Giving v/s Grabbing!

"Maa, What do I wear to school tomorrow? You don't let me get my arms waxed..I'm not a kid anymore! Now give me something which is nice & full sleeves!" said Me back in school grasping onto a packet of Eclairs! YES, It's birthday time! As the entire class sings 'Happy Birthday to you!', I'm on my toes unable to control the zeal of getting to each table and giving away two toffees to every classmate! Pondering upon the whole situation brings a question in my head now, "What?"
"If Giving away toffees was emptying my pack then WHAT on Earth made me so excited ? "

Here's one quality of "Giving", People around you look at you with THOSE eyes..those bright,sparkling eyes of hope & love. Just like you are an angel sent straight from Heaven to fulfill their wishes, they ask you and you are like, "Granted!" (like a boss :P )

Whereas being on the other side, Grabbing the same on a classmate's birthday delivers a lesser excitement. Looking at each one's life and in accordance to what we've been taught, makes me ask,
" Isn't Grabbing the one that we expect to bring us more pleasure? "

Contradictory,Right ? The thing with Grabbing is that it doesn't really end here, it keeps on changing it's sizes, shapes or forms! The desire for toffees gets replaced by treats in canteens to Pizza Huts to the Monkey Bar and it goes on..Does it really end? Well, NO!

When Nature grants you what you want to GRAB, You want more ! Recollection of my wants from the start makes me wonder now! All the scented stationery, being known in your school or having a boyfriend or the dress which she wore last night.. Do they really make sense? Well yes, It is the want sometimes that makes you stay focused on your goals, but getting caught up in the act and eating your head up just kills you inside! 'WHAT THE HELL was I thinking this whole time?' is the first reaction when you look at your school boyfriend ! ;)

Examining both the facets, I can say that "GRABBING" limits me to "I, Me & Myself" whereas "GIVING" gets me those shiny,sparkly eyes! :) And when it's my time to GRAB, Nature makes sure I get what I need for a healthy, happy living ! :)

Why don't you all find out today which gives you more joy? What makes more sense?

Love & Light,
Ekta Bhasin :) <3

Reading between the Lyrics !

Sliding up and down through my smartphone, Tapping on the "Music" Section.. I wonder it's funny how we can base our life's relations on the gadget we are holding ! Every other day, We meet new people implying new relations. To someone, You may be an acquaintance he sees while travelling to Office every morning 9 A.M. while to someone else,You may be someone who takes up his purchase orders from !  To some other, You might be the one he sells his groceries every Sunday while to the other, You might be the one who he loves passing comments on when you walk past him in your colony. I'm in awe of the creation to be meeting different genres of people every second day, Just like different genres of songs on your playlist !

Just like tapping the "Play" button, There exists some relations You're SO attached to that you let things be and let them take you for granted. While you "Pause", that's when you give up on someone after putting in too much efforts on that particular someone. Immediately upon hitting "Shuffle", We try and look for an alternate person to sympathize our pain & discomfort some other caused us. Just as we touch "Repeat", We keep on going to this person who is always there for us & eventually get bored of them. And due to some misunderstandings or clashes, We move "Forward" with our lives leaving some behind. As we "Rewind" , We go back to the relations we expect from! Just how we develop different feelings for each song, likewise, we generate different experiences for each relation.

As you seek for guidance and advice,You switch onto your "Classic Favorites" list and as you look forward for fun and enthusiasm, You switch to your "Recently Added" section and so on! But all the playlists together is what makes your collection complete! ;)

Just like the singer doesn't intend to affect you the way that song made you feel,The person doesn't intend to affect the way that situation made you feel ! You were bound to have that experience and that person was chosen to be a messenger in your life to give you the experience and learning. What is wise is to feel the song, learn from the lyrics and thank the singer for the wonderful feeling he put in. :)

These relations add rhythm to our lives, So keep tuning in ! ;)

Love & Light,

Ekta Bhasin :-)

Know YOUR India :)

Known for its Diverse & Rich Culture, India is a nation which stands out distinctively in the clutter. Our country's liveliness and generosity attract a number of tourists. Seldom do we see that our nation is widely known for it's cuisines, festivals, music, dance, mythology, religions, literature, history & theatre. What is unique about India is that our culture has always been flexible in inculcating qualities of other cultures which makes it contemporary and yet traditional.

"Atithi Devo Bhawa",The idea of considering guests as God is what makes one come back again to this Land of Hospitality. The charm of this country lies in it's handicrafts, textiles, jewellery, architecture and agriculture. Spirituality & Yoga being it's widely known & famous innovations of all times.. From giving the world renowned Scientists and Mathematicians,It has grown to be contributing vastly to the IT sector worldwide.

