Nothing like Music for relaxing...It is a form of meditation...and when you have chanting along with great instruments, the effect is heavenly...top that with a beautiful garden and great hosts like Avanti and Yash Birla!

All I can say is: Thankyou God!
Do read, Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Mantras/aum_and_chakras.htm

Taking a cue from Street plays to give a message, Aarti and Sapna exposed idiosyncracies that women indulge in...Which better way to learn than to laugh at yourself? And it is working...Note an audience member wiping sweat from her chin and another ducking behind her...I must say that some women have got the message and have made an effort to stop silly behaviour :)
I must also state that it can be called a women's effort for peace in a funny manner...

Above, I spoke to a packed audience of about 200 women from 'Ruchika'at the IMC (Indian Merchant Chamber) I said that from/in the present conditions, one does not know what the truth is. We are confused with what the politicians say...(You can hear me say this, since it is a short video)...Our neighbour politicians are confusing us...However we know one truth and that is the truth of our heart...a woman's heart, a compassionate heart which wants peace for ourselves family and children...But we must speak what we feel...We must exercise our voice to say what we think.We may be wrong but we may arrive to some conclusion by intelligent constructive discussion..The 'blue blooded German Aryans' kept quiet and so many Jews were killed...Religions are being misinterpreted,and so many innocent lives are lost... let us understand the true message of the great ones that walked the earth...
Let us teach the 'truth' to our children...Let the good people unite...Let our voice be heard!

Revisited the Taj Mahal Bombay after the dastardly attacks of people who have been taught that if they kill (the innocents), they will get a place in Heaven...

Alongside The Tree of Life at the Taj Bombay. A plaque states 'They live on Forever...It has the names who laid down their lives on the fateful day on 26th Nov 08...Was it for us citizens to wake up to do 'something' about our destiny? With the games that politicians continue to play, who knows? Only God does! All I know is that we must continue to look deep into our hearts and do/say what we need to!


Alongside Me, in front of the Tree of Life...
I have such great memories of the Taj...My wedding reception in 1965 took place in the ballroom...My son and daughter got married there...We have celebrated occassions...at the Zodiac Grill, the Golden Dragon...As I made my way to the Taj, less than a month after the attack, these thoughts raced through me...It was dark and the Gateway was not lit...We had to make a round circle from behind, alongside and left...to reach the main door. The bag went through an X Ray machine and I walked through a metal detector. Xmas trees twinkled. In the lobby Carol songs were being sung...The staff was very courteous and when I asked if I could take a picture, they sad 'Yes' Sorry friends I really could not smile at the camera, but I could pray for the departed and those left behind who are trying to make sense to what has transpired...Maybe we cannot see the whole picture, but we will one day...As Shree Sai Baba has said, we need to have 'Shraddha and Saburi'(Faith and Patience)
Merry Christmas!
Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/kids_kahaani/Festivals/Merry_christmas.htm

http://www.dalsabzi.com/Language_Festivals/divine_births.htm

Alongside, Gerson da Cunha and some attendees.

Sonal Sheth, Trustee WMPP (Women's Movement for Peace and Prosperity) and a concerned citizen had a get-together in her home to initiate an action plan for more effective governance under the banner: 'Citizens take Charge'
Meeting was addressed by Gerson da Cunha.

The most important thing that I personally want to urge you to do is 'TO VOTE'
Politicians act, (sadly) only when they realize that there is an existent sizeable vote bank...One of the attendees shared, that once she had chided a politician: "Why should I vote for you? What have you done? The politician, shockingly brushed her aside stating that her area/ward was not important and as the amount of people who voted was not sizeable!

Interesting observation: Seats are won by Cash, Caste and Crime!

I contributed: We are talking about a lot of things that we must do. I would like to remind you of what we must not do:
1) We must not forget what happened on the 26th of Nov
2) Not to indulge in hate/divisive talk
3) There are so many citizen groups that are springing up to fight terror/bring about a better India...We must not in-fight but support one another since the aim is common...
Jai Hind!

