Life is Unique

Universe is a wonderful phenomenon. The mystery of Universe is still eluding us. Many theories are presented, hypotheses are proposed about how it could have formed. There are only theories and hypotheses. The origin of ‘life’ also cannot be explained. How and when and why the ‘life’ has come into existence no one can give a foolproof explanation. When things cannot be explained, existence of some ‘Super Natural’ power is believed. When the power is within Nature how can it be ‘Super Natural? We think so, as we cannot see that power like we see any other object – living or non-living.
I believe the Superior Power of nature. This is the power inherent in Nature. The Superior Power in the Universe is perceived with sensations or felt with intellectual abilities but cannot be proved instantly or explained in words. Everything in Nature is unique. Every being is unique. Nothing can be exact replica of a thing. Externally it may appear to be so. But it may show subtle difference on close observation in some character or its functions.
When I think of uniqueness of Creation I remember the differences of conjoined twins. Conjoined twins share same genes, same intra and extra uterine environment. But the survival capacity of each co-twin differs from that of the other. We can take the example of twins joined at heads sharing same blood vessels in the head and surviving. We know there is variation in their interests. The conjoined sisters of Iran, who survived without human intervention till their early twenties, expressed their desire to pursue different professions of their choice after separation. Unfortunately they are no more now. Now there is another pair of kids separated from their conjoined heads are recuperating. We can study their nature. No body knows what makes a person unique. Every being with its unique characters has its special purpose of existence. The purpose may be obvious or can be understood only on contemplation.
Every one of us is born with unique qualities. Being the most intelligent being of this marvelous Creation let us use our ‘life’ in making this earth the best abode for every being.

Life is Activity

Life is incessant activity. The moment activity stops life ends. Activity may be seen or unseen. It has to go on. Single celled amoeba lives and relives by dividing and re-dividing and the eternal process of life goes on. Even a multicellular organism starts its individual entity as a single cell - egg. It develops into zygote and differentiates into multiple organs and tissues to attain the required entity of the organism in its full form. The activity in the organism goes on until it’s maturity and serves its purpose on the earth. Once the activity ceases or becomes incapable of carrying on the life’s processes the existence of life ceases.
Activity, overt or covert, is life. A fetus in the womb is also active and alive. The activity of life within life is Nature. The loud cry of the pushed out life from the womb indicates the activity of the new individual on this earth. The overt activity of the individual indicates its individual life on the earth. Though every organism in its separate entity is an individual, it has to co-exist in relation to its surroundings and environment. It has to grow getting adjusted to the environment. What it contributes to the Universe, time has to reveal. The life is revealed with its various activities.

Physical activity is obvious. Physical activity in relation to the surroundings has its own impact. Activity is also there without physical activity or external activity. That is activity in sleep. Sleep is an activity that is apparently silent, but internally stupendous phenomena are taking place to keep the body active in awake form. The tired body without any obvious activity gets rejuvenated for overt life processes. The neurohormonal and metabolic changes that take place cannot be replaced by any other known process or activity. Natural sleep is manna of physically active life. Good physical and mental activity will definitely result in a very good night’s sleep.

Awake or asleep life is activity.

Life is Unity in Diversity

What is life? This question always rises in my mind when alone. When it’s my life, why don’t I feel complete when alone or in company? My life is not just myself. It is along with people around me, the nature around me and the activity that is going on in the entire Universe. I am just a particle in the Universe. This Universe with all its living and non living beings is ONE. Everything in this nature including me is part of it. So it is Unity in Diversity.
We think we come alone on to this earth and leave it all alone. Is any person is alone, single? We know that Ovum fertilized by sperm starts it new life. In humans, the life of mature ovum that is released is only 48 hours and that of sperm is 72 hours. But when they come together and fuse into one another a new life starts and its life is hundred years or more. When separate the life of ovum and sperm is just few hours. But when join and give up their identity the life is so very prolonged. Togetherness in harmony brings extended life.
My life is not single life. I am harmonious unity of different entities. If I am living in harmony with nature abiding by its rules and being part of it my life will be eternal. As I am part of nature protecting nature is my duty. It is self serving responsibility. To know it is only part of learning. To practice it is realization.

Life is Duality

Life is duality. We observe there are so many antagonist activities in our life. One day we like something the other day we dislike the same for some reason. Good and bad, right and wrong differs in course of time and place. Pain and pleasure varies on the cause of circumstances. When we delve into various aspects of life, many times the actions and reactions surprise us.

