This "Reflection" series doesn't appear to go away from my thoughts though I have had those rare "dawning of wisdom", which says that all attractions including this crazy idea of penning a thought for the day --- which as Sankaracharya has said is mere "dukrung karane" (A kind of jay jay vittal to use my phrase) --- must be slowly gotten rid of.
I then came across a Hindi (photo in FB) which said something like this, on the necessity of "keeping in touch".
"One day all of us may lose each other completely, thinking that since the other is not remembering me at all, why should I"?
Do I need any better prompter to continue merrily? So folks till another piece of gem comes my way to cease from even this activity, I will go on I guess!!
Here is today's thought:
Some actual incidence first to get a perspective:
There was this major auto-component manufacturer who was supplying an important item to a major Auto manufacturer(OEM). Thanks to the (stupid?) one-vendor for a component kind of mindset, this guy was enjoying a monopoly and extracting a price, and enjoying himself.
In spite of resistance from the OEM, one smart guy came along; developed the same item and with a substantially lower price. The first vendor getting scared decided to take action. He went and offered a huge reduction to protect his turf. You know what happened then? The auto major accepted the reduction gleefully, but just said "thank you" and simultaneously reduced his share to less than 50%, giving the balance to this enterprising newcomer.
My life's experience appears somewhat similar. During my earlier days I thought I could barter my prayers with asking for boons out of proportion in my secular life. (A good price as it were. That He did not oblige is besides the point)
Later I realized that my price in the form of boons is perhaps not fair and started expecting less of these in the hope I will get more spiritual progress. (perhaps with a notion of a kind of recompense sub-consciously). My prayers were taking a "not expecting a return" kind of hue.
God (it appears to me) however has decided to say thank you and even while accepting my "without expectation" mood, & gradually reducing the share of boons, is also perhaps not in a mood to give a glimpse of any spiritual progress. He instead seems to be more in a mood to test me, to the point of making me skeptical, to a point of "disbelief." As if this is not adequate enough, He it would seem to prefer every other guy, and give them a glimpse of spiritual Ecstasy, along with material boons, many of whom appear to me as "johnny come lately" kind of guys & quite undeserving.
Moral of the story, and the thought of the day?
"Don't think, let things be, as He only knows the past, present & the future all of which BTW is just an empirical reality, with no permanent existence.
In some Upanishad it says "you did not exist before you were born, you will not exist when you are gone, so how can one which is allegedly in between have an existence"?
Isn't this profound, scary, logical, compelling, yet appearing "bull" all at the same time? A very cruel joke really if you ask me, and without apparent succor.
There is anguish, anger, terrific humor as also tragedy, which leads often to a yelling like that "gajendra" in total surrender seeking "release". Will He condescend to hear?
Love
Vichu
I then came across a Hindi (photo in FB) which said something like this, on the necessity of "keeping in touch".
"One day all of us may lose each other completely, thinking that since the other is not remembering me at all, why should I"?
Do I need any better prompter to continue merrily? So folks till another piece of gem comes my way to cease from even this activity, I will go on I guess!!
Here is today's thought:
Some actual incidence first to get a perspective:
There was this major auto-component manufacturer who was supplying an important item to a major Auto manufacturer(OEM). Thanks to the (stupid?) one-vendor for a component kind of mindset, this guy was enjoying a monopoly and extracting a price, and enjoying himself.
In spite of resistance from the OEM, one smart guy came along; developed the same item and with a substantially lower price. The first vendor getting scared decided to take action. He went and offered a huge reduction to protect his turf. You know what happened then? The auto major accepted the reduction gleefully, but just said "thank you" and simultaneously reduced his share to less than 50%, giving the balance to this enterprising newcomer.
My life's experience appears somewhat similar. During my earlier days I thought I could barter my prayers with asking for boons out of proportion in my secular life. (A good price as it were. That He did not oblige is besides the point)
Later I realized that my price in the form of boons is perhaps not fair and started expecting less of these in the hope I will get more spiritual progress. (perhaps with a notion of a kind of recompense sub-consciously). My prayers were taking a "not expecting a return" kind of hue.
God (it appears to me) however has decided to say thank you and even while accepting my "without expectation" mood, & gradually reducing the share of boons, is also perhaps not in a mood to give a glimpse of any spiritual progress. He instead seems to be more in a mood to test me, to the point of making me skeptical, to a point of "disbelief." As if this is not adequate enough, He it would seem to prefer every other guy, and give them a glimpse of spiritual Ecstasy, along with material boons, many of whom appear to me as "johnny come lately" kind of guys & quite undeserving.
Moral of the story, and the thought of the day?
"Don't think, let things be, as He only knows the past, present & the future all of which BTW is just an empirical reality, with no permanent existence.
In some Upanishad it says "you did not exist before you were born, you will not exist when you are gone, so how can one which is allegedly in between have an existence"?