During these troubled times, I like to hold on to my faith by reading about the miracles that have happened in my life.Hope is:
Every night we go to bed we have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning.

But still we have plans for the coming day....


If you would like to read about them, Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/Miracles/miracles_by_shakun_kimatrai.htm

Alongside: Ms Malika Oberoi, Trustee of WMPP has been given the position of Chairperson to Jan Shikshan Sansthan Sponsored by Ministry of HRD, Government of India...Earlier the Chairperson was Ms Bilkis Latif.
We are so proud of her...Here, celebrating with a 'sweet thing in life'...a cake.



...And during these stressful times, spend time with friends who care...I promise you will feel better...I was feeling a little down...my health...nothing serious...cd have stayed in bed, but pulled myself and went to watch a movie...Rab ne banaayee jodee...Some people hv cricised it by saying it makes little sense...but I enjoyed it...maybe because i did not really hv to use my brain and I understood the underlying message...The point is I forgot how ill I was feeling before going...Good friends do the same for you...and you can also do it for them!
Alongside, Aarti, Rita, Varuna Asha...

...and Maya Shahani, my friend, Chairperson Emeritus of WMPP writes to me:
Dear Shakun,

Since you have been asking us to keep you updated on our activities, here is some bragging :-) As you know, I was recently invited for the Clinton Global Initiative. SAGE was one of the nominated causes at CGI for doing exceptionally good work. I was asked to come on stage and they announced what we were doing. After that I was amongst the chosen few to have a photograph taken with Bill Clinton. I was the only one he hugged !!! I believe Monica was the only other person he hugged in public when she was waiting to be intoduced to him :-D When we meet in person I'll tell you what I said to him which made him hug me spontaneously.

You must click on the link sent below by Pece Gorgievski to see the enormity of operations to be undertaken by the SAGE team. Being associated with the CGI has given us a very big global platform to attract more and more people to help us in doing good work
With love,
Maya


Dear Maya,
This is an FYI message - Today, we have added our webpage for "Global Shipment", and from here, we are commencing with our marketing.
http://www.globaldialoguefoundation.com/global_shipment.html
Lots of love,
Pece

I got this as a fwd...


A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. 'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. M y family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.'


The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide...
The hard quantifiable fact is that the peaceful majority, the 'silent majority,' is cowed and extraneous.
Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
China 's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.
The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet.
And, who can forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?
History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our posers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany , they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun...
As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.
Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand. So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands, worldwide, read this and think about it, and send it on - before it's too late.
Emanuel Tanay, M .D.

We celebrated Geeta jayanti At Hundalani Temple, Little Gibbs Road, by chanting the 12th Chapter and the choicest verses...Alongside, some of the girls who attended...
Geeta Jayanti is the anniversary of the day, when the Divine Song (Bhagavad Geeta) was sung.
On this day Shri Krishna spoke to Arjuna, on the battlefield in Kurukshetra.

I have read: "The one who takes a dip in the Ganges is liberated. The one who lives according to the Gita can liberate others."

Ideally one should recite the whole scripture on Geeta Jayanti, but if it is not possible because of the fast paced times that we live in, will you at least click on these links?

http://www.dalsabzi.com/Wisdom_Script/two_geeta_verses.htm


http://www.dalsabzi.com/Message/krishna1.htm
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Articles/kurukshetra.htm

I received this in an email fwd
The differences baffle me...

Very Interesting facts!

Christianity ….One Christ, One Bible Religion…

You know the Latin Catholic will not enter Syrian Catholic Church.

These two will not enter Marthoma Church.

These three will not enter Pentecost Church.

These four will not enter Salvation Army Church.

These five will not enter Seventh Day Adventist Church.

These six will not enter Orthodox Church.

These seven will not enter Jacobite church.

Like this there are 146 castes in Kerala alone for Christianity,

each will never share their churches for fellow Christians..!

Wonderful..! One Christ, One Bible, One Jehova....
What a unity!

