Kuṇḍalinī

kuṇḍalinī is a Sanskrit word meaning coiled. It refers to an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force in the human body. A corporeal energy, it is envisioned as a goddess or a sleeping serpent which lies coiled at the base of the spine.

Yoga and Tantra propose that this energy can be "awakened". The body and spirit are prepared by yogic austerities such as pranayama, visualization and chanting. The latent energy rises up the spine to merge with our consciousness. The Shakti or Goddess is said to unite with the Supreme Being, Lord Shiva. Awakening of the kuṇḍalinī leads to the attainment of Divine Wisdom or Self Knowledge and brings with itself pure joy, pure knowledge and pure love.

kuṇḍalinī does not ask us to abstain from, rather it suggests indulging in the worldly pleasures. According to kuṇḍalinī, there are seven chakras or sources of energy within us, each of which if activated and correctly channeled can energize us and cause a heightened sense of being. The catharsis of the nadis blocking the chakras is done through yoga.

Muladhara (root) chakra - at the perineum - gives physical security and removes fear
Svadhisthana (sex) chakra - at the base of the spine - alleviates self expression and creativity
Manipura (naval) chakra - at the solar plexus - controls willpower and anger
Anahata (heart) chakra - at the centre of the chest - brings love
Vishuddhi (throat) chakra - at the throat - enhances communication
Ajna (third eye) chakra - at the centre of the head - augments intuition
Sahasrara (crown) chakra - at the top of the head - brings bliss

A video that describes kuṇḍalinī or serpent power in detail
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8101989694941061600#

God's own cell

child: Why does he always fight to stay conscious?
mamma: Because he must.

child: Why can't he let go? Why can't he sink into fantasy?
mamma: he thinks its wrong

child: but the fairies are calling him.
he must go, must he not?

oh please... let him do...

Let him know the place where angels live, let him taste Heaven.
when he returns to earth, he will know Good better.

mamma: They might destroy him while he is gone, while he is helpless on earth. They may rob him of his sanity and dignity.

They are out there, scheming and waiting.

he will know when to run...

Carnage

This is my city! And I live in every part of it. Sometimes I am scared. Of walking where ever I like, of talking to and meeting my friends, of eating at my favorite places. Of seeing my brother going to school and my parents out for work. I see terror and resilience in every face around. Trying not to break. And I know they feel the same.

But it doesn't work to be afraid, does it? You know you have to go on. You know you have to keep walking, sometimes to your own death. You have to end up taking things lying down, by these bastards! We can't fight back because we don't know how to. How to eliminate these rats. How to rid the world of all the unwanted waste. How to stop our home being the soft target that it is! When all they do to return our courtesy is offer our massacre.

Why must I be vulnerable? Why must I wait for them to get me? When I have done nothing to hurt them. Why must I suffer for all their twisted reasoning and mindless, unjust preaching? For all the gullible, faceless people who end up believing. It does not seem fair! That some of the innocent kill, and the rest are killed. Only to feed a misplaced anger. With some burning passion for revenge. How does the killing of the nameless unknown satisfy that? I wish I could understand.

I look for guilt. They are strangers after all. With their fetters ablaze. There is no target, just an enclosing darkness. And the heavens crashing down, on them. Ferric and senseless.

I wish they would understand.

A New World Order

Do you often feel misunderstood? Frustrated by the insane rules of this illogical world? Bored of inactivity coz nothing u r supposed to do interests you and der is a ban on everythin u want to do? Lonely coz no one understands you? Isolated from d unintelligent, similar-thinking morons in d world around u?

Then, its time fur us to come together and create a New World Order. We can adopt these as our holy commandments:

1) We shall blast Metallica, Iron Maiden, Korn, Godsmack, Kalmah and Opeth on our speakers and no one shall dare complain.

2) Hard Rock Cafe shall be declared as our sacred place of worship and we shall demand of the Govt, subsidies for our weekly visits.

3) Gambling, betting, drinking at 17, homosexual love affairs shall be made legal.

4) Temples shall distribute, in addition to pedas, laddoos, gulab jamun and ras malai, alcohol and marijuana.

5) India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh will become one country again so that we may enjoy exclusive access to Lahori food.

6) All our ancient political leaders will be shipped to Pluto.

7) We shall instate the "In memory of those ppl who lost their minds when Kurt Cobain died" and "I want Sepultara to perform in India" taxes on non-believers.

