God's Ways -2

God’s Ways -2

I had sometime back as a part of series for children written a story with a similar title. My constant search within, to find answers to the ever increasing unease, over what I perceive as His scheme of things, unfortunately is quite often rudely shaken up, by experiences in my- to-day mundane existence, and forces me to draw parallels. A remarkable similarity, between the latter, and God’s apparent ways, makes me wonder as to who is imitating whom; Are The Gods ways exactly similar to what we see in our daily lives, or We the people have no choice but to imitate His ways. The end result of this internal dilemma, inevitably is the break of my “inward” looking efforts. Let me cite a few instances which make my point more clear.

(A) In my school days there used to be a Physics tutor, who though an extremely good man, was so unpredictable in his behavior, that it was difficult not to brand him an eccentric. As was the practice, the students had to show our “practical class” notebook to him and get them assessed by him. The notebook carried a certain valuation number and students were keen that the assessments carried some nice remarks.

This man would be so carried away by the first few students who showed him the assignments that without asking, he would rate them “excellent” “good” etc. A third or fourth on line would have done a much better job, but seeing no kind of such ratings coming from him, would make the mistake of a very humble plea for some nice remark. As if on cue our tutor would just go berserk, and put a big “red” cross mark along the page, making this brilliant boy to just go into tears, as this unexpected reaction would be beyond the point of one getting angry.

(B) One would be very familiar with this scene; A group of elder children

would be playing say cricket. A smaller child would be forced on this group for inclusion by his mother. The other boys would have no choice but to accept, but they know what is to be done. They would have this boy fielding almost all the time. At last when there is too much protest, they will just hand over the bat and humor him with a few loose balls. Before the little boy even begins to get partly thrilled, he will get a nice delivery and will be declared “out” and the poor boy has no choice but to continue his fielding drill. The boy slowly then gets to realize that this is an useless pursuit and wisely walks away. The game however continues with the others not even noticing the boy’s absence…. This was their real intent in any case by the way.

The “nishkama” karma (action without any attachment and without an expectation of results) is what pleases Him we are taught. The Physics tutor in a true tradition, awards the students who ask nothing, and when the boy who thinks he has done a good job, and expects a result namely a pat, and even asks for one, gets a deservedly huge punishment, notwithstanding the manifestly better performance. Is the Providence similar or the tutor is imitating the Gods?

At almost every step, my experience is that He chooses to be just like my Physics tutor. Nobody dared call or hint the tutor’s idiosyncrasy, let alone call him an idiot/eccentric, but when Providence gives you absolutely no clue as to whether He hears you, or considers your effort sincere, but worse, almost invariably seems to reserve His best for that allegedly great “Nishkama” karma guy rendering you helpless, frustrated, and nay extremely surprised, where do I appeal? Patronizing advice to grin, bear, look inside and realize the non dual self is appallingly frustrating.

(After a 26 year wait and a disastrous verdict in the Bhopal tragedy, Mani Shankara Iyer when asked about his reactions harangues about some fundamentals of constitutional and rubbishes all “faltu” opposition charges.)

( Ambus of the world may pardon me, the quote of Arthur Ashe methinks was just a romanticized piece, and in fact one which triggered this blog.)

As to the other example, fielding is a bore if you are told that it is going to be a perpetual affair. One is also familiar with this scenario; the batting side just goes home after batting saying that it’s dark and play is not possible. It would seem that He has His favorites; they enjoy batting all the time, and just like the child when I am given the bat once in a while in a life time, and takes it away almost immediately making me wonder as to what it was that I was happy about, I am unable to feel overwhelmingly thrilled like His Bhakhthas who swoon over His overflowing Grace & Kindness.

The child in that game of cricket has a choice; it leaves the field and finds very soon other ways to keep itself happy. The problem for me is how and where do I leave, excepting to go to the same field where I will have to continuously toil, with the hope that I will have a fleeting moment of illusory happiness when I get to bat a few deliveries which is decided by His mood and mercy.

Looking “inward” sort of a patronizing advice seems to be a cruelly hilarious joke. Laughing it off is also alas not allowed as there seems to be no place for humor in the scripts, and realization process mandates abjuring humor.

I wonder if Hiranyakasibu was a devout man as a child and decided that the only way to merge unto Him is to enrage Him so thoroughly that He has no choice but to liberate you!!!!!!! Perhaps instead of being surprised all the time, we should feel angry, as we have nothing to lose but there can be a favorable succour..

A horrible thought or a reasonably logical sublime one….. You take a call…..

Love

Vichu