11.19.2006

Life: a battle to be won, not a moment to be lived

It would look like another day to anyone, a typical day with a new share of problems that we would have to solve, new challenges that we would have to face with surprises both good and bad. Srinivasan sat in a corner brooding. He had shot it down, his worship, his belief, his only hope left for a meaningful life.

Srinivasan had been through tough times. Tough being really tough, it had taught him a few good lessons that woke him up to strange truths about the worlds he lived in. It made him believe, be it his marriage, his job or even his life in the social circle, each was an illusion of it own kind presenting intoxicants and poisons at the same time. Then where was the truth and how could he escape it?

He posed this question to his Guru. Srinivasan had almost lost everything when his Guru stepped in to save the little left in his hands. He had gone weak, with guilt and couldn't quite believe he had broken the serious rules of orthodoxy that governed his life. Bringing himself back to the path appeared simple, though in the scale of value and importance it was imprinted in his mind for good. It was a thought that would stay in his mind 24x7 and would not leave him anymore.... easily.

He had done well at work, collecting accolades all over the place, making a comeback so strong, that had got him enough fame. The intoxication of success had given him wings, and strong ones, so strong that they could not be clipped by anyone but him. And fly he did, to heights unknown, with the intoxication rising with every additional flight. He had felt it, the high, the attention; it looked like an amazing world to be in. He almost thought he was invincible. Suddenly, the news came in, he had gone too far out and the return had to happen.

Srinivasan, descended with the same speed he had shot up, plummeting even faster that he couldn’t quite guide the fall. Now he sat in front of his Guru again, asking and begging to be saved. The next lesson of life came in and Srinivasan was taught. His values were the only stronghold he had, his respect was his only fortress and leaving this would be loosing the battle of life. Enemies would come in any form, praise, attention, success... you name it, but he would have to stay on the ground or fly lower. That was the mark of a spiritual man. He was taught to be self reliant, and not look beyond himself for attention or acceptance. He was taught that living this live means going through its labyrinth of illusion and there was no running away, the purpose was to fight it and win. Life is not about living and escaping, it’s about winning. It’s about looking at everything around like a puzzle, something that needs to be solved. It’s about looking at yourself at the moment of happiness with the same view as looking at yourself during pain.

Srinivasan thought, “Strange life! It starts only when you think you have learnt enough and you want to end it. It’s tougher than normal living where the mind can waver. Here it cant, it simply can’t and the rules are not meant to be broken, they have to be followed for a successful win, not just living.”

Srinivasan, sat back in his couch, taking a deep breath, another lesson learn, another moment of truth revealed. What matters most is self-respect, value and the sheer determination to live through with it and win.

Life is a game, one that lots play, but only few win!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

As per my loud thoughts, perhaps our ‘mind-set’, related with time that is Kaliyuga - the believably worst of the four Yugas - doesn’t permit any one human being all the time to enjoy the drama that life as per the ancients believably is.

This kind of thought had once appeared in my head too - when in Chhatisgarh I, with other relatives, enjoyed viewing the beautiful Tirathgarh and Chitrakoot waterfalls (the latter is described similar to Niagara Falls by some) a few years ago and recalled also the Majestic Jog Falls I had visited in Karnataka in the early sixties during an ‘educational tour’ from college…

Human life and behaviours are found analogous, [thanks perhaps to the Creator’s design with a view to rendering immortality to Earth that is Shiva as its best reflection or ‘image’ or ‘model’ with assistance from other members of our Galaxy/ universe all linked to it], by some poets and philosophers too with flowing rivers that have similar stages, and falls, rapids, and so on - during their life-time depending on the natural terrain – with every river's apparent sole purpose being to meet the sea , their origin, to dump all their impurities in it and to fly in the sky again and again for the sake of continuity of 'life'!

