Vol 26 - No.12Nov-Dec-Jan 2016

This new year has already been quite a trial already, not only for me but for nearly everyone I know. Everyone seems afflicted by pain and sorrow and loss. We can only sincerely hope and pray for peace and harmony as these horrible days go by. Life will always be filled with ups and downs, and happiness, like unhappiness, shall soon pass. I hope all the terrible things happening across the world will pass too, and that the new year may be one filled with happiness.

I was fortunate enough to recently spend time chatting with my Grand-Aunt, on a short visit to my family home. Maggi Bai, as she is fondly known, is a gracious, well-spoken lady who will soon be a grand old 96 years old!! She is full of humour and active enough at her age, despite, as she says, having broken many bones across the ages. Her guiding mantra over these many, many years has been her faith in God and her prayers. These have helped her through all her troubles and trials and today she is filled with contentment. I think that is how I would like to grow old someday: to be able to look back on my life, content. To not bitterly regret, or be sad or angry for what might have been.

So in this new year, I ask you all to join your hands in prayer, as loud or as silent as you choose. Let us pray for peace, for forgiveness and for tolerance; for a brighter, happier tomorrow and for Grace for each of us who has suffered loss and pain recently.

One of the many things I am praying hard for is that everyone receives their copy of this issue. The number of returns and copies not received is terribly sad! I really pray that the usually infallible Indian Post returns to her old glory as the bearer of good news and tidings from far away. For all the delays in sending this to you, please forgive me!

Wishing you all a year blessed with Abundance & Joy,

Raadhika Dosa D'Cruz

1

NEW YEAR PRAYER

MAILBOX

2

Dear Madam,

A friend of mine just happened to hand me the booklet and asked me to read The mustard See. I was delighted to do the same. Thank you and may God bless all your efforts,

Della D'Souza, Pune

I was lucky enough to get a copy of TMS at one of the events I attended recently. Going through the May 2015 issue I found that it was indeed a journal of creative faith. I would like to congratulate the entire Team for this effort.

Since I am an environment friendly person, I would like to help save paper by receiving TMS online.

Regards,

Raunak Mahesh ( Student)

Hey Raadhika!

Congratulations! On taking over the mantle of doing something so awesome.

I loved the universal multicultural appeal in the issues youve attached.

Wish you all the best in getting your perspective to make The Mustard Seed even more wholesome, beneficial and heartwarming to its readers.

Dhiraj Athavale

Raadhika!

Congrats! It's a unique publication. I've managed to read only a few articles and I'm hooked.

Katie Hoosein

I am happy to have come across nice journal of TMS. Thank you for wonderful work. I would request you to send me online issue to the same id.

Anil Paul

Heartfelt Congratulations to you for your Mustard Seed finally. A way to reach God by words, thoughts which create compassion and love. As you mentioned about this coming up during your sabbatical where there was a question of a search, I feel so thankful to you for sending me this to read and know more about God and myself, my soul…..to get answers for my quest or my state of confusion .... at the start of my new phase in life. I was reading your paper with so many people publishing their thoughts about God, life ,with philosophies…sending vibes of positivity that I just kept reading it for an hour without realizing. Thank you,

Vasudha Patni

I receive regular copies of TMS and take great delight in them. Once I have finished reading it, I pass it on to my dad and anyone else who would like to read it.

Shirley Adajania, Mumbai

We shall not cease from exploration,

and the end of all our exploring will be

to arrive where we started

and know the place for the first time.

- T.S.Eliot

You're not less happy with too little than with too

much.

- JosemariaEscrivas, saint

THE TREE OF LOVE

How do we act toward God ? Do we really believe in Him and take pride in acknowledging

Him? Or do we hide our belief away?

- Catherine Doherty, inRe-entry into Faith

3

S o m e t i m e s e v e n t h e o l d e s t relationships must undergo fresh beginnings, as the inner weather has changed in both people concerned.

2015 has been a year of many people dropping out of my life and while new additions are different from what I had in the past, I am not bitter about their passing away from my life.

They came in dressings of expectations from my eyes and although, they were physically the same face as I remembered from my past, their inner weather had changed as did mine. I lost school friends and new friends I had found on the way, as I travelled along.

In short, it was a watershed year in my life.

Did I find new friends to substitute for what I lost? The answer is no. I realized there is already abundance in my life and the falling out of a few, made my journey lighter. The bones are weary and the flesh unyielding now. So, I am again grateful for their coming and their sharing, including their quiet retreat.

Ahead, lies a road, clear and bright, with a bright White Light at the end. It is the vision I was shown in my dream, when I first visited Khwaja Garib Nawaz in Ajmer, three years ago, where the Sufi Saint, Moinuddin Chishti (1141 – 1236 AD), also known by the other name, was laid to rest.

So out of this already existing abundance within me, I am grateful that He is taking care of me, without my having to do anything, He is making choices for me with regard to whom I do not need any more in my life, for neither I have the discretion nor the will to know what is best for me, now.

Along the way, I can only bear what neither I, nor the other are deeply attached to by love and equally by abhorrence. I can only bear a light acquaintance, which is intense when we are together and leaves no residue to cogitate or deal with, when we part.

The autumn leaves don't remain on trees; they move on in their journey.

By Julia Dutta

AUTUMN LEAVES

This is the Tree of Love-Birds in plenty, from the Sparrow to the EagleCluster around It's branches. They enliven It's being With their light flutter and merry twitter;The Tree tries to fulfilTheir individual wants.

They make their nests In the nooks of It's heart (temporary, though);For soon, the Tree knows, They must go back To their own home-nests.This is all that the Tree cherishes:A feather here, a straw there.Kusum Gokarn

MAILBOX

2

Dear Madam,

A friend of mine just happened to hand me the booklet and asked me to read The mustard See. I was delighted to do the same. Thank you and may God bless all your efforts,

Della D'Souza, Pune

I was lucky enough to get a copy of TMS at one of the events I attended recently. Going through the May 2015 issue I found that it was indeed a journal of creative faith. I would like to congratulate the entire Team for this effort.

Since I am an environment friendly person, I would like to help save paper by receiving TMS online.

Regards,

Raunak Mahesh ( Student)

Hey Raadhika!

Congratulations! On taking over the mantle of doing something so awesome.

I loved the universal multicultural appeal in the issues youve attached.

Wish you all the best in getting your perspective to make The Mustard Seed even more wholesome, beneficial and heartwarming to its readers.

Dhiraj Athavale

Raadhika!

Congrats! It's a unique publication. I've managed to read only a few articles and I'm hooked.

Katie Hoosein

I am happy to have come across nice journal of TMS. Thank you for wonderful work. I would request you to send me online issue to the same id.

