Except you, Everybody else is taken!
Agency: TBWA, Paris
Creative Director: Erik Vervroegen
Copywriter: Veronique sels, Daniel Perez
Art Director: Ingrid Varetz, Javier Rodriguez
Photographer: Michael Lewis
Why Imitate? Why Copy? You are so special that there is nobody like you, you are unique and there is nobody out there like you.
Except you, everybody else is taken,
This universe is special because of you!
You have always been told and reminded again and again to become someone, you have been always taught that somebody else is great and you should become like him or her.
There is no need , with all flaws and flairs, You are the creation of this universe, That’s enough to make you special.
if only and if you can relax with your being, then you will see new doors openings for you, Struggle in life is always to become someone else. The moment you relax and accept yourself – you will see a great tension disappearing from you.
All schools and colleges teaches you at “pay attention” – “Attention” exactly means “at tension.” so in other words you learn soon to “pay at tension”
The moment you relax in your being then a great tension goes away. This tension is the biggest obstacle for your growth in life. if you remove this tension then sooner or later you will hear the tune of your life before the music plays!
The moment you relax and accept yourself, You start living in this moment and any one who lives moment to moment bound to receive universal grace, This whole earth showers you with goodies when you live in this moment and you will realise how special you are!
Remember -what others think of you is none of your business!
Today , just say – you are what you are and there is no need become someone special, because you are already special.
Mediation is art of knowing that everything in this universe is made of same stuff, Meditation is art of rediscovering you are special. You are already what you want to be!
PS: this photo is one of my all time favourites, It is important to teach children that they are special and teach them to accept themselves as they are,. only when they are comfortable with their nature then they can accept others. This whole world is a war zone because we cannot accept and respect each other for what we are.
Love
Suresh
Seven spiritual lessons from my photography
Copyright Suresh Gundappa 2009
Stay silent: In order to get a fine picture all I had to do is to stay silent, stay aware, stay in the moment – I always found then the whole universe conspires to unfold magical moment in front of you. Almost all my photos are result of my silence. I learned, if I stay in awareness the same magic happens in day to day life too.
Everything is connected: when you are in forest you can see tremendous synchronicity of things. Trees, Flowers, Animals, Wind, sun – everything is connected. All you need to do is to just stay in awareness to be part of such magnificent creation. When you know everything is connected then you will realise just your intention combined with awareness is enough to create what you want in life!
Love : Love is the stuff this existence is made of, flowers release fragrance, trees give shelter, Clouds rain, Birds sing and none of them do it for payment, Some of them do it for joy, some of them do it because they do not know any other way. I Learned Love is one way traffic ..you got to give …and only when you are capable of giving, you will gain the capacity to receive.
Eyes can’t see: My eyes just can’t see as it is filled too much with knowledge, my eyes interpret everything.. this is green…this red…. this a pretty rose…. In order to take a photograph you got to open your heart. you got to live life from heart. then you can see this universe in splendour.
Man is poor , Existence is rich : After travelling across the globe and I realised it doesn’t take much to be happy, - Rain, Sun, Flower, Forest all can bring the greatest joy. I learned it doesn’t take much to be joyful. the moment you drop all reasons to be sad, existence gives thousand and one reasons to dance. I learned to find joy in little things of life.
You cannot photograph: I realised that I can never take a good photograph, I can only borrow a image from God. Just imagine if sunlight was bad or if it was cloudy or if there was no Himalayan range of mountains! I couldn’t have taken many of those splendid photos! I have never taken a photograph, i just borrowed it from this splendid earth! This moment is as it should be. I learnt art of acceptance. Everything at this moment is perfect!
Earth is my responsibility: Such splendour, such beauty, can you imagine my great grand children may miss half of the animals, trees, birds which are around today. They all might become extinct. Earth is my responsibility, I won’t leave this earth until I plant a million more flowers!
Love
Suresh
After years of struggling looks like all I need is just dancing shoes to my grave!
photo details: Sufi Dance performed by persons with Disabilities on wheel chairs and crutches
Copyright Suresh Gundappa 2009
Short Story: A parable of Love, life and dance by Suresh:
I was just three years old! I just loved the sound of drum beats! Reminds me of mummy’s heart beat when I lean on her! I just used to dance! I had only one move and my parents and family loved me! I used to sway up and down and I was super star at my house! First time I learned dancing should be the way of life because everyone is so happy because I dance!
I was five year old! I still loved dancing; I heard a song outside my school window! Promptly I got up and danced! Couple of my friends joined me and Immediately my class teacher took a stick , gave me a whack & warned me about my behaviour and she told me that I am in school to learn and get disciplined and not to dance like a stupid fellow! First time I got hurt because I felt like dancing. I learned it is important to control your dance and your happiness! Otherwise I might look stupid!
I was 10 years old! I loved what was on TV, I knew I could shake and thrust my hips better than that cabaret dancer on TV! Within no second Dad switched off TV and warned me about my vulgar behaviour! He said “I cannot dance like that!” Mom supported him and told me that “I am getting into bad habits and my character needs to be stronger “ First time I felt dancing may be sin! I have to be careful not to commit those sins often; I felt God might punish those who dance for no reason! I felt Guilty!
