The Dusty Mic Chronicles

I have based this talk on Osho's hour-long talk on creativity. While I recall little of the original talk, a few fascinating snippets have stayed buried in my brain, waiting for me to dredge them up from my memory bank. If you take nothing away, at least think of the approach the Japanese carpenter adopted. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces...

In this short podcast, I talk about an hour-long lecture I listened to many years back. This was a lecture by Bhagwan Rajneesh, before he called himself Osho. He opined that 'saints' get so bored chanting mantras that sometimes, enlightenment breaks through. How can we respond to boredom? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes...

In this podcast episode I talk about Jean Renoir, and how all technical refinements discourage him. How many of you have heard of 'Wabi-Sabi,' the Japanese concept that seeks beauty in slight imperfection, decay, even death? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

We are cutting down trees, poisoning rivers, and the soil. We wish to mine and treat the earth as a resource. Apart from the changing nature of photography, we must ask if we are digging our own graves. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

In this podcast episode I ask you to question yourself, and ask yourself how you define the word, 'gross.' This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

Hello everyone! My name is Rajiv Chopra and I definitely hope that my microphone is recording. It is recording. I haven't done a podcast on Substack for a very long time. I would say it's been over a year since I've done a podcast here, and I intend to stick to my plan to make this as extempore as possible without reading through a speech, because I just can't do that. That also means I'm going to...

No words. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.rajivchopra.in/subscribe

Songs of the New Day. "Sunrise, and the new day's breaking through The morning of another day without you." These are the opening lyrics of a song by Uriah Heep. While the song is excellent, I consider the opening lyrics depressing, with a person whining about their lost love. I much prefer "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens, a song that celebrates the dawning of a new day. A new day breaks at da...

Vrindavan is a strange town. Like most towns, Vrindavan is strange and has its own contradictions. Yet, because of the Yamuna River, its deep links with mythology, its temples, and stories of the enduring romance between Radha and Krishna, it has a unique character. I did not explore Vrindavan during my days as an upright, uppity, respectable corporate citizen because the business potential was in...

Our Brief Trip to Govardhan & Gokul Our trip to Gokul and Govardhan was brief. You might say we made a lightning trip to the villages. Some refer to the two places as towns, but they are not much more than glorified villages. As in most places in Braj Bhoomi, the legends, stories, and myths of Radha and Krishna saturate the towns, so I wondered if the villages only perpetuate the old stories. Pilg...

The Three Musketeers travel to a riverside One day, the three of us traveled to a riverside. Memory can play tricks on us. I remember the discussion about the place, its proximity to the state border, the craggy rocks, fierce water, and its isolation. Yet, I don’t remember the name of the place, my mind being wiped clean, the disc space formatted, and data lost forever. I remember taking a bus to...

A new adventure one year after Nandi Hills. On the anniversary of our small adventure at the Nandi Hills , the five of us embarked on one more adventure. Our classmates, impressed by our maiden venture to the Nandi Hills, decided they wished to accompany us on weekend journeys. These trips included women, and gained a corporate flavor, with vehicle and hotel reservations made in advance. The organ...

My start on the street When I started photography on the street, I hid behind poles, traffic lights and anything I found. If nothing was available, I leaned against a wall, zoomed in close and pressed the shutter button. I looked away if someone noticed me with my camera and caught me shooting them. One word described me. Shifty. Yes, I was a sneaky photographer, keen to put a great distance betwe...