Anil Paul

Heartfelt Congratulations to you for your Mustard Seed finally. A way to reach God by words, thoughts which create compassion and love. As you mentioned about this coming up during your sabbatical where there was a question of a search, I feel so thankful to you for sending me this to read and know more about God and myself, my soul…..to get answers for my quest or my state of confusion .... at the start of my new phase in life. I was reading your paper with so many people publishing their thoughts about God, life ,with philosophies…sending vibes of positivity that I just kept reading it for an hour without realizing. Thank you,

Vasudha Patni

I receive regular copies of TMS and take great delight in them. Once I have finished reading it, I pass it on to my dad and anyone else who would like to read it.

Shirley Adajania, Mumbai

We shall not cease from exploration,

and the end of all our exploring will be

to arrive where we started

and know the place for the first time.

- T.S.Eliot

You're not less happy with too little than with too

much.

- JosemariaEscrivas, saint

THE TREE OF LOVE

How do we act toward God ? Do we really believe in Him and take pride in acknowledging

Him? Or do we hide our belief away?

- Catherine Doherty, inRe-entry into Faith

3

S o m e t i m e s e v e n t h e o l d e s t relationships must undergo fresh beginnings, as the inner weather has changed in both people concerned.

2015 has been a year of many people dropping out of my life and while new additions are different from what I had in the past, I am not bitter about their passing away from my life.

They came in dressings of expectations from my eyes and although, they were physically the same face as I remembered from my past, their inner weather had changed as did mine. I lost school friends and new friends I had found on the way, as I travelled along.

In short, it was a watershed year in my life.

Did I find new friends to substitute for what I lost? The answer is no. I realized there is already abundance in my life and the falling out of a few, made my journey lighter. The bones are weary and the flesh unyielding now. So, I am again grateful for their coming and their sharing, including their quiet retreat.

Ahead, lies a road, clear and bright, with a bright White Light at the end. It is the vision I was shown in my dream, when I first visited Khwaja Garib Nawaz in Ajmer, three years ago, where the Sufi Saint, Moinuddin Chishti (1141 – 1236 AD), also known by the other name, was laid to rest.

So out of this already existing abundance within me, I am grateful that He is taking care of me, without my having to do anything, He is making choices for me with regard to whom I do not need any more in my life, for neither I have the discretion nor the will to know what is best for me, now.

Along the way, I can only bear what neither I, nor the other are deeply attached to by love and equally by abhorrence. I can only bear a light acquaintance, which is intense when we are together and leaves no residue to cogitate or deal with, when we part.

The autumn leaves don't remain on trees; they move on in their journey.

By Julia Dutta

AUTUMN LEAVES

This is the Tree of Love-Birds in plenty, from the Sparrow to the EagleCluster around It's branches. They enliven It's being With their light flutter and merry twitter;The Tree tries to fulfilTheir individual wants.

They make their nests In the nooks of It's heart (temporary, though);For soon, the Tree knows, They must go back To their own home-nests.This is all that the Tree cherishes:A feather here, a straw there.Kusum Gokarn

4

THE LEGACY OF JANICE SMITH

Janice Patricia Smith was a true Panchgani-ite. Her great grandparents were one of

the pioneering families of this town. The Campion Smiths were here for four

generations before Independence, a claim few local families can make. They

arrived when the road from Wai was just a cart track, and people came up in tongas,

phaetons or on horseback, escorted by a team of “beaters” who made loud banging

noises to scare away the tigers and panthers that abounded in those days.

They made Panchgani their home, married, had children, grandchildren and great

grand children in Gold Mohur Villa, adjacent to BelAir Hospital. Janice's great

grandfather, William Frederick Campion Smith was the Warden of St.Peter's

Church for 26 years. He and his wife Harriet were married at Mahabaleshwar in

1862, when it was still known as Malcolmpeth.

Janice's Uncle Arthur emigrated to Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe) but made a few

trips back home to India, bringing back stories of his adventures and hunting

trophies. It was his house (still called Rhodesia) which was gifted to St.Peter's

School.

Janice was raised in this town, surrounded by animals. As she grew, so did her love

for animals. Except for a brief visit to Australia on board the “Murbera” in 1947

when she was four, she spent all her life in Panchgani, sometimes venturing to Pune,

Wai or Mahabaleshwar. She was a student at St.Joseph's Convent where she later

taught for 26 years. People's jaws dropped when they heard fluent Marathi pouring

out of the mouth of this blond, blue eyed lady!

Joyce Campion Smith, Janice's mum, was the big inspiration in the life of her only

child. Janice proudly said that it was her mother who brought in their first rescue

animal (a calf on its way to being slaughtered). From then on, they filled their home

with sick and stray animals. This was indeed the start of Janice's Trust.

While Joyce taught Art, a young FarrokhBulsara practised tunes on the piano at the

back of the Art Room at St. Peter's School. Joyce who was an accomplished pianist

herself, enjoyed his music. Bulsara shot to fame and fortune as Freddy Mercury,

once he went to England, forming the famous rock band “Queen”, going on to

compose several hits- “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We are the Champions” and “Crazy

Little Thing called Love” among others. He is said to be one of the world's most

accomplished and most popular male lead singers and song writers of ALL TIME!!

There is a short interview of Janice (teaching an Art class) in a documentary on the

life of Freddy Mercury, made by the BBC, where they call her Janet by mistake.

Janice followed in her mother's footsteps going on to be everyone's favourite

teacher. After a brief stint at St.Peter's School, she went on to dedicate almost three

decades of her life to the students of St.Joseph'sConvent.She found it hard to decide

whom she loved more… her students or her animals.

“A single, ordinary person still can make a difference – and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every day.”

— Chris Bohjalian, Vermont-based author and speaker

Gold Mohur Villa, inside and out, in Janice's lifetime and after, has been a haven for

rescue animals of all species. Janice never married, and especially after the death of

Joyce, the animals became her family. She had over a 100 animals… cats, dogs,

cows, goats and a blind horse who sometimes trotted through the house after his

mistress! She had a bull called Inderjeet who lived in her back porch and fiercely

protected her.

She cried when any animal got run over or died of a sudden illness. One favourite

habit of hers was to sit in the sun on the bench in her garden and cuddle the puppies.

She also had a large following of stray dogs in town who tailed her for her chatter

and Glucose biscuits. Inspite of a very painful, non healing, varicose vein ulcer she

had on her leg, and a negligible pension, Janice worked tirelessly to feed and love

her animals, all while keeping her amazing sense of humour. She died of septicemia thon St.Patrick's Day, March 17 2010. She was a big fan of St.Patrick, in fact she had

a picture of him hanging over her front door. It's nice to think that it was St.Patrick

who delivered her from her suffering on that day. But her animals remained…some

of her dogs are still waiting for her to return till this day.

