Another day at the grand Akshardham Temple Complex, New Delhi

Well, yesterday was my umpteenth visit to this grand monument. This time round we had our relatives come over from Lucknow. So, while they all went through the series of exhibitions, movie on Swamy Narayan & the boat ride depicting Indian Heritage & Culture, my wife Ruchi and I just sat outside (within the complex campus) and.....well, just sat and talked endlessly. It was during this period of around 3-4 hours that some very interesting observations struck me. Here goes...

1. Without the mobile phone (it is not permitted inside the campus) I felt relieved...as also relaxed!! The interesting part is...during this period of remaining de-networked my mind wandered on other things....things that were happening around me...right there!! Perhaps, it was after quite some time that I was able to live and dwell in the 'NOW.'
2. With this state of mind I observed a little kid run after a group of sparrows...he wanted to talk to them...literally pleading them to give him attention! His dad was a bit angry since he was having to run after the kid...and that was not to his liking.
3. And this made me think deeper...kids are inherently innocent...for them anything visible is capable of communicating. This innocence reflects the true essence of our being too...deep inside we all have a 'child' waiting and longing to be discovered...by ourselves.
4. Those of us who are able to understand that the 'child' very much exists 'within,' sooner or later start exploring it...and let me tell you, the journey is not only enjoyable but adventurous too.
5. The Swamy Narayan volunteers through their NGO - BAPS - have done a tremendous job of not only presenting the teachings of their spiritual fountain head, but also the vastness, depth and immortality of Indian Culture.
6. They have done this by presenting spiritual teachings in an entertaining format. People love to have fun on outings...so what better than a day out on a Disneyland kind of a complex...but with the end result a little different...perhaps the kind I experienced last evening!!
7. Education too needs to be presented to children in a game format...it has to entertain them...they need to have fun participating in it. Teachers and parents who can do this will succeed in developing evolved citizens who will add much value to the entire process of human growth and development.

Signing off!!

Nikhil