Oh, my God, what a lovely morning!

One tranquil afternoon in the deep forest, Doobeedoo, the very handsome frog, is preparing to go for a little hop around the pond. He is feeling pretty good about things today, and a little 'out there', so he puts on his flashy new white Yves Saint-Laurent swimsuit.
He goes out and takes in the beautiful morning. The sun is streaming softly through the tall pine trees.
Doobeedoo takes a big breath of fresh air and smiles. Then full of life, he says to a passing deer, "I am God!"
He hops on for a while, and when he comes across a family of dragonflies, he puffs out his chest and says, "I am God!"
A little further on, he comes to Doreen the duck. He makes big eyes at her and in a spiritual tone says, "I am God!"
Doreen looks at the frog and says, "What?"
Doobee says again, "I am God!"
"I have been watching you," says Doreen, "and you have been telling that to everyone around the pond. Are you serious, or is it just that flashy white Yves Saint-Laurent swimsuit?"
"I am God!" says Doobee again.
"Enough of your silliness," says the duck. "Away with you, you smart-faced jerk!"
At this, Doobee pulls down his white swimsuit and exposes his machinery.
Doreen looks in amazement and says slowly, "Oh my God!"

Life is a rollercoaster ride of fun and laughter. And if we can set aside our self-imposed seriousness and take a dip in the mirth surrounding all around us, the world would be a lot more healthy and happy.

The morning was lovely and the sweet sounds of the birds and the glorious sun rise, pulled me out of my bed. I put on my shoes and went for a refreshing bike ride to the park for my daily dose of morning freshness. Ran round the park for more than an hour, got on the bike for a 10-mile ride and ultimately collapsed into an hour-long meditation -- the best that can ever happen after a glorious morning workout. Only that it is not a work out but a wonderful act of play.

Later in the evening I went for a long marathon-like bike ride into the interior areas of the city to explore the sights and sounds of a bustiling metropolis that lies hidden for the outsiders. There is a medieval feel to Pune's inner city. Time seems to stand still here. And it is a lovely lesson in cultural diversity.

An unexpected bonanza

There were these two guys in a bar, which was on the 20th floor of a building. The first man said, "I bet you $100 I can jump out that window and come straight back in.
The second man says, "Ok, sure."
And the barman holds the bet.
The first man jumps out the window and disappears for a second before jumping straight back in.
Disappointed about losing the $100, the second man says, " I'll bet you another $100 you can't do it again."
So the barman holds the bet.
Sure enough, the first man jumps out the window, disappears for a second, then jumps straight back in.
Thinking he must have caught a freak gust of wind, the second man says, "Ok, I bet you $300 I can jump out the window and come straight back in."
The first man says" Ok, sure."
The second man jumps out the window and falls to the footpath below. He is dead.
Back up in the bar, the barman says to the first man, " Gee, you can be a bastard when you're pissed, Superman."

It was an unexpected bonanza. And what a treat it was. Yesterday evening I casually wanted to go for a 5 mile ride in search of a school. But somewhere I lost track of the school and got on to another road that took me to the countryside. With the cool evening breeze blowing in my face, and the area totally devoid of pollution, I decided to forget about the school and kept pedalling till I thought I would be tired. And turn back afterwards. I pedalled for an hour and a half and reached a pilgrimage centre on the other end of the city. And which was connected to the city fro the other end. It was a cool 25 mile ride. And what made it all the more memorable was the fact that I did some speed biking so that my meditation would run deeper than normal. And the experience can't be explained in words. I intend to repeat the performance very soon. And as many times as possible.

To cash in on the 25-mile bike ride, I went for the three-hour spiritual triathlon -- 10 mile running, 10 mile biking and an hour of meditation -- this morning. I thought I would have body pains because of yesterday's bike ride, but my system seems to have got used to the gruelling runs and the rides. It was not out of tiredness that I stopped, but out of the feeling that it might be a strain on my body. I will tend to get rid of this notion and bike till I drop dead.

PS: Wanna bike/run a 100 miles in a day. Any suggestions on how to go about it?

Zen and the art of dynamic meditation

In a little shack in the outback of Australia, Bruce, Edna and their daughter Shirley have finished their kangaroo stew dinner and are arguing about who is going to do the washing up. There's a big fight, and finally Bruce suggests that they all lie down on the floor and the first person to move does the dishes.
The same night, Hamish MacTavish is driving his oldpick-up nearby, when the radiator overheats. He sees the shack and walks over there to get some water. Going into the shack, he finds everyone lying on the floor, so he decides to help himself to water. On his way to the kitchen, he steps over Shirley, and in a moment of passion, jumps on her and screws her.
He gets up from Shirley and finds Edna on the kitchen floor. The temptation is too great for Hamish and he jumps on Edna too.
Then he takes some water back to his truck, but while he is filling the radiator, he burns his arm. Hamish rushes into the shack and cries out, “Have you got any vaseline?”
Hearing this, Bruce jumps up and yells, “Okay, okay! I will do the dishes!”

We are what we think or rather don't think. And our mind is so filled with nonsense that we react only when we are confronted by the perverse reality -- it may be an accident, a death, or the loss of health. But the wise ones perceive the situation in its totality and take the lead to make a difference not only to their lives but also to others'. Total health does not mean absence of illness but the presence of a boundless energy. And no one has realised it better than the neighbourhood runner who plods on without end for the simple joy of life, or the cyclist who has made cycling his way of life. Let us wake up to the reality before it is too late. Though it is never too late.

It was an anti-climax today after having woken up earlier than the normal days to go for that long run, my cycle had a flat tyre. So I had to make do with an hour's dynamic meditation -- of breathing my lungs out, chattering my nonsense away, and hoo-ing my guts out. It was good fun as I was able to throw out all my nonsense and follow it up with a steadfast sitting meditation stretching for 45 minutes. It may not come any way near the spiritual triathlon that I pursue everyday, but still it was a wonderful experience. Want to know how to do dynamic meditation, log on to www.osho.com. Have fun.