8) Red hair, blue nailpolish, ear and nose piercings, black t-shirts shall be made compulsory attire for anyone wishing to join.

9) Mornings will start at 5 pm and all important activities will be undertaken after midnight.

10) If you ever get an insane urge to do something (or not do anything) as the case may be, u shall go ahead and do (or not do) just that, and anyone who attempts to punish u shall be threatened with crucifixion.

11) Examinations, lectures and assignments shall be banned in educational institutions and only trips and holidays shall be allowed.

12) Fantasy fiction novels and cult movies will be declared as our holy scriptures with special free screenings on request.

13) Anyone wishing to rename our landmarks will have to give them cool names like "Fort of the Elf Lords of Rivendell" and "White City of Minas Tirith" and "Tower of Isengard" instead of those ridiculously lame and regionalized ones which hurt our religious sentiments.

And finally, our motto wil b "We aim to b different and do watever the hell we feel like".

The Controversy

This Jal concert in India quickly gained in popularity after Jal performed the hit track, "Dil Dil Pakistan", tweaking the lyrics slightly to "Dil dil Pakistan, Jaan jaan Hindustan". Now you can guess why that did not auger too well with a certain section of Pakistani society! A great thing about our north-western neighbors is that even though there is a stark contrast between its citizens when it comes to following religious ideologies and preaching extremism, everyone there is a fan of rock music! And this song is as close to being a national anthem as pop music can ever take it, which means that is it widely loved and respected.

Watch the video at 30 seconds and you will get a taste of Jal's ingenuity, which drove Indian fans to the brink of madness and was a move well appreciated by liberal Pakistani youngsters too. Nevertheless, it triggered a spate of debates on online forums and plenty of jibes, arguments, hopeful attempts to convince blind following with reason. The controversy kept the band in the limelight which suited it well of course. Jal's members behaved reasonably and in a mature way, coming out to say only that they had no problems in singing this song again to embrace friendship with India. And they did sing it again!

I, however, am stunned and greatly disturbed by the video. I have attended and watched footage of several of Jal's concerts. What appalls me is their ingenious and infallible ability to merge every track with 'Aadat'. Any track at all! At first, it had seemed a respect accorded only to the myriad derivatives of Aadat. But there you go :)

And just in case you are not completely enamored by the Pakistani music world, there was a rumor going around that Aadat was actually composed by Mekaal Hassan, a greatly gifted musician whose compositions fall into the classical fusion category. Though, Jal can boast of a reasonably talented guitarist in Goher, while Farhan's vocals only get better with every new release! And he does happen to be a great stage entertainer. Not to mention good-looking!

Temple of money

I hid apprehension in my heart. And walked into a temple robed in saffron and dust. The place that was most sacred. Where they would come to give gratitude, take blessings, rid their fear. Where they saw and knew Him. And now, it lay. Former grandeur fallen to ignorance and disregard. Not a shadow of the ancient glory and reverence fell over it. The splendor of an era, enshrouded in the stillness of death. I walked on, embraced in to the house of the Lord.

The priest professed holy religion. He spoke in half tongues. He knew not the truth of that he spoke. He knew not that we listened, he cared not that they, of the frightened, followed. He promised blessings of the mother. The ancient keepers of knowledge, the pure and virgin of spirit and flesh. The cunning perpetrators of the vile trades that he, and his brothers everywhere, practiced. He stayed, and spun money. Gold and coins were his jewels, he was paid not in words. I walked out, rudely sent away.

The foul scatter their filth for the innocent, always.

Waiting

We spoke of time and touch, a life when we knew nothing, when our minds flitted through magic and beauty. You took me to a garden of roses and spoke to me in the language of angels. I loved the taste of your innocence. The world was still young, replete with pain and desire. Its wounds were not healed, it longed to know its ever caring guardian, to feel. Saints had written about him long ago, they cautioned, they warned. She tasted blood and mercy. And yet, fate flirted. It touched, he stayed. Fairies may dance and sing, they may draw you to villages, hills and palaces. Life was a strange dream, a wild passion. There was nothing, just a nymph and a centaur, and women watching in disbelief. Of fantasies they saw, of kisses they shared, in wands they believed. Oceans meant little when heavens were with them. Time flung aside nights they shared. It brought rushed goodbyes, ecstasies and elation. Even the stars blushed, so sweet, so perfect it was. Beauty come in its entirety. Stolen moments, secrets, love.