Straight from Kalarkode to Thirumala- The Unconventional Meditation Technique

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                  Is it possible to maintain your calm and put on a healthy smile while elbowing your way through people and traffic and some dust and oh yes mud? Your face might have probably frowned or made some kind of weird expression from what you just read. An obvious No from you. But let me tell you something. Yes, you can. Yes, you definitely can. Because it's tried and tested from me. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy and refreshed I feel after this  2km walk in the evening. But the trick is to make yourself understand that this is possible. I'll tell you why and how I kept my calm and happiness. First: The Why. Traveling by auto from Kalarkode to Thirumala will cost you Rs 40. I didn't want to spend Rs.40 daily. Because make that 5 times a week and this alone will rip from me  at least Rs.600 in a month. ( I'm not being stingy. I'm saving up for something) . You still wonder where all your money goes? And it goes without saying that walking is too good for you! It's a full body workout and believe me it's fun. ( Provided you do it the right way ) . 
                
   Now, The How. Just remember to be happy and remember to observe keenly. I was amazed at all the new discoveries I made. All the little shops with freshly made ' Vazhakkapam' ( Banana fritters) and steaming cups of tea and coffee. Along this road, there are a lot of teeny tiny shops with crippled chairs in the front.  You will listen to the hot debates of the old men. " No, be it, Modi or Rajeev Gandhi, Indians won't change". His companion in a wrinkled lungi will fight back. I realised that what I did was simply find perfection in the imperfect. While rushing in our cars and huffing on our motorbikes to get to our offices as soon as possible, how many times have we forgotten that in the ordinary lies the extraordinary? 
The people in front of the medical shops lingering a little longer to chat with the sales person about the weather, the busy line in front of the doctor's clinic. And as a bus rushes past you, you sway a bit to the side. and when you finally get your balance, on the right you will see a radio shop with old Hindi songs blaring from it. You have to listen properly for it tends to get lost in all the other sounds of  the NH. The happy yet tired kids walking from somewhere to somewhere, clearly not engaged in the moment. And my oh my the healthy dogs with shiny coats sleeping by the side. I haven't ever seen a more peaceful living being. Now from this main road, there are various side roads. They are often blessed with healthy plants and thick bushes on the side, making the view more mysterious and beautiful. And the kind of emotions you go through on seeing the Punnapara Vayalar Memorial. Wow.The best weather to walk through this busy road to find your peace is the moody one with a light cold breeze. And finally,
when you reach home, your hamstrings might cry a little for they are new to this. But that soon goes away and then you have with you the stories of the common man.