माओबादी, कांग्रेस, एमाले तथा अरू पार्टीलाइ मेरो सल्लाह

मेरो कुरा कसैले सुन्ला नसुन्ला तर नेपालको नागरिकको नाताले अहिलेको परिवेशमा, माओबादीहरुलाई मेरो सल्लाह यसप्रकार छ |

१. हारलाई सहर्ष स्वीकार गर | जंगली प्रवृति नदेखाऊ |

२. फेरिपनि बन्द, तोडफोड, सडक तताउने कुरा नसोच, बैद्यले गर्दाखेरी जसरी कसैले साथ दिएनन्, तिमीहरूले गर्दा पनि अब साथ पाउदैनौ ! नेपालमा अब बन्द हड्ताल गर्नेहरू आफै सकिनेछन! नेपाली जनतलाई तेस्तो मन पर्दैन !

३. संबिधान कस्तो बन्छ त्यसमा ध्यान देउ, संबिधान बनाएर चाडै अर्को चुनाब (संबिधान सभाको होइन, संसदीय जस्तो) गर्ने तिर जोड गर |

कांग्रेस, एमाले तथा अरू पार्टीलाइ मेरो सल्लाह

१. अझै पनि मिलेर, सहमतिमा (बिशेष त कांग्रेस, एमाले ), सबैलाई समावेश र शक्तिको सन्तुलन हुनेगरि सरकार बनाऊ |

२. खेल हारिसकेपछी नियम मान्दिन भन्नेहरूलाई तह लगाउन सक्ने नेतृत्व देखाउन सक |

३. संबिधानलाइ प्रमुख मुद्धा बनाएर देशलाइ शान्ति र स्थायित्वतिर लग |

यति गर्न सक्यौ भने नेपाली जनताको धन्यवादको पात्र हुने छौ ! नेपाली जनताले त जित्छन जित्छन , तिमीहरूले पनि फेरि जितौला अहिले हारेकाले पनि अर्को पल्ट जित्ने मौका पाउला |

Maoists, Second Constituent Assembly Election and Nepal

Only seven years ago, Nepal was still going through a civil war from the Maoist insurgency. The civil war started in 1996 as a small movement that had many legitimate but impractical demands imposed to then existing government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba. Demands were impractical mainly because of the political climate and capacity of the nation at that time. Many demands like new constitution, removal of special privileges of monarchy, declaring nation a secular state were impractical at the time. As situation changed in Nepal, demands like those became more feasible by the time the civil war ended in 2006.

The civil war was harsh on people because of violence it inflicted to generally peaceful country and countrymen, from both sides, existing governments and the rebels. It devastated the general peaceful feel of the country and left a deep wound into the collective consciousness of people, making the news of violence a common thing.  The war was fought with a lot of conviction especially by the rebels because they stayed the same while the government, the other side, frequency changed. As the Maoists came to a dialogue, they signed a 12 point agreement in 2005 and a comprehensive peace agreement on 2006. Then a cease-fire had begun and Maoist’s slowly started normal politics.

 After coming to the mainstream politics, they participated in election of first constituent assembly, integrated their army with Nepal army. However due to major conflicts in how the peace process was getting concluded a significant subset of Maoists split from the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN) to form Communist Party of Nepal – Maoists (CPN-M) led by Mohan Baidya Kiran. Both of them claim that they are more authentic representatives of the spirit of revolution they brought about. They also claim that they are more people-serving and patriotic than the other.

Who do we believe? Well, hopefully they both are right, especially about being people-serving and patriotic. However, the way they have conducted themselves in recent times have given us an opposite impression. First and foremost, they have become their own enemies. Prachanda fears that he may get assassinated from Baidya camp and Baidya camp points to Prachanda as the main villain of time, a sign of dangerous politics budding in Nepal.

With the demise of first constituent assembly and the nation conducting a second election in few days, Prachanda deliberately played major role in keeping Baidya out from election bandwagon. This shows that Prachanda is more concerned about strengthening his party rather than social harmony and confidence of peace in country. It is unfortunate that leaders of other parties are always outsmarted by cunning Prachanda. How come the other parties did not take a stand to bring Baidya into election no-matter-what? That would benefit all other parties and weaken Prachanda, more than that it would have prevented all the strikes, petrol bombs, and mad outbursts of feeling-ignored Baidya alliance; a clear win for the nation.

Yes Baidya and his alliance had a voice, they are stakeholders born out of insurgency, a group that cannot be ignored, and special situations like elections should have been all inclusive to ensure a smoother path of constituent making in days to come. However, in recent days, calling for prolonged strikes and hurling petrol bombs that hurt innocent people, they have shown that they would go back to violent means to make their voices heard again. That is foolish of them. But it is the wise ones that have to fear the fools. All Baidya wanted was a seat in table and inclusion in the election government. So a little bit of power sharing would have solved any chant of ideological fissures that Baidya is claiming. All the sweet talk and the theories are just ploys to get to power by a hook or a crook.

With constituent assembly almost taking place, let’s hope that a country will get a good outlet out of recent crisis, that the Baidya faction will give up violent means, come to terms with their error in tactics due to stubborn and impractical demands, and the country will be able to quickly form a new government and focus on making a constitution. Baidya can play constructive role being non-violent but raising issues from outside as he is still likely to get a lot of attention. Moreover, if the four parties go back to dirty politics and keep country in uncertainty and turmoil, Baidya may be able to get more support in future. And politics in not a short race, it’s a long marathon.