Isn't this profound, scary, logical, compelling, yet appearing "bull" all at the same time? A very cruel joke really if you ask me, and without apparent succor.
There is anguish, anger, terrific humor as also tragedy, which leads often to a yelling like that "gajendra" in total surrender seeking "release". Will He condescend to hear?
Love
Vichu
ReplyDeleteAnand Iyer's Comments:
Athanji,
Namaskar!
First my apologies ... I don't really find the mental space to read all your pieces, though I dearly want to ... plus the 'theme' remains the same.
But this one I did (maybe since I have mental space (am 'thatha'-sitting for my periappa in A'bad while the caretaker is away or maybe it was just shorter), and really enjoyed it thoroughly. (Aapko yaad tho bahut karte hain sahab, even without seeing these regular pieces. I wish there was a mechanism (like the popular hiccup myth, but less intrusive) of your knowing our constant remembrance!
The discount in prayers is a class stroke. What you say of the Upanishads' messages is absolutely believably true. As also is your condition, I must say, though it sounds cruel to agree to your cries. Fantastic imagery.
As for the discounts, MOST of us, I am sure have undergone this. I have seen it in others also. I put it down to maturity, while many others cal it being only 'reasonable and fair' to Him.
But sahab, the other vendors are actually simply securing their ends through their own means. Not through Him. I think. He is only watching, much like a Supreme Court. The government is by the people only! Chakkar is you want all your stuff from Him directly. No chance, you will get only verdicts, and that too when fully escalated beyond appeals!
Just a different thought, sahab:
Your themes and means remain the same and unmistakably you. First the disclaimer (dukrim karane, aadat se majboor but enjoying ...), the note of 'irrespective of the 'shrotas', then your pet theme illustrated through a real-life analogy & scriptural support and then ending with the plea to deliverance.
Someone recently analysed that Narendra Modi's recent (since national stage) speeches follow a pattern, and are indicative of the sub-text that he desires the listener to note, i.e. him as PM. I doubt He, up there, also recognizes speeches in the same way as lay audiences down here, who need re-iteration. Maybe you need a change of delivery to convince Him in different ways!
See if worthy of pondering. But nothing to take away from the class of your article! Language is informal yet the words are absolutely spot on!!!
Anand
,
ReplyDeleteALV's response:
Kamaal ka response hai Beta....
"theme" alag kaise karen bhai? Advaitham samaj me nahin bhi aayee tho bhi it is so logical & precise that deliverance in the form of realization of that ONENESS seems to be the only choice available.....
Yeh Upanishad ka vakya, I read a couple of days back, and it was impossible to hold back and not share. The constant "theme" as you call it has sustained for over 5 + years I guess now, and it's been a Dialog (or is it Monologue) almost entirely with myself trying to get answers from within. Responses help look again "in" and till I get "anand" on line (pun intended) I am not done.....
My disbelief (not problem) is about the " other vendors" - You say they are securing their means thru their own means. Oh really? Do you honestly believe that every moron who "has" made it has any individual wherewithal to be there where he is?
Lets start from the most idioitic of this gang; Rahul (not bajaj....) his mother, the other bunch of the ruling establishment, and I am now too tempted to include the "maun vrat" participant heading this bunch together with the likes of Mani Shankar Iyer, a Manish Tiwari --"diarrhoea & Plague combined"-- psychophants, and a spineless bunch of Media guys who can never call a spade a spade but interrupt every single sane observation, and the list can go on .... can you imagine any one of this bunch to be anywhere they are without Providential Blessing? They are also the best suited to get spiritual "arul" from the likes of ravishankarjis or such spiritual gurus.Is it their efforts or God's benign dispensation?
Mera koi shikava nahi hain beta; mai sirf heiraan hoon (I have no problem or complaint; I am just amazed and in total disbelief) with His so called "scheme"........ Meri koi sunvaai nahin hothi, agar hothi hai tho sirf mere apne hi apne ke saath aur apne baare mein he. Woh jo andhar baitha hai woh sirf judge jaise baitha hai, tho koi problem nahin hai, par woh tho katju jaise, bolta hai aur justify karta hai and iska kaaran samaj mein nahin aathaa. And that's the anguish.
If this is blasphemy, it is... period. Woh jab deliver karega thab karega; but kuch tho cue dein? Kahaan se aayeen kahhan jaana hai, kaise, jab haath pair toota pada hai, aankhon mein roshni nahin hai, Mooh goonga hai, aur woh "prarabdha" ki baath karega aur sirf jatka dethaa rahega kya?
Khoj/Jignyaasaa for answers is on. Akela hi jaanaa hai, lamba aur mushkil lag raha hai aur koi bhi samaadhaan dhene ko thayyar nahin hai.....This is my bewilderment. 5 years of this theme with copious written stuff are possibly inadequate for someone to hear and give succor let alone give me sukham or release.
The sharing bit however gives a kind of comfort which grows with response and that I am stuck with it is hopefully not such a bad thing I guess.
Love
Vichu