Hari and srinivasan played great table tennis. They played everyday in the evening after school for atleast an hour. Honestly I was inspired by their game. I fought with my parents to get a TT bat of atleast Rs. 20. I got it and started playing. There were two TT Tables in the recreation club, One of them of high quality for experts and other one is of cheap quality for beginners. I started playing with other novices in the cheap quality table. I used to get tips from Hari and I learnt the game in a stunning speed. In around six months of daily, dedicated game, I was promoted to premium table, where Hari, Srinivasan and other experts play. As srinivasan got moved out thanks to the transfer in his dad’s job, Hari eventually became the no 1 player in the club. I lost 21 -2 in the first set with Hari. Though, I have won against all the novices in the cheap table, I was a novice here against Hari at this premium table. In another six month’s time, I could play as good game as Hari. Hari sensed my advancement in the game.
When I was novice, he occasionally gave tips but never played with me, as I would be too low against his calibre. The match like that will be definitely boring. When I was allowed to play, he stopped giving tips to me. Hari showed his dazzling talent against me and satisfy his pride. But when I equaled his calibre, like 50/50 kind of wins and losses, I observed change in his attitude. When I called him for a match, he used to say that he is busy in hundred other things.
Two of the best players in the school, hari and me are nominated for district level games (doubles). We won districts like a cake walk but lost in inter-districts against left-right combination. After the tournament, we hardly played table tennis.
George was playing fantastic football in the vicinity. By another 6 months, I was as good as George putting as many goals. As the games dominated the teenage, my acads shifted down its position a bit. I used to rank in the range of 5 and 7 in the class with stiff competition to balachander and Ajit.
In the mean time, hari, balachander and other first bencher boys picked up tennis ball cricket. I was already a much better player in cricket thanks to exposure in this game since fourth standard. But this time, siva annan and the sundaram uncle practicing in the nets with the leather ball in the early morning was my target. I started sailing around that place, used to pick the ball when it reaches the boundary and throw inside (a ball boy). Gradually, I started fielding in the team. My mom was surprised to see the change – her unsuccessful attempts to wake me up in the morning are no longer required. I promptly got up at 5:30 and be there by 6:00 AM for the net practice. I was the youngest and studying 10th std. By the time, I reached 11th std, I started playing matches. I used to be the last batsman of the team and generally field in the ground. At times, I also have shone by hitting unexpected fours in the 11th position.
One fine day in the net practice session, sundaram uncle asked about my age. I replied 15. Then, he suggested me to participate the “Under 16 - District Team” selection scheduled to happen at SPIC ground next week. I was one of the 45 players came for selection. My out-swinger bowling and straight bat play put me in the top 5 list of the team.
I used to feel pride about my achievements in so many games. But sometimes, I feel annoyed about not reaching the epitome in any of them? I do have a very bad habit of introspection, especially during the holidays. I used to brush idly continuing the thoughts from my sleep and finishing them at Toilet Pot. I always wonder, most of the greatest ideas that have occurred to me were in the toilet pots.
“ I was aggressively playing tabletennis, then I was playing football then I shone in cricket. Why didn’t I become a superstar in any? There was always an invisible cap on all my endeavors, beyond which, I had always switched over to something else. A resolution kind of thing occurred to me – The peer group dictates the limit. If I had Tendulkar in place of Hari or george, I could be playing as good as him. Though the icons shone at distance, the peer group decides my capacity and promptly turns down my aggression, once I reach the transition stage from the second position to the first. I did not put any conscious effort to reach to another peer group where the people of premium quality table exist at proper time.
When you are at the top, you are no longer inspired. You start inspire on some thing else. But by time u reached the top, you have gained the skill, habit and the psyche. They will help you to remain on top and satisfy your instinct to stay on top.
Here comes my routine spiritual quests?
Is this behavior a special attribute of mine?
I realized this is the modus operandi of this world (Mankind). Many saints like vivekananda, buddha etc. have explained this phenomenon.
What is that behavior called?
I don’t know… may be a “VIRUS” in human nature. There is few more like Love, jealousy, the feeling to be important, sexual inclination etc.
Who does not have these viruses?
These viruses are human nature and nobody can escape. There are some who manage them better.
These viruses in collective sense, determines the direction (growth or demolition) towards which the world moves. But the direction of the world (or mankind) logically should depend upon how many people pursue (inspire, desire for) noble things or atleast neutral things at any point of time.
This also means there are more people following noble things than the people following the negative things at any point of time. Otherwise, the world wouldn’t have grown or expanded in possibilities like this.
How that is possible? If everybody behaves like baby – getting inspired whatever they see, then this world will be doing more of bad things than good things. Is there another virus in human nature that is making the man to pursue predominantly noble things?
The answer is “Yes” and the virus is “Fear”. Fear of death, fear of pain, fear of suffering etc enforce the mankind to choose the noble path. Whoever pursues the negative one has eventually faced a consequence, which enforces him and others (mankind) to choose the noble path.