In view of the above, Gita advises one to have firm faith in ‘Krishna’ the reincarnation of the Formless Creator! And, even a powerful character - an expert archer of his time - Arjuna also could regain his composure only after realization that he always had Krishna attached to him, not in that life alone, but from the very beginning as the origin as well as the end/ the seed as well as the store-house (at the 'Mooladhar' perhaps as the Yogis believe Him to exist within each human being! Thus it is an apparent matter of Faith or in fact the Grand design!)

Anonymous said...

Kavitha, some of the visitors had requested me to write n brief the thoughts. Maybe the following mail to the newspaper could help throw some light on the Hindu Philosophy...

“Blinkered vision”, (mt,mv 20/11), “Question of Faith”, (mt,mv 21/11) …in response to ‘Darkness at noon’ by Jayant Narlikar (18/11).

Like Heavenly Bodies, Human beings were realized by the ‘wise’ ancients in the past to be mere instruments (‘inert’, in the words of Narlikar, or made from earth/ ash or “panchbhootas” or the “panchtatvas” the ‘five elements’ expressed in the scriptures).

Maybe one could refer Gita also in this regard, for it contains highly advanced thoughts in the long lost ‘past’ carried forth till the ‘present’, with the background belief of the ancient “Hindus” that the Creator of the universe is related with zero time and space, and the unending stories/ drama of apparent physical forms or His dreams are related with time generated due to apparent animation of forms – an illusion or ‘maya’…designed such that the ‘basic Truth’ in the stories ever remains unaffected by apparent time, and the physical 100% apparent human efficiency (that is balance between the material and spiritual energy was achieved by the Creator through his innumerable forms – starting from zero at a certain point of time in the beginning of “Kaliyuga”) was possible only at a point of time, which the ancients designated as “Satyuga”.

The ancients or God’s own images, viz. Brahma (model of Sun) and physical Vishnu or His reincarnation Krishna (model of Centre of our galaxy) in Dwaperyuga when human efficiency reduces to a range between 50% and 25% of the possible maximum apparently couldn’t reach the purpose of the Creator (Formless Vishnu/ Shiva with Earth as its Supreme physical model) in reviewing the thoughts through eternity. Kaliyuga believably is an age of confusion, for it reflects the status of creation within the head of the Creator when He had just started and believably reached a maximum of 25% efficiency, to review which it apparently takes 4,32, 000 years – and perhaps God alone would know how much time and alternatives He would have tried to reach the ideal, that’s why perhaps there apparently exist innumerable galaxies within the apparently infinite void of the universe!!!

In a lighter (Jugular!) vein, meaning no offence to the oldies, perhaps Jayant Narlikar, a famous scientist at the fag-end of life, could use the resources available at his disposal to reach the “Absolute Truth” instead of chasing the shadows – he has after all reached the age when Yogis (all rounder scientists or “Siddhas”) used to retreat to the Himalayas!"

Anonymous said...

Hi Kavitha,

Maybe the following note I posted in another blog might help know the essence of some of the thoughts of the ancient Hindus that have been received in my Head or the 'garbage bin' - as I call it!

"Based on my experience, if I were to be your physician now, I would first see your palms - to see the trends of the major lines, called ‘Head’, ‘Heart’ and ‘Life’ lines, besides positive and negative ‘Influence’ lines. I would then get your date, year and time of birth from you (hoping that the concerned had the time of birth also recorded) and work out what time it was in terms of IST or Indian Standard Time (which according to the ‘wise’ ancient "Hindus" is related with the location of the Formless Creator in the beginning - after which 'It' delegated its powers to different Heavenly Bodies, each to exercise control in different aspects of life in each of the eight cardinal directions while retaining control of the maximum reach of humans ('images' of God, or 'models of the universe') during different Yugas or long durations of time) to know your controlling, and governing planets and the corresponding gemstones depending on your marital status, single, married, widow etc.

Although, as I haven’t yet perfected it, I can’t give 100% assurance, but I have tested it on many known persons that if the particulars are correct, one would observe some relief if I apply the gemstones so determined on your photograph irrespective of your apparent location on the globe!"

Anonymous said...