When a mother gives birth to a child she has to undergo some pain. The moment child is out of the womb the feeling of pain disappears and pleasure and satisfaction is seen on the face of mother. The child comes out of the womb and everybody is very eager to hear its cry. The louder the cry the greater the happiness that a new life has come on to this earth. The newborn whether cries in pain or pleasure; the lusty cry helps it fill its lungs with full of air and help it start individual journey on this earth. The cry of a newborn brings smile and happiness to the mother and everybody around her awaiting the new life.
Born on this earth the individual struggles for existence. Life goes on through many antagonistic moments and finally reaches its end. The body, which was abode of so many feelings and actions, lies stiff and unresponsive to the feelings of people around. It is said that “the person slept in the lord”. Or his soul which is above mortal feelings enjoys freedom in the Universe. In such condition, probably the person/soul should be happy. The people around infact should be happy for the dead man being relieved of problems of mundane living. But we see everyone feels quite sorrowful for the person is dead. They cry for the departed soul. At the same time they wish that the soul should rest in peace. When everybody around are crying how can anyone be at peace? Probably the soul may rest in peace, as it is untouched by earthly feelings. Peaceful soul rises into the sky happily to reach God’s abode leaving the loving near and dear ones in sorrow.
Life and death are two sides of the same coin. Both bring pain and pleasure along its occurrence. It’s the perception and understanding of situation which makes us move on in life.
With all its pains and pleasure everyone wants life to be continued eternally.

Contemplation

The Bird

Today I am missing the chirpy-chirpy sounds of the two birds which have become regular morning visitors to my home. One of these birds was being seen for more than a month, entering into our living room and trying to find a place to rest or probably build a nest. The moment it enters and sits somewhere I would pick up my camera (presented my dear daughter) and try to click. The moment it sees me it would fly away. Only from the past one week or less it is bringing another cuckoo with it. May be, that is its new found companion. This second bird would never enter into the living room. The first would come into the hall fly here and there perch on door curtain rods or the doors. But the new one would simply sit on the grills of the window of the living room. I thought the two are planning to settle down at our home for this season
On Monday as usual those two had come in the morning. The first cuckoo started flying in the living room with lot of twittering. The second was watching it silently. For the first time it had sat on the edge of the open door into the living room. As usual I made a futile attempt to shoot them, at least to click the one in the hall. But both flew away twittering. At about 10am as I was going down stairs I noticed one bird on the edge of open door of a room, which opens into a big hall that is on the eastern side of our residential portion. This door is kept open only to have vision of our front yard through the window in that room. Otherwise the room is rarely used. I somehow had a feeling that the bird is feeling at loss. I just moved to see if it was the same one that I see every day morning. Seeing me move towards it the bird immediately flew into the room. It tried to fly away through the glass window that is closed. As it could see the branches of trees through the window it tried to move out through it. But it hit the glass. I heard that sound of it’s hitting the glass. Feeling bad that the bird might have got hurt, I went inside. I could not see the bird. I looked for it on the ventilator of the (north) side wall. I searched for it under the cot and a bench that is there. I could not find it. I was surprised that I could not see it in the room nor did I see it flying out through the door. A strange feeling came to me. If ever the bird had disappeared through the glass closed glass window. But my rationality did not accept it. Looking around the room once again for the little bird and not finding it I closed the door and locked it. In the afternoon I told about this to my husband as he was watching news reporting that an old lady who had committed suicide had become a spirit and troubling the villagers. He suspected my visual acuity. In fact even I had doubt if have to change my present glasses.
In the night I wanted to open the room and see once again. But I decided not to take any risk in the night.
Next day morning, that is yesterday – Tuesday, as soon as I woke up I first went out into the hall where the room opens. I was very happy to see it on the ventilator which is immediately above the door. It has cleared so many of my doubts and fears. I simply forgot about this ventilator and did not check to see it on that. That is how I missed it. Because of this the whole day poor little bird has to stay alone in the room. Feeling sorry for the little being I immediately opened the door and the window so that it can fly way. But the little bird would not go towards the window (the whole day it might have tried to go out through the window and got hurt) but kept on hoping between the two ventilators. My gesture and words asking it go through the window could not be understood by it in its fear and confusion. I came out of the room, kept the door wide open, and opened another window immediately by the side of the room. I came into my home and told everything to my husband who had got up and sat on the bed. He immediately got up took a plate and put some rice in it. I understood what he wanted to do. I added few pulses to rice to look colorful. He also took a cup. Knowing his idea I took I tiny bowl and put some water in it. We took these things to the room kept it on the cot. I took few shots of the bird. Both of us came out. I later had to carry on with my routine. I finished my bath. I sat down for prayer. I prayed for the bird should come out of its shock and get out of the room and find its freedom again. At the end of my prayer I could hear the twitters of more than one bird. I went out and saw in the room. The bird was gone away. I asked my husband whether he had seen the bird going our and how it had gone. He said another bird had come into the room via a door of the hall that he had opened. It went into the room sat a few seconds twittering and both had flown away together. Actually in the morning when I had opened the door of that room I did see the other bird near the window. The moment the door was completely open it flew away and was not seen outside. But I did have the feeling that it is its mate will definitely will come to take it away. I only wanted to see whether it will do it alone or bring in some more company. Because of lack of time I could not observe all these and had to carry on my routine schedule. I really feel sorry for locking the bird overnight in the room, and missing to see the two flying happily twittering.
As they have gone away I wanted to see whether those two birds will visit us today morning. Since morning from the time that I got up I was very eager to hear the chirpy chirp of the two birds. Poor little beings having suffered at our home may never visit us again.
I wish that those two little birds will settle down in a beautiful nest on some huge tree many branches having lush green leaves.

