Mulligatawny

Dusk is a very special time for me and the Urdu word “Udaasi” comes to mind as it best describes the mood I associate with dusk.  A literal meaning of Udaasi is melancholy or sadness; however, in the Sikh’s Guru Granth Sahib it also denotes a contemplative state of mind.

As another crisp Fall day comes to a close, dusk descends and the temperature drops noticeably.  The breeze strengthens, whisking around the dry rustling leaves that had been lying forgotten all around.  I stand alone atop the neighborhood trail and look at the lake stretching languorously into the horizon, its darkening shadow offset by the plenitude of a silver moon that is just starting to emerge.  Gulzar’s following lines come to mind:

The poet Qatil Shifai’s following sher (verse) echoes the silence of dusk beautifully:

Transfixed, I thank “my stars” for:

• Bringing me to a place where such beauty prevails
• Granting me the eyes/sight that allow me to see this beauty
• Endowing the power to appreciate and enjoy what I can see. But for this Grace, I would walk by mindlessly, unable to observe nature’s magnificence

“Shukrana” is a beautiful expression.  Literally, it translates as giving thanks, or being in a state of gratitude.  Sufi and Muslim saints, Sikh Gurus and Bhagats like Kabir, the Buddha and other enlightened beings exhort us to exist in a mindful state of gratitude.

As I lie in bed later at night, I think of my parents, teachers and all the souls whose actions continue to shape my being.  Each of us is like a bowl of soup in which many ingredients come together and help create a unique flavor.  We can only bow our heads to acknowledge each contributor and thank them for what we receive.