"Memoirs of a Geishe"

      A "Geishe" means an artist. An artist, rather, a woman, who sells her skills and not her body. A Geishe performs her skills, her dance before a lot of 'gentlemen'. But she will be faithful to her only "danna". Danna, the man who wins the bid for her. The man who takes her as his wife-for-night, a half-wife indeed.

     And, there was a Geishe who never befitted the small world of women; where in a friend can turn to a foe in no time. That Geishe was named "Sayuri" - "Niita Sayuri".

     Sayuri's memoirs was made into "Memoirs of a Geishe". As the final comment says, " It's not the memoirs of a queen or an emporess; It's the memoirs of a woman of another kind".

     A great movie of 2005 which won 3 oscars...

Author : Arthur Golden

Director(movie) : Rob Marshall

Screenplay : Robin Swicord

The Alchemist

'The Alchemist' is all about pursuing one's dreams. Each man bears a written destiny on his back. But not many achieves it. As 'the Alchemist' says, many give up when they are so close to their destiny.

It needs courage for a man to start the journey in search of his destiny. Also it needs faith in one's self. When we start this journey, all the Universe will together conspire towards it.

The whole journey starts with "Beginner's Luck" and ends with many hardships and sufferings.

There are omens all around you and you have to realise them. And always listen to your heart. Even though the heart is having its own fears and concerns, you can always console it and ask it for the required guidance.

The king, the gypsy, the thief, the merchant, the tribesmen, the alchemist, the dessert, the wind, the sun and the whole universe will guide you through. Sometimes you will be delighted by luck, sometimes frightened by thieves, sometimes threatened by death and sometimes the whole world may call you an idiot. Dont give up, strive through and you will be at your DESTINY.

"Be a dreamer. Be a wanderer. Be patient. Wait for omens. And dont ever give up. The destiny will be yours."

My Belief

I discovered a church!

Not a new one. Very old and grand! This church may be known to all my fellow beings for years. But i discovered it, atleast for myself.

The priest asked me,"Who are you? What is your belief?"

I told,"I am a Human."

Then he clarified, "Which religion do you belong to?"

And I replied,"I am a Hindu by birth."

Soon a smile crossed over his grey eyes. He was convinced. "So, now you turned to Christianity"

"No! I believe in Humanity"

"Oho! You are a non-believer then. So which 'ism' do you belong to?"

"GODISM!"

No more questions. I believe in Godism. The priest left me and hurried to the altar.

Now my conscience turned against me and asked,"What is this Godism?"

"GOD ONLY KNOWS!"

Farewell my Friend ...

"What I gave to you
Is yours by right everlasting.
What others receive
Are the daily driblets the heart yields
To tender solicitude
O my princely,peerless friend,
What I gave to you was your own gift -
Fuller your acceptance, the deeper my debt,
My friend, farewell."

Here it is, Tagore reciting another beautiful story of relationships - a simple, pure and deep relationship.
And the most hearty gift for the dearest departing friend - The final farewell poem...

From Sufi Mysticism..

"What is wrong, O God, with this earth,that people want to rise up to the heavens? Why can people not find you on earth, so they must seek you in the heavens? Look at them staring upwards. You are right before their eyes; yet their eyes cannot see. You are in front of them; yet they are blind.."

- Hallaj: Diwan

The Shadow of Kamakhya

'The Shadow of Kamakhya' by Indira Goswami.. Really touching stories..The stories bear in it such a mysterious and gloomy air that no one can escape from its uneasiness.Really loved reading it..

Poetry...

'And it was at that age... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I dont know, I dont know where
it came from, winter or a river.
I dont know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words,nor silence,
but from a street i was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there i was without a face
and it touched me.'
- from Neruda's 'Poetry'.

It came the same way for me, from unknown, from known, and i dont know from where else...