{"id":3145,"date":"2021-12-25T09:57:15","date_gmt":"2021-12-25T09:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?p=3145"},"modified":"2021-12-28T16:01:20","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T16:01:20","slug":"slough-off-shine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/blogs\/slough-off-shine\/","title":{"rendered":"SLOUGH OFF &#038; SHINE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>A<em> smart 23 years old<\/em> young man suffering from the pull and push of expectations from his family, his college, and his girlfriend was introduced to me by a doctor.  I took him for a walk and made him relax. As a good rapport was established, he was open to talk. The initial session followed by online conversations saw him get through a series of job  interviews. As the euphoria of selection for a prestigious MNC subsided,  he was in a low mood over his girlfriend&#8217;s reaction.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>Having realized that the online session was not leading him to the desired result, Ajay (name changed) wanted to come and spend a weekend with me for further guidance. Seeing his initiative to complete the process, I kept aside my work and suggested a nature trip to Vagamon. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/video_20211218_170024.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong><em>Ajay announced that he is owner of a new home<\/em> &#8211; <em>a portable tent! He was game for the <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>adventure.  In few hours time we were riding to the destination on his motorbike. Our first halt was at the hermitage of Mitraji at Vellilapilly, Ramapuram. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__gallery\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__row\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery__col\" style=\"flex-basis:100.00000%\"><figure class=\"tiled-gallery__item\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211221-WA0030-576x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=600&#038;ssl=1 600w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211221-WA0030-576x1024.jpg?strip=info&#038;w=899&#038;ssl=1 899w\" alt=\"\" data-height=\"1599\" data-id=\"3149\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?attachment_id=3149\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211221-WA0030-576x1024.jpg\" data-width=\"899\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211221-WA0030-576x1024.jpg?ssl=1\" data-amp-layout=\"responsive\"\/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>The homemade Rose apple arishtam (a spiced Indian fruit beer) and the food supplies provided by Mitraji kept us refreshed for the rest of the trip. The tiring bike ride through the poor roads on the hills finally ended. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/video_20211218_144029.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background has-normal-font-size\" style=\"line-height:1.5\"><strong><em>Walking the forest path to Manishada cottage near Murugan mala refuelled us with fresh air<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>Our visit to Pazhayakadu and meeting with Swami Ananda Thirtha was an unforgettable moment. The adventurous solo trips in his Mahindra jeep to Pangong lake and through risky roads of Kashmir as narrated by Swamiji made us stare at his puny figure in awe. The stories of how he was protected and cared for by people belonging to other creed gripped our hearts. It echoed parallels to our own life journeys. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>Swamiji invited us to share his rice porridge with pickle, and <em>papad<\/em>. It tasted heavenly with his endearing ways of serving! Ajay remarked Swami\u2019s childlike simplicity and love filled up his heart before food could fill his stomach!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?resize=525%2C394&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3162\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?attachment_id=3162\" class=\"wp-image-3162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?resize=1536%2C1153&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0018.jpg?w=1599&amp;ssl=1 1599w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>Back at Manishada Ajay was in a mood to listen to some music. I drew his attention to the two snakes resting in the crevices of a wall in the common hall. I assured him that my old reptilian friends were paying a visit to me and they were harmless. Discreetly leaving the hall, we went to occupy another empty room.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2-225x300.jpg?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3166\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?attachment_id=3166\" class=\"wp-image-3166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211218-WA0070-2.jpg?w=1050&amp;ssl=1 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?resize=525%2C700&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3167\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?attachment_id=3167\" class=\"wp-image-3167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1023&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?resize=1153%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1153w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0019-1.jpg?w=1050&amp;ssl=1 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>The night must have been tough for Ajay till he poured out his heart. I noticed its resemblance to the kind of music he was listening to &#8211; blues! So many of us like Ajay search for safe space and time to bare our inner struggles. If there is a non-judgemental space and person who can accompany, we find clarity in serenity, guided by the inner compass. Giving him a relaxation exercise, I went to sleep.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>Next morning as I was choosing my spot for a sunrise meditation, Ajay followed me. Enjoying the warm caress of early sun, I gave him a writing work called \u201clife-line\u201d. It demanded some quiet recollective moments. The psychodrama to get rid of negativities demonstrated by me inspired him to go on top of a hill nearby and work on his emotional baggage in solitude.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020-1024x625.jpg?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?resize=525%2C320&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"3165\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/?attachment_id=3165\" class=\"wp-image-3165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?resize=1024%2C625&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?resize=300%2C183&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?resize=768%2C469&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?resize=1536%2C938&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/IMG-20211219-WA0020.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong><em>I saw a smiling Ajay whistling and descending from the hill<\/em> <em>by noon! He showed me a snap of his stripped clothes on the rock! A refreshing dip in the stream down and a joyful sharing around brunch revealed that he had <\/em><em>basked in the sunshine of God&#8217;s love and felt free to forgive those who hurt him<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong><em>Though Ajay was my guest, I felt he hosted me in the sacred space of his heart!<\/em> <em>I met Immanuel (God with Us!) at work in Ajay!  Who can lead humans to forgiveness unless divine grace works in human heart. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-justify has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong><em>No sermon preached, no advice given. The trip of trust I shared with Ajay and few steps of interior cleansing of negativities as I did in my life, did its work. The words of my spiritual guide resounded: &#8220;Unless you burn you cannot pass the flame!&#8221;<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-center has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>No one can save anyone! We may share ways we are open to the presence of really real, from our limited angle. So much to learn from each other- even elders from youngsters, as it happened to me! As long as there is something to learn, life is exciting!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-text-align-center has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><em><strong>As the snakes do the sloughing off old skin, we are led to a process of shedding our old habits, familiar patterns and be ready for new beginnings! If we can regain the sense of wonder lost in the course of growing up, we are reborn! <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"><strong>That&#8217;s my wish for you this new year: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/video_20211218_150333.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background has-normal-font-size\">Slough off the old ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background has-normal-font-size\">Take a dip in life&#8217;s flow!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/bobby\/\">Bandhu Bob<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A smart 23 years old young man suffering from the pull and push of expectations from his family, his college, and his girlfriend was introduced to me by a doctor. I took him for a walk and made him relax. As a good rapport was established, he was open to talk. The initial session followed &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/blogs\/slough-off-shine\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;SLOUGH OFF &#038; SHINE&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3145"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3145"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3226,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3145\/revisions\/3226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetalkshop.in\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}