The previous constituent assembly was not able to deliver a constitution even though all parties had enthusiastically participated. The partition politics and bickering after the election of first constituent assembly lead to its own demise four years later. It is important that leaders be more accepting, power-sharing, and understanding of other points of views this time around. Especially when it looks like that no party will gain majority; power sharing, stable coalition and consensus are the only way out.

May the best candidates win the election. Hopefully, we will be able to see a new constitution, stable government, and a prospering Nepal soon. A Nepal where, matters of health, economics, and infrastructure development are first priorities of all politicians rather than the games of power (Believe me this is less optimistic than John Lennon's Imagine!).

बन्द हडताल सम्बन्धि लागेका कुरा

आउँदो साता हुने संविधानसभाको चुनाव वहिष्कार गर्ने घोषणा गरेका नेकपा-माओवादीको गठबन्धनले सोमवारदेखि मतदानको दिनसम्म १० दिनसम्म आम हडताल गर्ने घोषणा गरेको थियो। तर सबैतिरबाट विरोध र आलोचना भएपछि उसले पहिलो दिन आम हड्ताल र बाँकी दिन यातायात मात्र बन्द गराउने निर्णय गरेको छ। यसैबीच नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघले  बन्द-हडतालको अवज्ञा गर्ने निर्णय गरेको छ ।

बन्द हडताल गर्ने गराउनेलाई निरुत्साहित गर्न गरिएका सबै कदम राम्रा हुन् । यसले जनतालाई दु:ख दिनबाट बचाउछ । हालको बन्द हड्ताल बिरोधि माहोल सधै कायम रहोस र बन्द हड्तालजस्ता पछौटे, जनतालाई दु:ख दिने कार्यक्रम अब नेपालीहरूको चेतनासामु टिक्न नसकोस भन्ने आशा गर्दछु ।

अर्को कुरा के भने अहिले  नेकपा-माओवादीको गठबन्धनले गर्न खोजेको  बन्द हड्ताललाई सबले बिरोध गरेझैँ अबदेखि जुन कुनै पार्टी वा समुहले बन्द हड्ताल गर्दा पनि तेस्तै बिरोध र रिरुत्साहित गर्ने काम होस् । अहिलेका मुख्य चार पार्टीले पनि अबदेखि आफुले पनि कहिल्यै बन्द हड्ताल नगर्ने बाचा गर्न सकुन । होइनभने अरुलाई एउटा मापदण्ड, आफुलाई अर्को गर्ने खाले प्रवृति गलत हुनेछ । नेपाली जनतालेपनि अब कसले बन्द हड्ताल गर्छ तेस्ता पार्टी र समुहको मौका परेको बेला धज्जी उडाउन सक्नु पर्यो ।

बिरोध गर्ने राम्रो संस्कार बसाल्नु पर्यो । जताबाट पनि जनतालाई नै दु:ख हुने, साँढेको जुधाई बाछाको मिचाई हुने संस्कृतिको अन्त्य गर्नु पर्यो । 

Words / शब्दहरू

Words	शब्दहरू
like these	यिनै शब्दहरू जस्तै
when only typed, written, printed,	जब लेखिने, छापिने, वा टाइप मात्र हुने गर्छन्
doze,	भुसुक्क निदाउछन्
becoming sleepy scribbles.	सुताहा केरकार बनेर
Unless read or spoken,	नपढिए वा नबोलिएसम्म
they’re static,	तिनीहरू टक्क अडिन्छन्
just bunches of pointless pixels.	मसीका थोप्लाका झुप्पा भएर
Only when ink fades	जब मसी उड्छ
or surface wears off becoming dust,	वा लेखिने धरातल थोत्रिएर धुलो हुन्छ
do they bother to vanish	अनि मात्र तिनीहरू डेग चल्छन्
in thin air.	हावामा हराएर
But if they are read or recited,	तर यदि शब्दहरू पढिएभने वा वाचन गरिएभने
they may be listened to.	तिनीहरू सुनिन सक्छन्
If heard,	सुनिएर बुझिएभने
they may imprint themselves again,	तिनीहरू पुनः छापिन सक्छन्
into the minds.	मस्तिष्कहरूमा |

भत्केका पुलहरू

विचारका बाफहरूको संगमले 

पुलहरू बन्ने गर्छन्

अनि 

तापक्रमहरू घट्दै गएपछि 

पुलहरू गर्ल्यामगुर्लुम

भत्कदै जान्छन्

पुलका भग्नावशेषमुनि 

संवेदनाहरू थिचिन्छन्

च्यापिन्छन् 

उत्साहहरू निचोरिन्छन् 

चिसिंदै जाँदा 

वरफका टुक्राहरूको गाईजात्रामा 

युगहरू चाउरिइदै जान्छन्

तैपनि

विचारका बाफहरू 

निरन्तर पुलहरू बाँध्दै जान्छन् 

समय फगत हेरिरहन्छ

उत्सुकहरू अनुसन्धान गरिरहन्छन् 

तर तिनले पनि त 

विचारकै बाफका थुप्राहरू थप्ने न हुन् 

आखिर तापक्रमको घटाईमा 

सब चकनाचुर भैहाल्छन् 

समय डाकिरहेछ 

तापक्रम घट्न नदिने चेतनालाई 

भत्केका पुलहरू ब्यग्र भई कुरिरहेछन् 

भत्केका पुलहरू ब्यग्र भई कुरिरहेछन्

When and Where I Grew Up / म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें

Every now and then I try to write poetry in English. Sometimes I start in English and switch back to Nepali or the vice versa. I tried this first in English then I translated it in Nepali. Here it is for you.