'Muhurat' Auspicious Time

We do not know what is in store for future. We always plan to have a happy and wonderful future. Some times things happen in such a way we are surprised. We do not know whether to be happy to have such a turn in life .
Last week Mrs. N who had a planned operative delivery by me had visited me for contraceptive advice. This intelligent lady who is well educated and married to a highly educated and well employed man. She was adamant not to have normal delivery in her first pregnancy. She had caesarian operation delivery. In her second pregnancy also she wanted a well planned delivery at auspicious time (muhurat). As it was an elective procedure I asked her to have it at a time I suggested. She said that if she had the delivery of the baby at that time she will have to suffer life long. So for a happy future of her and her family she requested me to do it at the specific muhurat decided by a person who is a veteran in that field. I had to oblige.
When she visited me she told me that her son had died a month ago (at nine months age). I was surprised. There weren’t any problems at the time of delivery or in the neonatal period when she was in the hospital. Fetal scan in the fifth month and ninth month did not reveal any abnormality. She herself had told me that everything was normal about the baby until 6-8weeks. But by that time there should be neck-holding of the baby which he did not have. This was the beginning/first sign of the problem with the baby. Neurological deficit was noticed by the paediatrician and was referred for neurological evaluation. Mrs. N could not give the diagnosis clearly. She only said that the doctors who evaluated the baby said that there is congenital abnormality in the head of baby and right side of the brain was affected. There is also some abnormality in the respiratory system. Because of these the baby will hardly survive for a year. She is one way lucky that the suffering of her and her child is only for a short period. In some congenital problems the suffering will be for years. God is considerate to her as her suffering will end within few months.
I felt sad to hear all this. As a medical professional I am aware of such things. But still certain things will touch the heart. The only thing I was then reminded was about her insistence of delivery at a particular time to avoid problems in future.
As practicing Hindu I do think of good and bad days as per ‘Panchang’ I try to apply my scientific knowledge in times of crises than simply going by such things. I do have a strong feeling that if we have a free mind and think good, do good, the outcome is always good. In this case I don’t understand what to think about the auspicious time that had deprived her of her son and the son if lived would be simple suffering to self and family due to gross congenital neurological deficit.
Bhagavadgeeta says that what ever happens is in our best interest and we should have faith in Almighty.

Life is not isolated

Feel never desolated

Life never is isolated

know thyself

As part of Universe

Dream Surprises

Last month I was reading a book on “Mathru Devi – Sharada Devi” (wife of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa). One of those days – 2/5 I had a dream. I have gone for site seeing. There I had seen a woman sitting on a swing with closed eyes and in deep meditation. I simply passed away. Then I saw a huge idol of Lord Krishna. I have taken a photograph of the idol. Then immediately it struck me that the woman I have seen is none other than “Mathru Devi” who is regarded as incarnation of goddess Kali. Feeling bad that I could not take a photograph of Mathru Devi I went back to the same place. But there was no one on the swing. I cursed my ignorance and when woke up it was Sunday 3/5.

On that Sunday as I was free I thought of going to “Bhadrakali” Temple in Warangal. Then Brahmotsavams were being celebrated at the temple for the first time. These Brahamatsavams were celebrated from 26-4-09 to 6-5-09. During the days of Brahmotsavams Goddess will be decorated with flowers everyday in a different style. It will be pleasant to watch ‘Devi’ then. That was one reason to visit the temple. As I thought the temple wore a festive look, well decorated with flowers every where and it was special to have ‘darshan’ of ‘Mathaji’ then. I wanted to take a photograph, but taking pictures in the sanctum sanctorum is prohibited. I came out. In the premises of temple there was Lord Krishna’s idol which was brought, probably because of the festivities there and was being worshipped. I was impressed by the beauty of the idol and was glad to click it. It was quite unexpected for me to see that idol. After coming home I recollected my dream and correlated with what had happened. It was partly a dream come true.
We do not know why and how we get our dreams. But some times we see things that are unrelated to our life and which we think of least. If these dreams could be related to a little extent to our real life, it will be a surprise to us.