Gautamji

 My ignorance astounds me, my naivety confounds me. I have a head full of ideas which make little sense and a heart full of optimistic hope.  I am afraid that the world is not what I imagine it to be, the little I have seen seems to prove that to me. Yet I dream, for what else could it be? Untouched from any semblance of reality. For what is reality other than what I make of it? A shared delusion we have all agreed upon, or something more individualistic. Either way I say, I'll take life as it comes, day by day. There after all, is a morning after every night, the first rays of the sun shining, piercing through the dark with their light. Yesterday as I showered, I stood there in silence, staring into the bucket of water, watching its surface ripple, pondering upon the nature of happiness and how it seems it never last while sadness prevails steadfast. Every time I feel joy, I can be sure that it won't last. But this listless melancholy has stood by me steadfast. It is funny ho...

The threads of love are precious and fragile, don't break them, with nary a thought. Once broken they do not join, even on tying the ends, they leave a knot.

We live in an RPG, we the avatar thinking that we are the one who is in control. Never knowing the actual player driving us. The avatar sees no score, he sees no maps, he sees nothing cause he is trapped, Trapped in this game world, one life to the next. Reincarnating in different times, in different forms. Living whole lifetimes accumulating score. The score called karma. The player, the soul.

Far away somewhere, when the day goes to rest, The dusk sneaks up, shyly. Like a newlywed bride. And here, in the courtyard of my dreams, someone lights up a lamp Sometimes, when with no reason at all my breaths become heavy and my eyes well up with tears unshed With a flutter, lovingly, someone caresses me, but I cannot see her.. I cannot see her.. Sometimes these hearts are unable to touch and somewhere else, emerge connections deep and old The problem was such, it made my own heart the enemy belonging to me, yet bearing the pain of another. Only my heart knows all my secrets deep How I lost all my dreams, so golden These dreams, these alone are mine, I won't ever let their reminisces go away from me

Sitting and wondering, on this chair Alone in this room I wallow in despair This unexplained feeling of doom, this mind numbing spirit leeching gloom

Transcending both time and space it takes me to another place to a vacation, a holiday while I am right where I stay Speaking what can't be expressed Soothing the mind, giving it a rest Healing the heart, making it whole Like a heavenly balm soothing my soul -gautamji 

I feel lost at sea No land in sight Helpless to help myself I've got no respite Alone with my thoughts what a dangerous place to be My thoughts have become my greatest enemy I am running but going nowhere running on a treadmill of dread I am trying but I can't escape this horrendous woeful place They go around in a loop coming back where they started like a noose around my neck pulling me to despair

Phase One : Introduction By introduction I mean, getting the basics of the language or target subject. If it is a language, as it is in my case, learn some common words and basic grammar, getting used to its sounds, its rhythm, and its tones, being able to recognize some words in that language's songs and rapid conversation. By some words I mean at least two out of ten words. This phase can be tricky, it has the highest chance of drop out, and if you drop out in this phase you forget whatever little you have learned yet as if it was never there. Duolingo is a great resource for this phase. After completing the duolingo Spanish skill tree, I know some vocabulary and some grammar. I can make out common words in Spanish songs and Spanish conversations between native speakers, though stringing the words together in my head and understanding the meaning still takes time. I am able to read Spanish and most of the time understand what is written. I can also ...

O Death, my oldest friend. My constant companion, Why would I be afraid of you? You have been there, right from the start, Since my birth we have never been apart. We share the same birthday, And I know that one day When the time comes, You will take me away. Away on an adventure. to parts unknown. Leaving behind everything that I have known. But you are mine, my friend. They are not, the ones who look like you So similar yet so different born with my loved ones, instead of me, I am afraid of them, deathly afraid. 'cause one day they will take them away away from me.  

Harp, Harmonica, Mouth Organ and more. It has many names but its sound is distinctive in its expressiveness, and the instrument, one of a kind in its portability. As you may or may not know, I am a harmonica enthusiast and player, I love the Diatonic Harp. I just love its expressiveness, its distinctive sound, even its quirks. Everything about it really somehow tugs my heartstrings. Such a small instrument, with such a powerful voice. Its size, in no way an indicator of its power. A few months ago, while searching for new songs to learn and play. I found some song tabs, but the song was new to me, and the tune unfamiliar. You see, tabs don't tell the whole story of a song, tabs don't show rhythm, or time. I could see what notes to play, but I didn't know when to play them. Which made learning the song unnecessarily difficult. And the process ineffective. Everything has an app nowadays. So with the powers of programming  vested upon me from the land of no bugs ...