When and Where I Grew Up	म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें
When and where I grew up	म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें
there was no electricity	त्यसताका बिजुली बत्ति थिएन
there was sunshine and light	घाम थियो अनि उज्यालो थियो
there were no vehicles, concrete roads, or traffic	गाडीहरू, पक्कि सडक, अनि ट्राफिक जाम थिएन
we walked everywhere to our delight	हामीहरु जताततै सहर्ष हिडेर पुग्थेऊँ
there was no complexity	अप्ठेराहरू थिएनन्
life was straightforward and slight	जिन्दगी सरल र सहज थियो
there were no skyscrapers or super markets	गगनचुम्बी भवन अनि बिशाल बजारहरू थिएनन्
all we needed was in sight	हामीलाई चाहिने सबैचिज आँखावरिपरि हुन्थ्यो
When and where I grew up	म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें
there was no pollution	त्यसताका प्रदुषण थिएन
air was natural and salubrious	हावा प्राकृतिक अनि स्वस्थ थियो
there were no cell phones or internet	मोबाइल फोन र इन्टरनेट थिएन
communication was glorious and multifarious	संचार गर्वसाथ धेरै तहमा हुन्थ्यो
there were no swimming pools or playgrounds	पौडनको लागि बनाइएका पूल अनि खेल्नको लागि बनाइएका मैदान थिएनन्
rivers, lakes, and fields were gorgeous	सुन्दर खोला, ताल र चौर थिए
demands and supplies did not bargain	माग र पूर्तीको मोलतोल हुन्नथ्यो
resources were sustainable and cornucopious	साधन र श्रोत दीर्घकालीन धान्न मिल्ने अनि पर्याप्त थियो
When and where I grew up	म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें
there were less rivalries in pointless pursuits	त्यसताका अर्थहीन अभिलाषाका दुश्मनी कम थिए
people were more friendly and plain	मान्छेहरू धेरै मिलनसार अनि सादा थिए
there were less insecurities and doubts	मनमा डर अनि शंका कम थिए
plenty of trust and harmony were in chain	समाज विश्वास र सौहाद्रताको साँङ्ग्लोमा बाँधिने गर्थ्यो
deceits or bondages were rare	छलकपट अनि बन्धन विरलै थिए
truth and freedom stayed in domain	सत्य र स्वतन्त्रता रैथाने रहन्थे
When and where I grew up	म जहिले र जहाँ हुर्कें
I was as happy as I am now.	त्यसताका म जति खुसि थिएँ अहिले पनि खुशी नै छु बराबरी
Isn’t it intriguing, why and how?	आश्चर्य लाग्दैन? किन र कसरी?

जिन्दगीसँग सत्कर्म मल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

उज्यालो दिन सक्न त जल्नु पर्ने रहेछ
आफू खरानी भएर बल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

मै हुँ भनेर घमण्ड गर्न त जो पनि सक्छ
निहुरन सक्नलाई फल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

चट्टानझैँ कडा भए त एकैनाश भैहाल्छ
हर आकार दिन त गल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

सधै अग्लो भैरहन्छु भन्नेलेपनि
एकदिन त गर्ल्याम्म ढल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

मरेर जान त सजिलो रे'छ, अमर हुन त
जिन्दगीसँग सत्कर्म मल्नु पर्ने रहेछ

माया गर्न थालिसकेछु अब छोड्न सक्दिन

आँखा तिमीमा परिहाल्यो अब मोड्न सक्दिन
तिमी बाहेक अरुसँग माया जोड्न सक्दिन

मस्तिष्कभरी तिम्रै दृश्य घुमिरहन्छ आजकल
आफ्नो टाउको आफैले ठोकेर फोड्न सक्दिन

धेरै मुटुका फुलबारीमा माया रोप्न खोजें
तिमी बाहेक अरुकुनै फूल गोड्न सक्दिन

तिम्रै हुन्छु जीवनभर भनेर कसम खाको छु
आफ्नो बाचा नमरुञ्जेल अब तोड्न सक्दिन

तिमी माया गर या नगर , म त तिमीलाई
माया गर्न थालिसकेछु अब छोड्न सक्दिन

साना साना खुशीले गाँस्ने माला हो जिन्दगी

कैदीले भन्यो कहिल्यै नखुल्ने ताला हो जिन्दगी
घाइतेले भन्यो ढाडमा रोप्या भाला हो जिन्दगी

