The Crust of Life

I am Body caught between the tug of war of Mind and Soul Mind has concerns Soul has desires I have feelings Who cares? I want to feel happy and peaceful Help me! I plead with my mind and the soul Mind thinks and says "first handle my concerns" I turn to the soul with the hope in my eyes Soul chirps "all you have to do is fulfill my desires!" I buckle under the weight of concerns and desires I become numb I let it go let it all just go I stop listening to the mind I become deaf to the soul they shout yell threaten I remain numb silent devoid of life after a while there is a deafening silence no shouting of the mind no chirping of the soul all there is is just a void. Nothingness. I start to like this state tentatively I dare to smile a little I start to feel the life again I start to feel the strength within And a realization dawns onto me Despite a million concerns of the mind Despite countless unfulfilled desires of the soul I can choose to feel happy and peaceful...

I am Body caught between the tug of war of Mind and Soul I am a slave to these two masters of finicky nature who should I listen to? The mind? or the soul? Mind is clever has memories of past and visions of future Soul is naive has no sense of time or place Mind has many tricks to save me when I am down tricks like lie, cheat, blame, accuse soul is dumb has only desires that lands me into trouble desirous of joy, love peace, passion only one thing common in them both are attention seekers I listen to one and other yells for attention I am a slave to these two masters of finicky nature Who should I listen to? Who should I ignore? Mind has concerns Soul has desires I have feelings Who cares? Who cares? - Musten Jiruwala

five feet below the ground with logs of wood all around burning happily round the clock with loved ones poking to stoke wind got a whiff of my joy determined to douse me with a ploy started to play with me like a toy with a strong intention to annoy I smiled and let it play since it didn't bother me in anyway I am the fire of faith wind of malice can't bring me death as the wind of rumor gets stronger I start burning brighter and longer wind, in its fury and anger ends up playing an encourager! I am the fire of faith wind of malice can't bring me death nor can it sway me away into revenge or wrath I am what I am I am faith - Musten Jiruwala

limping lifelessly burdened by thousands of thoughts I collapsed by the side of the river Shunned and pushed by one and all I lay there depressed, dejected sound of the river seemed to drowna in the chaos of my mind cool breeze mischievously and persistently irritated I gave up and let the breeze caress my face and the river sing to me after a prelude of flowing sounds the river started its lullaby "I am a drop from the sky fell on a leaf pleaded to hide leaf just smiled and gently pushed me aside I fell on the rock clung to it for my life with a tear in my eye pleaded to hide with a gentle smile the rock too pushed me aside I fell from rock to rock and leaf to leaf pushed and shunned yet no relief thousand other drops joined me in my grief together we struggled with some deep belief we kept moving we kept leaping we kept flowing we kept growing now, ...

Not so long ago I used to be surrounded by circumstances Desires burnt out on the back-burner while I wrestled with surviving in this society I was blurred in my own focus while I focused on lifeless surroundings One fine day, I gathered some courage and did what my heart desired I felt magical, ecstatic, alive! Next moment, the world seemed to have crashed on me I regretted quietly for my foolishness and vowed never to have any more desires Suppressed like a caged bird I went about the chores of life, again Until one fine day not so long ago sitting by the side of the river I realized what life is all about Today, I first do what my heart desires And I feel magical, ecstatic, alive Every moment. - Musten Jiruwala (dedicated to my love)