We have fourteen official languages in all. There are twenty-four languages that are spoken by a million people or more, and countless other dialects. India has seven major religions and many minor ones. Wow, I have never seen such a diverse country !!

Little do we feel blessed and grateful to be living in this country.Over these years,We have been cribbing & criticizing our Mother land and been blindly worshiping and following other cultures.But look back..something or so much rather has been lost in the storm of taking our Nation and it's facilities for granted, We, Ourselves are responsible for losing our country's charm. 

Since the recent past, We have been facing issues like Corruption, Rapes, Poverty, Child Labour.etc. Less than half of the people of this country read about it & the rest hear about it..We further sympathise & move on. A few days later, We become indifferent towards it. All of us expect someone among us to bring the change, hence nobody takes charge. And then later state, "This country can never change." My question to each one of you is, "If not us, Who did you think will change it?" 

We complain about the Government for all the above mentioned issues. However the statistics reveal that more than half of the population are not registered voters. How do we have the right to complain?

Respecting YOUR country will further help your country gain respect from other cultures. It's time we act to revive the title "Sone ki Chidhiya". We as being the citizens of our country have something really important to ponder upon.

More than us fighting for who to vote, Let's all pledge to vote & make others vote this May. We are having voter camps on 9th March all across India for you to be registered voters.

All unregistered voters, Here's what you have to do :

You just need to fill FORM 6 & submit it at your nearest polling station.

http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/forms/FORM6.pdf

And the registered ones, You have to get the unregistered ones to read this blog! :P

Note-: Issued in my Nation's Interest. Janhit mein jaari :)

Love & Light,

Ekta Bhasin :)

Fondle yourself..

While you leave your house early in the morning for work, Working 6-7 hours in a day..Spending the entire day at a cabin in front of an electronic brain which follows your commands,taking coffee breaks & listening to your boss complaining about things not working and then coming back in a public transport crowded with people - People on the phone fighting with their partners, People listening to music, People gossiping about their colleagues, People sitting on the corner into some serious thinking. When you're back home, You're tired as hell & you see your parents waiting for you to tell them how your day went but all you do is slam the door at them & you're on the phone chatting and talking with your pals..pampering your social life. And finally, You drop dead on the bed. The very next day, It's the same monotonous routine. Every week, you wait for the much awaited day of the week - Sunday.

Between the hustle bustle of life, we lose ourselves..in situations & people. Stop,Then &There! Pause! Think of the things you are missing out on.
Let's just wake up a little early tomorrow & spend quality with ourselves. Amidst the chirping of birds & the silence, think of all the things you love to do & just think of ways to do it! Everyday, move a step closer to a person you want to be!

I just did one of my favorite thing, Restarted writing! :-)

More than any thing or person.. is your relationship with yourself. It's one of kind, Cherish it! Embrace the individual inside you.. :-D
Today...Give yourself a thought ! :-)

Love & Light,

Ekta Bhasin

Between Relationships..

Relationships... We make it as complex as heavy the word itself is. In every individual's life, there are these various kinds of relationships. Some we cherish and some.. We don't. Some we make use of and there are some which are unnoticed. Some we distance ourselves from & some distance themselves from us. Some distanced on their own.. Without a word.. A reason. Some we hate to be in & some we don't even know exist. While there are some we take for granted & in some we are taken for granted. Some we just end forcibly without knowing the other side. Some disappoint you & some unexpectedly live upto you. Some you depend on & some depend on you.

But did you notice how being in every relation was important? How they taught you something ? How every person showed you a new dimension? How every bad ending led you through a happy beginning? And how every person helped you taking a step further to being the person you are today?

Today, why not stop complaining & be grateful to every one. If you give a thought to Why did "whatever happened" actually happen & If you look behind every person's intention, you can probably mend a lot. Taking the first step or saying a sorry doesn't make you any smaller. It rather makes you richer. Cherish all kinds.. They are in the end...Your very own. And nobody understands your relationships better than you.

And there is one relationship which is usually unnoticed but the most important of all.. Which connects you to all the other relationships.. Which is between You & God. Who we don't need to explain to, we don't talk to, never expects anything from you , never demands..Always supplies. This is the most treasurable of all.
HE sometimes stands by you to support you..Sometimes is behind you pushing you forward..Sometimes in front of you showing you the way. In whichever way, He's there and HE loves you more than anyone else. It is Him who adds life to all the other relationships. Keep it safe and above all. :-)

Love all...as love is what you are. :-)

Love & Light,

Ekta :)

Share and Serve

 "The very joy of giving love is so much that it does not matter who is at the receiving end. Love can be transferred to the farthest star by just your loving look, to a tree just by your touch. It can be conveyed in absolute silence, without a single word."