Now Muslims..! One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....! Great unity!
Among Muslims, Shia and Sunni kill each other in all the Muslim countries.

The religious riot in most Muslim countries is always between these two sects.

The Shia will not go to Sunni Mosque.

These two will not go to Ahamadiya Mosque.

These three will not go to Sufi Mosque.

These four will not go to Mujahiddin mosque.

Like this it appears there are 13 castes in Muslims.
Killing / bombing/conquering/ massacring/. .. each other !

The American attack to the Muslim land of Iraq is fully supported by all the Muslim countries surrounding Iraq!

One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....! Great unity !

Hindus - 1,280 Religious Books, 10,000 Commentaries,
more than one lakh sub-commentaries for these foundation books, 330 million gods, variety of Aacharas, thousands of Rishies, hundreds of languages...

still everyone goes to the SAME TEMPLE ...

whether unity is for Hindus or in others…?
Hindus never quarreled each other for the last ten thousand years in the name of religion. Only Politicians had tried to divide and rule… Keep Religion out of Politics and India will be the most peaceful place on earth.

Yesterday my brother-in-law Dr G.Vee passed on. He was my nanand's (Husband's sister's husband) When a person is ailing for a while and he passes on, he does leave a vacuum, but then I think, that if you really love them, you have to have a certain amount of peace in your heart, knowing that he/she has been released from further pain and the fact that we shall meet again! No one will live here forever.
I read an article...Osho says since you are certain about 'death' and now all the more because of the terrorist attacks, not knowing who the next victim will be...Celebrate your life! Celebrate your relationships. Don't die until you have put a soothing balm to all your misunderstandings (If you cannot then be satisfied that 'you have done your best)
I went yesterday to Chandan wadi (Where cremations take place) for the first time...What can I say...Where goes the ego attachments properties ? Akele aaye Akele jaanaa

And to the terrorists, something that came to me via the Internet...Have edited it:

Terrorists, this is addressed to you!
In 60 blood-soaked hours, you have achieved what we as a nation haven't achieved in 60 years of independence.

Today, we want answers.

Today, we won't lie back and wait for someone else to do the job.

Today, we won't be lulled into inaction by glib talks and subterfuge.

Today we won't say "chalta hai"

Today we won't vote for goons.

Today we will not accept religion or caste or creed, just nationality.



In 60 horrifyingly sickening hours, you have awoken a giant that lay asleep for 60 years of sovereignty.

Every Indian will now walk together.

Every Indian will now value his vote.

Every Indian will now demand accountability.

Every Indian will now see through lies and deceit.

Every Indian will now demand explanations.

Every Indian will now stand up to be counted.


In 60 gruesome, murderous hours you've instilled a pride in us that we couldn't instill in 60 years of liberty.

You have left behind a reminder that we the people can make a difference.

You have left behind a reason to unite rather than divide.

You have left behind a nation with sheer will & intent.

You have left behind a spirit that dances to a new beat.

You have left behind a billion renewed patriotic hearts.

You have left behind a voice that will be heard.

Just wondering...
Islam ruled for so many hundreds of years and while the wrong interpretation of Islam was being taught, they allowed it to happen...Why? Maybe because they were the ruling party...Today we Hindus are in the majority...and people are using religion to spread hatred for the minority...Ar'nt these Hindus making the same mistake?
You want to spread Hatred...I feel don't! Hate terrorism
But if you must spread hatred do it under a Political party...and get your votes :( not under a Hindu banner...Our Hindu Gods do not require your fight...We Hindus have survived and respected all religions and prophets...Leave it that way...
I was just reading that in order to brain wash people and do it effectively you must add 'religion' The words of Jesus come to my mind: 'You have converted my father's house into a den of thieves'

A sore throat


One teaspoon of coarsely powdered cinnamon, boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder, and two teaspoons of honey can be taken as a medicine in the treatment of sore throat. Two or three drops of cinnamon oil, mixed with a teaspoon of honey, also give immense relief
Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put in a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. This should then be allowed to cool to a bearable temperature, strained, and then used entirely as a gargle.
Water boiled with basil leaves should be taken as a drink, and also used as a gargle to relieve a sore throat.
Courtesy Bombay Times

Either you are 'spiritual' or 'political'.
If you are instilling hatred in other's minds you are 'political'
If you are spiritual you will try and understand the situation and turn anger into a positive action to bring about change. That 'change' could be without or within!