बुर्लुक्क उफ्रदै वयस्कले भन्यो
भर्भराऊँदी युवतीको रातो गाला हो जिन्दगी

सकी नसकी वृद्धले भन्यो
बुढ्यौलीले चाउरीएको छाला हो जिन्दगी

वितृष्णामा डुबेको जनताले भन्यो
घुस्याहा नेताको भ्रष्ट चाला हो जिन्दगी

सन्तोषलाई सोद्धा सन्तोषले भन्यो
साना साना खुसीले गाँस्ने माला हो जिन्दगी 

यी शब्दको भाउ पनि दुई पैसा तोकिदिए

माया गर्छु भन्नेले मुटुमा प्वाल खोपिदिए
हितौषी मानेकाले ढाडमा छुरा रोपिदिए

यस्तो गर्छु उस्तो गर्छु भन्नेहरू धेरै थिए
हात बाँधी सुती सुती गफमात्र ठोकिदिए

खुराफाती जम्मा भए स्वार्थका सल्लाह भए
इमान्दारका कुरालाई छलले छोपिदिए

युग आए युग गए धर्मात्मा हुँ भन्ने भए
तिनलेनै अध्यात्मामा दुष्ट मन चोपिदिए

गेडी छन्जेल आफ्ना रहे नहुँदा टेडी भए
सुक्नला घाऊमा पनि काँडैकाँडा घोपिदिए

अरुका भाव फाल्तु पाए अफ्नाको जय गाए
यी शब्दको भाउ पनि दुई पैसा तोकिदिए

आफ्नो मुटुमा प्रेमीको वास जमायौ तिमीले

आधा जिएपछि मेरो हात समायौ तिमीले
अटुट माया पाएर आँसु थमायौ तिमीले

शरीरको सुन्दरतामै शान मान्दै उहिले
उपेक्षाका अगुल्टाहरूले डमायौ तिमीले

जिन्दगी हरपल सुख भन्नेसम्झी हिंड्थ्यौ
अरुसँग मात्र खुशी खोज्दै रमायौ तिमीले

भमराहरू घुम्दै गर्दा होश सबै गुमायौ
बदनाम पनि सबैतिर कमायौ तिमीले

धरातल भासिएपछि भान भएर होला
ढुकढुकीलाई भावनाले छमायौ तिमीले

आखिरमा अजम्बरी माया गर्नेलाई चिनेर
आफ्नो मुटुमा प्रेमीको वास जमायौ तिमीले

Rumor has it, my daughter teaches her teachers!

My little one is now seventeen months old. She has started going to day care and it has already been two months or so. Initially, she wasn't thrilled about it. But, now when I drop her off, she waves bye-bye and gives me a flying kiss.

When she started there, she had just learned about forty or so words, I would say thirty of them Nepali and rest ten were English words. Of course, her first word was 'Baba', meaning dad. :) She has learned so much now, I don’t even keep a count.

As she started there, her artillery of words had majority of Nepali words. So when her teachers tried to teach her how to say things in English that she already knew in Nepali, she would instead respond by asserting the Nepali version of the word.

For example, when teachers tried to tell her 'light' by showing a light bulb, she would respond by insisting on saying the word 'batti', which means light or a bulb in Nepali. She also told them that 'yogurt' is 'dahi', her friends are either 'dada' meaning brother, or 'didi' meaning sister.

So, the other day Bindu told me that Kavya's teachers told her that they now know a few Nepali words. I am assuming that they do not know much about Nepal (I could be wrong here). But, now they know a few Nepali words. What fun!

Well, diversity has a lot to offer. I guess, this one is one of those perks.

Gajal from a Guest : सबैलाई आफ्नै चटारो छ यहाँ

Recently I have been reading a lot of gajals from various sources, trying to learn the art of writing it. I came across many good ones. Not by renowned authors whom I had known earlier but by simple folks writing them just for the shake of sharing with friends on online platforms. I believe that there are no great poets or gajalkars, just great poetry or gajals. Anybody can write a good poem or a gajal or a literary piece, and even so called great poets or gajalkars can write mediocre ones. Anyways I am sharing one written by Prakash Bhabuk (Prince Prakash) of Kadaghari, Gothatar, Kathmandu (with his permission). I will post more good ones from others  if I get permissions.

सबैलाई आफ्नै चटारो छ यहाँ

-प्रिन्स प्रकाश, काँडाघारी, गोठाटार, काठमाडौ

बोली र वचन नै साह्रो छ यहाँ

सबैलाई आफ्नै चटारो छ यहाँ ।

माग्नेले मागिदे भैहाल्छ थोरै,

पुर्‍याउन कति गाह्रो छ यहाँ ।

जसले खसाल्छ बोलेकै भरमा,

दहीचिउरे पनि प्यारो छ यहाँ ।

  

