Where's the innocence gone?

This evening, we had some innocent fun. Oh yes, it was me and my pals here at college. We chose to play a game from our childhood, something I used to be really fond of. And during those few minutes, each one of us was just as happy as innocent kids are. As we closed it, once again we were all serious individuals with loads of thoughts in our minds, to each one his own. And this is what left me wondering long enough, to come up with the lines that proceed.

Why is it so that as we grow older, one of the purest qualities of human nature, the quality of innocence drifts away gradually? Why is every grown-up so different from his childhood? Or are we all just actors, hiding our real self, adorning our cloak of maturity and wisdom, because this is what the society we live in expects us to be like?

As we grow, there are so many biases that we face. For instance when parents say,” Oh come on! You are not a kid anymore” or “Don’t be childish!” or “You are not mature enough. Look at this friend of yours who is so wise and responsible, takes his decisions for himself”.

Wish things had been different. Wish there was no such obligation to adorn this cloak. Wish my childhood had stayed longer and if not, wish at least the society wouldn't have looked askance on grown-ups who chose to stay the same, with their child-like innocence on.

Religion & Me

Before writing this post, I am definitely sure of one thing that no matter what your religious view is (or is not); you will find something here that you can relate to.

Born and brought up in a deeply religious Jain family, there’ve been quite a few customs/rituals that have become a part of my daily life. And these have not come up by my choices or my conscious decisions, rather as learning from my parents and grandparents as to what is right and what is not. Isn’t this the case with many of us?

Don’t the majority of us look up to God only when we get into some trouble or when we need something really badly and are worried that we are not strong enough to get out of the trouble or not capable enough to achieve the need!

Even those who religiously follow the customs would agree that the best they achieve out of their prayers is a sense of security that there is a power higher up which will save them from the perils that might come on their way. And that, in their times of need, they can offer prayers, make wishes and in the hope that these will be granted, continue to do their daily chores with a little more ease. Believe me when I say this that I do the same too and the kind of support I receive by the mere offering of these prayers is inexplicable.

With the instinctive quality of curiosity that all humans are born with, I’ve had my set of many questions too and in response to those many, I’ve got a few answers, a fewer of which have convinced me and others till date have failed to do so. All these unanswered or unconvincingly answered questions on God, on religion or on the many aspects of our social lives have made me realize that learning on these will come from time to time and in many hidden ways. All I need to do is to keep my eyes open and follow my own way.

The Sudarshan Kriya

Recently, I was fortunate enough to participate in the basic course conducted by the Art of Living foundation here at Electronic City. And I feel that the experience that I had is something I must share with all my friends, fellows, family and also the visitors to my blog.

All those who feel that this is related deeply to spirituality and that only those very keen on it should go for such a course are wrong. After my tryst with it, I can say firmly that if you have not yet experienced what this very powerful technique of Sudarshan Kriya can do to your body and mind, you are really missing something in life. And when I talk about the greatness of the course, it’s not just the calmness and relaxation that one gets after doing the Kriya but also the wisdom that comes from the five sutras given by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the universally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader.

For more on my views about the course you can either call or mail me at siddharth.anand@ymail.com. Please click on the tab below to join the Art of Living group for people residing in Electronic City, Bangalore.

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Coming out of the CoW DunG

Wondering HOW? Well before you make an opinion that Sid has probably gone mad, let me make it clear that it’s not our sacred Cow’s dung that I am talking about, rather it’s about the “Conventional Wisdom of the Dominant Group”. The acronym was just for the hygiene factor associated with it, where it is considered as sacred by a few and filthy by others. Isn’t it the same with the CoW DunG that I am talking about?

How tied we are to what prevails around us, how little is our resistance to the many generally accepted facts, maybe we are all too passive or maybe we don’t want to come out of the cozy and warm comfort zones that we have formed amidst the CoW DunG. And those who actually tend to do so are either doomed or go a long way ahead, the initial tough times being common in both the cases. Don’t we have the example of the great Galileo who went ahead against the prevailing myth that Earth was the center of the universe to the more rightful one of Sun being the center of the solar system (though the difference between solar system and universe was not very clear then) and had to suffer hardships by the decree of the Holy Office in Rome.

I am confused. Can someone suggest what is the best way ahead…..staying in or coming out of the cowdung?

I find it appropriate to mention that the term has been in use for quite some time though more in the context of techniques for problem solving and of course more often in its true sense!!:-)

On The Way

A time does come in life

When the goal is near

But the ways aren’t clear

When things going well and fine,

Turn topsy-turvy and take your mind

When sunny days look dark as night

And starlit nights show cloudy skies

When the water crystal clear,

Looks full of mud and smear

And the rising sun on top of the hill,

Seems going down.

 

That’s the time,

The time to close your eyes and think

What is that which makes you shrink?

Is it the greatness of your goal?

Or just the outlook of your soul?

Quietly in your puzzled mind,

Will come a reply for you to mind,

“The goal is near and it’s all your fear

Let it go and open your eyes

All are same- the day, the night and the sun.”

 

Now that the dreams are all over

Its time to toil and labour

The time to pave new ways

Out of the maze you got in.

But in these steps towards your goal

Do not forget to leave a trail.

As when you finally reach the goal

And tell the people all your tale

They may doubt what you say

And will grow suspicious day by day

Then the trail you would’ve left behind

Will let all know, you are one of your kind.

 

The meandering river of your life

Will finally reach its sea

And the vast empire of serenity

Will be yours.

 

By.........Siddharth Anand