The lit way

How the moon stares,
through branches, windows and wires,
through water.
A perfect evening for lamps,
I/we smile back.

And then Viswanath spoke of the Pilot who became a baba, left everything including his parents. Total renunciation. Why are these people walking in front of my eyes? Are they hints or am I just thinking too much into all this. Maybe its time for a second rebirth. Via the simple consciousness. He also told me while we sat on the swing about the trees that talk at night. And that they also sleep. Stories everywhere. "Shanti mein kushi milta hain", Viswanath said today. So true. Peace of mind is all we need. No mind. Just peace. A thoughtlessness. A timelessness. Ready for the next new second, ready for tomorrow. Not thinking, just being. Just being a human being for the time being. I'll stay for a while. Or go now. Goodnight.

See/Hear

Its in this state,
quietened by the stillness of soundlessness
that I begin to see.

Its in this fate,
frightened by the blackness of timelessness
that I begin to hear.

Continuo

Onto an everlasting gaze, lightness brings with it the burden of the I. The Self slowly being realised through constant questioning. Of being with no one. Of being no ones. Just existing in the oneness of the universe's constant providence. Time now nothing, just a vehicle to transport one from this moment into what we call the future. Is it now? Yes. But it disappears. Now and then. Its time to let go of time and its clipped wings. The moment to be free is now. The moment to be light is now. "Halka khaayega toh mann bhi halka rahega" in the words of Viswajeet Ambat. There is no time for constant striving. For what? This instant is all we have. There is nothing more, nothing less. Its time to maximise, to catch life and look into its eyes. There is no seer, there is nothing seen, there is only seeing. Looking into for the time being. Time being. Like human being. Majority of humankind is timebound. We got to be timeless. Timestretched. With an address unknown.  

A Quiet

Two days without electricity. Made me realise how dependent we are on energy. Slowly everything died, my laptop first, then the Bose, then my phone. I was free. No strings attached. But there was no music. Suddenly there was a lot of silence. I could hear the ambient sounds of the city getting ready for sleep. But I missed the music. I think I am not done with music yet. I might end up giving up many things but music will stay. Until the end. I hope. 

Baba Viswajeet Ambat

Today I met my mallu alter ego, the thin, curly haired, big bearded man Viswajeet Ambat. 30 year old enlightened soul. Discovered Benaras six years back. Saw me at the Pallab Das concert back in 2009 for the first time. We just connected. He is doing his sadhana in Benaras, practising Vipaasana sometimes, living a silent life without any baggage. No laptop, no chargers, no hard disks, no camera. Owns close to nothing. He said "doing nothing also requires discipline". The people you find in Benaras. Always have exciting stories. Of how they came to take an interest in self-enquiry. The reasons why they began to look inwards. He was a photographer in Bangalore. Shooting constantly. You can see his beautiful work here. Reminds me of abstrakt kollision. But much prettier. We spoke a bit over chai. We didn't exchange much words. There was no requirement to talk too much. He was in his space of silence and I was observing in silence. Its time to pause and reflect, once again. The time for stillness is now. Oh, and I moved into Babu House. Viswajeet stayed in the same room two years back. Serendipity in Shiva City.  

A "fine" day

8am. Arrived in Shiva City. Auto to Shivala. Shiv-Ganga full. Driver shows me a few places. Finally take room in horrible dingy lodge Ganges Top. Leave bags and go hunting for a new place. Walk the gulleys. Decide to try out Babu House, Chouki Ghat. Oldstyle building. Room available on top. Terrace. Beautiful large Ganga-facing room with four big windows. Decide to take it. Pay advance. Walk to Balu's shop. Chai and cigarettes. Walk to Jaideeps shop. He calls me Rajni Kanth bhayya. Have Pav Bhaji. Go to musical instrument shop. Try out a sarod. Strings need to be changed. Then back to Balu's shop and then on the way back to the room accidently bump into Viswanath in Mansarover Ghat. Saw trapped cobra in bag. Apparently snake with two heads, moves both ways. Then to Harishchandra Ghat. See puppies drinking milk. Brahmin boys with chundi's below the moon. This time the moon has been protecting me from all evil. Through the whole bus journey from Vashisht to Delhi, the half moon stayed by my side. Back to Benaras. Then to Kedar Ghat. Chai and cigarette. Walk into temple. Pooja. Bells. Nice vibes. Then to Balu's shop with Lakshman Bhai. He has decided to be part of The Memory Project. Then with Mr. Fine. Someone who's name I don't know. The holy-things seller next to Balu's. I asked him "How are you, Mr. Fine?" and he replies "Fine!". A fine day. Meeting old friends in the gulleys of Shiva City. Seeing life unfold at every corner. All types of life. Live's of men, women, dogs, monkeys, cows. And then death. Also. Hand in hand. Always reassuring to know that we are just here for a few minutes. Then we go. Time for more realizations in this lifetime. Then. Long chat with Viswanath about his break up with Deepa (who apparently looks like mummy's early black and white photos), of the hidden stories of Benaras, the spirits, the lost souls. More chai. Back to room. Avishai Cohen. Writing this.

The creator's eye looks at the bands groove, the boat lit
The destroyer's eye looks at the hands move, the throat slit

If all goes as per planned, I should see the Benaras sun tomorrow.