On seeing her, my heart soared in my chest it loudly roared Beating hard like a horse on gallop There it went, out of my control Her beauty, like that of a delicate flower Her smile, Had me mesmerized Her eyes, Saying things untold Her neck, makes me want to nibble And her laugh, I cannot get enough of it like bells tinkling It makes life seem worth it. I saw the signs and was alert I warned my heart so it won't be hurt O heart, beware! don't make this mistake You have been there this risk you cannot take Remember the lesson That you should have learnt Why do you again risk getting burnt? But my heart had gone deaf it didn't listen and now I am hopelessly smitten I see where this is going I see my downfall and I am powerless to resist I can just hope for the best

Alone When I came I was Alone In this life I am Alone Is what I want To be Empty Is what I feel I am Hollow From inside I feel World Doesn't care A damn Selfish Will I have To be? No I realize that I am wrong Alone I am not and Never was Death Has been my Oldest friend Born Along with me it was Together We will face The end

To slam dunk, in basketball, you have to jump high and be tall. Jump to the basket in a mighty leap And slam the ball in it deep You don't have to aim at all. jump up high and slam dunk the ball. To slam dunk garbage in a garbage bin. Just walk up and slam it in. You don't need to be Michael Jordan, to slam dunk in a dust bin. Playing basketball with garbage and bin, is no excuse to not throw it in. Why aim and throw anyway, When you can slam dunk and save the day? This poem was in response to a commenter on a quora answer

Dear English learner, English is a funny language with a lot of exceptions, so in order to help you in your learning journey I am linking some resources below. Good apps : http://memrise.com and http://duolingo.com Free and good audio books and e-books : http://librivox.org http://www.loyalbooks.com/ This site has some great English learning resources, including podcasts : http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en And if you are interested in the history of words, their etymology etc, this is a fun podcast channel : http://waywordradio.org  I would recommend you start with the apps to get the basics and then listen to audio books and read them simultaneously to gain fluency and a better vocabulary. The British council website is also a great resource for beginners and intermediate level learners. I hope these resources will be helpful to you, I will add more as I find them. All the best in your learning journey Cheers, Gautam Jain (gautamji)

I will tell you guys something, Something that happened a few days ago, while walking in the evening, I felt gloomy, my mood really low. The world looked weird, The colors all wrong There was a deafening silence in my ears And I wasn't singing any song Nor was I playing my flute or harp The world had never looked so dark Then out of nowhere came my salvation A little cat asking for affection. I meow at cats, I know it is weird But they have never meowed back This one came, begging to be petted Who was I to not oblige it? The little tabby stayed with me, Bumping its head, arching its back Going around in circles around my feet Putting its paws in my lap Then as soon as I felt better, the world looking bright and cheery The cat got up and walked away leaving me feeling really merry this incident was dated : 4th May 2017

  A sapling I was, new in this world, You watered me and illuminated my life, with the sunlight of your knowledge. You nurtured and encouraged me and helped me grow. Teaching me right from wrong and a lot of what I know This wealth, you gave me, more precious than diamonds. The only wealth in this world which increases the more you give I hope someday I will too Be one of the ones to increase it Your guidance and patience has brought me this far provided me with tools that will help me go even further in life and hopefully make my life something you will be proud of. To all the teachers in my life, who imparted me their knowledge, and inspired me to do better, knowingly or unknowingly. Because of whom, I am what I am, and I will be what I will be. I thank you with all my heart. For all that you have given me

Some days will be good Some will be bad There is a day after every night So, do not feel sad My dear, just be glad To have this life full of love friends and family who care for you And who you love in turn When you're sad or feeling down With your forehead bunched in a frown I'll cheer you up, with a warm hug And some hot chocolate in a mug Wrapping my arms around you I won't let go, I will hold you tight A hug from someone you love Makes the world seem bright Holding you in a warm embrace I'll tell a joke, or a funny anecdote to cure this sadness and stress laughter is the best antidote If that doesn't work I will hold you down restraining you so that you can't escape And tickle you until this frown gives way to unrestrained, "joyful" laughter And your face will shine bright with a smile so blinding as if it were the sun, bringing a new morning A poem by Gautam Jain Written on 21/08/2016

It was dark, late at night, But the forest seemed very bright. The trees glowed with an ethereal glow. a lake shimmering in an unholy light. Suddenly, going through the forest, did not seem very bright. I should have waited till daybreak then I wouldn't be in this plight. But committed as I was, with no option. I walked on despite my fear. Not stopping even a moment for rest. In my haste to get out of here. Soon I was too tired to walk, no shelter to be seen. Shadows following me eerily. Then I heard a soul shaking keen. Now scared out of my wits I prayed to god with all my might That I survive this creepy forest, through this dark and dreary night. A miracle, I saw just then. A cabin, hidden behind some trees,  I knocked and asked for shelter but there was nobody home. The door was open, so I walked in. Lighting a lamp, to look around. A single bed surrounded by portraits is all that I found. Portraits of some weird looking people or creatures ...

Looking at the world around, I was feeling really sad. So much pain and despair, It was driving me mad To satisfy their greed that is the goal ultimate. I feel bad to see them in such a sorry state. They work hard to keep their place in this world's brutal rat race The living un-dead like zombies they move soul less and mindless just stuck in their groove No life they have Except for show All they can think is what the world will know

  I feel like sitting in a dark room, with no light and no sound sitting all alone with doors shut, and nobody around. I feel this hollow feeling in my chest, a chill on my back. Wrapped in a blanket snug, I want to hug a pillow tight. In person or online. I don't want to speak or interact, not on the phone, email or chat. Is this fear I am not sure. Can't express my self, I feel insecure. Friends I have none, only acquaintances. No one to share my fears and pain with. I was born alone, in this world, I am still all alone. So many people around But I am lonely in this crowd. In this darkness, all I can do, is to close my eyes and pray. That a ray of light will take my night And turn it into day. Pray for the human, I am. To be free like a bird gliding in the heavens. That lion in my chest released from the shackles it is in, Roaming free without fear or repression. Free to express, talk and have friends. Friends who will be true. We will stick t...