Contemplation
Published by Mysorean on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 7:10:00 am.
Over the past few days, I have been wondering what we are doing out here?
When I was young and just had learnt to speak, people would ask me what I wanted to be after I grew up. I don't remember what I used to answer. But am sure they expected - Engineer, Doctor, Lawyer, etc. I still see the same questions being asked and the same answers expected. One of my younger cousins who was very impressed with all the bedtime stories answered, "Lord Vishnu". Quite understandably it was met with laughter.
Come to think of it, whatever your answer might be, you are always running behind something. Let me change the subject to "Me" because otherwise it might seem very rude! Few years back, I was running behind the X std marks. Then it was the XI and XII marks! [AP has public exams for both the years!] Sometime later, it was engineering percentage. Then MBA ogpa! And all for what? Money! It is all about money honey!
Picture this, I am told respectability is what we are looking for by gathering all this. Very good. Then let me go and stay in a hut and do social work. Respect me for my simplicity, possible? No, I don't have money. Respect is there, but err... ahem... excuse me!
Respectability comes from where? Society. Who or what is this society? Congregation of people looking out for mutual respect. More the money, more the respect! Will these people come to help you when you are in trouble? Sorry, that's your problem and we don't interfere in others' problems. So, what use is this society of? Practically nothing. But every second of your existence you are concerned of what is spoken about you by the society! Respectability you see!
Finally, all the functions in your houses that take place, what are you trying to achieve? If it's a wedding, then it should be grand, na?! Why? Why not a simple wedding in a temple in front of your beloved Gods and close relatives? Nobody ever gives a thought to such things. You do it because the society expects it. And also because your relative/ neighbour did it like that and he/she doesn't earn even half as much as you do! So, there we go! Society. Status. Respect.
No, we are not doing it because someone did it. We are doing it to the level we can. Level? What's that? An euphemism for status. Looking out for a certificate from the society. Are we doing it okay with our level or not?
Whether I become a lawyer, doctor, engineer, manager or a whatever, I am always asking this question from the society and expecting a satisfactory answer. Not that I want to be like that. The problem is that I have been taught to live that way. Everybody around me lives that way so that should be right! Everybody = Society!
Unfortunately, Life has been defined in this way. Money is the root cause. Well, I don't deny you need money to survive [again unfortunately it is the crudest form of barter system!], but then excessive preoccupation with money, status, respect leads to doom! And you are becoming all those things [Doc, engr, etc] in life because you want that money. Right?
Why can't we "Just Be"?
Okay, I may be or may not be Lord Vishnu, I don't know.
When I was young and just had learnt to speak, people would ask me what I wanted to be after I grew up. I don't remember what I used to answer. But am sure they expected - Engineer, Doctor, Lawyer, etc. I still see the same questions being asked and the same answers expected. One of my younger cousins who was very impressed with all the bedtime stories answered, "Lord Vishnu". Quite understandably it was met with laughter.
Come to think of it, whatever your answer might be, you are always running behind something. Let me change the subject to "Me" because otherwise it might seem very rude! Few years back, I was running behind the X std marks. Then it was the XI and XII marks! [AP has public exams for both the years!] Sometime later, it was engineering percentage. Then MBA ogpa! And all for what? Money! It is all about money honey!
Picture this, I am told respectability is what we are looking for by gathering all this. Very good. Then let me go and stay in a hut and do social work. Respect me for my simplicity, possible? No, I don't have money. Respect is there, but err... ahem... excuse me!
Respectability comes from where? Society. Who or what is this society? Congregation of people looking out for mutual respect. More the money, more the respect! Will these people come to help you when you are in trouble? Sorry, that's your problem and we don't interfere in others' problems. So, what use is this society of? Practically nothing. But every second of your existence you are concerned of what is spoken about you by the society! Respectability you see!
Finally, all the functions in your houses that take place, what are you trying to achieve? If it's a wedding, then it should be grand, na?! Why? Why not a simple wedding in a temple in front of your beloved Gods and close relatives? Nobody ever gives a thought to such things. You do it because the society expects it. And also because your relative/ neighbour did it like that and he/she doesn't earn even half as much as you do! So, there we go! Society. Status. Respect.
No, we are not doing it because someone did it. We are doing it to the level we can. Level? What's that? An euphemism for status. Looking out for a certificate from the society. Are we doing it okay with our level or not?
Whether I become a lawyer, doctor, engineer, manager or a whatever, I am always asking this question from the society and expecting a satisfactory answer. Not that I want to be like that. The problem is that I have been taught to live that way. Everybody around me lives that way so that should be right! Everybody = Society!
Unfortunately, Life has been defined in this way. Money is the root cause. Well, I don't deny you need money to survive [again unfortunately it is the crudest form of barter system!], but then excessive preoccupation with money, status, respect leads to doom! And you are becoming all those things [Doc, engr, etc] in life because you want that money. Right?
Why can't we "Just Be"?
Okay, I may be or may not be Lord Vishnu, I don't know.