Janice's Trust is now working on continuing Janice's legacy of love and care

towards rescued, sick and injured animals of Panchgani. For more information on

Janice's Trust, there is a Facebook group of the same name with pictures and

updates on their good work with animals and with keeping her memory alive.

Megan D’Souza

5

4

THE LEGACY OF JANICE SMITH

Janice Patricia Smith was a true Panchgani-ite. Her great grandparents were one of

the pioneering families of this town. The Campion Smiths were here for four

generations before Independence, a claim few local families can make. They

arrived when the road from Wai was just a cart track, and people came up in tongas,

phaetons or on horseback, escorted by a team of “beaters” who made loud banging

noises to scare away the tigers and panthers that abounded in those days.

They made Panchgani their home, married, had children, grandchildren and great

grand children in Gold Mohur Villa, adjacent to BelAir Hospital. Janice's great

grandfather, William Frederick Campion Smith was the Warden of St.Peter's

Church for 26 years. He and his wife Harriet were married at Mahabaleshwar in

1862, when it was still known as Malcolmpeth.

Janice's Uncle Arthur emigrated to Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe) but made a few

trips back home to India, bringing back stories of his adventures and hunting

trophies. It was his house (still called Rhodesia) which was gifted to St.Peter's

School.

Janice was raised in this town, surrounded by animals. As she grew, so did her love

for animals. Except for a brief visit to Australia on board the “Murbera” in 1947

when she was four, she spent all her life in Panchgani, sometimes venturing to Pune,

Wai or Mahabaleshwar. She was a student at St.Joseph's Convent where she later

taught for 26 years. People's jaws dropped when they heard fluent Marathi pouring

out of the mouth of this blond, blue eyed lady!

Joyce Campion Smith, Janice's mum, was the big inspiration in the life of her only

child. Janice proudly said that it was her mother who brought in their first rescue

animal (a calf on its way to being slaughtered). From then on, they filled their home

with sick and stray animals. This was indeed the start of Janice's Trust.

While Joyce taught Art, a young FarrokhBulsara practised tunes on the piano at the

back of the Art Room at St. Peter's School. Joyce who was an accomplished pianist

herself, enjoyed his music. Bulsara shot to fame and fortune as Freddy Mercury,

once he went to England, forming the famous rock band “Queen”, going on to

compose several hits- “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We are the Champions” and “Crazy

Little Thing called Love” among others. He is said to be one of the world's most

accomplished and most popular male lead singers and song writers of ALL TIME!!

There is a short interview of Janice (teaching an Art class) in a documentary on the

life of Freddy Mercury, made by the BBC, where they call her Janet by mistake.

Janice followed in her mother's footsteps going on to be everyone's favourite

teacher. After a brief stint at St.Peter's School, she went on to dedicate almost three

decades of her life to the students of St.Joseph'sConvent.She found it hard to decide

whom she loved more… her students or her animals.

“A single, ordinary person still can make a difference – and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every day.”

— Chris Bohjalian, Vermont-based author and speaker

Gold Mohur Villa, inside and out, in Janice's lifetime and after, has been a haven for

rescue animals of all species. Janice never married, and especially after the death of

Joyce, the animals became her family. She had over a 100 animals… cats, dogs,

cows, goats and a blind horse who sometimes trotted through the house after his

mistress! She had a bull called Inderjeet who lived in her back porch and fiercely

protected her.

She cried when any animal got run over or died of a sudden illness. One favourite

habit of hers was to sit in the sun on the bench in her garden and cuddle the puppies.

She also had a large following of stray dogs in town who tailed her for her chatter

and Glucose biscuits. Inspite of a very painful, non healing, varicose vein ulcer she

had on her leg, and a negligible pension, Janice worked tirelessly to feed and love

her animals, all while keeping her amazing sense of humour. She died of septicemia thon St.Patrick's Day, March 17 2010. She was a big fan of St.Patrick, in fact she had

a picture of him hanging over her front door. It's nice to think that it was St.Patrick

who delivered her from her suffering on that day. But her animals remained…some

of her dogs are still waiting for her to return till this day.

Janice's Trust is now working on continuing Janice's legacy of love and care

towards rescued, sick and injured animals of Panchgani. For more information on

Janice's Trust, there is a Facebook group of the same name with pictures and

updates on their good work with animals and with keeping her memory alive.

Megan D’Souza

5

“Challanges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J Marine

7

FAITH

Once we outgrow something, it is

difficult to revert to the same

circumstances or conditions. But Faith

is something you can never outgrow.

You need to renew it every day. As

children we put our Faith in our parents,

siblings, family and friends without the

slightest effort. We even pray very

fervently when asked to or when the

need arises. As we grow we start

acquiring barriers of layers of

consciousness, knowledge, bias and

insecurities, and having Faith became a

task. So much so we have trouble

having Faith in ourselves.

Now the question is what does Faith do

and why do we need it? Faith is to know

something, or someone, or a process. It

is different from behaviour, facts or

observations as these depend on the

other person displaying them. Faith is

internal and has nothing to do with the

other person. So, if Faith is internal,

why do we have such a hassle creating

it, maintaining it or exhibiting it? Self

doubt is the biggest flaw we have

developed. Self - doubt crumbles Faith,

it breaks beliefs, ruins relationships and

prevents us from being who we truly

are. Faith, on the other hand, helps us

build ourselves, our beliefs and our

relationships. Faith helps us face our

fears. Faith helps us come to terms with

tough circumstances like illness or loss.

Faith has come to be associated with

religion and yet that's the last on the list

of what Faith truly means.

We are at a time when boundaries mean

nothing with Whatsapp, Skype and

Facebook. Yet we haven't broken our

boundaries with people, ourselves and

our Faith. What we need is daily

renewal in our beliefs and our

relationships; a daily renewal of what

we put our Faith in. We can't become

children again but we sure can have a

positive approach like them. We can

learn not to give up, and we can learn

myriad ways to tackle the same

problem. Like children, we can reach

out to people with the purest of

intentions and we will realise it

strengthens our Faith. It is said Faith

can move mountains, but many a times

we don't need to move mountains, we

just need to move ourselves. Move to

love. Move to forgive and move to heal.

Dhiraj Athavale

God is our centre.

The centre always exerts a powerful attraction. The more spiritual and exalted our centre is, the more irresistible is its attractiveness.

When your spirit has been united with God's, it will fall without any force other than the weight of love into its proper centre.

The more peaceful and trusting you remain, the more rapidly you will advance because self-energy will not obstruct you.

Take care, then, dear one, to direct your attention toward God.

- Madame Jeanne Guyon

6

After being in retail for seventeen years and touching and holding and feeling many

many things, one often comes across the many that don't fit the standard.