The Secret of God?
God has plugged in some viruses in human body and the natural duty of mankind to grow the world in possibilities. The growth in possibilities is an astounding truth. 500 years back, buildings were built in decades, a journey from Mumbai to Washington is not less than an year’s adventure. So, as per God’s plan, we are seriously indulging and succeeding in expanding our capabilities and possibilities amidst the day to day issues created by these viruses.
Stop Stop Stop……. What is this? It’s becoming a queue of questions? And why am I trying to answer all this? Am a Saint or what? What is going through me???
I felt that whatever going through me now iss certainly a science that is already explored to much deeper level. The common sense is to refer the right spiritual books than trying to answer myself. The one and foremost text in this part of science is the great “VEDAS”. As I glanced through, the particular mystery of mankind (the above context) is beautifully explained in Atharvana Veda and the authors seemed to have a good idea about the future of mankind.
Unlike other tradiational books on spirituality, these Vedas are Super Rational. They are completely logical and only stories and examples are given for better explanation. The Vedas are free of myths and have logical deductions on the “REALIZATION OF GOD”, though It had slightly taken the route of the latest scientific technique of hypothesizing and proving it.
It is disheartening to know that less than 1% of the total vedic subject is now available in the form of literature. One of the important reasons behind this is VEDA itself. The authours of VEDA have repeatedly reinforced to learn VEDA from GURU and not by reading the text alone. (The sheer etymological meaning of the Sanskrit word “Upanishad” is “knowledge received by sitting close to the teacher by mind and body.”, which happen to be the subsets of Veda”).
Especially, the Mundaka Upanishad of Atharvana Veda lays down stringent conditions for learning veda from Guru such as serenity, solitude, austerity, discipline and determination. The Gurus in-fact followed a seven step route for enlightment viz induction, orientation, yoga, pranayama, sacrifice (practicing austerity), pedagogy, transcendental meditation. The vedic verse poetically warns that “The more we read and analyse, the more confused and entangled the mind becomes.” To prevent a state of paralysis, the reinforcement of discipline is must.
Having said that, do I have these disciplines to continue the quest for enlightment further? NO. May be after 30 years. I closed the book. But as of now, whatever is happening around me is happening for good (as rightly stated in Bhagavad Gita) and I will practice to manage the viruses better to have a happy life. All of us here are engaged to boost the power of mankind collectively.
Did I say manage the virus? For your information, this is also a part of science which is already explored by en-lighted people and given guidelines for us to live. I think the name of the guidelines is collectively know as “HINDUISM” or in the name of any RELIGION. (Any religion puts practices and controls just to make you follow a happy life in long term by effectively managing the viruses.”
Yaaaaaaaar, this is not stopping anywhere. I need to put a Hand break and go to see the movie FASHION – Jalwa, fashion ki hai jalwa……… bye bye.....
When I was novice, he occasionally gave tips but never played with me, as I would be too low against his calibre. The match like that will be definitely boring. When I was allowed to play, he stopped giving tips to me. Hari showed his dazzling talent against me and satisfy his pride. But when I equaled his calibre, like 50/50 kind of wins and losses, I observed change in his attitude. When I called him for a match, he used to say that he is busy in hundred other things.
Two of the best players in the school, hari and me are nominated for district level games (doubles). We won districts like a cake walk but lost in inter-districts against left-right combination. After the tournament, we hardly played table tennis.
George was playing fantastic football in the vicinity. By another 6 months, I was as good as George putting as many goals. As the games dominated the teenage, my acads shifted down its position a bit. I used to rank in the range of 5 and 7 in the class with stiff competition to balachander and Ajit.
In the mean time, hari, balachander and other first bencher boys picked up tennis ball cricket. I was already a much better player in cricket thanks to exposure in this game since fourth standard. But this time, siva annan and the sundaram uncle practicing in the nets with the leather ball in the early morning was my target. I started sailing around that place, used to pick the ball when it reaches the boundary and throw inside (a ball boy). Gradually, I started fielding in the team. My mom was surprised to see the change – her unsuccessful attempts to wake me up in the morning are no longer required. I promptly got up at 5:30 and be there by 6:00 AM for the net practice. I was the youngest and studying 10th std. By the time, I reached 11th std, I started playing matches. I used to be the last batsman of the team and generally field in the ground. At times, I also have shone by hitting unexpected fours in the 11th position.
One fine day in the net practice session, sundaram uncle asked about my age. I replied 15. Then, he suggested me to participate the “Under 16 - District Team” selection scheduled to happen at SPIC ground next week. I was one of the 45 players came for selection. My out-swinger bowling and straight bat play put me in the top 5 list of the team.
I used to feel pride about my achievements in so many games. But sometimes, I feel annoyed about not reaching the epitome in any of them? I do have a very bad habit of introspection, especially during the holidays. I used to brush idly continuing the thoughts from my sleep and finishing them at Toilet Pot. I always wonder, most of the greatest ideas that have occurred to me were in the toilet pots.
