It was that time of the year when X’Mas was near and Parsi NRIs came to Mumbai in droves for the festive season and the Lagan-Navjote na patras. One such NRI was Anahita Andoos from Australia, who was in the same school as Meherbai’s daughter and hence, Meherbai loved her and even called her ‘baby’ since she brought out […]
Author: Ruby Lilaowala
The World Is Your Monastery… … And Daily Life Your Monastic Discipline
Those who withdraw from the world into a monastic retreat are few nowadays, but those who feel the need of withdrawing into an inward peace of some kind, are many. They can have their peace and have their world too – simply by spiritualizing their life in the world. The very act of withdrawing into […]
The Humble Kitchen Has Come Of Age!
My richie-rich friend was showing off her ‘new’ money once again. Mrs. Nouveau Rich told our ladies group, “I spent XX lakhs of rupees on my kitchen, darlings,” to which Mrs. Witchie-witch resorted, “That’s nothing honey, I spent double! This set me thinking… the space once hidden behind a utilitarian swinging-door has become center-stage! […]
Meherbai’s Mandli Celebrates Diwali
As every Parsi Times reader knows by now, Meherbai’s Mandli celebrates each and every festival. In fact, they celebrate life, with their breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner parties, so how could they NOT celebrate Aapri Diwali? In fact, they made plans for all the attendant days that herald the Diwali. Meherbai: Let’s make plans for Diwali. Keki Kanjoos: Whose father’s […]
Identity Crisis Within Marriage
The term ‘Identity Crisis’ was coined in the sixties. It was a catch-phrase, more misused than understood. Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson used the term to describe the normal, turbulent phase when an adolescent confronts the questions, “Who am I? What do I want and believe? What are my values, talents, priorities and dreams?” In Dr. Erikson’s […]
Rustomji’s Romance In The Rains Dhovai Gayo!!
The rainy season is the most romantic of all seasons. Don’t take my word for it. Even Kalidasa said so, centuries ago, in his beautiful Sanskrit poem, ‘Meghdootam’. When it’s ‘Savan Ka Mahina’ And ‘Pavan Karey Shor’ (Arrey baba! Shor nahin! Sor! Sor!), the clouds go crazy (Diwana Hua Baadal) and there’s ‘Tip Tip Barsa Pani’, then the romantic-fires burn like your cooking gas-stoves, because ‘Pani Ne Aag […]
Journey To The Centre Of The Self
Socrates had remarked, “It seems to me ridiculous, when I am not able to know myself, to investigate irrelevant things like lofty philosophy”. St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions, ” Men travel to gaze upon mountain heights and the waves of the sea, broad flowing rivers and the expanse of the ocean, but they pass by God’s crowning […]
When Your Love Is Not Reciprocated
Unrequited love has been the theme of several legends, stories, books and films, where it is glamorized with clever words and cinematic graphics. But in real life, such a love could be a setback or even a tragedy… Most of us have experienced unrequited love at some point, when a relationship or a friendship didn’t […]
Meherbai Becomes Extra Romantic!!
Meherbai and Meherwanji had a cardinal rule in their marriage to keep it fresh, young and romantic. Every week, they went on a date – just the two of them, and to hell with housework or any other work! It could be any day of the week, but it had to be a romantic outing. […]
Quality Of Life And Quality Of Death
We often discuss this thing called ‘quality of life’. If that exists, then there must also be the ‘quality of death’, for nothing in this universe has a meaning without having an opposite. Let us try to explore these qualities. We are said to have a good quality of life if we have all our […]
The World Is As You Are – Perception, Thought And Intent
There’s a Sanskrit saying, which loosely translated, means, “The world is as you are.” Ancient Indian literature speaks of a story about the great teacher, Dronacharya and his two disciples – Yudhishthira and Duryodhana. Both, Yudhishthira and Duryodhana had learnt at the feet of their great master, Dronacharya and both had developed skills in their own way […]