Especially in the craft stories. Built by hand, created on home grounds, the stories

are but made with a rawness, a certain imperfection that endears and yet if put under

scrutiny would be very difficult to explain and justify.

Defective piece.

The big boy has always joked about me since the beginning of time (of my own

discovery) that he has found that in me.

And as I have readily agreed and laughed over the years over my imperfections

...today I smile generously when I imagine myself being the hand crafted "special"

piece of the universe.

Thank you O Maker for giving me these frayed edges and little bits of madness...

It has helped me find those who still love the experience of holding on to me for no

reason and helped me find a million ways to see your madness and creativity.

Ritika Narang Tickoo

FLAWS

A monk who needed olive oil planted an olive tree sapling. Then he prayed, Lord my tree needs rain, please send gentle showers. And gentle rain fell.

Then the monk prayed, Please send sun, my tree needs sun. And so the sun shone on the tree.

Now please send frost, the monk prayed, to strengthen the branches of my tree.

Soon the little tree was covered in sparkling frost, and in the evening it died.

Then the monk went to a brother monk and related his experience. His brother monk replied in wonder:

I too have planted a little tree, and see how it thrives! I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better than me what it needs. I just pray, Lord, send what You think is best for my tree....and Brother, see for yourself, I am content.

Streams in the Desert

THE OLIVE TREE

The only flag I wear is that of freedom.

The only prayer I hold is that one day we can accept each others freedom.

Live and let live.

- Dhruv Saigal

“Challanges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J Marine

7

FAITH

Once we outgrow something, it is

difficult to revert to the same

circumstances or conditions. But Faith

is something you can never outgrow.

You need to renew it every day. As

children we put our Faith in our parents,

siblings, family and friends without the

slightest effort. We even pray very

fervently when asked to or when the

need arises. As we grow we start

acquiring barriers of layers of

consciousness, knowledge, bias and

insecurities, and having Faith became a

task. So much so we have trouble

having Faith in ourselves.

Now the question is what does Faith do

and why do we need it? Faith is to know

something, or someone, or a process. It

is different from behaviour, facts or

observations as these depend on the

other person displaying them. Faith is

internal and has nothing to do with the

other person. So, if Faith is internal,

why do we have such a hassle creating

it, maintaining it or exhibiting it? Self

doubt is the biggest flaw we have

developed. Self - doubt crumbles Faith,

it breaks beliefs, ruins relationships and

prevents us from being who we truly

are. Faith, on the other hand, helps us

build ourselves, our beliefs and our

relationships. Faith helps us face our

fears. Faith helps us come to terms with

tough circumstances like illness or loss.

Faith has come to be associated with

religion and yet that's the last on the list

of what Faith truly means.

We are at a time when boundaries mean

nothing with Whatsapp, Skype and

Facebook. Yet we haven't broken our

boundaries with people, ourselves and

our Faith. What we need is daily

renewal in our beliefs and our

relationships; a daily renewal of what

we put our Faith in. We can't become

children again but we sure can have a

positive approach like them. We can

learn not to give up, and we can learn

myriad ways to tackle the same

problem. Like children, we can reach

out to people with the purest of

intentions and we will realise it

strengthens our Faith. It is said Faith

can move mountains, but many a times

we don't need to move mountains, we

just need to move ourselves. Move to

love. Move to forgive and move to heal.

Dhiraj Athavale

God is our centre.

The centre always exerts a powerful attraction. The more spiritual and exalted our centre is, the more irresistible is its attractiveness.

When your spirit has been united with God's, it will fall without any force other than the weight of love into its proper centre.

The more peaceful and trusting you remain, the more rapidly you will advance because self-energy will not obstruct you.

Take care, then, dear one, to direct your attention toward God.

- Madame Jeanne Guyon

6

After being in retail for seventeen years and touching and holding and feeling many

many things, one often comes across the many that don't fit the standard.

Especially in the craft stories. Built by hand, created on home grounds, the stories

are but made with a rawness, a certain imperfection that endears and yet if put under

scrutiny would be very difficult to explain and justify.

Defective piece.

The big boy has always joked about me since the beginning of time (of my own

discovery) that he has found that in me.

And as I have readily agreed and laughed over the years over my imperfections

...today I smile generously when I imagine myself being the hand crafted "special"

piece of the universe.

Thank you O Maker for giving me these frayed edges and little bits of madness...

It has helped me find those who still love the experience of holding on to me for no

reason and helped me find a million ways to see your madness and creativity.

Ritika Narang Tickoo

FLAWS

A monk who needed olive oil planted an olive tree sapling. Then he prayed, Lord my tree needs rain, please send gentle showers. And gentle rain fell.

Then the monk prayed, Please send sun, my tree needs sun. And so the sun shone on the tree.

Now please send frost, the monk prayed, to strengthen the branches of my tree.

Soon the little tree was covered in sparkling frost, and in the evening it died.

Then the monk went to a brother monk and related his experience. His brother monk replied in wonder:

I too have planted a little tree, and see how it thrives! I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better than me what it needs. I just pray, Lord, send what You think is best for my tree....and Brother, see for yourself, I am content.

Streams in the Desert

THE OLIVE TREE

The only flag I wear is that of freedom.

The only prayer I hold is that one day we can accept each others freedom.

Live and let live.

- Dhruv Saigal

Sometime ago, The Learning Channel

aired a show called, “Hoarding: Buried

Alive.” Hoarders essentially are people

who accumulate more than is

necessary. They accumulate everything

from food and trash to animals and

books. They harbor an inherent fear in

letting anything go. Their homes are so

full of stuff that it becomes impossible

to move around. The excessive stuff

everywhere makes it impossible for the

individual to complete daily tasks such

as cooking, bathing, or even sleeping.

After all if you can't see your floors,

can't find your bed or in many cases

with stuff piled from floor to ceiling

you can't even find a wall to lean against

where will you sleep?

So why am I telling you about this?

Well, reflecting on this show made me

think about how many people may be

emotional hoarders? The people

holding on to resentments, people

holding on to past grudges, people

holding on to false friendships and

relationships which have clearly ended.

The people who hold on to the idea of

who did them wrong and how they will

never forgive. The people who even as

time moves forward keep the

memories, the bad memories, the

memories that don't serve divine

purpose, intentionally alive by

recounting stories and ensuring that,

even if time wants them to forget that,

they don't.

This emotional hoarding, over the

years, may have now culminated into

anger, frustration, and a false sense of

ego. It may have created thoughts of

hatred and actions that would never

align with anything that could even

come close to grace. Can you imagine

for a moment how cluttered, how

diseased, how utterly clogged the

hearts, minds and spirits would be if we

had the opportunity to look within these

people? I imagine it would be just as

repulsive as the rat infested homes of

the physical hoarders.

