I see a lot of negativity in situations around me daily. I propagate some myself and I am not proud of the fact. Many times I use them to remind myself not to be that way. Some times I look at people and decide - "I shouldn't end up like that!". I think its a dangerous tactic to play - because it gives a high seat of judgement. Anyway, this isn't a rant post - actually the opposite.
In a world ridden with negativity, there are also gems that one encounters - both in terms of situations and people. Some random events leading back to many years back to recent ones. Some are quotes I come across, mainly on vehicles.
1) Somewhere in north north India. I and Radha are having lunch with a group of people. A short distance away, an old man just finishes eating. When washing his hands, he goes near a plant-pot and washes there. Radha is very impressed - she points out to me and says "Look at the old man na. He is washing his hands on the plant!". I was just surprised she did not recognize the "old man".
2) When traveling in a car in Chennai many years back, I saw a quote on a billboard that said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". I don't think anything will erase this quote for the life of me. This is from my darling Lao Tzu. Many significant moments, and seemingly not-so-significant moments have reminded me of this quote. I think I have written about this quote in this blog umpteen times as well!
3) Near Adyar, a van had this quote - "எங்களது திறமையே அல்ல - அவனது அளவற்ற கருணை" ("Not our doing - his boundless grace"). My eyes became wet instantly. Unfortunately I am not sure who said/wrote this. Later, a smarter version of this quote showed up in a different vehicle. ("எங்களது திறமையாலும் அவனது கருணையாலும்" - by our talent and his grace). I am sure person X read the original quote and found something missing and decided to correct it in his/her wisdom. Unfortunately, X missed the point of the original quote completely!
4) This quote had me gasping. I had to follow the vehicle to make sure I hadn't mis-read it. "With all things and all beings, we shall be as relatives". This was written by Sioux Indians (part of native American tribes). To say something that even means remotely to what was stated, how must they have been living! They also had the wizdom to put "all things". "All beings" covers every conscious life. But to say "all things"! Anyway, this is the culture the immigrants deemed fit to be driven to the point of annihilation!
5) When driving one day, an old woman (in her 50s, probably) asked me for a lift. She couldn't stop talking as we were driving and was talking about her work. Her work place was nearly five kms away and she either took the bus or walked all the way to her work place. She looked up at the sky and suddenly said, "It's going to rain!". I saw - it was overcast, but didn't think it would rain. I asked her "Are you sure?". She said "Yes!". She then turned back to the mountains and pointed there. "Its already raining there now!". Anyway, I didn't hang around to verify. I later dropped her at her house. She invited me for coffee but I couldn't stay.
6) A friend's IM message status - "Always 100%. Sometimes more!". I will never be able to say something like that! (my life till date!)
7) From the life of Bharathi - I think we're stepping from the day-to-day realm to prominent figures - but inspiration counts. Besides, this is not a well known incident. Bharathi and his wife are visiting a zoo. Of course, Bharathi being who he is, wants to play with the lions. He wants to pat them and ruffle his hands through the lions' mane. His wife is terrified and asks him if he is crazy (he is!). So Bharathi now talks to the lion - "Oh king of the jungle, please show this lady that you mean now harm to me by growling to her!". The lion growls, not once but thrice! Then Bharathi plays with the lion for nearly ten minutes before leaving.
(I am paraphrasing from what I read, so some details may be misstated. This incident was narrated by his wife after he passed away). St Francis of Assissi also was known to have been gifted with this art of talking with birds and animals (see here). In fact, Patanjali goes on to say "If you lose fear in your heart, all living beings lose their fear of you" (all non-humans attack only for food or self-defense don't they?)
8 comments:
Curious I guess. Who was that "old man" anyways?
He runs Isha Foundation.
Ah! And this happened loong ago...How come she did not recognize him?
It was a momentary thing. But I enjoyed it - first seeing him as an old man and then recognizing him.
It was Dhyan yatra 2006, we had travlled down from Badrinath to pupilkoti(is the spelling correct?) for our only sathsang (in the yatra) with Sadhguru. When we just got off the vehicle, we saw a man, bent down and washing his hands on a pot with a plant. I saw him from his back(no turban) and did not expect a bit that sadhguru could be seen so easily. For a minute, I thought someone is thoughtful enough to do this consciously and mentioned that to Deepak. You should have seen the "grin" in his face, for apparently having caught me befooled
:) Quite a story. Thanks much for sharing, Radha. Btw, weren't you blogging too?
Not much, I do that very rarely. Travelling most of the time, I do not have access to internet nor the time to blog mostly.
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