Tuesday 19 November 2013

Ah yes, a thought again!

A thought has been bothering me for quite sometime and today I choose to spill it out. For I don't understand the necessity of the concept of thoughts piling up and leading me astray, making me think too much. Thoughts in general showcase those experiences of man where words too fail to suffice in talking out. Language does come in as a tool, a handy one at that, but thoughts listen to the language of the heart and this can be only assumed to be contemplated and comprehended depending on how keen one's ear is towards 'listening' and 'learning'. One may explicitly be candid towards a stranger while at the same time have in him or her locked up all his or her feelings and share neither joy nor sorrow with the people he or she knows. Perhaps this is typical of the human nature, where stranger becomes a living-diary who responds to you and you need not be afraid of disclosing your real identity to this stranger nor know the identity of him or her. Strange is the whole cycle one may think but in this cycle, there lies truth and magic.

A dear friend of mine, a professor to be precise, mentioned slackly about man and his attempt to stand on par with God, he asked me, "Did man not overturn God?" My response to this was that the question cannot be universalized and that this must be asked by the individuals to themselves. I do not know how far my reply stands valid but in the first place, to believe in an Almighty is a matter of opinion, a choice each individual takes; and I personally do not see any matter or evidence as to whether there exists a God in real. Again, some of you might mistake me to be an arrogant-ignorant little brat, but read closely for I say I do not believe in his existence and yet do not detest those who believe and have faith in Him. I do not know if I can call myself an 'Atheist' for I do, in a way, relate to the concept of 'God'. It is in the words like 'love', 'trust' and 'respect' that I see something far superior to me. Our very existence lies in the minute molecules of these words; mere words as they appear yet powerful enough they rise to prove their authority.

It is not easy for one to have in him or her the elements of love, trust and respect - each is acquired by great labour and personal experiences too add a great deal into learning more about these aspects. All said and done, I come back to my initial point of the 'bothering thought', the concept of God was a mere illustration to show how thoughts digress. Yet, this writing is a just representation of what I am 'thinking'. "To think is to live", they say but look what the constant thinking has brought us down to! It is only anarchy we get to see everywhere, with less learned people, charlatans and people who continuously cavil on the works of the great minds - they are likely to emerge at every corner. Knowledge and its extension has not spared mankind, it has set in him the long lasting ailment of melancholia. An inexorable regret for the lost past and pining for the hope-less future are the only two things man is left with. As perplexed one may seem, his or her thoughts do take the same line, as they build up the man's character, to an extent physically too, and create further confusions to the already existing tension.

As a reader, you might be frustrated by now because I still haven't mentioned about what is it that is bothering me in exact. Well, the prolonging or taking you through the spool of other thoughts was not any action of digression but was a deliberate act in showcasing to you how a mind works, a mind that is constantly learning as if this thirst would never quench. Many thoughts come to mind and some leave as momentary guests while few get retained in our minds and begin to haunt us in every way possible. In order to make myself almost clear, I shall quote Alexander Pope with his prosaic epigrams;
"A little learning is a dang'rous thing,
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again."
Pope has clearly understood the sinister element that is hidden in the whole concept of gathering more 'knowledge'. I believe in the perception of a model which contributes to the above mentioned cycle, which compiles truth and magic as its intricate foundations; and the model is as follows:
- To think one must learn.
- To learn one must speak.
- To speak one must listen.

10 comments:

  1. As usual I am really impressed the way you pen your thoughts so accurately with impressive language of course (I always wonder is it natural only to Literature students). When ever I see huge hoardings and hefty price tickets for the darshan of any temple, what is happening to the values of human beings several times I did face the question, I believe in the strong power of universe one may give any name to the power I feel the human qualities of love, trust, humanness and the nature of innocence of a child are at most important, as always you made my morning with thoughtful words. Have a nice day

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    1. You're too kind and nice and that's the reason why I get such nice messages from you Sir. I believe that people who read, listen and talk with others with an open heart and a broad mind, are inevitably bound to be ameliorated. Speaking about the whole dispute of the politics that go on in Religious Institutions, well, they are simply clever - they have indeed understood that 'we' are not "loving people" but "God-fearing people" (phrases from the movie, "Oh My God"). The clever mind has cornered this aspect of man and thus, they flourish as and when the world encounters any chaos; and in the present times, we are constantly witnessing the turmoil in and around us, don't you think?

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  2. You are right, but ultimately the common, innocent man despite knowing the intricacies of politics gets / dragged in to this turmoil

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    1. It all boils down to man himself to take time and learn of his strengths and weaknesses for a thorough knowledge of one's own self would definitely contribute in curling down most of the confusions.

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  3. I understand this aspect but the turmoil I see around doesn't fit this aspect as we speak. Either one should have self knowledge or acquire the same through reading, listening or sharing.

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    1. Quite true! As a child one does not conform to anyone instead others conform to the child but as the child grows to become an 'adult', I wonder whatever happens to his/her innocent, constant-questioning mind!

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  4. I agree with you, my point is why we fail to retain the innocence of a child in terms of unconditional love, accepting surrounding the way they are, in stead we retain the qualities of craving for attention and the possessiveness

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    1. We always pine and regret for something, isn't that nature innate to us human beings? When have we, for once, felt contended with what we have! We have forgotten, forgotten to thank for so many things that we have - to have a roof over our heads itself is such a blessing which most people are deprived of. Still, man remains man, remains unchanged and constantly growing with an increasing appetite for materialistic values. Lucky few are those who walk on a different plane, leading them to broaden their horizons of knowledge. I believe, man needs a good, forcing guiding spirit and it is possible for one to get acquainted with good people; after all "satsang" does do good to the individual.

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  5. yes you are right if I may your word "Satsang" makes one to realize the potential, if one makes use of the knowledge gained thus. I was wondering if that need not be physical presence, as for past 2 years after I joined GR and started reading good books and sharing more on online listservs my confidence level which I lost for various reasons, and gained friends online who are making me express the feeling most of the times are I feel are what exactly I feel. Thanks for your sharing.

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    1. "Being too happy in thine happiness" - I too feel lucky to have been connected to minds like one of yours for it has only made me more amicable and more better. Thank you Sir, thank you for being there! :)

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