Scholarly Review of Chitra Lele's Book of Spiritual Poems, Waltz to the Future, by the prolific poet, Dr. J. S. Anand

Scholarly Review of My Book of Spiritual Poems, Waltz to the Future, by the prolific poet, Dr. J. S. Anand

Sometimes one feels age has no connection with creation. If young can talk about immortal topics of life, the aged and experienced too can fumble into romantic topics at times. Poetry has no fixed boundaries, and is like a kite in the sky, which knows no boundaries, but only flight and descent. While reading through this book by Chitra, I have felt compelled to put on record that the poet, though she belongs to the gennext evinces enough grasp over things immortal and sublime. Her avowed aim is to instruct the upcoming generations, yet she rises above these self-inflicted limits, and addresses the basic questions of joy and pain, and life and death.

In fact, poetry too is action, in passive resistance. Our feelings are actions unperformed. And our passions are our plans yet to be realized. If it is not pen, it is words, and its action in different cases, depending upon the personality traits of a person. We are all action, saying something, and even in our silences, this process of ‘saying’ goes on. The language of ‘expression’ starts with our body, moves through our gestures, and then, it turns into words which are recordable as text. Every thing that exists, has a language, in which it converses with its fellows. We too assign language and meaning to the flowers, and the mountains, and even rivers, which are otherwise without a language in our conceived forms.

Chitra surprises with the variety of her subjects, as well as the intensity of feeling. I have found in her the gift of charging words with deep emotions, and metaphorising her poetry. Metaphor is the most basic equipment for poetry, and a mind which can easily compare its experience says a lot without saying anything. She uses the metaphor of the circus and the showman to impress man with the idea of his possible mastery of himself as well as the waiting universe:

Remember in the circus of life,
You are the master showman
principal performer
Hang in there! Hang in there!
Don’t let any feat scare!
[Hang in There, 58]

Chitra talks of the Tree of Morals, on whose branches, fruits of values germinate. This concern for values takes her poetry out into the realms of commitment to society, a value based society. This has always been the constant passion with poets, and Chitra shares the immortal juice. Such moral vistas open up to an awakened soul, of which she talks in her poem ‘Portals of Reality’:

The swans of my hopes that float /on the crested wavelets of the mind /bring to surface the /hologram of kaleidoscopic visions, /Opening up the realm of awakening
/where these swans fathom the depths of existence /to glorify my hope stashed dreams /into portals of reality /by sipping the essence of inspiration and grace. [Portals of Reality, p.40]

The power with which she carries over the image through the whole poem, and talks in metaphors sows the seeds of greatness and is a knock at the doors of immortality.
I see in Chitra a future building up for world poetry. My wishes for the young poet.

DR J.S. ANAND
AMBASSADOR, WORLD UNION OF POETS,
WINNER OF CROSS FOR PEACE AND CROSS FOR LITERATURE

Happily Heavenward—Divine Decorations Book Review at Boloji.com

Boloji Review
Happily Heavenward

Chitra Lele, Divine Decorations, Authorspress, New Delhi, 2016, Pages 103, Paper Back, Price Rs 250/- $12/-
Divine declarations are waiting
To be found on innate meadows,
Which will overcome all shadows.

Faith is devotion and devotion is faith – this is all there is to learn and realize. Meadows and shadows are just meant for reference only. The two may be the two sides of the same coin, if understood deeply. We are not unaware of child prodigies and kids who were born devotees like Prahlada, the son of King Hiranyakasipu. Young poets are known to have scaled great heights of both imagination and expression. There is a saying in Telugu–The flower exudes its fragrance the moment it blossoms. The book of poems under review is by Chitra Lele, a very young woman. The book is best opened on page 31 for judging the poet personally. The basic theme of this work is expressed in the poet’s dictum in the epigraph above. There is a saying in Sanskrit: baalaadapi subhashitam. Wise words can come even from children (and such words should be accepted). This poet is young but her thoughts and words are great.

This book of five parts starts with Mother Nature’s Miracles. This is a raise for the abundance of the life-giving and life-sustaining gifts of the mother dealing with the bond between Nature and Man.
Gazing at the wonders of His creations –
The rising sun, the azure waters
the striking butterflies an
the green mountain tops,
I experience endless elations.’ (p.33)

Says then the poet
‘Nature is full of wonder –
Worth the wandering
To discover charming miracles,
Both new and old.’ (p.38)

Peace and bliss are everywhere for the saintly mind. This understanding leads mysticism. The poet is deeply thoughtful and attains realization which dispelled her nostalgia and hardships. “Let Nature be your teacher’ is the outcome of intellectuality. Dreams can make or mar fine feelings and sweet experiences. For this poet,
‘My dreams sing
Through all night
To shower stars, bright
And enlightened delight. (p41)

‘Faith streams
On winged words—
These are angels of sunbeams
That transmute the dark extremes
To merry themes.’ (p.43)

The second part Beyond Borders is about the sublime ideal– about the world as one single family. Seeking universal brotherhood is the loftiest of ideals. In ‘Seamless Cohesion’ the poet says:
Together we can create
A seamless world without barriers
And perennial unity without frontiers.
At the end she says this:
One is for all and all is for one is our motto.
Take my hand and walk with me
Rise to the occasion, it’s not too late
To renew the bonds of camaraderie. (p.48)

There is a goal which we have to reach immediately:
The Power of One..
...All battles would be won
...All sufferings will be gone’. (p.53)

This poet sees through blood stained windows vistas of hope and says
I crave to establish on earth peace
For then barbaric acts will cease. (p.54)

She says with ecstatic passion:
These sharp, artistic swords
Sheath all precious moments
With celebrated legacies, unsaid
That are one by one and all read and re-read.’(p.55)

The third part Sacred Sanctum has a solid, well-intentioned piece of solemn advice: ‘Experience new flavors of the inner essence.’ The poet speaks of her inner sphere and says:
‘I know you are a gift from Him,
Filling me with fervent hope to the brim
I begin to discover the essence of a new me
As I re-connect with Thee’ (p.59).