Learning to release the thoughts that

can't reconcile the hateful actions of

people you once considered close to

you, learning to respect the decisions of

people who choose not to walk beside

you because another option seems more

attractive, learning to release

expectations and learning to let go of

past behaviors and thought patterns

which serve no divine purpose start to

make room for so much more than you

can ever dream is possible.

The process isn't easy, and I can assure

you that for me it is still an ongoing one,

but letting go has created space for

people who see the best that resides

within me, letting go has allowed for

new relationships that remind me of

divine purpose and make me believe in

the authentic goodness of a person.

Letting go has brought my way

business opportunities, a growing

clientele base and respect in greater

measures than I ever thought possible.

8

FORGIVE, LET GO & MOVE ON

9

10 Ways to Begin to Let Go:

Say Sorry: Apologize to the person

who caused you hurt for whatever

your role may have been to cause

their negative action towards you.

Express Gratitude: Say Thank You to

the situation or the person which may

have aggrieved you for all it has

taught you.

Stop Talking About It: What you focus

on expands, so stop explaining to

everyone how bad it was and how

horrible he/she is!

Show Grace: Say hello when you

meet the person who hurt your

sentiments, remember to also say

bye. I f the words aren' t as

forthcoming, smile and wave, the

point is to acknowledge the person

from a place of warmth within you.

Replace the Thought with Light:

Every time you have the negative

thought, send it tons of white light,

you'll be amazed how quickly you will

feel calmer and the situation will start

to dissolve.

Sing: It doesn't matter what your

voice sounds like, get into the

moment. Find that song and let it rip,

it will serve as a distraction from the

negative thought and release feel

good endorphins.

Reach Out: Have you lost touch with a

friend you knew was good for your

soul, well pick up the phone. Start

with a simple, “Hello, I've missed

you…” and then let the conversation

flow.

Express the Opposite: Every negative

emotion has an opposite, so anger's

opposite is peace, hate's opposite is

love, fear's opposite is courage etc.

Each time you feel a negative emotion

find a way to express its opposite.

Donate Something: Nothing releases

negative emotion faster than seeing

the delight you are able to create

through the sharing of your time,

your resources or just a kind word.

Breathe: Close your eyes, breathe in

for five counts, hold for ten and then

breathe out for five counts. Do this

thrice, it will serve to both oxygenate

your cells and clear the clutter in your

mind!

Freyaz Shroff

Letting go brought a peace that is hard

to articulate in words.

Release, with grace, all those who do

not want to be a part of your life, that

choice is part of their destiny. Honor all

the people who believe that you are the

blessing in their lives; this choice is part

of your destiny!

Until we meet next I wish you the

wisdom to recognize what you must let

go and the courage to then let it go!

Freyaz Shroff

Founder of KurNiv

Sometime ago, The Learning Channel

aired a show called, “Hoarding: Buried

Alive.” Hoarders essentially are people

who accumulate more than is

necessary. They accumulate everything

from food and trash to animals and

books. They harbor an inherent fear in

letting anything go. Their homes are so

full of stuff that it becomes impossible

to move around. The excessive stuff

everywhere makes it impossible for the

individual to complete daily tasks such

as cooking, bathing, or even sleeping.

After all if you can't see your floors,

can't find your bed or in many cases

with stuff piled from floor to ceiling

you can't even find a wall to lean against

where will you sleep?

So why am I telling you about this?

Well, reflecting on this show made me

think about how many people may be

emotional hoarders? The people

holding on to resentments, people

holding on to past grudges, people

holding on to false friendships and

relationships which have clearly ended.

The people who hold on to the idea of

who did them wrong and how they will

never forgive. The people who even as

time moves forward keep the

memories, the bad memories, the

memories that don't serve divine

purpose, intentionally alive by

recounting stories and ensuring that,

even if time wants them to forget that,

they don't.

This emotional hoarding, over the

years, may have now culminated into

anger, frustration, and a false sense of

ego. It may have created thoughts of

hatred and actions that would never

align with anything that could even

come close to grace. Can you imagine

for a moment how cluttered, how

diseased, how utterly clogged the

hearts, minds and spirits would be if we

had the opportunity to look within these

people? I imagine it would be just as

repulsive as the rat infested homes of

the physical hoarders.

Learning to release the thoughts that

can't reconcile the hateful actions of

people you once considered close to

you, learning to respect the decisions of

people who choose not to walk beside

you because another option seems more

attractive, learning to release

expectations and learning to let go of

past behaviors and thought patterns

which serve no divine purpose start to

make room for so much more than you

can ever dream is possible.

The process isn't easy, and I can assure

you that for me it is still an ongoing one,

but letting go has created space for

people who see the best that resides

within me, letting go has allowed for

new relationships that remind me of

divine purpose and make me believe in

the authentic goodness of a person.

Letting go has brought my way

business opportunities, a growing

clientele base and respect in greater

measures than I ever thought possible.

8

FORGIVE, LET GO & MOVE ON

9

10 Ways to Begin to Let Go:

Say Sorry: Apologize to the person

who caused you hurt for whatever

your role may have been to cause

their negative action towards you.

Express Gratitude: Say Thank You to

the situation or the person which may

have aggrieved you for all it has

taught you.

Stop Talking About It: What you focus

on expands, so stop explaining to

everyone how bad it was and how

horrible he/she is!

Show Grace: Say hello when you

meet the person who hurt your

sentiments, remember to also say

bye. I f the words aren' t as

forthcoming, smile and wave, the

point is to acknowledge the person

from a place of warmth within you.

Replace the Thought with Light:

Every time you have the negative

thought, send it tons of white light,

you'll be amazed how quickly you will

feel calmer and the situation will start

to dissolve.

Sing: It doesn't matter what your

voice sounds like, get into the

moment. Find that song and let it rip,

it will serve as a distraction from the

negative thought and release feel

good endorphins.

Reach Out: Have you lost touch with a

friend you knew was good for your

soul, well pick up the phone. Start

with a simple, “Hello, I've missed

you…” and then let the conversation

flow.

Express the Opposite: Every negative

emotion has an opposite, so anger's

opposite is peace, hate's opposite is

love, fear's opposite is courage etc.

Each time you feel a negative emotion

find a way to express its opposite.

Donate Something: Nothing releases

negative emotion faster than seeing

the delight you are able to create

through the sharing of your time,

your resources or just a kind word.

Breathe: Close your eyes, breathe in

for five counts, hold for ten and then

breathe out for five counts. Do this

thrice, it will serve to both oxygenate

your cells and clear the clutter in your

mind!

Freyaz Shroff

Letting go brought a peace that is hard

to articulate in words.

Release, with grace, all those who do

not want to be a part of your life, that

choice is part of their destiny. Honor all

the people who believe that you are the

blessing in their lives; this choice is part

of your destiny!