Yet another excerpt quoted by Sri Sri which I couldn't relate to either.For a person like Me who was always Conscious of her actions, Shy of her personality,Loner,used to stay on her own.These words again made no sense to Me. I was a girl who as mentioned earlier used to be in her self created shell with some 2-3 pals and looking outside the window, no extra interaction..zilch. Receiving love seemed much more attractive as I was and still am one of the most pampered ones in the family and otherwise too. I could never get the ideology of Giving love. And that too, giving love not caring about who's at the receiving end. My environment was myself and could never be subject to startling or unforeseen change, couldn't foresee myself opening up to just everyone and anyone!! 

I was always amazed at how Sri Sri used to meet everyone with the same level of enthusiasm,the same joy, showering His love and blessings upon just everyone. I remember once when I was in the Bangalore Ashram and there was this Huge gathering of thousands at the amphitheater waiting to meet Sri Sri and when He arrived, He met each and every person..listened to everyone's issues, asking everyone whether they're happy or not or what's bothering them and that's how I used to get mesmerized by His presence every other time.

When you enter The Art Of Living Bangalore Ashram, The very first lines by anyone you'd hear is "You are not a Guest here,You are a Host..Feel like you are at Home",that is one line which makes you really special.. 

You learn important lessons in life only when you do something that is out of your routine existence and adopt a different style of living, even if it is for a short duration. 

Ashram life provides a wonderful opportunity to break your personal limitations and barriers and live only in service for others. Ashram is a place to study, learn and grow. At the ashram everyone puts their efforts and skills together to improve the place every day. There are countless oppurtunities to engage in a range of activities include gardening, housekeeping, construction, maintenance, kitchen work.

This very concept seemed very awkward to Me, mopping floors to serving food to cleaning the campus,etc. As instructed by My teachers,I tried my hand at it too, at serving food, mopping the floor, cleaning the Ashram...doing something way beyond My imagination. Far away from Home, I'd never thought I'd do all this!!

A gang of youngsters would generally go out of the city to have hookahs,alcohol,drugs.etc and they'd come back with a little more memories with their friends and some hundred pictures of them on Facebook, but this was different, This was a learning which would stay with you forever.. It was when I opened up and breaking My barriers and did something for bringing a Smile on someone's face. Something wherein I had no selfish purpose of mine. I remember serving food to various kinds of people, to people who had a hectic day craving for food, to people who were sick, to people who worked for long hours and THAT feeling I got of serving them was beyond words can ever express..I realized the "Joy of giving love" was immense..Seeing the smile on their faces was beyond words can ever say. Truly sharing your joy, flourishes Joy even more..

I'm amazed how a single moment can teach so much if your eyes and mind is open enough to see and observe. 

Love n Light,

Ekta :)

Love and Design :)

Once I did My Art of Living course, I was very connected to My teachers and batchmates..Connected to the whole family.. But couldn’t really connect to Sri Sri. Months passed by, I couldn’t call him My “Guru” or something of that sort. While everybody else used to follow him, I used to wonder “Why this Man?”

Once I remember just flipping through one of his popular books “Celebrating Silence” and I picked on the topic “Love” since that seemed attractive. There was this line quoted by Sri Sri which I used to see over and over again which I never could really grab, It said, “The love that is defined by a relationship is limited. Dive deep in a love that is beyond relationships.”. For Me, Love was having a guy beside you, pampering you for no reason, taking care of you for no reason. Expecting him to make you his world, not looking at any other girl and so on goes every girl’s “fairytale” , likewise there was mine too. Eventually which faded away.

Being in Nift, we were given a theme individually on which we had to create  an abstract design. That very moment, A classmate asked the faculty, “Maam, Can we not create the design without the theme? Theme we’ve been given limits our creativity.” With this question of hers, It made me relate to Guruji’s quoted words and I realized the same way Relationships and giving a name to Love limits Love.

Ever since I started implementing what He meant, not giving any specific role to anyone in life, I could see that Love is infinite and every relationship with every person in my life is a treasure to cherish and that Love is truly beyond the boundaries we create. We try and suffocate the person by possessing them. That love which is beyond boundaries is Unconditional. And that's how I started connecting to Sri Sri lovingly known as "Guruji"

Amazing how one small instance could teach so much, how Love and Design can relate to each other. Even more amazing are the ways of the Divine.

Love n Light,


Ekta :)