गरेको देखिसहन्नन् कसैले,

सबैको आँखाको तारो छ यहाँ ।

बाँकी नै के छ र गर्न सडकमा,

नहिँड्नू धुलो र छारो छ यहाँ ।

तर्केर हिँड्छु म पनि अचेल,

मेरो त धेरै उधारो छ यहाँ ।

कसले भन्छ र गर्दिनँ विकास,

गर्नेलाई ठूलो तगारो छ यहाँ ।

Prakash has his own blog here: http://www.dearprakash.blogspot.com/

माया त खिया लागेको खुकुरी पो भएछ

माया त खिया लागेको खुकुरी पो भएछ 
मुटु भने झुण्ड्याएको सुकुटी भएछ 

नसोध अचानोसँगको भेट कस्तो हुन्छ
रहरहरू सिर्फ दापमा कैद भएछ 

बिर्सिएछ जोशिएर  ठोक्किनु कस्तो हुन्छ
उमङ्ग त लड्या लडै अशक्त पो भएछ 

आँखा वरिपरी अन्धकार बादल घुम्छ 
आशा त दिनानुदिन निसासिंदै गएछ

मक्किएर दापपनि एकदिन त झर्छ 
खियाले त खुकुरीनै  छिया छिया भएछ 

हो, म हर रात टिल्ल हुनेगरी पिउने गर्छु

हो, म हर रात टिल्ल हुनेगरी पिउने गर्छु
बाँकि रहेको जिन्दगी छिटो छिटो जिउने गर्छु

आँसु नझारी भक्कानिएर धुरु धुरु रुने गर्छु
दु:ख र पीडालाई  रक्सीलेनै धुने गर्छु

उनको माया नपाईकन म त अब जिउन सक्दिन
उनी जसको भए पनि म अरु कसैको हुनै सक्दिन

जीवन जगत संसार अब मेरा लागि हुँदै होइन
एउटै वियोग काफी भयो घाउ भरिने आशै छैन

म देखि मृत्यु डराओस् मलाई कुनै डरै छैन
आज हो कि भोलि अन्त्य मेरो कुनै भरै छैन

हो, म हर रात टिल्ल हुनेगरी पिउने गर्छु
बाँकि रहेको जिन्दगी छिटो छिटो जिउने गर्छु

भानुभक्त अनि पारिजातहरू

साहित्यको आकाश उदायमान
घाँसीका साथी
निराशाकी रानी
भानुभक्त अनि पारिजात
तिमीहरू मोतिरामहरूका मात्रै होइन
धेरै नेपालीका मुटुमा छौ

जबसम्म बिहानीको उदय हुनेछ
तबसम्म भानुको योगदानको चर्चा हुनेछ
जबसम्म रातको अँध्यारो रहनेछ
तबसम्म पारिजातका शिरिसका फूलहरू फुल्नेछन्

भानु अनि पारिजात
तिमीहरूको सम्झनामा
मैले मात्र होइन्
तिम्रा कृतिका हरेक पाठक पारखीहरूले
तिमीहरूलाई मुटुभरि सँगालेर राखेका छन्
तिमीहरूले राखेका एक एक इटाहरू
आज घर बन्दै गइरहेका छन्

हे आदिकवि अनि
हे पहाडकी छेकुडोल्मा
बुझिराख तिमीहरूको शुरुवातले
धेरैको पाखुरामा उत्साह र प्रेरणाको सुइ लगाइएको छ
तिमीहरूले रोपेको अनि गोडेको वृक्ष
आज धेरैबाट जल पाएर
विकसित भाषाको
जीवन्त साहित्य संसारमा
अक्सिजन फ्याँकिरहेछ

भानुभक्त अनि पारिजातहरू
तिमीहरूप्रति हामीहरू
कृतज्ञ छौं ।
तिमीहरूप्रति हामीहरू
कृतज्ञ छौं ।

Is there a ‘Free Will’?

A silent mind is a thousand times better than a thinking mind, so I would like to avoid this question so much. However, my body and mind are also conditioned to think and I still cannot dissolve thoughts, that I do not want to pursue, at the moment of arising and pondering. It is because I am not fully aware at every moment of arising of thoughts.

I think there is a free will to choose our actions. We can make decisions about what to do at the moment of arising of a thought. Whether to act or not act according to a thought is at will of our mind. But there is a caveat, that ‘will’ to perform certain action can be attributed to mind only if we are fully aware at that moment.

Sometimes, thoughts arise in mind and we ponder or take some actions without being fully aware. What happens there? Thoughts come to us and we perform actions without being aware. In such cases, we cannot say we exercised our will because we were not aware. Then who decided for us to do stuff without us being aware? Something for more thinking.

One area where I think we do not have free will is on what thoughts come to our mind. In fact, we can never tell what thoughts will come to us in next 20 minutes or tomorrow morning. Yes we have free will to pursue the thought or reject it at arising if we are fully aware at that moment. But the arising of various thoughts themselves, that we do not have control over. We cannot originate a thought because that would be thinking inside thinking. So, we rely on thoughts that come to us. And what thought comes to us when is not something we can choose.

I do think that it benefits us if we are fully aware as much as we can so that we can dismiss ‘bad‘ thoughts and pursue ‘good’ thoughts. This may lead us to good karma. Good karma in turn may lead to good results and even better thoughts coming to us. May be meditation, good food, exercise, service to others, charity, etc also help in bringing good thoughts? May be we should watch, listen, and say only good things so that only good thoughts come to us. That way, even if we cannot be aware all the time to accept or reject a thought, ensuring that only good thoughts are coming to us will help? Who knows?

Enough thinking already!

नेपाली साहित्य, विस्कनसिन, म्याडिसनको एउटा डेराबाट !

