Elixir of Life

Blessed are those who
never fought
with their love,
They don’t know
What they lost;

Wretched are those who
let their ego
get to their heads,
They don’t know
what they are
about to lose;

Sweetness of love,
Spiced with bitterness of
truth sometimes,
A few road bumps
on the smooth asphalt
of life,
A wine smooth enough,
Neither too sweet,
Nor too dry,
Is the elixir of life

Life, a gift

Is anything worth it any more

When did the burden became so heavy

That keeping afloat became a struggle

Are we born with the egoes we cherish

And pay the price of nurturing it

In silence we suffer the lonliness

Desperate cries for help buried deep, unheard

Downward spiral of depression lurks in the shadows

Damaged, we lurch from day to day

A gripping fear pervades

And we still clutch to our ego

Ego, that’s the greatest obstacle

To build and sustain a lasting,

Loving, trusting, beautiful relationship

Why hold on to something

Neither we brought with us

Nor are we going to take along

Banish the fear, exile the shame

Open your heart

And allow the light to shine

Life is a gift not to be squandered

Life, a gift, is worth the fight

It does not matter now

It does not matter now

A trail littered with

Broken hearts

A selfish deed

Bruised ego

Propped up by

Narcissism

Or spur of the moment

Foolish stubbornness

Mistake unrectified

Or a desire to hurt

A lonely heart ponders

As solitude weeps

The train had left

The station

Long ago

It does not matter now

Friday Freebies: Love is Heavenly: Set of Haikus

Love is heavenly

Pain of waiting exquisite

A game played by two

*************

Love blossoms quiet

A sign subtle raises hope

Heart sure skips a beat

************

Hear music in air

Real, imaginary

Love sure does not care

*********

Celestial is love

Mundane ego in the way

A parting of path

*********

Waiting and hoping

Love not a path of roses

Thorns are part of love

*********

Communication

Understanding, listening

Hope is essential

********

Love is happiness

Not a forbidden apple

Let go of ego

 

 

A Fragile Ego

A fragile ego
Erects a wall
So strong,
That love’s feather touch
Fails to scratch.
A broken heart
Waits.
Waits for
The wall to come down.
Life is a loser
When ego rules.
Logic fails as
Love sheds
Silent tears.

Thursday Tidbits: Lesson from history

Lessons on politics are spread around the pages of Indian epic Mahabharata. We may ignore them at our own peril by dismissing Mahabharata as mythology but its teachings still ring true in this modern age.

My intention today is not to discuss the teachings of Mahabharata but about a few episodes form the first major empire of recorded history in India. History of the first major ruling dynasty of India has a few lessons of its own that are still valid today. I am not talking about the current Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. This is about the rise and fall of the Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE).

1. Kautilya Chanakya (Vishnugupta), the author of “Arthashastra”, considered one of the greatest treatises on economics, politics, foreign affairs, administration, military arts, war, and religion ever produced(Maurya Empire-New World Encyclopedia),was the brain behind rise of Chandragupta Maurya and the Mauryan Empire.  Chandragupta Maurya defeated King DhanaNanda (Nanda dynasty) in battle for the throne. Dhana Nanda’s erstwhile prime minister Rakshasa plotted with enemies of Chandragupta.  With the good of the country in his heart, Chankya skillfully manipulated Rakshasa to accept a prominent position in Chandragupta’s administration. Chanakya knew that Rakshasa was an able administrator and counsellor who would be an asset to Chandragupta in friendship rather than as an adversary. Chanakya’s courting and manipulation of Rakshasa for accepting the position is the story of MudraRakshasa kavya.

Lesson : For greater good of the country, build bridges and not sit on your ego. Reward merit.
May be Machiavelli learnt a thing or two from Chanakya.

2. Asoka, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya converted to Buddhism after the battle of Kalinga and opened the exchequer for proliferation of Buddhism far and wide neglecting the army and thereby leaving the country vulnerable to external attacks. Maurya empire did not sustain for long after Ashoka’s death thereby fragmentation of the central authority and balkanization of India the price for which modern India paid with the division of the country.
Lesson: Do not mix religion and politics.
Lesson: The exchequer is not personal property of the ruler to be spent on pet projects to the detriment of the country.

This is my simplistic readings of history. Opinions of intellectuals may differ.

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Emperor Ashoka’s picture source is Wikipedia, Chanakya’s impression from New World Encyclopedia