“ I was aggressively playing tabletennis, then I was playing football then I shone in cricket. Why didn’t I become a superstar in any? There was always an invisible cap on all my endeavors, beyond which, I had always switched over to something else. A resolution kind of thing occurred to me – The peer group dictates the limit. If I had Tendulkar in place of Hari or george, I could be playing as good as him. Though the icons shone at distance, the peer group decides my capacity and promptly turns down my aggression, once I reach the transition stage from the second position to the first. I did not put any conscious effort to reach to another peer group where the people of premium quality table exist at proper time.
When you are at the top, you are no longer inspired. You start inspire on some thing else. But by time u reached the top, you have gained the skill, habit and the psyche. They will help you to remain on top and satisfy your instinct to stay on top.
Here comes my routine spiritual quests?
Is this behavior a special attribute of mine?
I realized this is the modus operandi of this world (Mankind). Many saints like vivekananda, buddha etc. have explained this phenomenon.
What is that behavior called?
I don’t know… may be a “VIRUS” in human nature. There is few more like Love, jealousy, the feeling to be important, sexual inclination etc.
Who does not have these viruses?
These viruses are human nature and nobody can escape. There are some who manage them better.
These viruses in collective sense, determines the direction (growth or demolition) towards which the world moves. But the direction of the world (or mankind) logically should depend upon how many people pursue (inspire, desire for) noble things or atleast neutral things at any point of time.
This also means there are more people following noble things than the people following the negative things at any point of time. Otherwise, the world wouldn’t have grown or expanded in possibilities like this.
How that is possible? If everybody behaves like baby – getting inspired whatever they see, then this world will be doing more of bad things than good things. Is there another virus in human nature that is making the man to pursue predominantly noble things?
The answer is “Yes” and the virus is “Fear”. Fear of death, fear of pain, fear of suffering etc enforce the mankind to choose the noble path. Whoever pursues the negative one has eventually faced a consequence, which enforces him and others (mankind) to choose the noble path.
The Secret of God?
God has plugged in some viruses in human body and the natural duty of mankind to grow the world in possibilities. The growth in possibilities is an astounding truth. 500 years back, buildings were built in decades, a journey from Mumbai to Washington is not less than an year’s adventure. So, as per God’s plan, we are seriously indulging and succeeding in expanding our capabilities and possibilities amidst the day to day issues created by these viruses.
Stop Stop Stop……. What is this? It’s becoming a queue of questions? And why am I trying to answer all this? Am a Saint or what? What is going through me???
I felt that whatever going through me now iss certainly a science that is already explored to much deeper level. The common sense is to refer the right spiritual books than trying to answer myself. The one and foremost text in this part of science is the great “VEDAS”. As I glanced through, the particular mystery of mankind (the above context) is beautifully explained in Atharvana Veda and the authors seemed to have a good idea about the future of mankind.
Unlike other tradiational books on spirituality, these Vedas are Super Rational. They are completely logical and only stories and examples are given for better explanation. The Vedas are free of myths and have logical deductions on the “REALIZATION OF GOD”, though It had slightly taken the route of the latest scientific technique of hypothesizing and proving it.
It is disheartening to know that less than 1% of the total vedic subject is now available in the form of literature. One of the important reasons behind this is VEDA itself. The authours of VEDA have repeatedly reinforced to learn VEDA from GURU and not by reading the text alone. (The sheer etymological meaning of the Sanskrit word “Upanishad” is “knowledge received by sitting close to the teacher by mind and body.”, which happen to be the subsets of Veda”).
Especially, the Mundaka Upanishad of Atharvana Veda lays down stringent conditions for learning veda from Guru such as serenity, solitude, austerity, discipline and determination. The Gurus in-fact followed a seven step route for enlightment viz induction, orientation, yoga, pranayama, sacrifice (practicing austerity), pedagogy, transcendental meditation. The vedic verse poetically warns that “The more we read and analyse, the more confused and entangled the mind becomes.” To prevent a state of paralysis, the reinforcement of discipline is must.
Having said that, do I have these disciplines to continue the quest for enlightment further? NO. May be after 30 years. I closed the book. But as of now, whatever is happening around me is happening for good (as rightly stated in Bhagavad Gita) and I will practice to manage the viruses better to have a happy life. All of us here are engaged to boost the power of mankind collectively.
Did I say manage the virus? For your information, this is also a part of science which is already explored by en-lighted people and given guidelines for us to live. I think the name of the guidelines is collectively know as “HINDUISM” or in the name of any RELIGION. (Any religion puts practices and controls just to make you follow a happy life in long term by effectively managing the viruses.”
Yaaaaaaaar, this is not stopping anywhere. I need to put a Hand break and go to see the movie FASHION – Jalwa, fashion ki hai jalwa……… bye bye.....
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