This attack in mumbai is a wake up call for us. we need to really start focusing on what is important if we want to build our beautiful home ie India.
Obviously terrorists want to scare our business leaders...
Muslims have treated women NOT in the way the Quraan intended. That means half of their population, that much mind power is lost, not contribute something to life.
This may be one of the reasons why their economic status is not up to the mark...Amongst other communities the couple earns...So maybe they should start taking a step in the right direction by giving their women a voice...and since women have less of an ego and more of compassion, the peace process may speed up.
We all must realise that human being are evolving, our consciousness is evolving. our need is changing. We are becoming more and more spiritual and less and less religious. Nothing in the world can stop this process.

A hindu is not afraid of death.
In true understanding of Hinduism, death is like a 'changing of clothes', and life too - is a Leela (a Stage, play)
Sadly masses in india have been cut off from true Hindusim. 90 % of hindu in india don't' even know what true Hinduism is. We need to work on this front very seriously. If we want to restore real dharma in india, the sacred land of Krishna & Rama.

We really need to take a closer look at this devil called fear, particularly fear of death. They say 'courage is the ability to face fear or pain, confront it and do the right thing anyway.''
Let terrorists come and kill few hundred more of us. Only this time we should be ready and jump at his throat too, like a hungry lion, before he pushes the button. Catch him alive and hand him over to army, then he will realise what kind of heaven he is in. We must promote 2 things in india - inner wealth that come with sadhana ie true spirituality. and outer wealth that is good standard of living for every one.
We should stop wasting our time, attention and energy on any other topic.
Netas can't solve all our problems. People like you and me, when we join hands, can perform miracles.
The above piece I received from the Internet. I have edited the piece.


I have an active website in which I have tried to explain the tenets of Hinduism in the easiest way possible. Click:
www.dalsabzi.com

Alongside with a group of youngsters near the Gateway. The T shirts say: Enough is enough!

After sitting at home and watching tv...I felt I needed to do something. There were mixed reports about the Citizen candle get-together that was to be held at the Gateway of India. Some said it may be a ploy for terrorists to attack again. When I do not know what to do, I do nothing so I waited. My friend called and said if I wanted to do something that evening. That was the cue. I said yes, let us go to Leopold and Gateway.
My God, the people present at the Gateway.Over a lakh definitely. They were angry but contained.I think I may have been part of History. This kind of choice of 'removing blinkers and take action' was seen during our Independance. Today we are better equipped with computers, mobile phones... I repeat ad nauseum that this 'umang' to do something, which has to be constructive...does not die down! But it seems that, it may not! I had a Geeta class which I conduct for the young...and I said that maybe the death of so many young ones and old, was not in vain. It was a call to awaken! Dear God grant those gone, peace, those left behind strength...and the citizens a way lit up in the right direction!


Alongside: Me at the Leopold restaurant. Look under the frame. You will see the mark that the AK47 and terrorists left...chilling!
But what was heart warming was that the restaurant was full! No fear!

Like Kunal Merchant say: Even though the entire country has been victimised, the terrorists have failed because we are alive and we shall hold a kindled flame of hope. Just like it took some of the terrorists to victimise an entire country, it will take some of us to destroy their disease.

