Some thoughts or can I call them pearls of wisdom?

As I started with a spinning class this morning (I know I have said that in an earlier thread too :hide in an effort to get back to routine and out of jet lag, my instructor's 'the lower you go, the stronger you come out' caught my attention and brought me back to my ruminating state and made me wonder if that is the reason why we bow down completely in front of God and elders - so that the blessings we receive will only make us get up and come out stronger!! My instructor ofcourse was referring to a particular way of cycling! But to my ears it sounded like music and I wondered if this can be applied to relationships as in letting go and simply doing our best.

Yes, yes some thoughts with doubts are doing their usual dance in my head too - I am thinking of those times when our wishes do not get fulfilled, when the way an elderly person in the family speaks or behaves may make us feel let down and makes us wonder; but then I am lucky and grateful for my grand mother who has a way putting in a different spin and throwing in the insights I so much need, most of the times!

I was reminded of what she had said in a conversation recently - that most of the times it would help to remember that no elder person would wish ill on his/her family; they want every one under their shade to grow and to be happy- whether it may reflect in their actions or not; they want their family tree to prosper whether they acknowldge it or not. And then, after all, we are looked upto by someone else too........ In most relationships it has always helped me when I stop and realise that it is not me but what the other person is going through, that may be behind their reaction! So it is important to keep things in perspective and do what is right!

Speaking about doing the right thing and doing it with passion, she opines that one needs to do what is right not just because it is our duty (as in what is expected, as the older one, as a good human being etc etc) but because with every right and good action, we are only accumulating the fruit and blessings that come with it! We are the recepeints of that fruit yes, even in sitautions where it appears like some one has benefited from us and may not have reciprocated or acknowledged; good deeds we do never go wasted! The fruits are always there coming back to us, as we embark on writing our own personal legend and destiny.

As I ruminate further on actions and actions with passion, I am reminded of this story of a pianist in a book and it goes like this - "The pianist was playing in a food hall where people are eating, talking, arguing, reading newspapers etc. A notice beside the stage explains that he is famous musician from the country Georgia. He must have looked for work, found all doors closed, despaired, given up, and now here he is in this mall.

Except that I am not sure he is really here: his eyes are fixed on the magical world where the music was composed; his hands share with us all his love, his soul, his enthusiasm, the very best of himself, all his years of study, concentration and discipline.

The one things he appears not to have understood is that no one, absolutely no one, has gone there to listen to him; they have gone there to buy, to eat, to pass the time, to window-shop or to meet friends. The only thing he is doing is giving the very best of himself, regardless of whether or not he is noticed, regardless of the money he gets paid. He is playing as if he were at the Scala at Milan or the Opera in Paris. He is playing because that is his fate, his joy, his reason for living.

I am filled by a profound sense of reverence and respect for a man who is, at that moment, reminding me of a very important lesson: that we each of us have our personal legend to fulfil, and that is all. It doesn't matter if other people support us or criticize us or ignore us, or put up with us - we are doing it because that is our destiny on this earth, and the fount of all joy." - from the book "Like the flowing river" by Paulo Coelho.

So I feel when we perform our actions or duties, be it in day to day to life - job, mundane activties, relationship adjustments etc, or something very profound, if we do it all with this understanding that we each one of us have our personal destiny that we are fulfilling and seeking that fount of joy that Paulo Coelho and my grandmother speak of, I am sure it will make each and everything that we do that much more meaningful!! After all, are we all not searching for some meaning?

 

Dear Viji aunty, no no it is a not a long post at all. I think I did see that post on grand parents in the parenting section and will soon stop by there to respond.

Thanks for your sweet words aunty - I have begun to understand that when I write it is mostly for myself to understand me better and that is the only time thoughts pour out

Thank you for nominating this thread. Makes me happy that it made a good enough read to be nominated!!

 

Thank you Cheeniya sir for your response. As I try to understand my own reactions and feelings better I only feel incredibly lucky and blessed to come across books, people and situations that only aid in this process. Your mention of MS Amma and her response reminded me of what my grandmother had told my mom when she was quite emotional about festivals after my dad passed away. I remember her telling my mom that all these years she had the opportunity to do poojas for bahiranga shuddhi and now it is time to continue doing them for antharanga shuddhi! This has stayed with me and I have to begun ponder on working on that antharanga anyways!

I particularly loved what you have said here

and I am afraid I am only going to dilute what you have said if make a comment. So I will just say thank you!

Your presence in this thread also reminds me of another thread that I have not responded to yet - it is time to go back there as well.

Thank you Cheeniya sir for that insightful response.

 

Dear Mrs.C, thank you thank you thank you for that beautiful response! You have put it all so beautifully that I have read it and re read it - that indeed is the essence of Geetha, in such simple words but such a complex task! You are absoultely right that it is easy to say but not so to practise and even keeping the thought at the sub conscious level itself is a task. People who know that bliss are indeed blessed.

Thank you for your words Mrs.C and isn't it amazing how Paulo Coelho can speak so easily and clearly through his books? He has never let me down when I have sought!

 

Thank you vid for your feed back