Natural Bliss: A Collection of Photo-Poems and Essays, Inspired by Nature

By Dr. Vinod D. Deshmukh MD PhD.

Natural Bliss is just that a bliss that dawns spontaneously in Life and while in Nature. It includes bliss that arises naturally in a quiet, curious and attentive mind, which tries to learn about itself and its unique place in the Natural Order. Out of this love for Life and Nature, has emerged this unique collection of inspired poems, photo-poems, essays, photographs and paintings. The author has a professional background in Neuroscience and Neurology and an educational background in Eastern Philosophy, Sanskrit Literature, Yoga and Vedanta. He has a long interest in Meditation. He values formal Sitting Meditation or Dhyanam, and observes Mindful Presence throughout the waking hours. Many of the poems were inspired during his own meditative experiences. He loves Nature Photography and he effectively combines poetry with photography, which has resulted in his unique Photo-Poems. He and his wife, Sunanda enjoy Painting as a hobby and some of their original Paintings are included in this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504956611

Dr. Vinod D. Deshmukh MD PhD.

Vinod D Deshmukh MD PhD. He is a retired neurologist from Jacksonville, Florida. He was an Associate Professor of Neurology at University of Florida. He also had his own private practice at the Flagler Hospital, in St Augustine, Florida. He has published over sixty scientific articles including a monograph on Brain Blood Flow. His recent articles were on the Neuroscience of Meditation, the Multistream Self, Turiya, Prana-Dhyana, Vedic Psychology as a Science of Wisdom, and The Cognitive-Pause and Unload, the CPU hypothesis of Meditation and Creativity. His latest book is called “The Astonishing Brain and Holistic Consciousness: Neuroscience and Vedanta Perspectives.” It was published in 2012 by Nova Science publishers of New York. Poetry, photography and oil painting are his hobbies. He has published four books of his original poetry, essays and photographs: 1) Presence: the Key to Mental Excellence, 2) The Last Leaf, 3) A Poet’s Walk and 4) A Poet’s Vision. His website: http://poetsmiles.com/

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© 2015 Dr. Vinod D. Deshmukh, MD, PhD. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/16/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5660-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-5661-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015917512

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Other books by Vinod D Deshmukh, MD, PhD

Presence: The Key to Mental Excellence (1990)

The Last Leaf: A Collection of Poems and Essays (1993)

A Poet’s Walk: A Collection of Poems, Essays, and Photographs (2002)

Poet’s Vision: A Collection of Original Poems, Essays, and Photographs (2005)

The Astonishing Brain and Holistic Consciousness: Neuroscience and Vedanta Perspectives (2012)

Celebrating

Love for Life, Family and Nature

And dedicating the book to

Sunanda

My beloved wife and friend for Life

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A Desert Rose

"Unbroken Self-Awareness is

The true bright path of devotion or love.

Knowledge of our inherent nature,

as indivisible supreme bliss,

wells up as love."

~ Sri Ramana Maharshi

from Garland of Guru’s Sayings, Verse 974.

***

"The entire cosmos is suffused with sentience.

We are surrounded and immersed in consciousness;

It is in the air we breathe, the soil we tread on,

The bacteria that colonize our intestines,

And the brain that enables us to think."

Christof Koch.

(From The Blog by Bobby Azarian,

Huff Post Science, September 23, 2015)

***

Awareness is primordial: it is the original state, beginningless, endless, uncaused, and unsupported, without parts, without change. Consciousness is on contact, a reflection against a surface, a state of duality. There can be no consciousness without awareness, but there can be awareness without consciousness, as in deep sleep (or Turiya). Awareness is absolute, but consciousness is relative to its content – consciousness is always about something. Consciousness is partial and changeful; awareness is total, changeless, calm and silent – it is the common matrix of every experience.

~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj,

From I AM THAT page 28.

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Meditative Mindset

In order to understand and learn,

About oneself and one’s world,

It is good to have

An attentive, calm and clear mind,

And to let the mind be filled

With the present reality.

It is better to let go of one’s preoccupation

With distracting thoughts

Of the past and future,

And to stay mentally open,

Free and curious,

In the present moment.

