Divine Interludes

All of us need a period of time during the day when we can re-connect to Spirit doing something that we absolutely love - something that absorbs us completely and transports us to another world where everything ceases to be except for the sheer joy of being in harmony with the Universe.

Important as our daily rounds of duties are, there is no end to the things that clamor for our attention, and it is up to us to carve out time from our hectic schedules for a divine interlude whereby we can plug into our higher Selves. When we get back to the grind after this inner vacation, we do so with a fresh perspective. Some people are in their element playing ball or an instrument, walking their dog - whether they have one or not, meditating in the wee hours of the morning, cooking a sumptuous meal for loved ones or just being in the company of kids. It can be anything that rejuvenates you, puts you in sync with Our Source.

My father, for instance, finds peace in listening to music, and is grateful to God for every opportunity to indulge in this pastime. My mother, who is a celebrity in her own right, finds her center by stealing a few minutes several times during the day from her busy routine to sit and pray. My husband really comes alive on the field, kicking ball – be it soccer, baseball, cricket or golf. He sure comes home happy after a good game. I can tell because he amicably agrees to take care of the vacuum cleaning of the entire house after mowing the lawn. My sister, who works two jobs, tries to squeeze in a game of online scrabble whenever she can to bounce back to work with more pizzazz. A very good friend of mine finds contentment in tending for her black Labrador retriever. My brother made trekking a part of his hectic routine at IIT, Bombay. The oneness with Nature he experienced under the blanket of stars struck the perfect balance of yin and yang that we all need to be in harmony.

I have found that short breaks taken during the day to accommodate our hobbies, passions and interests offer an inexpensive way to revitalize our bodies, minds and souls on a regular basis as compared to elaborate vacations that apart from burning a hole in our pockets leave us sapped of energy in our attempt to cram as much as possible in the few days of holidays. On many occasions I have looked forward to coming back home and relaxing with a cup of hot “masala tea” to unwind from the frenzy of trips jam-packed to make the most of every dollar .

Settling down with a good book and my evening cup of tea after the day’s work is done is a ritual that I look forward to all day, but the excitement really begins to build up when I put the water to boil. It is at this time that I set my son up with his favorite movie or allow him some computer time, so that I can enjoy the Golden Period of the day without interruptions.

Finally I sink into the plush leather recliner in the family room across from the patio door which affords me a million dollar view of Mother Nature all year round. After a brief foreplay of watching the trees, birds, sky and the expanse of green behind our backyard, I get ready to share my tea with the guest of honor for the day. Wayne W. Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Sarah Ban Breathnach and Gary Zukav are frequently invited to share this special, almost sacred time with me. In fact, they have assumed the familiarity of old friends and keep showing up with uncanny regularity, enriching my life with their wisdom and humor. I am truly humbled to have at my fingertips the teachings and works of the likes of Budha, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

My heart sincerely echoes the words of Leo Tolstoy, who in the process of collecting material for his last major work, A Calendar of Wisdom, which yours truly is blessed to be reading these days, created what he called a Circle of Reading, comprised of the world’s greatest philosophers of all time such as Manu, Lao Tzu, Budha, Pascal and Epictetus, and wrote in his diary, “What can be more precious than to communicate every day with the wisest men of the world?”

A few lines and a sip of ‘cha’, a few more words, another sip...space and time cease to exist as I am totally absorbed in the sheer magic of the moment. The ‘combo’ of good reading material with a brisk cup of tea never fails. It is something I indulge in to celebrate a good day, but also what I need to salvage a not-so-good day.

Whoever said time flies when you are having fun knew what they were talking about. What we all also know is that all good things must come to an end, and it is with a heart full of gratitude that I partake of the last sip of the ambrosial drink and bring this session to an end. Eyes closed, I sit in a prayerful, almost meditative state till my six-year-old comes running in the room announcing that he is ready for a snack.