In the ‘present’, I recall coming across a statement to the effect, “Everyone is a slave of time/ only a few can come up above it.”

Yes, although the ‘wise ancients’ realized the doer-ship to rest with the Creator, although it appeared to rest with the innumerable characters that enter the ‘Kalchakra’ or the ‘wheel of time’ or “Vishnu’s or His reincarnation, Krishna’s, Sudershan Chakra”…The ‘wise’ ancients called it ‘Maya’ or illusion…and suggested only way was to surrender in ‘Krishna’ as the Formless or ‘Nirakar Naadbindu’ ever remained detached (Of course, it is easier advised than followed!)…

Anonymous said...

This is in response to various reporting on ‘King Lara’ or ‘King Sachin’ etc.

"Satyameva Jayate," that is, “Truth ever prevails.”

The ancients - “Hindus” or “Christians” - taught one to see innumerable reflections of the one and the same Supreme Being in all human beings - irrespective of the apparent hierarchy any time and at any place!!!

When will WE THE PEOPLE - in the ‘biggest democracy’ that Bharat that is India believably is - come out of the slavish mentality and start enjoying the game of Cricket instead?

Even Nehru reportedly said, ‘Play the game in the spirit of the game.” And, when he advocated ‘scientific temper’ (Darkness at Noon by Jayant Narlikar, 18/11), the western oriented poor Indian scientists also thought that Yogiraj Krishna, through a character named Jawahar Lal Nehru, was alluding to them – he obviously always means “Siddhas” or all round scientists – not ‘experts’ or ‘blinkered scientists’!!!

Kavitha Kalyan said...

HI Naresh,

Sorry for this late reply. Life is a journey, to be experienced with lessons to be learnt. I didnt mean life to be a game literally but more in a conceptual sense where our problems should appear more like puzzles and games rather than the very end of the earth when we face them. This makes our outlook far simpler.

There are a few things to be remembered, that we learn more about life when we face problems than when we are happy.

This post seeks to explain a lot more about how to face these problems, most importantly the attitude with which we need to face them.

Regds
Kavitha

Anonymous said...

Kavitha, Perhaps one has to start afresh, seeking answer to the eternal question: WHO AM I? Could I merely be a character, a bhoot or a ghost appearing in different forms in the eternal drama, the story of which is believably written by Bhootnath Shiva?

In this context I give below thoughts (which I believe are dependent on the controlling planet/ governing planets of each individual human being) that appeared in my head in response to the question posed by my nephew: What can man do himself?

“The basic purpose of man is to realise the Formless Creator or Nirakar Nadbindu, and the Gods in physical forms.
From reading between the lines the Gita, you can learn that our EARTH (MRITYULOK) is the supreme, unborn (SWAYAMBHU) and Unending (Vishnu on Anantnag/ Sheshanag - it is 4.6 billion years old today as per the present day scientists) form of Krishna. It is Shiva, the essence (Satva) or the Truth (Satya), in "Satyam Shivam Sunderam" and "Satyameva Jayate" or "Truth ever prevails".

Gita advises one to ‘enjoy’ the drama as a spectator - as Shakespeare also realized. The ancient Hindus indicate human efficiency to range - in Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaperyuga, Kaliyuga, respectively - between 100-75, 75-50, 50-25, 25-0%. The present is almost the fag-end of Kaliyuga, and the scientists also confirm that even the most intelligent man today utilises negligible percentage of brain cells available to him...However, man being a working model of God, with a limitation as described above depending on Yuga, he can realize the Truth/ Absolute Truth any time - depending on the Creator's will Himself (the Formless as the real one) by surrendering in Him, or in ‘Krishna’, His avatar or re-incarnation, as Gita advises...

Whatever man can do, or whetever is the trend in the ‘future’ of the ‘present’, is always evident from daily Newspapers...however from Mythology one can know what man can do in different yugas, utilising the potential capacity available to humans at all times, but energy - more and more of it - gets progressively locked up at the "Mooladhar Chakra", (essence of planet Mars - or Ganesha/ Hanuman, Vighnaharta/ sankatmochan), as time moves towards Kaliyuga..."

