The Butterfly Doctor

There was a little boy
Who found a beautiful butterfly
Lying in the garden, hurt
He picked it up and took good care of it
Slowly the butterfly recovered
And was able to fly again
Then one day the butterfly left him
The little boy was very sad
'I saved its life', he said
'When I found it, it was as good as dead
Has it no gratitude?'
He moped in solitude
In Silence, he realized that he had done his part
And he had done it well
That Butterfly wasn't going to forget him ever
Wherever it may fly
It would be an living example of his love and care
After a few days when he went to play
He found another butterfly with broken wings
He took it up gently and decided to nurse it back to health
He has since been known as 'The Butterfly Doctor'

What if?

Father: Let's play. Okay, I'm a famous pianist.
Son: If you're a famous pianist, and I cut off your arm... then what will you do?
Father: I'll become a famous painter.
Son: And if I cut off the other one, what will you do?
Father: I'll become a famous dancer.
Son: And if I cut off your legs, then what?
Father: Then I'll become a famous singer.
Son: And if I cut off your head, then what?
Father: Once dead, my skin will become a beautiful drum.
Son: What if I burn the drum?
Father: I will become a cloud and take on any shape.
Son: And if the cloud dissolves, what then?
Father: I will become rain and produce a harvest of wars!

From: Fando y Lis

But it's all right now...

Problems of the Past:

I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,

I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a strap right across my back,

I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead.
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled.
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread.

I was crowned with a spike right thru my head.

Solution of the Present:

But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!
But it's all right, Im jumpin jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!

Review: I first heard this song played during the end credits of the film - "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", my most favorite and inspirational movie to date. They played it at a very critical time in the movie, when the protagonist was making his last mad dash back to safety, obscurity and being just another freak in the freak kingdom!

I realized this song was about the cycle of life. Birth - Death - Rebirth. With absolutely no fear of the transitions between the same! Why? Because it's just a Gas! Gas? You may ask. 'It's a Gas' is a phrase which essentially means 'No big deal and could've been worse!'. (On a humorous note, all gases pass! No point fretting over it) It's more of a mindset actually. The protagonist of the song was born during a hurricane. Abandoned immediately probably because he was illegitimate. Adopted and raised an Orphan. Experienced a very tough childhood. Drowned in sorrows. Cast out. Left for Dead. Starved. Crowned with Problems. But yet, he survived and proudly utters that it was alright and cooly brushes it off and moves on! That it was an experience and he looks forward to the future! The Past was bad, well, too bad. But the Present is in our hands and that's what matters at any point of time in our lives!

I've understood that the only way to prosper is to make amends with your past, however fucked it was and move on proudly with the fact that you braved the storm of life! But it's all right now, in fact, it's a Gas! But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash, Its a Gas! Gas! Gas! >>=====================>

Bah! Humbug! It's Christmas time again!

Christmas, a festival which Christians, Catholics, Protestants and the rest of the world celebrate towards the end of the year. Christmas has become commercialized and misinterpreted from what it was and what it stood for. People are under the impression that they're celebrating the birthday of this dude who's a king, a son of God, who died for all their sins and will redeem them one day. I see people over indulging in food in this season, spending on decorations, drinking liquor, parties, meeting relatives and going on vacations. I've done the same, I'm not a hypocrite. Unfortunately, Christmas now has become more a festival on a calendar than a festival of the Heart!

Christmas was created with a very special intention. Not just a birthday celebration. It's very symbolic and here's my interpretation. The Earth has four seasons - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Spring symbolizes Birth and Childhood. Summer is a Adolescence and Youth, Autumn is Maturation and Middle Age and Winter is clearly Death. But wait, the cycle continues again in Spring. This is Rebirth. Being a part of the Earth. We are the Earth.We are subjected to the same cycle, every year! Ok, so day, month, year, etc. are clearly created by Man. But not the Seasons. We have no control over the Seasons just like we have no control over our Aging and our Mortality.

Getting back to the topic, there is a reason why Christmas is tentatively positioned in Winter. It is a preparation for Spring i.e. Rebirth! Only the rebirth is in our Hearts! Christ is not a person who lived in 0 B.C/1 A.D... Christ is a level of Consciousness! Called Christ consciousness, it is the next evolutionary step for Man! Jesus, son of Joseph was called Jesus Christ because he attained this state of consciousness! He set an example for people! Through his Learnings, Teachings, Miracles, Philanthropy, Attitude, Radical Views, Divinity, Humanity,  Example, Conscience, Yoga, Travels, Sacrifice and ultimately Consciousness!

The Christmas symbolism also beautifully adds on to this. Firstly, the birth of Christ happened in the humblest of places - a manger not in an superficial palace made of precious stones. Shows that the heart should be but humble to attain this consciousness. Being a King, it's shows how we are in control and rule our own destiny. The only people who came were the Shepherds and the simple folks, this shows that the ordinary, honest working people are the only ones who will matter, not the pompous arrogant fools! The 3 gifts - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh are again symbolic. Gold depicting Royalty or Kingship which I already explained. Frankincense depicting the growth in Spirituality and Myrrh being an embalming oil which depicts preparation for Death!

