Forgetfulness

“What is a man’s life but a prelude to his death?
And what is death but a long sleep, a most welcome forgetfulness.”
(From “Ophelia” by Lisa M. Klein)

This young man was not dying like Shakespeare’s Ophelia, he was simply doing yoga in the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) and was floating as quiet and still as possible for deep relaxation.
This picture was shot early in the morning at Scindia ghat.

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Unfolding Wings

“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall”
(Ray Bradbury – American writer, b.1920)

This man was wrapping his boby with a piece of fabric after taking a bath in the holy waters of the Ganges at Scindia ghat in Vanranasi (Benaras).

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Rummaged Souls

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“Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed.”
(From “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy)

Those men are ship carpenters working all day along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

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A Certain Instinct

“There is in the human body a certain instinct for what is beneficial to us, as there is in the heart for what is our moral duty, an instinct which no authorisation by a doctor of medecine or divinity can replace.
We know that cold baths are bad for us, but we like them: we can always find a doctor to recommend them, not to prevent them from doing us harm.”
(from “The Captive” by Marcel Proust – French novelist, 1871-1922)

This man was stepping into the cold holy waters of the Ganges at Lal ghat in Varanasi (Benaras)…
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“Il y a dans notre corps un certain instinct de ce qui nous est salutaire, comme dans le cœur de ce qui est le devoir moral, et qu’aucune autorisation du docteur en médecine ou en théologie ne peut suppléer.
Nous savons que les bains froids nous font mal, nous les aimons, nous trouverons toujours un médecin pour nous les conseiller, non pour empêcher qu’ils ne nous fassent mal.”
(“La Prisonnière” de Marcel Proust – Ecrivain français 1871-1922)

Cet homme pénétrait dans les eaux glacées et sacrées du Ganges en bas de Lal ghat à Benares…
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What You Seek

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“The place you seek, is seeking you.
The place you need, needs you.
Divine Principle brings need and supply together for mutual good.
God wisely, and intelligently, and lovingly controls, guides, protects, prospers, and blesses this union of His idea (man) and this normal joyous activity (work).”
(Mary Baker Eddy – American author and founder of Christian Science, 1821-1910)

This man took a bath at Tulsi ghat among the milkmen who often come there to wash their metal jugs in the holy waters of the Ganges.
According the Vedas this place is the navel of the universe.
Benaras is so special to many of us, what you seek there is also what is seeking you…
“What you seek is seeking you.” (Rumi – Persian Poet, 1207-1273)

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Reflections

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“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.
Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.”
(William Makepeace Thackeray – Indian born English Author and Novelist of ‘Vanity Fair’, 1811-1863)

As I was leaving the workshop of some weavers with whom I am working in Pili Kothi, an area of Varanasi (Benaras), I saw this young man who had an haircut in the street.
He was looking in the mirror and gave me a side glance in order to know if the work was well done.
I guess he must have felt much more reassured when he saw me taking a few pictures…

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A Hundred Voices

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“Silence is the root of everything.
If you spiral into it’s void a hundred voices will thunder messages you long to hear.”
(Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi – Sufi mystic & poet, 1207-1273)

On the Agra-Delhi highway, near Vrindavan, I saw this lady standing in a truck.
A few minutes earlier we met at a gaz station, she was among a group of villagers and we were all pouring water from a fontain in order to refresh as the heat was becoming unbearable.
We did’t share a word but everyone allowed me to take several pictures.
They were happy.
When I saw her in the back of the truck I could almost listen to those “hundred voices” coming from the silence of her eyes…

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No Doubt

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“There is neither this world nor the world beyond nor happiness for the one who doubts”.
(Bhagavad Gita)

This man was standing at Lal ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
He stood still for a long time as if he was between this world and the world beyond…
In Hindi “lal” means “red” however the whole place was painted with a Turkish blue but in fact it is a corruption of Lala.
This ghat was erected by a rich merchant in c. 1800 after whose name it is now known.
The red langot (Indian underwear) is a nod to the color.
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“Il n’y a ni ce monde, ni le monde de l’au-delà, ni de bonheur pour celui qui doute”.
(Bhagavad Gita)

Cet homme se trouvait à Lal ghat le long du Gange à Varanasi (Benaras).
Il s’est arrêté pendant un long moment comme s’il se trouvait entre ce monde et celui de l’au-delà…
En hindi “lal” signifie “rouge” et pourtant cet endroit est entièrement peint en turquoise, en fait il s’agit d’une altération de Lala.
Ce ghat tient son nom d’un riche négociant qui l’a fait ériger aux alentours de1800.
Le langot rouge (sous-vêtement indien) est un clin d’œil à cette couleur.

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With a Driver and a Witness

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“And every soul comes, with it a driver and a witness”
(Quran – Surah 50:21)

Those ladies came to enjoy the freshness of the Ganges with their children at the end of a Sunday afternoon, it was in May when the heat becomes almost unbearable in Varanasi (Benaras).
They were carrying a real happiness, enjoying simple things like a summer breeze which is certainlty the real meaning of well-being…
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“Alors chaque âme viendra accompagnée d’un conducteur et d’un témoin”
(Coran – Sourate 50:21)

Ces femmes sont venues profiter de la fraîcheur du Gange avec leurs enfants en fin d’après-midi d’un jour de mai lorsque la température devient presque insupportable à Varanasi (Benares).
Elles semblaient être heureuses, savourant des choses simples comme une brise estivale ce qui est certainement le vrai sens du bonheur….

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Realms of the Senses

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“…Whatever Hindus affirm of the meaning of life, death, and suffering, they affirm with their eyes wide open.
Many westerners, for example, upon seeing Hindu rituals observances for the first time, are impressed with how sensuous Hindu worship is.
It is sensuous in that it makes full use of the senses – seeing, touching, smelling, tasting and hearing.
One “sees” the image of the deity (darsan).
One “touches” it with one’s hands (sparsa), and one also “touches” the limbs of one’s own body to establish the presence of various deities (nyasa).
One “hears” the sacred sound of the mantras (sravana).
The ringing of bells, the offering of oil lamps, the presentation of flowers, the pouring of water and milk, the sipping of sanctified liquid offerings, the eating of consecrated foods- prasad – these are the basic constituents of Hindu worship, Puja.
For all its famous otherworldliness, India is a culture that has also celebrated the life of this world and the realms of the senses.”
(“Darsan – Seeing the Divine Image in India” by Diana L Eck)

This man was praying at a side of Manikarnika Ghat (मणिकर्णिका घाट) along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Since five years I often take a few pictures of him whenever I come there and he doesn’t seem to mind about it.
He is always worshipping the elements with gestures carrying a sensuous grace…

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