Be An Arrow of Attention

By K.M.Gupta


When the Kurukshetra war was all set to begin, Krishna converts interspace into a classroom. To set Arjuna to proper action, Krishna has to put him on the right approach that comes from right attitude which in turn comes from proper understanding and that, from proper knowledge. So midfield has to turn into a classroom.

Life is a classroom and you never cease to be a student. The moment you cease to be a student you become deadwood. So the first lesson for all students of life is how to be a good student. And that is the first lesson to be taught to all students from Kindergarten.

How can a student be a good or even best student? Look at the knowledge-understanding-attitude-approach chain. Knowledge comes first. Gaining knowledge is the primary aim of education. Knowledge metamorphoses into wisdom in the form of understanding-attitude-approach. So go get knowledge first.

But knowledge doesn’t favour all. It comes only to those who have curiosity which is the mother of knowledge. It is the greatest virtue. What do all science, discovery and invention owe their origin to? Curiosity. What made Albert Einstein the greatest of all scientists? Curiosity. Those without curiosity are ‘knowledge-challenged’. So cultivate curiosity, for curiosity cultivates knowledge.

I have one thing in common with Isaac Asimov, the renowned science fiction writer. He said, “My father taught me all that I have today. How? He taught me curiosity, and with that I learned all I have.” Once the Head Teacher of my son’s school summoned me and gave me a dressing down: “Your son has fared awfully badly in maths this time!” I taught my son maths at home. Not for long, only for a short while. Next time he became topper and also, maths became his first love. What was the magic? I taught him maths. But not just maths but curiosity as well, which I learned from my father.

In the present system of education students can’t expect curiosity to be taught. So students must teach themselves curiosity. Don’t just cram lessons. Cultivate curiosity towards what you learn. Anything can be the subject of your curiousity — grammar, maths, even morals. Convert everything into curiosity. What is it about? What is it for? How does it work? How does it fit in with life? If you have curiosity, nothing is dull or tough. Mathematics is usually the bête-noir for average students. But mathematics is the most interesting of all subjects in the world — if only you are curious. If you are dull in mathematics, it means your teacher has failed in cultivating curiosity in you. Don’t wait for the teacher. Teach yourself curiosity. Start looking at things with curious eyes. Sit for a while in the class of the greatest of all teachers of all times and listen: ‘Shraddhavan labhate jnanam.’

Attention is the sharp edge of curiosity. In the Upanishad the guru tells his student, ‘sharavat thanmayo bhavet’ — be like an arrow set on its aim. To be an arrow set on its aim, you should have no diversions. And to have no diversions you should have your senses in control. So Krishana adds: ‘Tatparah samyatendriyah.’ Have no diversions and have your senses in control. Curiosity can lead to bad things also. So Krishna asks you to know what is day and what is night, in which to wake up and in which to sleep, when to open your eyes at and when to shut them. The Gita is a guide on how to be an Arrow of Attention.

We Need Both Fate And Free Will

By Dada J.P.Vaswani

Q: Are we free agents or puppets in the hands of Destiny? Could we change our fate?
One view is that you are a prisoner of fate. Whatever you do, you simply cannot change it. Another view is that we are absolutely free. You have freedom of choice between picking right or wrong. At every step of life, you can make the effort to improve your condition. Acting thus, you could change your karma and so alter your destiny.
These two aspects of an individual’s condition are like the twin blades of a pair of scissors. The first is ichcha shakti, freedom of choice; the second is prarabdha karma, accumulated karma. When the two blades act together, the scissors does its job. You cannot cut a piece of cloth with just one blade of the scissors. Likewise, fate and free will are both necessary for action.
Karma determines many things that you cannot change. It determines the type of family into which you are born, your race and the type of body in which you are born. You might wish to change the shape of your nose or increase your height by a few centimeters and perhaps technology finds a way to do all this. Yet, there is scope for free will even in situations where change seems impossible. You always have the choice of reacting to your fate in either a positive or negative manner. This is always within your power!
Q:Why are we not born equal?
A: All are created equal. But in the same family, all children do not have equality of ability or intelligence. Is this inequality the result of karma? If so, is it fair? The answer to both questions, is ‘yes’. You are the architect of your own destiny. Every thought, emotion, wish and action creates karma. The good or bad we do affects us, and remains with us until we balance them out.
Do you know the story of a Polish Air Force pilot, Roman Tursky? He was flying over Germany when he had to make a forced landing. He sent his plane for repairs and spent the night in a hotel. The next morning, in the corridor, a man came running and collided against him. He was pale with fear and cried, "Gestapo! Gestapo!" He was being hounded by the Secret Police. Tursky pushed the man into his room, under his bed. Soon the police came in and interrogated Tursky. He did not understand their language, and the police went away.

