The road oft taken

That Subtle Essence!

"Bring me a fruit of that Banyan Tree."
"Here it is, venerable Sir."
"Break it."
"It is broken, venerable Sir."
"What do you see there?"
"These seeds, exceedingly small."
"Break one of these, my son."
"It is broken, venerable Sir."
"What do you see there?"
"Nothing at all, venerable Sir."
The father said: :That subtle essence, my dear, which you do not perceive there - from that very essence this great Banyan arises. Believe me, my dear, Now, that which is the sublte essence - in it all that exists has its self. That is the True. That is the Self. Thou art that, Svetaketu.
- The Chhandogya Upanishad, Chapter 12.

The Stray - True Survivor in Pondicherry

In a pavement reigned by rabid, flea-infested dogs, this little stray, seemingly lost, was scavenging for scraps. She would wait for the dogs to walk away and then come out of her hideout. This was one such moment. She seemed to have a tenacity about her. Her attitude reflecting on how much she might have seen in her little time in this world. I wonder if she was with her mother or just separated. Despite the survivor in her, there was a beautiful innocence, that seemed untouched by all that's there around her.