In ‘Wholeness of the Wheel’, she says that the wholeness is surreal.
It is magic circle of zeal’. (p.62)

She speaks of an aura too. In ‘Sweet Chrysalis she says:
‘The aura of sublime
Faith, extols honey of luminous moon,
Which flows out as the ocean
Of insight and devotion.’ (p.64)

The fourth part Treasure Mines of the Mind there is the belief that that only through realms of the mind the treasures can be dug. It is the only way to taste the manna. ‘Sunny Thoughts’ are full of fertile and fecund hope.
We sun-kissed, sun-blessed souls
Know for sure we will make it
and overcome this duality split.’ (p.77)

The poet also speaks of the long journey, an odyssey:
‘I discover a route to golden experiences,
The seventh heaven of euphoria
And gateway to His glory.’ (p.83)

The last and the fifth part Live Life with a High Five contains an advice that life has to be experienced in all its ups and downs. We are told:
I travel with my violet flame
That blocks the inroads of blame,
By performing unction
And granting a sense of true direction.

And there is more:
I travel with my spirit’s angels
The obstacles on my way they trample.
As I get through the tumultuous junction,
They soar high in the skies of gumption. (p.87)

Then there is about the target:
‘Seeing the big picture
Enlivens the future.
Do not let life go astray.
Strive to make each day the best day.’ (p93)

Only intellectuality enriches devotion and fortifies faith. Chitra Lele’s poems are illuminating, inspiring, faith giving and devotion sustaining. This book is for the people of serene and sublime thinking and high living.

Review by Dr. Rama Rao Vadapalli V.B.

The MOLD Formula::The Powerhouse of Possibility

Things just aren’t going your way and you know intuitively there must be another approach, perhaps a simple trick that can create magic. You are right! The Possibility Pack is your magic wand, which you can use to swish away all the negativity.

Each one of us is bestowed with numerous possibilities. Each one of us has opportunities to capitalize on these possibilities. This pack deals with how you can recognize these opportunities to convert them into powerful possibilities. 

It contains simple questions you need to answer in order to unleash the powerhouse of possibility within you. 

 1.   Mindset (re-mould)

The questions under this heading help you to identify your inner makeup. They let you decide for yourself whether you are prepared to take the next big leap in life. A simple way to answer these questions in an objective manner is by singling out a particular attitude or condition, which you would like to transform.

A.   What do you imagine is possible?

B.   How strong is your desire to achieve it?

C.   Describe the aspects you can and can’t control?

D.  Do you have an idea of how you can create a niche for yourself?

E.   Study your beliefs for their rationality? Are you harboring on any irrational beliefs about yourself?

Once the above questions are filled in, all you need to do is transform negative statements into positive statements. Say the positive affirmations aloud 2-3 times a day. One very important aspect to remember is that when you say these statements aloud listen to what you inner voice says. The inner voice should say supportive things, in case it is saying something non-supportive then rephrase your affirmations in such a way that the inner voice springs up with a positive tone.

Lesson learned: When you give up resistance and reinforce a productive belief system, you allow your possibilities to come true.

2.   Odds (de-mould)

The questions under this heading pinpoint the odds, which are keeping you from activating the inclination to capitalize on the spectrum of possibilities. They let you analyze aspects that are not letting you tap into your gold.

A.   Are you doing the right things in life?

B.   Are there any hampering behavioral and attitudinal patterns?

C.   Are you just a feeler or a doer too?

D.  How serious are you about setting up an action plan for overcoming the odds?

E.   Identify the sources of negative inputs and unwanted stimulus?

Lesson learned: Once you are aware of the odds, you are in a much better position to dissipate the negativity within you. You are able to filter out all that is detrimental to your life. 

3.   Learning Gaps (de-mould)

Every gap we experience in life, including sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, anxiety, fear, etc., is a result of an energy blockage in our minds. Point 2 has done half the job for you, the next set of questions help you to determine the ways of closing these gaps.

A.   Describe the aspects in which you don’t feel in your element?

B.  Describe the aspects where you can apply your creative intelligence to live the    possibility?

C.   Pick an area where you have failed. How can you approach it differently?

D.  Reflect on the growth areas that you have planned for. Is this planning adequate enough?

E.   Define your ‘What-if’ inventory and the resources needed to cater to it?

Lesson learned: Constantly update your combat techniques database. To keep the gaps at bay, turn to various heeling aids like natural therapies, books, seminars, workshops, tapes, support groups. By doing this, your collective consciousness shifts from uncertainty towards certainty.

4.   Define Priorities (re-mould)

No overhaul is complete without defining and re-defining your life priorities. Resetting your goals and priorities helps you to balance life better and focus on the important things in your life.

A.   List out your short term and long term goals for all spheres of life?

B.   Pinpoint distractions that can slow you down?

C.   Define the timelines related to each priority?

D.  Attach a severity and importance level to each priority?

E.   Study the connection of your priorities with your self-image, values and beliefs?

It is quite possible that you may have adopted the wrong way of translating your possibilities into tangible results or may have drained your energy on the wrong set of priorities. The answers to the above questions help to open up your eyes to doing things differently and correctly.

Lesson learned: Focus on the end result, don’t get sidelined by temporary sidetracks.

 Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/magic-baby-attraction-1583447/