स्वप्न में आई माँ

 

मैं न मानने वाली थी, पर आज देखा सपना यू,

बड़ी-बड़ी तेरी आँखें, काले घुँघराले बाल सुना यू।

चाँदी के झुमके, नक्काशी जैसे, रोशनी का ताज,
भक्तों की आवाज़ें, ढोलक की थाप, मन में रच गया साज।

ओ माँ, ओ माँ, तेरी छवि ने कर दिया उजास,
मन में बस गईं तुम, हर सांस में तेरा आभास।

पंडाल की यादें लौटीं, बचपन के रंग, भीड़ और धुन,
न मानने वाली भी झूमी, छू लिया किसी तरंग ने जुनून।
न धर्म की डोरी, न नाम का दायरा, बस तेरा आभास,
धन्य मैं कि आईं तुम ऐसे, सीधी, सरल, प्यार भरी और उजास।

ओ माँ, ओ माँ, तेरी छवि ने कर दिया उजास,
मन में बस गईं तुम, हर सांस में तेरा आभास।

अब शहर की हलचल में भी, तेरे गीत का सुरूर है,
सपनों की रात में भी, तेरी छवि का नूर है।
मैं न पूजक, न पीछे चलने वाली — बस एक स्त्री, मान गई यू,
तुम आई थीं सपने में, और मेरे भीतर कुछ बदला सा जाता यू।

ओ माँ, ओ माँ, तेरी छवि ने कर दिया उजास,
मन में बस गईं तुम, हर सांस में तेरा आभास

                                                      निहारिका प्रसाद

The Truth of Love

There are countless poems on love,
All roses, soft wings, and butterflies;
But I must whisper what’s true, my friend 
That isn’t love, but only lies.

People hunger for the safety they lack,
The two build a world apart,
But that kind of love is only a disguise,
A secret shelter, a timid start.

They are like two beggars, hands held out in need,
When empty hearts search for a seed,
If they cannot give what heals within,
Love turns hollow, fed by want and greed.

Love is calm, a steady sea,
Shining light for those who’re free.
No chains, no reins, no puppet strings 
It's love that never clings

Racing hearts and sleepless nights 
These feel loud and teenage.
A glittering mirage is not true love;
Cheap applause belongs on the stage.

Only the one who’s full inside
Knows love is calm, a steady sea;
Only such a heart can mirror light,
A being whole, alive, and free.

Accept my faults, hold me whole;
Let our love fly like a kite with no strings.
No clutching, no ownership, no possession 
Darling, we are humans, not things.

Love is calm, a steady sea,
Shining light for those who’re free.
No chains, no reins, no puppet strings 
It's love that never clings

Niharika Prasad

The Philosophy of Meditation

 

I was reading Osho and could not help admiring his scientific approach and profound philosophy. He doesn’t speak in abstractions — he dissects the inner world with the clarity of a scientist and the depth of a mystic, showing us that meditation is not about belief, but about direct experience.

We often confuse silence with stillness. But the truth is, the moment you sit quietly, you realize silence is anything but quiet. The mind rushes in, thoughts tumble one after another, and suddenly you feel restless. That’s why people keep themselves busy — re-reading newspapers, scrolling endlessly, drinking, or drowning in distractions. Anything to avoid facing the inner storm.

The irony? This turbulence isn’t created by meditation. It was always there. Meditation simply makes you aware of it. The “minding” never stops — it’s the most basic process within us.

So when we chant, or repeat mantras, we may feel calm, but it’s just another occupation, another clever trick of the mind. True meditation begins when we dare to stay unoccupied. When we stop escaping and simply watch the chaos within. That’s when silence finally reveals itself.

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                                                Niharika Prasad