     म्याडिसनमा नेपाली साहित्यमा रुचि राख्ने दुइचार साथी मिलेर हरेक तिन तिन महिनामा  कोठे कवि गोष्ठी गर्ने प्रचलन  छ । यो प्रचलन सुरु गर्ने श्रेय आदरणीय दाजु दिनार श्रेष्ठ, जो कवि, लेखक, अनि नेपाली  साहित्यका अनुरागी  हुनुहुन्छ,  उहाँलाई जान्छ । यो गोष्ठी पालै  पालो गर्ने क्रमःमा केहि हप्ता अघि मे २६, २०१३, आइतबारको दिन मेरो डेरामा आयोजना भएको थियो ।

     मेरी आमा, मेरी जीवनसाथी बिन्दु अनि  म कार्यक्रमको लागि भोजन तयार गर्न बिहानैदेखि लागिपरेका थियौं । मेरी पन्ध्र महिनाकी छोरी काव्या  लामिछानेले भान्सामा सहयोग त गर्न सक्ने त कुरै भएन तर कैले के पोखिदीएर, कैले के छरिदिएर, भान्साको काम सारै रोचक बनाउने गर्छिन् | हाम्रो परिवारसंग नजिक बहिनी डा समी खनाल, जो कार्यक्रममा श्रोता भएर सहभागी थिईन, उनले कार्यक्रमको लागि खाजाको तयारीमा पनि निकै सहयोग गरिन् |

     कविता भन्ने मात्र होइन कथा, गीत, चुटकिला या अन्य कुनै रोचक सामग्री प्रस्तुत गर्ने, अनि सुन्न इच्छा राख्नेमात्र पनि सहभागी हुने कार्यक्रमको चलन छ  | आफैले लेखेको कविता भन्नेहरूमा अविमन पसछें, आविस्कार भारती, दिनार श्रेष्ठ र म थियौं | डा नरेन्द्र थापा दाईले कसरी आफु कलेज पढ्दा आफ्नो एउटा साथी प्रेममा परेर कविता लेख्न थाल्यो भन्ने किस्सा सुनाउनु भयो | डा राकेश मण्डल दाईले गितार बजाएर गीत सुनाउनु भयो | सुरेन्द्र प्रजापती भाईले गणितीय हाजिर जवाफ ढाचाको प्रश्न सोधेर सबको मन जित्नुभयो | बिन्दुले आफ्नो एउटा साथीले लेखेको प्रेम सम्बन्धि मुक्तक सुनाएर नरेन्द्र दाईको साथीको किस्सालाई झन् टेवा दिईन |

     मेरी आमा एक बर्षको अमेरिका बसाइपछि  पर्सिपल्ट नेपाल फर्कदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो | ‘मेमोरिअल डे’ साता परेकोले बिन्दुको भाई, अच्युत तिमिल्सिना, पनि डि. सी. देखि भेटघाटको लागि म्याडिसन आएका थिए | कार्यक्रममा धन मल्ल, राजिव कर्ण, सुष्मा कर्ण, देबकी आले, रन्जिता मण्डल, युजेन थापा र अर्यमन मण्डलको पनि उपस्थिति थियो | कार्यक्रमको अन्त्यमा दिनार दाईले डामाडोल डट कम बाट साभार गरिएको शैलेन्द्र सिम्खडाको ‘सून र स्वास्नी’ भन्ने कविता बाचन गरेर सबैलाई हसाउनु भयो | कार्यक्रममा सुनाइएका तीन  कविता तल पेश गरेको छु |

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चटक को दर्शक म                                            
 - अबिमन पसछें

चटक को दर्शक म
एकछिन रमाउन खोज्छु

भुक्तान गरिसकेको आँसुको
सट्टा केहि हाँस्न  खोज्छु

लामखुट्टेको संगीतमा लट्ठयाउँदै
झेल्ली गरि चुसिएका रगतहरु
ठगिएका पसिना बगेर
झन् भासिएका धरातलहरु
भुल्न चाहन्छु म

चटक को दर्शक म
एकछिन रमाउन खोज्छु

समय असाक्षेप यात्राबाट
पूर्णबिश्राम चाहन्छु म

ढेदुमानवको लगाममा
हिंडेका बाँदरहरुको हुलबाट 
खुल्लामंचमा भेला हुने
थरि थरिका भेंडाहरुबाट
छुटिन चाहन्छु म
 
चटक को दर्शक म
एकछिन रमाउन खोज्छु

हुट्टीट्याउंको आवाजबाट
टाढिन  चाहन्छु म

भविष्यलाई थाँती राखी
सभ्यता रोक्नेहरुलाई 
अगुवा भएर पनि
बामे नसर्ने हरुलाई
बहिस्कार गर्न चाहन्छु म

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बन्द बाकस भित्र आज एउटा लाश आएछ
 - आविस्कार भारती

आर्य घाटमा बन्द बाकस भित्र आज एउटा लाश आएछ
आफन्त हैन भन्ने थाहा पायेर अलिकती सास आएछ
भन्थ्यो सारा संसारको सुख तिमीलाई दिन्छु
आफु मात्र हैन तिमीसाथ हुँदा संसारै बिर्सिन्छु
सुटुक्क कानमा माया गर्छु तिमीलाई भन्थ्यो लजाएर
गयो पर्देश उ भबिश्यको स्वर्निम सपना कती सजाएर
डर लाग्छ यो बन्द बाकसले भोली को बोकी आउने हो
फर्क मेरो माया आफ्नै देशमा केही गरेपनी त भो
सम्झी यो बाकस उकुश्मुकुसिएको मनको तडप उर्लिरहन्छ
भोको-पय्सी तिमी घोटिरहँदा आत्मा मेरो यहाँ जलिरहन्छ
आर्य घाटमा बन्द बाकस भित्र आज एउटा लाश आएछ
आफन्त हैन भन्ने थाहा पायेर अलिकती सास आएछ ।।

