shackles cannot be broken? What shackles cannot be undone? All that rises in the mist above the earth, Beautiful rainbow, the prism of the sun. The duality of my being, happy painful existence, The rigour of life saps away continually, cruelly, A smile covers the remnants of war raging within, The miscellany of a life lived rashly, dangerously. I hear shrill voices, calling out from the depths of Hades, The bugle within blares, the war cry sounds, With all might, the heart trudges on, The battle is not over, the tussle will go on. How far can I travel, a prisoner of time gone by? The weight of time heavy on my shoulders lies, Winding the clock to the moment of wreckage, Among the strewn ashes of my fate I lie. The Phoenix within reaches out for the sk...

It is very difficult to be the MODEL teacher in the eyes of the world. It is the edge of TWO worlds : the students and the colleagues. Just toady my class was making noise and the teacher tells me that the students are so because I am lenient. Not that I am against the teacher, but is it my fault that the teacher cannot control her students. I thought she was on a substitution, and it turned it was her class. Oh God!!!! When I heard this the next day I was infuriated. My class asked her if she would teach and she said NO, so they started talking, resulting in them getting their PT class cancelled! My students are very happy with me because I like to give them Freedom and Experiment for them to really Learn and be truly in the world, not the bookworms. This concept was not taken very gracefully by any of my superiors where I worked. But now when I've left, they understand what I meant to the students. Its great that at-least where I am now is giving me the freedom to teach ho...