What will you do if you are to be hanged tomorrow morning at 5 am?
You will be stunned to hear the news and jolted out of taking your life for granted. Tomorrow’s Sun will never rise and life itself will look like a rare star which will never appear again. After taking stock of the situation, what will you do next?
Will you bother about your fixed deposits in the bank, the problems in the current project, Cauvery river disputes and the issue of global warming? If you have the guts to face the situation, you will think about what little is lying ahead and left for you. You will concentrate on the passing seconds ticking away and will say, come on; let me drink the last drops of my life! You will decide to sip the remaining minutes like you drink the strongly brewed coffee at your favorite hotel. You will look at every frame of life as it unfolds its infinite variety in all its glory. The fleeting glimpse of the passing cloud, the golden Sun, the barking dog, the chirping birds, the falling leaves and the melting crowd will seem to be exotic like you have never felt before.
Upasana is to consciously develop the same feelings minus the hanging. It is a very simple exercise to bury any thought or feeling which is not relevant to the immediate moment. It is coming to terms with both the good and the bad as both are true and coexist with each other. To remain undisturbed in the face of the most adverse situation and savor the present moment as if this is the only little pleasant thing left to you is a wonderful mental practice which will boost your physical and mental efficiency and will unleash the hitherto undiscovered potential in you. It is like formatting your mind which is hung and can not function because it has been drained out of all its energy due to the pressures of the modern life. When it is defragmented of all the unwanted feelings and unpleasant experiences, it gives a fresh energy to your mind which will be ready for action for the next round with more vigor.
Why do we need to develop this attitude? Due to explosion of knowledge and continuous scientific developments, the modern life has thrown complex issues which make us feel very insecure. You feel obsolete and left behind as you try to grapple with the changes in the fast moving world. Your son looks at your books and your values as some strange exhibits of the Adivasis in the museum. Competition is the keynote of the modern life. Only the fittest are wanted everywhere and the average and the week minded are unceremoniously shoved into the recycle bin where they vegetate unwanted and frustrated. The king, queen and the knight only have the freedom of movement and the pawns are easily sacrificed to protect the rich and the powerful. The value system and the filial bond which have so far provided succor and sustenance to the meek and the needy in obstinate situations have disappeared and each individual is left to fend for himself in any extreme situation, good or bad. Is God dead since he has ceased to be relevant to the life style of the modern man? He is resurrected on the eve of Christmas and is buried on Easter. Who else can we turn to in times of crisis?
Upasana does not attempt to find a solution to all these problems but to find a technique to keep your cool in the midst of all these problems.
You can not wipe away Bin Ladens, Aids and Swine flu, corrupt politicians, and a horde of new problems waiting on the anvil to bounce upon you. We can not expect development without conflict. The more you love Sambaar the more will be the price of dhal. But we should find means not to get dejected or lose our temper which will irreparably damage our efficiency and our will to lead a peaceful life. If you lose hope, you lose your life. If you count the thorns, you can never the Rose.
How do you then equip yourself to keep your cool in the teeth of all problems? How do you pick a rose from the bush of thorns? Did you ever wonder how the CEOs of top companies protect their personal lives when the nagging problems in their profession defy any solution? Most of them yield to the pressures and end up in bye-pass surgeries. Is there any way that helps us to eat the cake and have it too?
There are some tools which may be called crisis busters or pain relievers which will help you find solace in the harsh world. If used sensibly, they can make a visible change in your personal and social life. These are not products of intellect or technology but have found to be of immense value by sensible people. They will refresh your spirits when you are down and will help you to maintain emotional equilibrium and get the mental strength to make the right decision in a very sensitive situation.
Meditation: It works like an anti oxidant which kills all the free radicals floating in your mind and refurbishes your mind with all the essential vitamins. Cleared of all the dirt and dust by this Surf Excel, your mind bristles with enthusiasm as if it is born again. A few minutes of conscious breathing and keeping vigil on your thought process in a silent zone works like a magic to rejuvenate the perturbed mind.
Music: From the days of Thiagarajar and at present A.R.Rahman music has moved millions and soothed ailing minds sailing in the turbulent sea. Like the magic carpet in the fairy tales, it transports us to a new world of joy and harmony. No wonder the young bloods are glued to their ipods which has tremondously enhanced the pleasure of listening to music. It is an oasis in the desert. If can not spare time to listen to good music, God bless your soul to rest in hell!
Sense of Humor: Having a sense of humor can be of immense help to tackle any ticklish situation, especially when your wife is up in arms against your newly formed friendship with your cute colleague in your office. If handled with a sense of humor, you can save your marriage while lack of it will lead to a grim divorce and a hefty maintenance amount from your pocket. Please read any Dummies series on how to laugh or "Learn to laugh in 30 days" if you do not have a sense of humor.
Friendship: It is a pity that we scout for friends in Orkut and Facebook while we remain total strangers to our neighbors who live next door. Our ego is the only hurdle to extend a warm hand or share a smile. Having a working friendship with our neighbors and colleagues and deep friendship with a select few can be of vital help at any critical moment. Hence love thy neighbor (not his daughter!) and share the fun. It will add colors to your life.
These tools are not exhaustive and you can improvise any technique to lead a peaceful life in a world of cut throat competition. It is sheer common sense which makes it possible to ride a two wheeler in the crowded Renganathan street. It is getting the expertise of the bee which is imbued with the talent of sucking only the nectar in a flower and does not bother about whether the plant is in a garden or marsh land. If you lead a happy life, the world will turn to be a happier place to live. That will make all of us happy.
08/08/2009
American Ultra (2015)
8 years ago
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