Monday, March 15, 2010

... slowly slowly

Patience is often stated and experienced as a vital ingredient for day to day living, inner growth and development!! It’s well known that one has to undergo pretty arduous tasks, with elevated souls, to excel in any field!!

Kabir sahib said the same thru his doha :Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kutch Hoye : Mali Seenche So Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye [Translation] Slowly slowly O mind, everything in own pace happens ;Gardner may water a hundred buckets, fruit arrives only in its season

We are generally advised to be slow & steady for Bhajan (devotional prayer) and Bhojan (eating) : am getting the same impression regarding most activities of life : there is not much point in rushing through a cup of coffee, or past your friends' birthday or your neighbour's narration of the flat tyre: as far as possible!! Patience is generally of good value while dealing with fellow humans at all levels!
In exceptional circumstances, we are told that a day can be counted as a year. After all Time is a relative concept: there are flies that live just for a day. On the other hand a day in the life of higher deities spans several million years!

Am reminded of a narration from Zen - it seems a student asked the Master - how long will it take to achieve enlightenment - if he followed the prescribed Path. About 5 years was the reply. The student was very keen - he asked if he devoted twice as much time every day - how long will it take - am given to understand the Master replied - 10 years!! The idea is that Nature takes its own course - while we do put in our bit!!
My personal understanding is that most of our sincere efforts bear fruit within 6 years (Ardh –Kumbh- half of 12 years is said to be full cycle ): while a very few deeper ones can take up to 36 years!!

It’s appropriate to quote the famous Gazaal Aah Ko Chahiye Ek Umar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh0-ZTl0BeY&feature=related

Aah ko chaahiye ek umr asar hone tak ,[The sighs of love a life-time need, their object to attain], Kaun jeetaa hai teree zulf ke sar hone tak [Who lives long enough for your dark mysteries to attain?]. . . Khaak ho jaayenge ham tum ko Kabar hone tak [Dead and in the dust I’ll be when news of me you obtain]

4 comments:

  1. Raj,
    Your own writings richly reward a sincere and patient effort to understand. I am privileged to become the first of your followers.

    rb

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  2. Most appreciative of your kind gesture & fine wisdom all through Robert - deeply honoured

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  3. "Dheere, dheere re mana...." how often I've consoled myself with these lines! And "Aah ko chahiya ek umar asar hone tak...Khak ho jaayenge hum tumko khabar hone tak." beautiful shayari of pathos and patience...

    Patience is surely a virtue we must possess and yet at times it seems hard to be patient. I feel it here in Chile, where I'm trying to patiently wait out this period of continual aftershocks. I'm glad I visited your page.

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  4. Sometimes I do say & believe that stickability is 90% of my ability !! You are miles ahead of me Khushi. Have just acknowledged this on your blog as well - deep good wishes

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