The pilot offered to take this man to Warsaw where he was flying, but helped him get off a little before reaching the airport, as the police there could search his plane. Sure enough, when he landed at Warsaw, the police was already there to make a search for the man.
Soon thereafter, in the Second World War, Poland was occupied by Germany. Tursky flew to England and joined the RAF, and became a war hero. He was a brave man, but his plane crashed. The critically injured Tursky was taken to the nearest hospital; he’d slipped into coma. When he recovered, he found a man looking at him. He sid to Tursky, "Do you remember me? You saved me. This morning I read the news that you were in coma, and I flew here." "What for?" asked Tursky. "Because," the man answered, "I wanted to help. They say that I am one of the best brain surgeons. I operated on you.

You Squeeze Me Like A Lemon

By: Janina Gomes

Dear Life,

You promised me a lot. But what you have given me has surpassed all that you promised. I knew that both beauty and ugliness would come my way for nothing comes unalloyed in life. My life has encompassed both good and bad because you have made me understand only too well that nothing comes unalloyed. When I look back and also regard the present, I realise that the richness of life is in bringing all these experiences together and weaving a beautiful tapestry of them.

When I try to achieve my goals in haste, you slow me down. You teach me patience; the value of waiting for what is worthwhile. You teach me that life is ever-flowing; like the river that gets around so many bends and boulders, you also make me flow over and around obstacles and difficulties.

The trajectory I choose for myself now is different, on account of the lessons you have taught me. By choosing not to identify myself completely with difficulties that come my way, I look beyond them and myself, despite my multiple identities, to the spiritually awakened Self that’s inside me.

I had the same expectations as many others do -- marriage and family. But you showed me that there are infinite ways of reaching my full potential. There are conventional structures and landmarks, but not all of us pass by the same way.

You often squeeze me like a lemon and so stress, pain and defeat become part of my experiences. You make demands on me. I was made to take on responsibility, to care for others and to give something back to you. However, when the demands became excessive you have shown me that sometimes I have to be squeezed to give of my best.

You have also given me the chance and opportunity to recover when the feeling of being squeezed of all energy threatens to take over. There comes a healing touch – or there is sickness that forces one to stop and take stock, and helps one emerge fitter and stronger for the experience.

Looking, back, I find that you have enriched me with a gamut of experiences. You’ve let me experience the fact that being tested does not mean one has to seek escape from you. When we say ‘yes’ to life, we are really saying ‘yes’ also to surprises, setbacks and personal tragedies, and not only to happy times.

In the course of my life, so many things have happened, but not every happening was significant. I have now learned to skip and not mull over or get bogged down by happenings that could have been accidental, coincidental or negative, and therefore they do not say much to me anymore.

Life, you are a twin sister of Time. In learning to make the best use of time and putting our talents to best use in activities that are essentially time-bound, we are really living life to the full. There is time for everything under the sun. But you have impressed upon me that I should do and undertake only work and activities that promote life, not destroy it.

Yet, may I request you: Please don’t squeeze me like a lemon. I have learnt my lessons and the need to put up a good fight and keep the faith. I will celebrate you and not waste the opportunity.

And when I whisper a prayer, I will say, ‘Thank You Life, for the gift of Self to me’.

With gratitude,