Hi welcome to Lost in Labyrinth! Firstly I want to sincerely thank all for their love, time and feedback. Trust me that's how I want to tread this journey!
"Om Bhoor Bhuwah Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyum
Bhargo Devasaya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yona Prachodayat"
Gayatri Mantra believed to be the most powerful hymn in the world first appeared in Rig Veda between 1800 to 1500 BCE. Without plunging into any depths, I will talk about it's essence. It's a prayer unto the Self; Oh Divinity inspire and direct my intellect towards the righteousness. We pray that may our wisdom be freed from sins, criticism and negativity. And wish the same for others.
Sushant Singh Rajput, only 34 years of age with his enviable boyish charms, ended his life quite tragically. None of us knew him but somehow the loss feels so personal. A promising actor and a far greater academician, why did he lose hope to take such a drastic step? The conspiracy theories are ripe with speculations but somehow I can't gloss over the fact that he became dejected. Leading our lives I am sure all of us, at one point of the other felt that friends, society have judged us on our success. Class Xth grades, XIIth grades, admission in college, comparison with your kin and then for some skin color, body type, job with MNC, salary, marriage or the age you got married, kids and their upbringing - the list is endless! Honest to God, have you not despised such people? Which brings us to an important question- What is success? And what are the parameters to evaluate this glorious word?
Success simply means accomplishment of an aim or purpose. A goalpost that you set for yourself, which when achieved makes you successful! We most definitely need to reasses the parameters that define success. Stature, money, fame apparently don't cut it anymore! The rising cases of depression, anxiety, insecurity among the known, the wealthy proves the point. It is for you and you alone to decide what your objective is. It could be as simple as getting up early in the morning, shedding some extra kilos, learning or mastering a new craft, getting yourself employed again, anything!! Each to it's own!
I wish to share with you two stories, that I read to my 5 year old.
A group of frogs was travelling through the woods. Two of them fell into a deep pit. When the others frogs crowded around the pit, they saw how deep it was and they told the two frogs that there is no hope left for them. The 2 frogs, however, decided to ignore the rest and decided to try their luck. The frogs at the top kept commenting how impossible it is for both to jump out of that pit. Eventually one of the frog took heed to what others were saying and gave up, falling down to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. The frog on the top yelled. The frog jumped even harder and finally made it out! When he got out, the other frogs wondered," Did You not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf and this entire time he thought they were cheering for him!
A gentlemen was once walking through an elephant camp, when he noticed that elephants weren't kept in cages or held with chains. All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece of tattered rope tied to one of their legs. The more he saw this, the more confused he got as to why the elephants didn't use their strength to free themselves from the camp and escape to the wild. He was bewildered with the thought why not one tried to free himself. Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked the trainer nearby, why the elephants don't try to escape? The trainer replied, "When they were young and much smaller we use the same size of rope to hold them back. It was enough then! As they grew up, they believed they cannot escape. They believe the rope is still strong to hold them and they never try to break free!"
Both these stories are about belief. The frog who believed that everyone is rooting for him and he continued his journey. And the mighty elephants who were conditioned to believe they can't break free and they never challenged! Success is simply the coefficient of belief! All of us have listened or narrated these value-imparting stories in our life. Infact it is one of the most prominent medium of educating kids with life lessons. Be that as it may, growing up we become more inclined to heed what others are saying. Listen, be mindful and extract what benefits you but don't take it to heart! To keep the sanity around you, just pray that the wisdom guides your action into a rightful doing. Wisdom that is free from the pressure of expectations, praises and criticisms.
In the end, I would just like to summarize by borrowing the beautiful lines from Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was imprisoned during the emergency.
**किन्तु फिर भी जूझने का प्रण
अंगद ने बढ़ाया चरण
प्राण-पण से करेंगे प्रतिकार
समर्पण की माँग अस्वीकार
दाँव पर सब कुछ लगा है, रुक नहीं सकते
टूट सकते हैं मगर हम झुक नहीं सकते।।
प्राण-पण से करेंगे प्रतिकार
समर्पण की माँग अस्वीकार
दाँव पर सब कुछ लगा है, रुक नहीं सकते
टूट सकते हैं मगर हम झुक नहीं सकते।।
Goodbye, see you next Friday!
**Lines loosely translated in English
No matter what the circumstances, take oath to grapple
Angad prepares to get a foothold (In Ramayan when Angad went to Lanka before the battle, he challenged Ravana to merely lift his feet off the ground. All high and mighty tried but failed. Eventually when Ravana gets up, Angad moves his feet and says- it is Lord Ram that you need to hold the feet of not mine.)Challenge with your life and soul
And to give up is unacceptable
You cannot stop because everything is at stake
We might be lost (loose life) in the process but we can't bow down/give up!