The Simplicity of Choice

Sometimes the memory of a funny story may bring a serious thought to mind -as it happened to me when I was having my evening walk in our garden. Few lines of a much forgotten poem floated in to my mind, which told the story of the invention of shoes. When people were fending off dust everywhere, someone suggested they drench the earth with water, while others suggested covering it up with cloth or leather. Then a wise old man suggested that before trying to change the landscape, why not cover  your own feet  with leather. Thus shoes were born. 

I realised that  in any situation of life, self-protection is more effective than trying to change the outside world. We find our world is burning today with hatred, injustice, greed and anger, expressed through wars between countries, social ideals of different cultures and also within families. Wars fought with weapons or words  are unable to bring permanent peace. So we must be ready to listen and learn from the wisdom of that mythical inventor of the shoe.

One such effective idea is expressed in the first few sutras (lines) of the ancient text, “Yoga Sutras”, written by Maharishi Patanjali around 400 C.E. In his first chapter, “Yama “refers to the five external aspects of individual must do's. They are as follows, Ahimsa or non violence, Satya meaning truthfulness,  “ Asteya “ prescribes  non-covetousness in any form, let alone the act of stealing. “ Brahmacharya “ asks to develop self restraint, and” Aparigraha “is to stay unaffected by greed or the desire for accumulation.

The second chapter, “Niyama “ refers about five internal aspects of must dos of an individual. “Sauch “means to maintain inner and outer cleanliness. Santosh, is to have contentment. Tapas prescribes self-discipline and right effort,  “Svadhyaya” prescribes study for self improvement and self-awareness and finally comes “ Ishvara Pranidhan, “which means surrendering to God with love and humility.

Patanjali with his deep insight realised that we can change our world by purifying and strengthening our own mind. The world we create within is the world we live within.

Is man becoming the machine or is machine becoming man?

Today many people ask, "is technology a boon or bane to our lives?"

Recently, while driving through a crowded road of Delhi, our driver Rajbir saved one absent minded lady’s life by screwing to a stop a few feet away from her almost toppling me out of my seat. One woman emerged from staring into her smart phone, her attention to some unknown destination. I thanked Rajbir for his quick reaction, and also felt sad for  that lady’s addiction, which could have been the cause of her death and endless complications for my driver and me.

These days it is common to see students in class rooms with smart phones on, disengaged from their teacher, fellow students and the study material. In meetings, social gatherings, or while crossing the road, this level of not being where you are is a threat to consciousness. Apart from impoliteness of such behaviour, they become the victim of many calamities, the least of which is chronic depression and anxiety, which is now well proven. This is a form of living death where you are not in your body or your space but 'elsewhere'. 

No doubt, the internet helps us in many ways as well. It can  instantly supply vast amounts of information, or data, or can connect researchers across the globe to allow them to work collaboratively in real time. It can speed up learning or even fund-raising after natural disasters. It has of course, made people more politically aware even if much of it is disinformation. It also can create new types of jobs -  one can now be famous over night on Instagram, though that fame can be as hollow as being rich in a monopoly game.

 Intelligent machines have taken industrialization to a new level. I read an interesting quote, “one machine can do work of fifty ordinary men, but no machine can do work of an extraordinary man.”That extraordinary power of the human being  is the abilities to think deeply in the human context, learn and grow in life, to have a richer experience of it, not just ben more productive. The purpose of human life is not to produce more things more efficiently, it is to evolve as a conscious being. By expanding the imagination, with unconditional love and compassion  to all life , humans are capable of create a beautiful world - within and without. We must be aware that unmindful usage of technology has the power to crush humanity in its wheels of progress. It can cause anxiety, sleep disorder, lack of concentration, poor academic performance etc. Also society has been sickened by the increase in sex crimes, violence, and cyber bullying that affect children and adults alike. Extended screen time can cause many health hazards. It robs our precious time , energy and disrupts our relations with others. Einstein righty said, “I fear the day, when the technology overlaps with our humanity, and the world will  only have a generation of idiots . “

 So the time has come to think deeply about how to make boundaries. To define technological use not with what technology can do but what we want it to do. Children who grow up with pets, play and take care of them, grow as better human beings,  with love , compassion and understanding in life. A robot dog will most likely not have the same effect. 

Long back , Lord Buddha recommended the 'Middle path' as the golden mean of life. It says, neither by indulgence nor by denial, and only by following the middle path, life can be meaningful and peaceful for all. Today to follow the golden path, we all need to apply wisdom and will to life and automation. 

Technology is a choice, not an imperative.  Our relationship with it will define whether we benefit from it to become greater beings that we are or to become lesser beings than we were.

If laughter is the best medicine then smiles are the best form of healing

Laughter is a magic tool one that dispels darkness from heavy hearts and can brighten up a lonely soul instantly. It is truly an unspoken universal language - one that uplifts all spirits. Joyousness may be expressed in many ways. It may shine through a twinkle in the eyes, or through a silent smile. It may also burst out in roaring laughter like rolling waves of a river. It could also the persistent gurgle of a stream or a booming guffaw from the belly. Whatever form it may take,  it brings forth the essence of a moment well lived.  As Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

A hearty laugh is beneficial for health. It increases the flow of oxygen in our body. Strengthens the heart, lung and muscles, also improves cognitive power and fight against the stress and anxieties of life. 
Today people mostly search for inner happiness through outer sense gratification, which can bring some temporary satisfaction, but can not give lasting happiness or peace of mind. That frustration often leads them to cling some other addictions like drinking, gambling etc. Some health conscious people may join “Laughing Clubs “, where they laugh forcefully every morning, to increase lung power. I happen to live overlooking a park where they congregate every morning. Though I am not very sure about it’s health benefits, but surely that vigorous forced “Hyena laughter “brings lots of disturbance in its neighbourhood. 

We all are in a search for a magic formula that can keep our heart warm and minds cool.
Buddhism says, by transcending emotions and thoughts, one can experience inner peace. That also helps to develop inner strength, which can resist external turbulences  from becoming our mind
Through the ages, many enlightened, souls were born in India. They said, as divine consciousness is present in every soul, our spiritual goal should be to realise that unity in all. Only then one can  feel blessed with true happiness.
 Paramhansa Yogananda said,” view life as a cosmic motion picture, where we all are travellers. “He also said “ No sense produced pleasure is permanent, and time relentlessly works it’s havoc on physical beauty. Every thing in this material world is subject to change…. Fill your mind with the love of God. Then you will be able to love every body and will be able to smile all the time.” (from the book Mans Eternal Quest). So in the dawn of this new year  we  may pray that may our soul smile through our hearts, and our hearts smile through our eyes, which may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.