Until we meet next I wish you the

wisdom to recognize what you must let

go and the courage to then let it go!

Freyaz Shroff

Founder of KurNiv

THE STARFISH STORY: ONE STEP TOWARDS CHANGING THE WORLD

You may have heard this one, but I find that it doesn't hurt to be reminded of it every once in a while.

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can't return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I'm afraid you won't really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet

another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from by The Star Thrower, Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

We all have the opportunity to help create positive change, but if you're like me, you sometimes find yourself thinking, “I'm already really busy, and how much of a difference can I really make?” I think this is especially true when we're talking about addressing massive social problems like tackling world hunger or finding a cure for cancer, but it pops up all of the time in our everyday lives, as well. So when I catch myself thinking that way, it helps to remember this story. You might not be able to change the entire world, but at least you can change a small part of it, for someone.

They say that one of the most common reasons we procrastinate is because we see the challenge before us as overwhelming, and that a good way to counter that is to break the big challenge down into smaller pieces and then take those one at a time–like one starfish at a time. And to that one starfish, it can make a world of difference.

By Peter Straube

10

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you

read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to

make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere

in the next year, you surprise yourself.

- Neil Gaiman

The point is not for you to do something that’s never been done before. The

point is for you to do something you’ve’ never done before.

Elizabeth Gilbert

11

Oh, souls — let us try not to worry so much, OK? It's so bad for our minds and our bodies and our spirits, and it's so bad for everyone around us, too. And when we get all bent-up and broken-up and fragmented from worry, we make it SO DIFFICULT for the universe to help show us our destinies.

The universe is wanting to communicate something with you. It wants to take you somewhere very specific (to your ultimate destiny, which is PEACE and wisdom and wholeness) but your worrying is a kind of crazy emotional static that prevents you from hearing the messages. Have some faith. Have some faith in yourself, and have faith in fate, as well.

What if you remembered this: Everything you have ever endured so far in life, you have survived.

And sometimes, to your own surprise, you even thrived.

Maybe the worst thing you ever

endured was a crucible through which you became YOU.

Maybe you could not have become YOU through any other means except by going through that trial.

Maybe a trial will happen again. Maybe a trial is happening right now. And maybe, once again, you will survive it. (All signs point to YES. After all, you have done it before.) Maybe you will come through these troubles re-formed, re-forged. re-born. Maybe you will insist upon that. Maybe that's the strange invitation at the bottom of all this anxiety.

You have seen your own strength. You have seen your own beauty. You have seen your own golden wings. Why do you worry?

What if your story is unfolding just as it was always planned?

Be brave, have faith. You can do this.

Elizabeth Gilbert

HAVE SOME FAITH

NEVER WORRY ABOUT NUMBERS. HELP ONE

PERSON AT A TIME, AND ALWAYS START WITH THE

PERSON NEAREST YOU.

- MOTHER TERESA

15

THE STARFISH STORY: ONE STEP TOWARDS CHANGING THE WORLD

You may have heard this one, but I find that it doesn't hurt to be reminded of it every once in a while.

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can't return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I'm afraid you won't really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet

another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from by The Star Thrower, Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

We all have the opportunity to help create positive change, but if you're like me, you sometimes find yourself thinking, “I'm already really busy, and how much of a difference can I really make?” I think this is especially true when we're talking about addressing massive social problems like tackling world hunger or finding a cure for cancer, but it pops up all of the time in our everyday lives, as well. So when I catch myself thinking that way, it helps to remember this story. You might not be able to change the entire world, but at least you can change a small part of it, for someone.

They say that one of the most common reasons we procrastinate is because we see the challenge before us as overwhelming, and that a good way to counter that is to break the big challenge down into smaller pieces and then take those one at a time–like one starfish at a time. And to that one starfish, it can make a world of difference.

By Peter Straube

10

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you

read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to

make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere

in the next year, you surprise yourself.

- Neil Gaiman

The point is not for you to do something that’s never been done before. The

point is for you to do something you’ve’ never done before.

Elizabeth Gilbert

11

Oh, souls — let us try not to worry so much, OK? It's so bad for our minds and our bodies and our spirits, and it's so bad for everyone around us, too. And when we get all bent-up and broken-up and fragmented from worry, we make it SO DIFFICULT for the universe to help show us our destinies.

The universe is wanting to communicate something with you. It wants to take you somewhere very specific (to your ultimate destiny, which is PEACE and wisdom and wholeness) but your worrying is a kind of crazy emotional static that prevents you from hearing the messages. Have some faith. Have some faith in yourself, and have faith in fate, as well.

What if you remembered this: Everything you have ever endured so far in life, you have survived.

And sometimes, to your own surprise, you even thrived.

Maybe the worst thing you ever

endured was a crucible through which you became YOU.

Maybe you could not have become YOU through any other means except by going through that trial.

Maybe a trial will happen again. Maybe a trial is happening right now. And maybe, once again, you will survive it. (All signs point to YES. After all, you have done it before.) Maybe you will come through these troubles re-formed, re-forged. re-born. Maybe you will insist upon that. Maybe that's the strange invitation at the bottom of all this anxiety.

You have seen your own strength. You have seen your own beauty. You have seen your own golden wings. Why do you worry?

What if your story is unfolding just as it was always planned?

Be brave, have faith. You can do this.

Elizabeth Gilbert

HAVE SOME FAITH

NEVER WORRY ABOUT NUMBERS. HELP ONE

PERSON AT A TIME, AND ALWAYS START WITH THE

PERSON NEAREST YOU.

- MOTHER TERESA

15

12

“Death is nothing at all. It does not

count. I have only slipped away into the

next room. Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was. I

am I, and you are you, and the old life

that we lived so fondly together is

untouched, unchanged. Whatever we

were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you

always used. Put no difference into

your tone. Wear no forced air of

solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we

always laughed at the little jokes that

we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think

of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever

the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort,

without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant. It is

the same as it ever was. There is

absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible

accident? Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight? I am but

waiting for you, for an interval,

somewhere very near, just round the

corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt;

nothing is lost. One brief moment and

all will be as it was before. How we

shall laugh at the trouble of parting

when we meet again!”

Henry Scott Holland (27 January

1847 – 17 March 1918) was Regius

Professor of Divinity at the University

of Oxford. He was also a canon of

Christ Church, Oxford.

LETTER TO ALL OUR READERS:

I thank you for all your support. Thank you

for writing in, for sending wishes, prayers,

letters, articles, poems, stories! Please don't

stop! Hearing from you makes my day. The

Mustard Seed is a community and

communities should communicate!

Our digital PDF edition is available to all,

please email me for your online copy. Please

do share it generously.

