Sunday, September 21, 2008

At a distance




Life happens to us in all it's alarmingly dramatic and sudden shifts occuring anywhere and anywhere, especially when you expect them the least or may be expect quite the opposite. However,after having been THROUGH a situation or having REACTED to one in a way you never wanted to, all you are left with is a philosphical afterthought that it is better to just see what's happening and keep your responses away in some quiet hidden corner from where you can dispassionatelyand wisely  extricate them at your convenience and as you choose.

Unleashing your sword in the heat of the battle (images which we grow up with ..thanks Hollywood and Bollywood :), in real life is perhaps one of the most foolish things to do. Kiddish people like me often realize that after being badly bruised in a duel.

What' s even worse is that when the opponents are not really enemies but friends or even worse your own kith and kin, your own blood, it mirrors back 5000 years with Arjun standing perplexed in the battle field. Where both, those who are with and against him are his own relatives. Where the blood to be shed, the losses and victories are all the same for whoever we hurt will ultimately hurt us.

Where you can see Bhisma pitamah pitted against you. The Pitamah on whose shoulders you have ridden your childhood. You can see Dronacharya ready to kill or be killed. The Guru who taught you to wield the bow and arrow you currently hold in your hands. And these are the people you have to defeat/to kill.

With me it's even worse for I find my rath in the middle of two armies, and I don't even know which army am I fighting for and why?

All I can think of in such a situation is to run from the battlefield to a quiet corner with Krishna and beg him to show me the way. For it seems much worthier to surrender to him than to slay those whom I love. To hurt them and thus get hurt myself.

Dispassion. Detachment. Perhaps those are the pre-requisites for any Mahabharata. Physical, mental or spiritual. I guess it always is inside out.

So perhaps this is Lesson 101. Watch the show. Do what you want to do (by letting the intellect ride over emotions). Trust him. And not ever speak your mind out.

I for one have opened my trap much more than is required in my life. And perhaps it is time to shut up and grow..

To look at life at a distance. And quietly dig the hole where the founadtion for the future is to be laid. One thing which I  have discovered of late is that more than where you dig, and who helps you dig, what is more imp. is that YOU DIG and long enough that a structure which shall be erected would last long enough and be able to withstand earthquakes, storms...and other unexpected calamities. And be a launching pad for operations in all directions...and of all kinds.

How and where life will lead you to discover your dreams is something which life chooses to keep a secret (perhaps thats what makes it worth living), all the while looking at how sincerely you are digging the well to your heart..your soul.

So....sshhh...dig...dig...dig

And keep watching life and its characters (even yourself) at a distance.