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म, म होइन रहेछु 
 - सन्तोष लामिछाने

चट्टानको चुचुरमा चप्पल नलगाई हिड्न खोज्ने
तर
विलाशको डस्नामा उत्सव मनाइ रमिता गर्न पुग्ने
म, म होइन रहेछु  ।

आदर्शका कुरा गर्ने
तर
अभावमा आत कमाऊने
मुटुमा ताला लगाइ
नैतिकतालाइ तराजुमा जोख्ने
म, म होइन रहेछु  ।

उच्च विचार बोक्ने
तर
नक्कली गाथा समेटेर
निभेको दियोको प्रतीक बन्ने
म, म होइन रहेछु  ।

अटुट माया र संवेदनाका किनारमा उभिएर
सत्य र धर्मलाई चिहाइमात्र राख्ने
धुँवा र धुलोमा नुहाएर
पलायनलाई अँजुलीभरि राखेर
टाउकोमा सिउरने
अनि शब्दको साहरामा
कर्मलाई संक्षेपमा सहज बनाइदिने
म त, म होइन रहेछु  ।
म त, म होइन रहेछु  ।

What have I learned from my fifteen month old daughter?

Many of you already know that I have a fifteen month old daughter. Of course, I have a lot of praises for her about how gorgeous she is and blah blah blah..after all, she is my daughter. So, I am not going to talk about how madly I like her.

As a child she is learning new things all the time. Every day, I am amazed how quickly she is learning so many things. However, you will be surprised how many things she has taught me, or I would say reminded me, or reinforced on me.

I tend to think we are all children no matter how old we are. We are always learning things and there are some things that we have never learnt or have learnt inadequately. My little daughter has made me realize some of those things. First and foremost she has taught me to be selfless. Yes, I have become less selfish after her arrival.

She has taught me to be more patient. As I interact with her more, my level of patience as naturally grown.

She has taught me to be more forgiving.

She has taught me to be more kind.

She has taught me to be more responsible. I no longer sleep all morning and stay all night just as an example.

Yes, children do require some work, but benefits far outweigh the cost. I hope I will be able to say the same when she is a teenager. :)

Non-duality

Before thinking, judging, rationalizing, using brain as a tool; what is it that enables brain to do so? Does the ability to perceive exist because of brain or is it the presence of That that lets your brain function? Certainly, That came first, then the brain could think. What is that That? Is that That the same That which permeates all the beings, matter, and every manifestation that there is? 'I' - a pointer to That 'my' brain can perceive - am That, and That is 'I'. There is no separate me, I, we, they, or you. There is That. Just That. This is non dualism; oneness. Advaita !

अर्थ

सुनका कोपरा हुनेहरू 
भोक ओढेर 
निराहार लमतन्न पल्टेका केटाकेटीका
आँखामा आँखा मिलाई  
सम्पन्नताको अर्थ बुझाउन सक्छौ?

ईश्वरमा विश्वास गर्छु  भन्नेहरू 
आँखाको बदला आँखा फुटाउदा 
गोलीको बदला बम पड्काउदा 
ज्यान गुमाएका निर्दोष निहत्थाको लासमाथि उभिएर
धर्मको अर्थ बुझाउन सक्छौ ?

भौतिक भोगको लागि घम्साघम्सी गर्नेहरू  
एक्लोपनमा आत्मदाह गर्ने धनकुबेरहरूलाई 
हस्याङफस्याङमा सधै बेचैन हुनेलाई 
अनि 
अरुको राम्रो देखेर डाह भई
लुटपाट हानमार गर्नेलाई 
तिम्रा शैक्षिक प्रमाणपत्र च्यापेर 
सन्तुष्टिको अर्थ बुझाउन सक्छौ ?

अन्तरिक्षमा रकेट पठाउनेहरू 
मंगल यात्राको टिकट काट्नेहरू 
यहि धर्तीमा मामुली झाडा पखालाले 
लाखौँ मानिसको मृत्यु हुँदा 
ति बीभत्स दृश्यको वारिपरि 
बिकासको अर्थ बुझाउन सक्छौ ?

मुखमा राम राम 
बगलीमा छुरा हुनेहरू
व्यवहारमा बेकाम
ठुला ठुला कुरा हुनेहरू
अन्तर्मनको ऐना हेरेर
सत्य अनि झुटको अर्थ बुझाउन सक्छौ ?

बिचरी चरी / Poor Little Bird

I wrote this poem when I was about eleven years old. I read it today, and found it quite good (at least for my sensibilities). Here it is for you:

बिचरी चरी

आहा कति राम्री स्यानी चरी
हाँस्छे खेल्छे सधैंभरि
चारा ख्वाउँछे बचेराहरूलाई
बरु आफू नखाई नखाई
जहिले पनि गाउँछे खेल्छे
दुःख सुख एक्लै झेल्छे
भुर्र उड्छे यता उति
चिं ! चिं ! स्वर मीठो कति ?

चरी एकदिन उड्दै जाँदा
एक शिकारीले गुलेली हान्दा
चरीलाई लाग्छ उनी खस्छिन्
रक्ताम्य हुँदै पक्लक्कै मर्छिन्
विचरा बचेराहरू विचरी चरी
कस्तो निष्ठुरी निर्मम शिकारी
कति राम्री थिइन स्यानी चरी
च्वँ ! च्वँ  ! च्वँ  ! कठैबरी !

