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
Suresh,
As always, spoken from the heart – and so TRUE!! I also believe that GOD makes these words come from our minds/mouths/fingers.
In regard to your comment about the Earth being MY responsibility, I am reminded of this anecdote about the Dalai Lama. Apparently, there was this interview on BBC where the lady interviewer was quizzing the Dalai Lama on a huge host of subjects, amongst which she came to energy abuse, and related Global Warming, and asked for HIS views on the subject.
The Dalai Lama is supposed to have replied – I do not now much about these things. There are more learned people who can answer these questions. However, whenever I leave a room, I switch off the lights. If only everyone did that (switching off electricity when not needed), I think there might not be a energy problem.
So simple, and yet so true. Similarly, I think it is each person’s duty to ensure that they DO THEIR BIT for the earth and in doing so, they will transform themselves and a million others to do so. You have just reminded me of such an important thing.
the other aspect is about SILENCE – how beautiful it is and how much it speaks!
May you be blessed to share these thoughts with others for a long time. GOD speaks through many voices, and in MY mind, he SURELY speaks through yours!
GOD bless you!
GS
G S
June 24, 2009 at 1:49 am
Hi Suresh
I likes what you have written on each aspect.
Here is some line i would like to share with you on Silence from Savitri.
In absolute silence sleeps an absolute Power.
In the mind’s silence the transcendent acts
And the hushed hear hears the unuttered Word.
Silence the mystic birthplace of the soul.
preeti
June 24, 2009 at 9:44 am
your connectivity to that eternal nowhere vibrantly lets one to connect too….
beyond words of adoration…
mergingpoint
June 28, 2009 at 5:56 am
wow.
Sanjay M
July 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Off late sitting down has always been elusive enough that I’d become consistent at missing it. Though doing well externally, inwardly I felt lost and disconnected from myself. This much needed kick in my lazy procrastinating a$$!
After reading this post I felt compelled to not procrastinate any more, but just sit immersed in silence and a reasonable amount of some (attempted) awareness for well over an hour. I feel refreshed and invigorated like a new man now!
This is one page I definitely want to revisit again and again in future. The depth of it makes me rejoice right now… but gut feeling is that as I sit more every day its one of the things I will appreciate better over time. Thank you Suresh!
Sanjay M
July 1, 2009 at 3:26 pm
wow!!!s u p e r !!! SUPERSHOP GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER
WONDERFUL POST HAS GOT INDEPTH IN IT
AGREE WITH SANJAY IN TOTO. NO WAY i CAN DIFFER TOO
THANKS SURESHJI
PRANESH
praneshachar
July 2, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Cool! photography.
I bookmark your blog to my list. Thank
peter
July 24, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Nice post. I have felt similarly many times while taking photos or when I am on a biking trip. The essence has been captured very well in the post.
Kishore
July 25, 2009 at 12:25 pm
awesome, my friend! what a beauiful list! i think i can agree to all these.
And thank you for being my inspiration for blogging and photography 3 years ago, when I started.
axinia
August 13, 2009 at 10:59 am