I was 20 years Old! I loved the music in Pub’s to glory! On that day I went to pub with my girlfriend and the atmosphere was great! I just loved that Raunchy woman who got drunk and danced! She was so drunk; she called me to shake a leg with her! I couldn’t resist the dance of someone who was careless about the world and I loved that character of woman who allowed dance to swallow her! And I joined and did pelvic dance to the claps of onlookers. I went wild and lost myself to rhythm of beats! I kissed that wild dancing woman! I have to say it was wild and nice!
My girl friend almost slapped me and left that pub in disgust due to my behaviour! She thought I am a low character asshole and she left me saying I should have had some manners to behave when I am with girlfriend at least. She didn’t see me again and we broke up! First time I felt You can only dance according to expectation of others, I felt dancing is correct only if others approve, there is nothing in it for the dancer, everything is for onlookers!
I was 30 year old and my friends called me for a dance and I was busy with my blackberry! This is no time to dance and I was talking to a customer about potential business! First time I knew I should focus more on money and my career; these are not the times to dance away! I can always dance few years later once I make money!
I was 40 year old and I was trying to dance with my daughter. She laughs hysterically and says “you don’t have moves! Dad”! You just can’t dance Dad! You are too tight and you look ugly on dance floor!
I could see she was not feeling comfortable with me and I let her join her friends. First time I learned I have little dance left in my body, There is little rhythm left in my body, I have become too stiff and rock like. I look like mannequin with no life!
I was 60 and my daughter has moved out and I am alone at my house, Across my window there is a party and I can see people dancing and I feel like watching them dance! I stand and watch them from my window and I can see lot of them are getting uncomfortable with old man watching them! So I slowly move back. I have moved away so much from dance that I can’t even watch others dancing! I feel low and felt like man with no legs!
I am 75 now……….
Now money, career, security all are there! But I don’t have a dance!
I am trying to learn dancing, I could have just learned to dance at every problem of my life, but I have travelled so far taking hard way!
I am trying to dance again like when I was just one and half year old!
Now I have learned again that dancing is the way of life!
Now I dance alone! I dance to the tune of winds and I dance to the fragrance of flowers!
Now I dance to the sound of silence!
Finally I found dancer and dancing disappear into dance! I guess this peace in dancing ! I re-discovered myself in dance!
Life is nothing but one helluva of a dance!
After years of struggling looks like all I need is dancing shoes to my grave!
- End of short story
Meditation is nothing but rediscovering dance in life! Meditation is nothing but song of life!
Come, come again and all you need is just one dance!
Love
Suresh
when you don’t have temple in your heart, how can you find your heart in temple?
When you don’t have temple in your heart? How can you find your heart in temple?
the same applies to Mosques and churches or any other places of prayer too! In fact Mohammed never believed in building Idols becasue of same reason! He felt that wherever you are , You can carry Mecca with you!
Go inside and you will rediscover yourself. Over the years Temples, Mosques, Churches were built to remind you of your inner centre. Enlightened masters over the year knew that with civilization, man would lose his centre. They wanted to create spots or energy pools where you can go back & remember your centre. Sufi’s call the way of the bleoved as “zikr” which means remembrance!
But over the years all these religious places have lost its reverence and they have become more of business places! In fact at these places you will be surrounded by people who will take you far away from your centre.
It is important you find centre in your heart because it is the only spot which is not corrupted yet! Once you find Temple in your heart then it is easy to pray at a Temple or Church!
Meditation is nothing but a way to find your center.
The ordinary mind continuously doubts; in Meditation the doubt is relaxed, the gestalt changes, you start trusting. The ordinary mind always thinks negatively; in Meditation you move to the positive; the pendulum moves from one polarity to another. The ordinary mind always desires, hankering, groping in the future; in meditation the future disappears, you are utterly here now. This moment becomes your totality, and in that very totality something, a door that has remained closed forever, opens up.
To find a center means to trust in miracles, to meditate means that things are possible without your doing anything at all. To Meditate means that you need not go anywhere and all can come to you, wherever you are. To Meditate means that the existence has not abandoned you; you can still call it forth. It has mothered you; it is not indifferent to you. In short, Finding center means believing in the impossible ! And when you believe in the impossible, it happens.
Cheers
Suresh
Prayer is meant to heal not to hurt!
I think more people get hurt by prayer than anything else. It seems biggest disillusionment and hurt in life is about the speed at which our wishes comes true.
The reason why you get hurt in prayer is because prayer has long been a business for you! You have been asking God or almighty (whoever it is!) so much that you have forgotten to thank for whatever you have. It is a paradox of life that Prayer instead becoming a healing force has become hurting act.
Prayer is nothing but deepest thanks for whatever you have and whatever you don’t have; it’s a celebration of now and this moment! In this moment when we accept everything and celebrate everything then you have created a possibility for manifestation! You create a fertile ground thru silence and that’s what prayers are meant for! to create a season for your potential to come true!
In deep prayer where you ask nothing all your dreams come true!
In a life where every single act is based upon “what’s in it for me? ”, Prayer is a fresh breeze where everything have no reason but just to celebrate, but just to love, but just to thank. Try it! For once just pray for no reason! you will find flowering inside you! You will find fresh fragrance opening up!
Make Prayer a love affair, make Prayer your inner core of being, Then suddenly you will see all your prayers are answered!
Love
Suresh