English Translation Attempt:

Poor Little Bird

Wow, such a nice little bird.
Plays and laughs all the time.
Feeds her little baby birds,
without saying its all mine.
She sings and plays every time.
Be it rain or delightful shine.
There she goes, here and there.
Spreads around melodious rhyme.

One day when she was flying.
A killer shoots at her badly.
Full of blood she lies crying.
Sadly, she dies instantly.
Pity to her babies, pity to the poor bird.
What a ruthless  heartless killer!
So wonderful was the little bird,
terrible, I feel for the little bird.

साक्षी

भावनाको घोप्टेभीर
मनको जोगीमारामा
घुम्ती बदल्छ
अनि आकांक्षाका खोरियामा
कुकुर जोधाइ सुरु हुन्छ

रित्तोपन लुकाऊँदै
शासकहरु हात बाँधेर
मुकुण्डो कसाऊँछन्
अनि एउटा नौटंकी
जिन्दगी सुरु गर्छ

पहिराहरु आतुर छन्
धरातल उल्टाऊँन
भूकम्पहरु खुट्टा उचाल्छन
धर्ती हल्लाऊँन
बाढीहरु सल्बल छन्
सिर्जना बगाऊँन

ध्वजा पताका फिजारिन्छ
रङ्गमञ्च सजिन्छ
गीत रचिन्छ
सङ्गीत पस्किइन्छ
बिस्तारै चिहान उठ्न थाल्छ
सपना बिपना जस्तै लाग्न थाल्छ
दर्शक भुलिन्छ्न्
सिठ्ठी बजाइन्छ
ताली पड्काइन्छ

विश्वविद्यालयहरु निरर्थक हुन्छन्
प्राध्यापकहरु घुँडा टेकेर
ज्ञानको भीख माग्न थाल्छन्
ढुंगाका  मुर्तीहरु
पैतालाका डोबहरुले भरिन्छन्
बुद्धिजीवीहरु भँडखारामा पुरिन्छन्
तक्मा भिर्ने मै हुँ भन्नेहरु
बन्दीगृहका कैदीमा चुनिन्छन्

कोलाहल ठप्प छ
मस्तिष्क थाङ्नामा सुत्दछ
निडर निरुत्साहित
एउटा साक्षी
सिर्फ हेरिरहन्छ
सुनिरहन्छ
आँखा खोलेर अनि आँखा बन्द गरेर
सधैं ब्युँझिरहन्छ
अनि ब्युँझ्याइरहन्छ
अनवरत
एउटा साछी ब्युँझिरहन्छ
ब्युँझ्याइरहन्छ

Why are we getting busier and busier?

To be frank, I do not have any new answer that is not out there somewhere. I believe we are getting busier and busier every day because we are all becoming more and more materialistic. We need many things and services to enhance our sense of self. Some of which, we genuinely need, but a sizable portion of it, we can do away with.

Only if we were all less materialistic, we could just be working 30 hours a week or even less and still manage to have the things essential for us. It is not unknown that there are countries and cultures that are perfectly functional and advancing even with less work hours. They have a better social dynamic that values leisure, family time,  and social time over the individual materialistic ambitions. They have social norms that are more favorable for people to be relaxed.

This is not in any way to say that work is bad, work is great joy if it is done with passion. However, many of us also may have experienced that sometimes there is not just enough time to pursue hobbies, passions, social life, and endeavors of tranquility. Why is our life so hectic? Can we change it? Can one change it? The answer is Yes. However, one needs a lot of conviction to do it alone. It helps when close ones support and helps further if everyone around keeps similar attitude.

What will happen if what is going on goes on? You may be fine, if you inherited a lot of wealth that you do not need to worry about being busy to meet your needs. That is, only as long as your needs are in the range that your wealth can handle. You may also be fine, if you have a  natural state that desires only basic requirements of life no matter what the world thinks. Otherwise, our lives will become even busier. Everyone will have to work harder and harder. The bar will get higher and  higher for future generations.

Why we do what we do?

Well, there must be many reasons. However, I can think of one reason that can galvanize many motivations behind doing anything. I think, we love to experience things. Whether through our own life or through stories, movies, art, and expressions; we love to experience myriad of things.

We cook to experience a taste. We read to experience something real or imaginary that has been expressed by someone else. We watch movies, emotionally involved, to get a feel of many experiences that we cannot directly go through. We write, create, or express ourselves so that others can relate to us and enjoy our experiences. We dance, sing, entertain, cry, and do many things that will not only enrich us but will cater to others' desire to experience things.

I write, mostly in Nepali, and I am in the process of publishing my first book. However, I was wondering for a long time to know why would I want to publish? What can I contribute to the world that it already does not have? Then I realized that no matter how insignificant one may think, the experience I have gone through is unique in itself. So, if I publish a book with my expressions that reflect my unique perspective shaped by my one of a kind life experience, may be it will help others experience a story, creation, or life through my words. That I think would be pretty significant.

In a nutshell, I think it is the desire to experience a variety of things that drives us to play sports, go on adventures, read, write, watch, cook, create, act, dance,...whatever comes to mind.