The lack of effort, promptness and initiative

We find escapes in many circumstances from putting our best effort or showing promptness and the burden of initiative. Either we are expecting for things to happen on their own or the other people involved to do it for you. It reflects our lack of zeal and interest. As there are plenty of things we do halfheartedly and probably because what are not following our heart actually. We are not genuinely interested in plenty of things and yet get involved in them. This could be for plenty of reasons for instance lack of courage to put a strong foot forward or compromising for some ulterior motive and sometimes for the sake of someone.
Be it spiritual path or the mundane social life they both require efforts, promptness and lot of initiative. As you have set a goal for yourself and nobody else is going to pursue it for you. I often am confronted with this query or question by people who have known me or strangers that if there is so much fault or drawback in the general life then why doesn’t one leave everything and go to mountains or forests. Or for those who actually go then its pointed they are running away from the world. Then the misery is advocated by saying that we are here fighting or struggling or however doing it yet facing it strongly, unlike the `babas’ who run away or not ready to face `reality’. I have had so many laughs every time I ponder an instance where such juvenile comments or remarks are made.

Artists, musicians, singers, lawyers, doctors, architects, merchants, soldiers, businessman, politicians……..bla bla bla bla. Aren’t these all just living life in different ways yet there might be a lot common in their needs and desires. Does anyone question them, no, why because they don’t raise a question on others too. But thinkers, philosophers, sages, saints, writers always question or point towards what being ignored. If people from Nat Geo or Discovery or scientists and researchers compromise on their social life to research something then it’s highly regarded by the society. Yet if somebody researches on something that’s not comprehensive for the lay man then they start questioning, why? It’s so funny that we ourselves can’t accept our own kind the way they are. Instead of being a facilitator, we become a hindrance or none the less despise them. But if all revolutionary people thought like this or got influenced by such hurdles then our societies would never have evolved. Or if the contributions of such unconventional people is taken away then we might still be barbaric. Are the forests, caves or the Himalayas outside the world? Are we still living in a age where anything outside the society or social norms is a taboo? Or we just hypocrites wanting to be called evolved and modern. Well its not the case everywhere and there is at least one society or religion that’s much more open and accepting to such ideas and that is Jainism. Interestingly they celebrate in honor of anybody who wants to move towards self-realization.

Regardless of this the situation actually boils down to the fact that such questions, arguments or remarks are only put by people who lack in efforts, promptness and initiative. Who are scared to venture into regions that they don’t understand or don’t have the courage to reach the horizons as it seems to be the world’s end of what little they know. A lot of beautiful relations begin beautifully but start declining towards an ugly end, just due to the aforementioned reason. We can’t accept what we don’t understand but somebody else understands. We can’t handle it if we find someone care-free towards things that form our biggest concerns. Though we are constantly slogging to be there but failing to achieve it with our wisdom, we are not ready to accept an advice or suggestion. Instead we glorify our misery or failure or how we struggle unnecessarily.

If we all want to go from Delhi to London then the fastest public transport available is an airplane? But if we in our ignorance keep glorifying the splendor and beauty that we can witness if travelled in a bullock cart, then nobody can help you. As then reaching London can’t be your aim actually unless the path is more important to you and not the destination. Hypothetically speaking if reaching London is the sole aim then we are losing focus. Is it to hide our failure or hide that our struggles have been futile as we didn’t know till now airplanes existed.

If you won’t seek you will not find. Don’t be so afraid to put efforts as they are not to be safe-guarded and cherished but what you can achieve after that is what matters.

Life as we know it is just a whirlpool of repeat telecasts, a vicious circle. Many of joined it before us and many will after we die. But if anyone tries to get out of it or find meaning to our existence instead of finding out what triggered such transition, realization or transformation we ask the most irrelevant question as what will happen once you will be free from this whirlpool or get of this circle. We ourselves are tired of this drill yet don’t appreciate any step towards liberation. What an irony! Some even advocate their futile attempt of trying to feel liberated while being caught in the jaws of this relentless struggle.

There is a beautiful song by Gurumaa Anandmurti which goes –

Jogiya, jag hai ek sarai

Sada raha hai kaun yahan par, ek aai ek jaai
Chhod ke apno ka ye mela, hans akela jaaye

Jiska jitna daana paani, wo utna hi khaye
Boond na simte sagar mein kabhi, saagar boond samaye

Sukh ke ujiyaare ke peeche, dukh ke kale saaye
Jaan ke bhi anjaan bane sab, kaun kise samjhaye

Pursuit of the Unknown

Growing up is about chasing. To get taller, to excel in class, to win your teacher's appreciation, best at sports, to be popular in school or college, to be the cynosure everywhere, to learn everything, to outstand in competitions, to have a huge bank balance, to have a four-wheel drive, your own flat, trip to langkavi or zurich, love-marriage..............

We keep pursuing something in all these and we don't realize when we get stuck in this whirlpool. This endless quest of no one knows what. The chase that only ends with our breath, who knows if it transcends the death too. If we go by our scriptures or certain doctrines then that's what leads to re-birth.

With every life shattering failure we get a nervous breakdown, halt momentarily to contemplate what went wrong, a fleeting introspection till we regain the lost strength and rush to spend it in the next pursuit. Sleep is like short death; we lose awareness of our existence on conscious level, charge and come back to the race.

We have all tasted success at some level but how long does that high linger, eventually it fades and we are looking for means to again get intoxicated with something.

What compels us so strongly is pursuit the only purpose of our being. It is often propagated that serving others without any motive gives satisfaction but even then if you are not appreciated or insulted for something, misunderstood by someone you care for or some unfortunate incidence takes place. What ground does it leave under your feet. Everyone knows this drill but still if you question it, you are ignored, despised or told to move on. But move on to what. Guess move to your natural end.

 

Kaid-e-hayaat o bande-gam, asl mein dono ek hain; maut se pehle aadmi gam se nijaat paaye kyon

 

Probably there is something we are all meant to pursue but it has to be identified right, which is the end of all pursuits, the contentment of which lasts forever. Something that hopefully and actually transcends our corporeal existence. It may be like flowing in love. Not like the relationships we experience, full of ups and downs but a constant flow of life. When we stop having tendencies, conditions, impulses and instincts, simply being ourselves. In our purest and natural form. When every co-passenger seems like your best friend. Every animal and bird your pet. Every weather your favorite and every day your birthday and every night like the 31st Dec. Where there is no demand and desire. Fulfillment of petty things don't govern or direct our thoughts and actions.

 

The closest resemblance to such a possibility is regarded as self-realization. When one is all and all is one. It happens when we only have regard, respect and value for the life within and around us. When we only eye what's making the breeze blow, rising of sun and moon, blooming the flowers and growing fruits, the sparkle in the eye of an infant, giving the notes of music the power of enchanting. When we constantly realize the source of power of this universe and how it flows through us all the time.

Its interesting to mention here that its said in BHAGWAD GEETA - if you keep your mind and brain dwelling into this quintessence of life then you don't have to even make slightest efforts for your physical needs and security, the nature itself starts serving you in ways beyond our comprehension at this stage.

If we look around us we all may seem like clones in many ways having similar needs, desires, weaknesses, tendencies and ultimately the pursuits. Or in another perspective are we not trying to reach the source of everything unknowingly by relentlessly pursuing what's grown on that soil in various forms. Why not dig it once and witness the structure and flow of xylem and phloem everywhere.

 

- VA

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