It has been realized by the ancients that human behaviour depends on the 'inclination' of the individual...

Kalpana said...

Very true. Though we know, we tend to forget these words when necessary for us.

Anonymous said...

Yes kalpana, as the ancients had also apparently realized it, the Creator’s ‘Maya’ apparently is virtually impossible to overcome by an average man. And, hence, the believable need for “tapasya” or ‘one-track-mind' thoughts by a ‘seeker’ of Truth/ Absolute Truth - irrespective of one’s location, as realized by many householders even in the ‘past’. And, perhaps, it is applicable at all times...

There are stories available about certain kings (Janak etc) / historical figures engaged in ordinary trades (a cobbler, Sant Raidas; a devotee of Ma Kali, Ramakrishna Paramhansa; and so on) who apparently lived a balanced and contented life while engaged in their day-to-day tasks - who could perhaps be considered as 'ideal role models’ in the drama, besides a comparatively larger number of 'unhappy souls' apparent at all times…

Anonymous said...

Kavitha, As an attempt to visualize the logic of apparent occurrence of temporary cycles of ‘happiness’ and ‘unhappiness’ among all at all times, perhaps the believable concept of review again and again, (like reading or hearing a story retold/ viewing a recorded film in the apparent present also - perhaps as a hint), of the ‘imperfect past’ from the stage of reaching ‘all-round-perfection’ or ‘eternal bliss’ to cover the entire space - through the eyes of innumerable apparent physical forms as His Own multiple images that existed at some particular cross-section of time – by the undying Creator during His one day of over four billion years followed by His night’s rest of equal duration, seems justifiable to me…

Anonymous said...

Saiprasad Raut said....


The study on the "AShtavakra Geeta" says that where ever you are, you just need to be an OBSERVER (SAAKSHI)....Attachment(Bandhan) is the Samsaaraa...Even the wish for the Moksh is the Bandhan..we have to work towards being an observer for our own existance...

Even Adi Shankaracharya mentioned in the NIRVANA SHATAKA is

Manobudhyahankaar chittani naaham,
Nachakshotrajivhe nacha ghrananetre,
Nachavyombhumir na tejo na vaayu,
Chidanand Rupa Shivoham Shivoham.

Anonymous said...

Yes you are right Shri Raut. Certain ‘rare personalities’ at all times have realized the Truth, or in reality the existence of one Formless God and His apparent innumerable reflections or images that give an apparent feel of hierarchy in all His believable projections- with each having much lower intelligence compared to the Creator’s 100% at all times depending on the Yuga concerned…like a bird, because of its intelligence being even much lower than average man’s, believes its own reflection in the mirror to be yet another bird of the same specis inside the mirror and thus giving a feeling of ‘superiority complex’ in man while in reality he himself relatively is much inferior because of the available potential remaining unutilized due to ‘Maya’ or illusion (he in reality being Shiva Himself, but made to appear much inferior)!
Thus only the rare Yogis apparently did exclaim, “Shivoham!”

Anonymous said...

“The taste of pudding lies in eating”. Of course, if asked to describe in words the taste of the same pudding, one might hear a variety of versions – in essence categorised as good, or bad, or so-so…

The abstract entities are realized ever to be beyond words – one has to visualize through inference. For example, a Black Hole is realized, by those who are watching through telescopes, from the rush of stars into a ‘hole in space’ - if those happen to be in its close vicinity - into which they apparently disappear, for the super gravity of the ‘hole’ doesn’t even allow their light to escape and be seen from earth …A large number of analogous happenings on earth could perhaps help in visualizing this phenomenon – perhaps as a ‘design’! That’s the Truth of life or inherent limitation in the ‘design’ of each human being, believably related with ‘time’…

As per the ancients, there apparently are over 1000 times in over 4 billion years (one day in the life of the unending Creator) when Absolute Truth naturally gets revealed to all!