Sleeping in a Pomegranate...

Here’s one that no one, except me, remembers… Or believes…

It was late – almost closing time at the coffeehouse. I sat alone - occupying one couch, but, two tables (as always) – lost in the shade of another sketch. Each stroke was, as if, a breath – alive!

The last couple came to an agreement, and walked out, thanking Marissa for the quality services, I suppose. Marissa passed her little warm smile, which she never seemed to fake, and started clearing the counter.

She then walked towards the door, and flipped the open-closed sign at the window. With the tray in hand, she started collecting all the lonely cups left behind on a few tables.

I still remember her humming Evaporated by Ben Folds Five, which played in the backdrop.

This was it, I always felt. This very moment was everything I ever wanted out of my life. Simple silence…

I always believed that time freezes when you are at your happiest, or, having a near-death experience. I also believed, that in both situations, a sudden calm takes over you – as if you had lost yourself somewhere in the experience. This was one of those moments.

I could now hear a 12-stringed guitar softly-plucked in the background – it was that song by Loose Fur.

As I placed the sketch-pad in my bag, I could hear Marissa whisper the words, not at all in-sync with the song:

“If I sleep too much, a good Chinese Apple – shine to touch, my sweet-feeling capital – it’s hard to change, something supernatural…”

She almost crashed on the couch opposite mine, and, after about 48 seconds of silence, she broke with a few words…

(This one’s badly paraphrased)

It’s a Chinese secret…
The Chinese Apple always reminds me of that painting by Salvador Dali – Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate One Second Before Awakening… A fish ate the pomegranate seeds, which was eaten by a tiger, who was shot by man – all of it, to impress a woman…
That painting in itself reminds me of the little piece by Kahlil Gibran in The Madman. The one where he tries sleeping in the heart of a pomegranate, but can’t, because of the number of seeds - each communicating its dreams and desires with the other. Eventually, he moves into the heart of a pear – where the seeds are few, and only silence prevails…

I was dazed. I couldn’t grasp the purpose of the story, however, the essence… it was extraordinary.

I left the coffeehouse with a bit of a rush in my head that night. It also turned out to be the last time I ever got to meet Marissa…

Sigh!

Times are Hard for the Dreamers...

I've been running on dry ice, I feel. I got a clouded sky, and yet, no rain. Gets humid.
If I knock my head hard enough, I start hearing that metallic clank noise. If I knock my chest hard enough, I hear a Swedish guy say, "Yaa - Timbbaaarrr!"

"Where is my rain...?"
I can hear Sue's voice in my head - "Where is my Ram...?"

The whole rainforest is running dry, and, as always, I have no control over it. I can just sit back, look up, and wait... Patiently...

And, we've been telling ourselves and everyone else that we have complete control over our lives. All those school notes, the 5 year plans, corporate ladders, savings accounts, inflows, outflows...

What a drill...

"Sitting silently, doing nothing. Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself."
- Basho

Meera's n Zorba's...

“She dances while his father plays guitar – she’s suddenly beautiful...”

That’s my favourite line from Mr. Jones (the rare acoustic version) by Counting Crows. It’s one of those lines that always plays in my head and eventually pushes me to start singing the song.

Gypsy Feet is finally complete – well, almost. The end credits, a few brush-up filters, and I will have the 20 minute flick ready. It has been such a long trip though – almost 6 months of moody shooting hours and editing sessions. The songs from the film have now become songs I have fallen in love with. The voiceover constantly plays in my head, every night, until I finally fall asleep. And yet, after all this passion I seem to be a stranger to the piece.

I have been so close to the project, that I now need an outsider’s opinion to know how it feels...
It’s the strangest thing...

It almost gets to a point where I feel it’s too draggy, or even boring, at times.

That, I assume, is the difference between a man constantly struggling to be creative, and a woman naturally creating life… I don’t think I’ve ever heard a mother say “oh my son is fairly ugly and boring! What do you think, John? How is he from your angle?”

Although, these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear a mother say that.
Everyone seems to have lost that... Art.

Eastern cultures are generally supposed to be artistic though. The Japanese, for example – simply artistic with all aspects of life. It’s the whole Zen path that they believe in. All about focusing on the task, falling in love with it, and eventually getting lost in it. Becoming nothing but a small part of your own creation.

Even while killing each other, the Samurais like to be artistic about it! Waving their swords in some calculated cosmic balance. Ribbons appear from all four sides, crouching tigers, hidden dragons...

The guy dying eventually ends up saying “I m honoured!”
*Chop!

I am posting up a few frames from the film – some of the artistic moments, I think. Except for the Psychotic Barista -- that’s just me playing it natural...

Twirl...

5199 Discourses...

"How I came to live with Lao Tzu, is that Choithram had this toy..."
The line had been floating in my head for many days now, but, I just never came through with the post. It was, of course, taken from the original FightClub line - "How I came to live with Tyler, is that Airlines have this policy..."

Before I could post it, my Zen Master left.
I m still linking the dots...
It's the oddest thing...

I remember our first meeting, and our last moment -- and everything in between. From a child to an adult to letting go, he appeared to be in-tune with this lame cosmic joke.

We live with so many superficial layers, that something basic and ordinary eventually becomes extrordinary.

In a perfect world, me and Lao Tzu would've chilled together -- forever...


"You complete me -- tear!"
- Dr Evil, Austin Powers 2