AS THE YEAR ENDS!

When things are good we don't realise that nothing comes free in this world. Even the breath that we inhale needs us to exhale. If we do not give but only take then we only spoil goodwill and create imbalance. It is very easy to hurt someone, to cause misunderstandings, and to build up reservoirs of resentment which lead to a lot of strained relationships.

One keeps harbouring ill feelings and building up barriers. We seldom talk and clear misunderstandings. Our own thoughts keep on putting up one barrier after another, until we completely move very far away from some people, without there actually being any real reason for building up that barrier. One has to actually forgive and forget. Not forgiving a person for something that may be a misunderstanding,  keeps on hurting us forever, as we keep reminding ourselves of that hurt. We are the ones who harm our own self. The power to attain happiness and move on in life is within our own self. No one hurts me, no one harms me, it is I alone who is responsible. If I clear that misunderstanding within my own self, I will move on free of that burden of pain, and misery.  We have the power to brood over sad thoughts or move on. Moving on is best because a rolling stone gathers no moss!

Dwelling on the past makes us revisit the same old street of pain.  Old hurts need time to heal. Even if a scar remains, at least the hurt has gone.

Forgive and forget is a maxim which has immense depth. It opens up large vistas of freedom from suffering, pain and resentment. I remember the words of my father, who was a great forgiver. He always said "forgive them, because they are ignorant". Then I always used to argue with him, and say why should you forgive? If someone has harmed you, there is no need to forgive that person. Dad would not argue with me but would leave me with that thought. Now, I realise that it is magnanimous to forgive, and we human beings, have great capacity to do what we wish to do. Faith moveth mountains! Have faith in your own self and sure enough you will be able to move that mountain of hatred, venom, grudge, fear and feeling of inadequacy and failure from yourself.

Once free of these incapacitating feelings, one can always find a place of sunshine, happiness and enjoy life, as it is meant to be enjoyed.

SOME CONSTANTS AND SOME FACADES!

The sun comes out every day, bright and beautiful,

The moon is always there cool and calm,

These are a few things which are constants in life.

It is only us mortals who are not permanent.

We live for a short while, some leave a mark on the world,

Others leave a mark on their loved ones,

some simply vanish as fast as they came.

Some hate every moment of their life,

Some savour every minute,

Some have nothing but anger in their hearts,

Some look at the brighter side of life come what may,

Others can see nothing but sorrow in every breath that they take.

Fate, kismat, karma, everything is blamed

The sun, the moon, stars are never thanked for making life beautiful.

The smile of innocence,

The sweetness of a shy stolen glance,

That touch of reassurance,

The fears of being alone, The fear of darkness, the fear of shadows,

The love that children have for their own, good, bad or ugly,

A little child's patient wait for the return of her comforting mother,

The tenderness of the father,

These are moments of joy, these are moments of trust, faith and belief,

When and where do we leave that trusting, belief behind?

When does life become one big never ending journey of doubt, impatience and unhappiness?

FAITH AND EXPLOITATION

THE BANKE BIHARI TEMPLE

Recently I went to Agra and en route we stopped at Vrindavan. Vrindavan was the place where according to legend Krishna spent his youth, in the Dwapar yug. This was the place famous for the Raas Leela. The place is today dotted with temples. Before reaching the parking lot one is stopped with a lot of authority by local pandas. They stop you and offer their services at a small cost. They offer to take you  by the VIP route, and get  darshan of the deity. We spurned off all such offers and took rickshaws to Banke Bihari temple. This is supposed to be the oldest temple in the area. The path was full of people, cattle and rickshaws. On reaching the temple through a decrepit galli, we were asked to remove our shoes. All over the place one could see immense piles of shoes here, there and everywhere. People were walking over the shoes, which were getting thrown in every direction. We managed to locate the proper place marked for keeping shoes and were literally pushed inside the temple by the huge inflow of pilgrims. I did not have to lift my feet at all, I was just pushed in. It was quite scary, as I was trying hard to find a foothold on the floor.

LAMPS LIT IN  THE TEMPLE

Photography was not allowed. The place seemed quite dark; in fact the sanctum was so dark that one could not see the deity at all. There was no arrangement for giving your offering and a lot of people simply threw their flowers etc in the direction of the deity. After that one was simply pushed out by the huge crowd!

I wonder why there is this utter disregard for all those pilgrims who come from long distances to see their idol, pray and get some solace. I am also amazed by the total acceptance of this treatment by the people. No one expects anything more. No one thinks that it could be better managed and the place could be maintained clean. There could be more control of touts who should not be allowed to harass the huge mass of humanity who come here.

It is simply our acceptance of fate that allows a few to take advantage of the voiceless many.

People come with so much faith, yet the pandas do not allow them to look inside and get a proper darshan(view) of the deities.

Vrindavan is also the place where a lot of widows reside. Those who have been thrown out of their homes have traditionally been finding refuge here. 

OFFERINGS FOR THE GODS

What is it then that makes people repeatedly visit these places of pilgrimage?

These places have got into the hands of the pandas who totally exploit the gullibility of the masses.

It has become one huge money making racket. Religion and faith are two weapons in the hands of these Pandas. I sometimes wonder if the biggest atheists are actually all these priests who pose as Pandas! They exploit and do not fear the wrath of the so called God!