"Speak to us of Love."

Love...the word itself brings along one's own opinion on it..a highly subjective opinion.But when someone writes about love with a soul that is drenched in love- the words seem extremely pure, as if the're coming from up above, from a place-much beyond one's own subjectivity.

I read The Prophet recently (quite by chance), and I found the same purity, and simplicity in it that one can see in nature...with the same purity that love itself speaks to us..and I was left with a much different me, it's like something you feel, but never knew you feel it, and suddenly you read it and feel it's beauty.Such is love :)

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."
And he raised his head and looked upon the people,
and there fell a stillness upon them.And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you follow him,Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing- floor,Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.To be wounded by your own understanding of love;And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude;And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Kahlil Gibran (from The Prophet)

Playfulness

I remember as a child I played a game while eating berries..
My mom would keep a bowlful of berries in front of us kids-well sorted-washed berries!
Me and my brother would pick up one berry at a time see it carefully, close the eyes, taste it..and before opening the eyes we have to say if it's white or pink from inside! Whoever would guess more correctly would just Simply 'win'! There were no big prizes to be won..but yet it was so much fun! Play for the sake of 'Playfulness'...
As we took that little bite of the tiny berry..we were alert, we smelled, tasted,contemplated over the taste, then saw..and enjoyed every bit of it!
I remember lately, reading about the yogic practice of involving all our senses while eating. Experiencing the food, as we eat, to cherish it to it's fullest. It's also applicable to any thing that we do, we must do it slowly and steadily to make each act a celebration - a true experience...
To me, these things sound very difficult and machanical! But when I think of the childhood game of berries..I get it! I got it even then..all of us did!
I deeply believe, As children we were all Smarter..In a perfect sync with nature and much more closer to God!
Dwelling into the acts we did as kids, can bring a lot of things to our notice,many of which truly meditative, that would make our lives happier today. Perhaps, the journey towards Enlightenment, is not just inwards, but backwards too :)