Dear Aruna,
You know somethings in life stay with us and go with us, finally like how we are brought up as good kids. It is only those kids who remember the upbringings and chota chota memories. Thanks to our parents though you are still surely much younger to myself. I appreciate your remembrance of how your dad would tell you those good stories.
Yes, those days the morning prayer ritual used to be a sincere one with peaceful demeanor and we kids got some mishri or kishmish as prasad. You took me back some 40 odd years in time to Karol Bagh where we used to live :-)
I heard Gita in my 30s and in race of life to gain and provide I only prayed daily ritualistically. Though I read Vedanta Treatise a few times, I shied away to sit down and read Gita. Swami R Parthasarathy was known to me very well when I was in Middle East for over 18 years and I loved his talks of Gita which he gave every twice in a year. He had given me Gita (3 Volumes). Now I read one verse every morning at 6ish. And I then write the meaning of it in a notebook, as understood by me. It does not teach anything new though but it reminds one of what Self Realization can do to a human being and what is Self Realization. Vedanta Treatise also is nothing but a reminder of Self Realization. I will probably finish reading Gita by end of this year and become a bit wiser and learn the real meaning of Desires, Renunciation, Perfection etc etc. I do indulge in such discussion with Lata (my wife) over a drink some times.
So on my way to office this morning I went over your Bucket List and penned down my Bucket list against yours and added some points which have been strumming in my mind since many years. Many of my desires remained incomplete due to my extremely busy hotel profession, postings and travels. And now I want to do everything - work - play - travel and read. But reading Gita and SaiCharita gives me a sense of peaceful satisfaction. I did notice how much you want to contribute and give back to various fabrics of the society. I wish I could do the same. I have seen these foundations very closely. In India and in this so called First world. I rather pay to bring up an orphan in an orphanage - know him/her without their knowing me - school them and let them get in to a life THAN donate funds. I brought up a child through CRY from 1982 till 1998. I knew who she was but I reused to meet her in person. I was very happy at the end.
Anyways I will share the Bucket list comments with you.
Anonymity while giving adds to our grace. Only when our intellect guides our mind do we succeed in fruition of the bud that is born on a tree. You, no doubt are willing to chance your intelligence and in time to come when this list is nearing completion, another Bucket List will be ready.
Bravo!!!
Take Care
Ashok
