As Shahrukh Khan sings
“Kabhi to tumko chhatri de dein jab barse pani,
Kabhi naye packet mein bechein tumko cheez purani,
Phir Bhi Dil hai Hindustani”
It is this maddening juxtaposition of two polar extremes which makes us so unpredictable, so Indian. We can deliver lectures on Gandhivaad and self-restraint and then fall over each other to grab a local celebrity’s autograph. A cop may glare at you for breaking out of line at the traffic signal but then salute you the moment you slip him a 50 note. Our own daily lives are full of such extreme opposites (Father being late for work then teaching son about punctuality in the evening, Beautifully decked up ladies punching without abandon to board local trains, Vehicles running casually over animals on the highway on the way to home carrying their beloved child’s gift).
We have institutionalized self-abasement, jealousy, blatant materialism, opportunism – inspite of having the best spiritual tradition in the World. The biggest comedy occurs when harried ‘baratis’ slip the priests additional notes to ‘appease’ the Gods faster. As if God was that stupid.
Let us be clear on one thing, we lack nothing – except compassion and respect for other Indians. All our national problems are self-inflicted including our Government. After all, they only practice the Indianised arts of self-contradiction, denial and laziness at the highest echelons of power. How can any Indian feel indignant, righteous anger at ‘others’ in the society without having a good look at himself/ herself? How can we continue to fill the coffers of polarized bigoted channels of news proudly parading themselves in the garb of ‘national news networks’? How can we not care about the gross inequality that we inflict upon ourselves?
The only solution that we have in front of us is ‘Active Acceptance’ – facing the problem and resolving it with a big heart, generosity, acceptance and compassion. As Bonaparte would say “Iron Fists in a Velvet Glove”.The dust is only surface deep. One touch of the Sudarshan Kriya would open up our hearts which we have for so long not expressed.
As LK Advani said in the Silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living in Bangalore, “Such a huge international congregation defies understanding. This great son of India (Guruji,His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) has done us proud and He is the one true hope we have of establishing Sanatan Dharma and Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.”
Hinduism, in its true essence, offers a true solution through universal acceptance and brotherhood – for India and for the World, for Love moves the World.
“Kabhi to tumko chhatri de dein jab barse pani,
Kabhi naye packet mein bechein tumko cheez purani,
Phir Bhi Dil hai Hindustani”
It is this maddening juxtaposition of two polar extremes which makes us so unpredictable, so Indian. We can deliver lectures on Gandhivaad and self-restraint and then fall over each other to grab a local celebrity’s autograph. A cop may glare at you for breaking out of line at the traffic signal but then salute you the moment you slip him a 50 note. Our own daily lives are full of such extreme opposites (Father being late for work then teaching son about punctuality in the evening, Beautifully decked up ladies punching without abandon to board local trains, Vehicles running casually over animals on the highway on the way to home carrying their beloved child’s gift).
We have institutionalized self-abasement, jealousy, blatant materialism, opportunism – inspite of having the best spiritual tradition in the World. The biggest comedy occurs when harried ‘baratis’ slip the priests additional notes to ‘appease’ the Gods faster. As if God was that stupid.
Let us be clear on one thing, we lack nothing – except compassion and respect for other Indians. All our national problems are self-inflicted including our Government. After all, they only practice the Indianised arts of self-contradiction, denial and laziness at the highest echelons of power. How can any Indian feel indignant, righteous anger at ‘others’ in the society without having a good look at himself/ herself? How can we continue to fill the coffers of polarized bigoted channels of news proudly parading themselves in the garb of ‘national news networks’? How can we not care about the gross inequality that we inflict upon ourselves?
The only solution that we have in front of us is ‘Active Acceptance’ – facing the problem and resolving it with a big heart, generosity, acceptance and compassion. As Bonaparte would say “Iron Fists in a Velvet Glove”.The dust is only surface deep. One touch of the Sudarshan Kriya would open up our hearts which we have for so long not expressed.
As LK Advani said in the Silver jubilee celebrations of the Art of Living in Bangalore, “Such a huge international congregation defies understanding. This great son of India (Guruji,His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) has done us proud and He is the one true hope we have of establishing Sanatan Dharma and Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.”
Hinduism, in its true essence, offers a true solution through universal acceptance and brotherhood – for India and for the World, for Love moves the World.