There is a lot to learn

By living in the infinite present.

We are always nested in Nature.

Love being in Existence,

Now!

September 20, 2015

Reader’s Reflections

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Great poem....you are a man of extraordinary literary talent! (About the poem, one life-within-Life).

Henry Mankin

Dr. Deshmukh’s photo-poems have a unique perspective of everyday life-events. They are for a broad swath of readers, from children to scholars. Everyone can get something out of them, depending upon their depth. The photo-poems not only have a feel of cool mist on a hot summer day for the heart, but also a pleasure for the sight.

Leslie Chobe

"I honestly feel that meeting you, the first time in person, at the University of Nebraska Omaha, was a milestone in my learning process. Being a doctoral student in educational leadership, I have a clear thought that listening to your presentation on Brain and Yoga on August 5, 2014, and later joining your email network and Facebook page, has been like taking an admission into a school where I find a bunch of ideas, experiences, and amazing photography (skills) for free. That inspires me in my work and life. Congratulations and thank you so much for running this online school on your own that keeps enlightened hundreds of brains, minds, and hearts for scholarly and ethical practices."

Vijay Paralkar

"The River of Humanity (painting) is simply beautiful, using the word simply also in its meaning of the power of simplicity! I still cherish your 10 quotes from the Shiva Sutras, and great thanks for the translation. One of them will appear (thanks to you!!) in one of my future paintings."

Susanne Schuenke

"I am inevitably uplifted intellectually and spiritually by the offerings I receive from Vinod Deshmukh. In an era where over-analytics and the hyper-activity of egos push thought into the obtuse - reality gets obfuscated by spin, greed, need for power and to be right ... the poem emerges with delight and relief, ringing bells of truth; giving space to the witness. The blend of scientific investigations, reflective visuals, and poetic ponderings from Vinod Deshmukh make my day a freer and a brighter one. I look forward to every offering he sends my way!" (About the poem, New Idea – New Poem).

Grace McGrath

"Your poems remind me of the two great Iranian poets and philosophers Hafez and Khayyam that we all Iranians love."

Simin and Reza Vaghefi

"To the poet within you. A beautiful photo-poem. Inspirational! Wish I could be on that trail. This poem helped me feel as if I was there. (About the poem, The Silent Trail)…I so enjoy your photo-poems. I do not have the words to say how much this poem has touched my heart. (About the poem, Sowing and Watering)."

Barbara Davis

Thank you for sharing these beautiful, inspirational and very descriptive poems. It is wonderful to know you and have your calm voice at a distance, at the end of our busy day, cause us to pause and hear the calm and joy in life. We are all lucky to have you.

Shireen Firouzian

This is how I felt: poems, photo-poems, essays and photos by Dr. Vinod have ever inspired me, and reading them has taken me into a different world. I have enjoyed all writings and photos of nature by him. I look forward to reading his work forever.

Jayant Antani

I love this one!!!! Thank you for sharing! (About the poem, Spider’s Web)

Lisa Kanne

We really enjoyed your great, beautiful, and sensational poems.

Massoud Moshiree

Even before opening his email, I know that a poem or a photo from Vinod, would bring joy and light in my life.

Kenny Oyer

"Really amazing poem, transcendental, reminded me of these words from our previous interactions... The conviction of the experiencer that the true being is distinct from the experienced phenomena is self-transcendence. It is the ultimate truth within each one of us and (also) the ultimate reality. It is the one-and-only truth. Truly blissful. (about the poem: Experience)."

Bala Sirigireddy

"Your expressions on what is manifested by this Universe (inclusive of the sense of self) is simply marvelous. I wonder if you are a poet first or a philosopher first. A rare combination of a poet, a philosopher and a scientist. Dr. Deshmukh describes with great ease how a fish will spawn a thousand eggs on a full moon night, while a Galaxy is busy giving birth to a million solar systems in the same Universe, and how a humanoid holding a zillion bacteria as tenants, harmonizes his resolve to have another espresso."