I have been wading through a high pile of

returned copies of the last issue. I am sad to

say many addresses seem to be out-dated or

wrong. Many of you haven't received your

copies although we have checked the

addresses and I have posted them

personally.

Please write to me confirming your current,

proper address with the pin code and correct

spellings. If you, or someone you know,

haven't received your copy, let me know!

Email me or send me a regular post card.

Also, I am currently singlehanded. So it

does take several days to mail so many

copies! Alas, the Indian Postal System

cannot frank them so all 2000 stamps are

stuck by hand. Yes, glue tastes awful!!

As always, I humbly request you to donate

generously to our near- empty coffers.

Printing and postage costs are huge and we

do not accept advertisements, sponsors or

ask for annual subscriptions.

The Mustard Seed may be slow, late or lost

in transit but my commitment to you is from

the bottom of my heart!

Raadhika

13

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.

Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?

You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened.

You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that.

But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister.

Everyone is finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home.

Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also

means making some room for other memories to take their place.

Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.

Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.

Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.

Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.”

Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.

Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.

This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.Paulo Coelho

CLOSING 2015

“Practice the pause. When in doubt pause. When angry, pause. When tired, pause. When stressed, pause. And when you pause, pray.”

15

12

“Death is nothing at all. It does not

count. I have only slipped away into the

next room. Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was. I

am I, and you are you, and the old life

that we lived so fondly together is

untouched, unchanged. Whatever we

were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.

Speak of me in the easy way which you

always used. Put no difference into

your tone. Wear no forced air of

solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we

always laughed at the little jokes that

we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think

of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever

the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without an effort,

without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant. It is

the same as it ever was. There is

absolute and unbroken continuity.

What is this death but a negligible

accident? Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight? I am but

waiting for you, for an interval,

somewhere very near, just round the

corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt;

nothing is lost. One brief moment and

all will be as it was before. How we

shall laugh at the trouble of parting

when we meet again!”

Henry Scott Holland (27 January

1847 – 17 March 1918) was Regius

Professor of Divinity at the University

of Oxford. He was also a canon of

Christ Church, Oxford.

LETTER TO ALL OUR READERS:

I thank you for all your support. Thank you

for writing in, for sending wishes, prayers,

letters, articles, poems, stories! Please don't

stop! Hearing from you makes my day. The

Mustard Seed is a community and

communities should communicate!

Our digital PDF edition is available to all,

please email me for your online copy. Please

do share it generously.

I have been wading through a high pile of

returned copies of the last issue. I am sad to

say many addresses seem to be out-dated or

wrong. Many of you haven't received your

copies although we have checked the

addresses and I have posted them

personally.

Please write to me confirming your current,

proper address with the pin code and correct

spellings. If you, or someone you know,

haven't received your copy, let me know!

Email me or send me a regular post card.

Also, I am currently singlehanded. So it

does take several days to mail so many

copies! Alas, the Indian Postal System

cannot frank them so all 2000 stamps are

stuck by hand. Yes, glue tastes awful!!

As always, I humbly request you to donate

generously to our near- empty coffers.

Printing and postage costs are huge and we

do not accept advertisements, sponsors or

ask for annual subscriptions.

The Mustard Seed may be slow, late or lost

in transit but my commitment to you is from

the bottom of my heart!

Raadhika

13

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.

Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters – whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?

You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened.

You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that.

But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister.

Everyone is finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home.

Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also

means making some room for other memories to take their place.

Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.

Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.

Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.

Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.”

Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.

Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.

This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.

Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.Paulo Coelho

CLOSING 2015

“Practice the pause. When in doubt pause. When angry, pause. When tired, pause. When stressed, pause. And when you pause, pray.”

15

I am forty-eight years old. And I am not ashamed to say that I still believe in magic. And miracles. I believe that angels walk among us. They don't wear halos and wings, not anymore. They do however wear tails. And whiskers, that tickle. No, I didn't pass out in the punch bowl on New Years Eve. I'd just like to kick off the year with a soul-felt thanks to all the canine angels who touch our lives with grace. And slip away quietly, without as much as an epitaph. Walt Disney was bang on, all dogs go to heaven. They belong there. They just come down to give us a little taste of unconditional love. And fill our lives with hope and cheer.

If you could see the shiny pools of devotion staring up at me right now, framed by that plastic Elizabethan collar, you'd agree in a jiffy. This plastic halo-ed creature is brushing aside all his post-surgical pain to greet me with an affectionate lick. Name a single human, in real life or even reel life, who has emerged from anesthesia with a kiss for the world. Countless times has this furry angel nursed me back from all kinds of traumas- physical, emotional, marital, parental, et all. And the loving doesn't stop at me, it envelopes my near and dear– in other words, the credit line is open to anyone I chose to care about, no questions asked. All I have to do is plonk down one kiss a day. And that's all it takes to unleash pure and heady devotion, 24/7, in it's most selfless and loyal form. Devotion that magically morphs into exactly what I'm craving moment-to-moment. When I'm blue, he won't give up till he cajoles a giggle out of me. When I'm anxious, he offers me

an embrace that literally draws away all the negative energy. If I feel alone, he snuggles up tight and reminds me that I have an attentive and loving companion by my side. He turns every little fear I have into a ball and playfully chases it away into the distance.He shares my joys, my triumphs, my failures and heartbreaks. He intuitively knows when I crave solitude and when I want to frolic with foolishabandon. He offers me a patient and non judgmental ear when I need to rant, and a consoling paw when I feel overwhelmed with tears. He doesn't care what color my skin is, how many excess kilos I carry, when I last brushed my teeth or whether I have one rupee in my wallet or ten thousand. And regardless of whether I feed him once a day or three times, he loves me just the same.No matter what.Don't know about you, but to me this is nothing short of a miracle. We have nothing to mirror this relationship, in the human fraternity. Even the one who professes to love us the most in the world, be it child or spouse, are unable to suspend all expectations. It just isn't human. For our canine friend though, it's no biggie. He could do all the above in one day, without a whimper of protest, and repeat it again before the sun sets.

I have been blessed with angels like this one, throughout my forty-eight years on this earth. I imagine a large part of who I am, mostly all the good bits, are a direct resultof the time I've been lucky enough to have spent around selfless canines. Think about it, could there be a better role modelfor theself-serving and in tolerant world we live in? A mortal

WHEN THE SAINTS GO BARKING IN…..

14

HAPPY TO BE, TAT TVAMASI

human definitely doesn't make the cut, as he's hardwired to look for return on i n v e s t m e n t , e v e n e m o t i o n a l investments. And no other species offers the kind of devotion, protection and loyalty to man, asking veritable nothing in return. Is it just me, or do you also get the feeling that we lucked out big time? Do you see that glimmer of divinity in what the canine offers us, something we as a race are incapable of?