The Christmas that we celebrate is hence, not an average Calendar + Birthday festival but a preparation for rebirth. The birth of the Christ Consciousness! Every year, we learn, experience and evolve so much more physically, mentally and spiritually. We all should work towards this Christ Consciousness more than having a gala Christmas. Draping yourself in costly new clothes, indulging cake and wine, meats and sweets, going to places of worship, partying with friends and relatives and gifts aren't what Christmas is about! I don't condemn these activities as bad or dumb or a waste of time... They're just superficialities of the Season, nothing more and nothing less.

Please take some time to think over this and work towards attaining this Consciousness through Forgiveness, Charity, Knowledge, Tolerance, Assistance, Leading, Following, Truthfulness, Love, Faith, Hope, Belief, Wisdom, Experience, Godliness, Spirituality, Teaching through Example, Sacrifice and and ultimately Consciousness. I am disturbed by how this has evolved into a season of Commercialism and Hedonism and Greed and Superficiality and Misinterpretation and am Hoping, Wishing, Praying, Waiting for and EXPECTING a Change! I am not condoning or demeaning all that Christmas may have stood for you for. All I'm asking is for a different perspective!

I conclude again by saying, "Christmas is not a festival on a Calendar: a Birthday Party... Christmas is a festival of the Heart: a Rebirth of Consciousness - Christ Consciousness!"

~Niranjan son of Joseph~

Wintertime Love

Lyrics:

Wintertime winds blow cold the season,
Fallin' in love I'm hopin' to be.
Wind is so cold, is that the reason
Keeping you warm, your hands touching me.

...Come with me, dance, my dear,
Winter's so cold this year,
You are so warm, my wintertime love to be.

Winter time winds, blue and freezin'
Comin' from Northern storms in the sea,
Love has been lost, is that the reason
Trying so desperately to be free.

Come with me, dance, my dear,
Winter's so cold this year,
And you are so warm, my wintertime love to be

La, la, la, la

Come with me, dance, my dear,
Winter's so cold this year,
You are so warm, my wintertime love to be.

Review:
There's something magical about this song. Definitely because it is about a magical time of the year. Everyone yearns for love and warmth during this time. The song is brutally honest and down to earth. Affected by the elements and full of ...longing for that beautiful warmth no fire, no wool, no heater, no air conditioner can give - the warmth of love! That warmth that can melt the coldest of hearts. Even Old Scrooge's from A Christmas Carol. It's a lilting, light and warm pop song from their third album - Waiting for the Sun. It beautifully plays after 'Summer's almost gone' which ends with the line - 'The winter's coming on, summer's almost gone...'
There's a loss of hope in this line and when the song about summer ends... But the hope is reinfused, life is blown back, hearts are melted, lips are wetted and hope returns when this song plays after the 3 second interval which signifies Autumn.
This song is very close to my heart and being an avid Doors fan I would consider this one of my favorites!
Do give this a listen and let's get set for a beautific winter! Falling in love we all hope to be! - Song review by Niranjan Joseph

Ode to Ma

Thank you for bringing us into this world so bright
Thank you for teaching us wrong and right
You carried us for 9 months in your womb
We're indebted to you right until the tomb
You are our religion. Our faith and hope.
Greater than any god and religion and president and pope.
When we returned after dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight.
You were the only one who held us tight.
You cared for us whilst we were sick.
It was not the medicines or the doctors but your love that did the trick.
We're sorry for every tear we caused you to shed.
Had we known earlier we would've rather been dead.
We're sorry for causing the sorrow and pain.
We're worried we may even repeat it again.
One thing you can be sure to expect.
We will treat you with the utmost respect.
Ma, Mom, Mummy, Amma, Ammi, Mother.
There can be only one and no other.
Through joy and sorrow and tears and laughter.
We love you!! - Your dear Sons and Daughters

My Life According to: The Doors

My artist: THE DOORS

Are you a male or female? BACK DOOR MAN!!

Describe yourself? WILD CHILD

How do you feel? BEEN DOWN SO LONG

Describe where you currently live: CARS HISS BY MY WINDOW on LOVE STREET

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? GO INSANE

Your best friend is? THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Your favorite color is? BLUE SUNDAY

What's the weather like? INDIAN SUMMER

Favorite time of day? WAITING FOR THE SUN

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? CELEBRATION OF THE LIZARD

What is life to you? THE END

Your relationship? I WILL NEVER BE UNTRUE

Your Fear? PEOPLE ARE STRANGE

What is the best advice you have to give? TAKE IT AS IT COMES

If you could change your name, you would change it to: RIDER ON THE STORM

Thought for the day? HELLO I LOVE YOU

How would you like to die? WISHFUL SINFUL

Your soul's present condition? SHAMAN'S BLUES

Your motto? BREAK ON THROUGH (TO THE OTHER SIDE)