What's the news?

I haven't written anything in more than two weeks. So let me give you a brief update of what's happening over here.

The days are getting longer and longer. There is natural light even after 9 p.m. I am really glad about it.

It hasn't rained in more than ten days. Not only has it not rained, we haven't even had a overcast day. It's been sunny for several days at a strech. This is not normal for Seattle weather. Shouldn't I be glat about this too? Well, yes and no! I am glad it's sunny and not raining. But I wish it would rain once so that the dust settles down a bit. In short, I am having ambiguous feelings about the sunny weather we are having, which is very surprising.

We had a good trip to Lake Wenatchee last weekend. We had booked a cottage by the lake. The view from the house was amazing. I have posted it here. Check it out:

aai-bAbA will reach here Wednesday afternoon. It will be fun to have them here. The weather is amazing and they will surely enjoy it.

Soon it will be close to two years since we came to US. One would think that I would be missing India. Altough I love Inida (or bhArat) more than anything else in life, including my life, I am not missing it so much right now. Much less after the recent elections results were announced.

The impact of election results can be summed up in the word - dejection. It is sad to see our most beloved nation sliding back into slavery once again. To see goons, rapists and debauched people ruling our beloved motherland causes so much heartburn. Often I fold my hands to pray and the only wish that leaves my lips is, "God, save yourself", from these dregs of humanity (and oppressors of Hinduism), who will now rule our country, the birthplace of countless Hindu wizards.

Biting my fingers

As I write this, the final phase of polling is under way for the 15th Lok Sabha. This election is supposed to be more closely fought than any other Lok Sabha election before this.

In the last year or so I have gained tremendous equanimity with respect to happenings in our world. It is not that I don't care what happens in the world. Far from that, I am really concerned about where the world, and especially India, is heading. But, of late, incidents in the outside world do not take away from me my equanimity. I feel elated or disappointed. I become happy or unhappy. But I do not feel depressed or demoralized. This world is like a dog's tail. No sooner than you think that it is straightened out, do you realize that is as curved as it ever was. Despite the imperfections of the world we have to go on doing what we consider to be best for the world and ourselves. Not only do I think this way, to a reasonable extent, I am able to live this thought.

Despite all this, the on-going elections is making me nervous. I feel attached to my desires. I desire certain result and it makes me nervous to think that it may not turn out to be so. My quiet continence only hides the flutter of the heart within. I have to try to be detached. Our great country will outlast impacts of a hundred elections. No power on earth can stop the forward march of our great nation. No matter what happens in this election, our country will continue to progress.

Thirteen centuries ago a great child was born in the small village of Kaladi in central Kerala, by the Periyar river. The child grew into a boy who changed the future of this nation forever. Millions have followed his path and nurtured the soul of this nation. One moment, one election, one party, one family cannot impair the institution of four thousand years and cherished by a billion people.

Our beloved nation would go on, unfettered, unshackled, unhampered. I know should never be discouraged at failure. I have never been. Never will I be in future. If anything, not seeing success should only strengthen one's resolve to work harder, with greater detachment, towards a loftier goal, more wisely. That's the spirit I am made of. If not today, there will be success tomorrow.