Vagary of an old and idle mind-2
A drop, in bosom of the river, I flow from birth to the end.
मैं क़तरा हूँ लेकिन
बआगोशे दरिया अजल से अबद तक बहा जा रहा हूँ
If life moved in a
salient then one would do well to be master of his trade and avoids the risk of
being Jack of many trades and lose out on core competency. Therefore, should one
concentrate on a good career and earn lots of money or should one also widen
his horizons, acquire knowledge of topics other than one’s trade, have hobbies;
interest himself in art and culture, stress good health and good relationships?
Does life follow the pattern of modern day specialist, a heart specialist or a
rocket scientist? Is it important for individual to bother himself with these
questions or it is a charade because lives are unique and follow no patterns.
Can a life said to be
well led if it is spent pursuing single course and one remains oblivious of
other splendors and beauties surrounding life and living? Will contentment
elude a person who is so focused? The point is what makes for completeness in
life; all of a solitary feature or substantial aspects of man. If latter then
in what proportions or the mathematics of proportions, here, is in fructuous.
Would you agree, I do subscribe to the idea that one may, indeed legitimately
conjure up a sense of achievement, yet the euphoria it will remain ephemeral.
It would be like eating something you cherish but once you have chewed it and
swallowed it, it is all over. The after taste does not linger for long. Even if
it is so, so be it? Why deny one that sense of elation for the fear of its
being is transitory? Further, question arises that if so, then why one must not
strive for more achievements in his chosen field, a continuum of achievements
to create reasonable degree of permanence through a series of transients rather
than scare himself into dividing his energy in to several areas This issue does
not appear important and the argument appears fallacious to me because the
point is not to deny any thing to one self but to recognize that life itself is
made up of various elements. Therefore, even single minded pursuit of an idea
will need inputs from several other disciplines for neither the life nor the
society in which sustains life, can continue upon fractions. The life appears
to be focus of numerous the radiations.
Thus, I deem it that sense of satisfaction
will come by getting to lead a more rounded life where there is input from
several welcome sources. In the Hindu thought, emphasis is laid on सन्तुलन, the nearest inadequate
English expression, to my mind, would be balance. I think the word has stronger
connotations of optimal amalgam rather that balancing the powers. I accept that it
is perfectly legitimate to seek more money so that efforts are not diluted and
development is not stunted. However, when this desire for more riches becomes a
craving and entirely over powering, it must disturb the सन्तुलन.
Another aspect is personal needs and relationships. Relationships need extra care because in pursuit of everyday activities
and career one tends to take relationships for granted or just ignore
relationships. If such a relationship even barely sustains then it is either
efforts of the others or sheer providence. Whatever the reason, it shall hang
by a thread and certainly not be a reason for sustained satisfaction of life
well led. How does one nurture relationships? True it takes two to tango yet,
to my mind, it can be achieved by not giving much or at least secondary
importance to one self and giving more importance to others without professing
covertly or overtly, ones exertion. Is there danger that the people tend to
take you for granted? Well then perhaps one can practice it at least in closer
circles and take the loss to sustain relationship. This effort will also mature
one and prepare him to extend the idea to a larger group. Nurturing of
relationship requires love and not treatise by Hersey and Blanchard. In this,
there has to be a degree of surrender; not technical precision nor contractual
exchange. One can practice it only when one enjoys doing so.
It also implies an ability and
desire to internalize everyday problems. ‘Kicking the dog’ syndrome will not
serve the purpose. It will involve inculcating in oneself strength to look the
issue in the eye and start to search for the solution without getting
overwhelmed by the issue itself.