Alongside Parvati Baul


I feel and know that one of the ways to bring peace; is from within...If one is peaceful, one exudes peace. (Of course help others with what you can do best. Give time, money, love, touch, talk...)
I attended Ruhaniyat the 8th All India Sufi and Mystic Music Festival on the 22nd of November at the Horniman Circle Bombay.
Sufism could be a balm for the pain caused by the terrorists explained the Sufi performers...
But the singer that came closest to my heart was Parvati Baul (See picture) She reminded me of Meera with her 'one person orchestra'
Baul has several meanings like rootless, wind, mad and so on...It also means carrying a dead body; probably meaning being dead to desires, attachments, ego...
Parvati Baul, before initiation, was Mousumi Parial. She was born in Assam. She was deeply moved by the Baul tradition of unconditional love towards truth and its practices beyond religious borders. Today she is a story teller, singer, dancer rolled in one. She received valuable guidance from Shashanko Goshai (now over 100 years of age) Parvati is deep into sadhana constantly evolving, learning and maturing...
Read more about Sufism.
Click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/Articles/sufis_and_sufism.htm

I went for a walk at Priyadashini park and I saw, what you see alongside...Jupiter and Venus were so very bright that it looked like lights...and ofcourse it looks like a smiling face...I also thought to myself: Are the heavens smiling? Are they happy about the public outrage?

Divyaa Kummar says:
By the very virtue of the feel - good arising in each as we saw it...by the very virtue of each one thus emanating this passivity forward....it was grace from Self to self indeed!

And the moon is about moving forth from the past emotions
Jupiter about expanded awareness leading to expansion within and around
Venus is about coming together and love
and the first of the last month ...a new beginning
totaling to 1.12.2008=5 a period of change towards enhanced beingness

What better symbols could we have created for the shift of human consciousness at this point in time!

And nature responds
planets take their places in perfect ways
the energies of 'their' configuration enables us further


I, Shakun am thinking of taking some friends and going to Colaba and have a meal to give hounsla and business to the restaurants and vegetable/fruit vendors...Fear? you are not safe anywhere...so do your bit! whichever way you can! That I think is the need of the hour!...I will try and have lunch at Leopold and I really hope I do not get a table...because that will make me note that business is again getting back to normal! but I repeat go about your daily routine of fun also but do not forget what has happened...Let not those in power continue to take us for a ride!

Rajat writes:
That is constructive anger if there is such a thing

The people seem to be demanding explantions from their leaders in India, rather than blindly turning their fury towards Pakistan

That shows a bit of thought, rather than reacting in blind instinct

Lets hope it stays that way. Regardless of whether or not the Pakistani government was somehow involved, its obvious that the Indian intelligence services were not doing their job of protecting against just such an attack, and much of the blame has to be laid at the doors of those in power in Mumbai and New Delhi.

What do you think Shacune?

Rajat!

Dear Rajat,
I am glad also that the fury is not turned towards members of other religions...it shows a mature attitude. Physician heal thyself first! and I am glad that the authorities are going after the pakistani govt...so far the anger seems to be moving in the right direction...yet one MUST remember that we must not give in to hate, otherwise we shall be making same mistakes...we must give in to right action...Krishna is my Ishta and the Geeta is my guide!

Random thoughts this monday morning

World is angry but Bombay is livid...we must maintain that anger until it gets converted into right action...Let us go on with our life but let us not forget...The politicians are doing nothing...I personally feel that at least Bombay is running because of committed Industrialists and NGOs so then why should we pay our taxes...Industrialists spoke about not paying Advance taxes on tv yesterday...Go for your vote show your presence get your mark on your finger but do not vote... I dont know all the answers...Oh yes I am happy that this time the anger is at the politicians and not to innocent people of different caste or creed...Take care be safe think logically the worst terrorist is the one who brainwashes you to believe in only one way...If your thoughts are towards peace and love and you take the right action towards it...I think it is right...I believe in non co-operation until we see that things are moving in the right direction...Hatred of any kind is political in nature...Let us have one day a month in which to show that we citizens are united...the easiest way would be to wear a certain colour on a certain day of week/month...and have candle vigil at Gateway/Shivaji Park/ and/or any other garden around Bombay...If the media, industrialists, people opinion is together we can achieve the impossible...and nothing is impossible we just have to believe and persevere!