Canine angels aren't just infiltrating human families with bushels of love, they are working in hospitals with the sick and dying. They are doubling up as therapists, helping emotionally troubled humans deal with their mental scars. They're rescuing those whose lives are in mortal danger, beyond the reach of us humans.And helping humans who have visual and other impairments live normal lives.Canine squads are fighting wars and tracking down terrorists around the world, making the world a safer place for you and me. All this, quietly, without any

fuss, compensation or demand for glory. This pawsitively amazing species has changed the very quality of human existence, and given the human race so much to be grateful for. If I were the Holy See, with the power bestowed on me by the Church, I would seriously consider declaring the humble dog, the patron Saint of Selfless Love. I would set aside a date, much like All Saints day, where the world could pay to pay homage to this wonderful creature. The world would celebrate All Dogs Day, a day dedicated just to one act of selfless love to anyone, as a mark of respect to the angel that watches over us, and asks for nothing in return. I would add the word 'woof' to the thesaurus as a synonym for love. And every time I am overcome with wonder and awe, I would substitute 'OMG' with “OMD”. Because it isn't man who is a reflection of God. He still has a pretty long way to go still. It is dog, the gentle and patient dog, who comes the closest.

Priya Mirchandani

15

you are thatwhich you are

and which you should be

The text is inspired by the works of American artist Agnes Martin, whose show I happened to see at Tate Modern in London recently. Following in the footsteps of Mark Rothko (an abstract expressionist), Agnes explored the idea of zero, less is more, negation and minimalism.

Revati Malati is an esthete, philosopher and story teller

15

I am forty-eight years old. And I am not ashamed to say that I still believe in magic. And miracles. I believe that angels walk among us. They don't wear halos and wings, not anymore. They do however wear tails. And whiskers, that tickle. No, I didn't pass out in the punch bowl on New Years Eve. I'd just like to kick off the year with a soul-felt thanks to all the canine angels who touch our lives with grace. And slip away quietly, without as much as an epitaph. Walt Disney was bang on, all dogs go to heaven. They belong there. They just come down to give us a little taste of unconditional love. And fill our lives with hope and cheer.

If you could see the shiny pools of devotion staring up at me right now, framed by that plastic Elizabethan collar, you'd agree in a jiffy. This plastic halo-ed creature is brushing aside all his post-surgical pain to greet me with an affectionate lick. Name a single human, in real life or even reel life, who has emerged from anesthesia with a kiss for the world. Countless times has this furry angel nursed me back from all kinds of traumas- physical, emotional, marital, parental, et all. And the loving doesn't stop at me, it envelopes my near and dear– in other words, the credit line is open to anyone I chose to care about, no questions asked. All I have to do is plonk down one kiss a day. And that's all it takes to unleash pure and heady devotion, 24/7, in it's most selfless and loyal form. Devotion that magically morphs into exactly what I'm craving moment-to-moment. When I'm blue, he won't give up till he cajoles a giggle out of me. When I'm anxious, he offers me

an embrace that literally draws away all the negative energy. If I feel alone, he snuggles up tight and reminds me that I have an attentive and loving companion by my side. He turns every little fear I have into a ball and playfully chases it away into the distance.He shares my joys, my triumphs, my failures and heartbreaks. He intuitively knows when I crave solitude and when I want to frolic with foolishabandon. He offers me a patient and non judgmental ear when I need to rant, and a consoling paw when I feel overwhelmed with tears. He doesn't care what color my skin is, how many excess kilos I carry, when I last brushed my teeth or whether I have one rupee in my wallet or ten thousand. And regardless of whether I feed him once a day or three times, he loves me just the same.No matter what.Don't know about you, but to me this is nothing short of a miracle. We have nothing to mirror this relationship, in the human fraternity. Even the one who professes to love us the most in the world, be it child or spouse, are unable to suspend all expectations. It just isn't human. For our canine friend though, it's no biggie. He could do all the above in one day, without a whimper of protest, and repeat it again before the sun sets.

I have been blessed with angels like this one, throughout my forty-eight years on this earth. I imagine a large part of who I am, mostly all the good bits, are a direct resultof the time I've been lucky enough to have spent around selfless canines. Think about it, could there be a better role modelfor theself-serving and in tolerant world we live in? A mortal

WHEN THE SAINTS GO BARKING IN…..

14

HAPPY TO BE, TAT TVAMASI

human definitely doesn't make the cut, as he's hardwired to look for return on i n v e s t m e n t , e v e n e m o t i o n a l investments. And no other species offers the kind of devotion, protection and loyalty to man, asking veritable nothing in return. Is it just me, or do you also get the feeling that we lucked out big time? Do you see that glimmer of divinity in what the canine offers us, something we as a race are incapable of?

Canine angels aren't just infiltrating human families with bushels of love, they are working in hospitals with the sick and dying. They are doubling up as therapists, helping emotionally troubled humans deal with their mental scars. They're rescuing those whose lives are in mortal danger, beyond the reach of us humans.And helping humans who have visual and other impairments live normal lives.Canine squads are fighting wars and tracking down terrorists around the world, making the world a safer place for you and me. All this, quietly, without any

fuss, compensation or demand for glory. This pawsitively amazing species has changed the very quality of human existence, and given the human race so much to be grateful for. If I were the Holy See, with the power bestowed on me by the Church, I would seriously consider declaring the humble dog, the patron Saint of Selfless Love. I would set aside a date, much like All Saints day, where the world could pay to pay homage to this wonderful creature. The world would celebrate All Dogs Day, a day dedicated just to one act of selfless love to anyone, as a mark of respect to the angel that watches over us, and asks for nothing in return. I would add the word 'woof' to the thesaurus as a synonym for love. And every time I am overcome with wonder and awe, I would substitute 'OMG' with “OMD”. Because it isn't man who is a reflection of God. He still has a pretty long way to go still. It is dog, the gentle and patient dog, who comes the closest.

Priya Mirchandani

15

you are thatwhich you are

and which you should be

The text is inspired by the works of American artist Agnes Martin, whose show I happened to see at Tate Modern in London recently. Following in the footsteps of Mark Rothko (an abstract expressionist), Agnes explored the idea of zero, less is more, negation and minimalism.

Revati Malati is an esthete, philosopher and story teller

15

JUST ONE THOUGHT

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No service in itself is small,None great, though earth it fill;But that is small that seeks its own,And great that does God's will.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.

George Bernard Shaw

I must strip my vine of all useless foliage and concentrate on what is truth, justice and charity. The older i grow, the more clearly I perceive the dignity and winning beauty of simplicity in thought, conduct and speech; a desire to simplify all that is complicated and to treat everything with the greatest naturalness and clarity.

Pope John 23rd

16

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