Ravi Tilak

Oh how wonderful! I learnt yet another gem from the shloka! Thank you for your simple yet profound thoughtful poem. (About the poem, Missing Gold Chain).

Suma Venkatesh

"What a beautiful poem born out of a mind loving the ever enveloping earth! (About the poem: Dining Hall)…Thank you and congratulations for your superb Pratibhā; you have Goddess Sarasvati’s varada-hasta on your head. May your work continue for a long time."

Shyamala. S. Vinekar

Contents

Meditative Mindset

Preface

Bliss is Natural.

Meditating with a Blue Heron

Waking up

Harmony of Body-Mind-Self

New Energy: New Outlook

What are we seeking?

Watching a Flame

Cup of Tea

Dual Mode

Last Prayer

Witnessing Both

Key Note Speech on Secular Wisdom

Carrying a Bucket!

On Forgetting

Like a giant Kelp

One tends to Infinity

Like a shy child

Juggling

What good is a poem?

All at the periphery

Listening to the Sky

Face of an Ancient River - Ocean

The Butterfly Effect

Mindless Hurricane

Pause in Activity

Meditation

Breathe

New Journey

Journal entry

Smriti

Cloudless Sky

I am That

I am within myself

Eye Drops

Mind pauses

Before all this

Savoring a moment

Source-and-Sink

Ākāsh - Space

Morning at the beach

Loving Others?

Shoreless Ocean

Full Moon,

Experience

Walking in Awareness

Loving Life

Brilliant Blue Moon

Experiential Web

Full Moon at Dawn

Nested

We are…

Feeling of Knowing!

Reality

Deathless Life

First Step

Presence

Eventless Awareness

Mind is like a Pond

Meditating on a Pine Tree

Meditating on a Smile

I for Infinity

Being the Source

One Field of Life

All are connected…

Effortless Breathing

Inter-Breathing

Sea

Poorna, the Plenum

Joy of Breathing

Individuality and Universality

Sun-within

Savannah Rapids

From Inside-Out

Music of the Infinite

Rainbow

Parade of Waves

Block of Clay

The word Spirit

Appointment with the River

Watching…

Spirituality

In the palm of my hand…

In the Natural World

Limitless Presence

Dust comes to Life

Enlightening

Bliss by the River

Self-healing

One Living Arousal

Unspeakable

Daylight Awareness

Timeless

Finite-Infinite

With each step…

Self-Realization

Ambient Mind

What does it feel like?

Being

Existing

Mother Nature

First Breath

Mindful Eye

Form and Formless

Wellspring-Within

An explanation of the painting

Self-Freedom

Explanation of the painting

Self-Synergy: Ekātmatā

Self-Understanding (I)

Self-Understanding (II)

Play of Memories

Pulsating Life

Life and Death

Staying or Traveling?

Ten Aphorisms of Shiva-Sutra

One life-within-Life

Petty Little Mind

Dining Hall

Essential Presence

Hobie

Three-Legged Stool

Quotations from Bhagavad Gita

Mindfulness

Art of Meditation

Impending Death

Chain of Islands

Weeping Tree

Silent Trail

Missing Gold Chain

Meditation on Ātman

Turiya and Unmani:

Spider’s Web

Pardoning a Snake

Feeling of Freedom

Planting a Tree

Sowing and Watering

Quotations on Blissful

New Idea - New Poem

Nature is one

What is preconscious primary process and meditative presence?

Prior to…

Life moves on…

Fluid-Structures

One Child

Preface

My last book, Astonishing Brain and Holistic Consciousness: Neuroscience and Vedanta Perspectives, was published in 2012. It contained 25 of my original poems, and some essays and articles on neuroscience and Vedanta. Since that publication, I have been fortunate to continue to be inspired to write about 150 new poems and essays. I have shared a few of them with my family and friends. Many people suggested that I should publish them collectively as a book. This book, Natural Bliss is the result of those suggestions and Sunanda’s and my efforts and creativity.

Many of these poems could be described as naturally inspired photo-poems. Most of them occurred to me in some natural setting, where I was touched by an unexpected event. The event may have been witnessing a beautiful Blue Heron taking off from our dock, a manatee