I do not know if I am normal for I kind of feel that this entire celebration around Diwali is like a make-do, like games children play when they are little emulating their parents, families, schools etc and drawing pleasure and happiness from them. Frequently Rajaji quotes the last talisman of Gandhi which says I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away. - One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought. I feel that getting engrossed in our own celebrations and pleasures with no concern for the misery and suffering of others is the symptom of how disconnected we are from others, how far we are from our spiritual selves. After all what is spirituality if it is not recognizing the inter-connectedness of all beings ? It is only a being disconnected from everyone else who can celebrate despite the misery or suffering of others and this is the crises of our times. I am not saying this from some self-righteous sense that I am one step above others who celebrate. Seeing poverty and violence from close quarters everyday, and deeply engaging and inquiring in why we have this problem, why despite the best efforts of so many well meaning individuals, and groups, I am not in a celebratory mood. During the one year long Samvad Yatra that preceded the Jansatyagraha and immediately after JS, when the pain in my heart was at its peak, I was probably most sensitive and aware of this disconnect and went to the extent of watching every spending of mine and asking whether this is justified but overtime, as the pain subsided, I became more disconnected and am engaging in frivolous spending. So I am not better than anybody. I cave in to my pleasures and continue to be disconnected as well. People will respond to such extremes with a retort that we need to find balance. My thoughts to that is, yes, we the middle class with all the privilege can afford to find a balance as finding a balance does not affect us existentially. Will we say the same thing if there is a death of a close family member, or a close family member is in emergency ? Why do we not have the same empathy for the farmer who is contemplating suicide ? This difference in empathy is the indicator of our disconnectedness to other beings. Via Agyatmitra Shunya I am normal and I dont celebrate Diwali, I understand it is a occasion of joy for you and you wish the same for me. Thank you. I feel sad, frustrated and sometime angry when I am wished as I will like to have some consideration, harmony and equality in this world. I am not boring or negative, I have reasons everyday to celebrate. I celebrate when something happens that reminds me that Indian Constitution is protected and our guiding light. I celebrate when a judge delivers a verdict finding a husband guilty of raping his wife and went on to say that our law need to stop the hypocrisy of protecting husband who do that using law. I celebrate when two children from SC commnunity climb Mt Everest as it gives me hope. I celebrate when I see young people transforming their life and getting in touch with their potential.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 03:38:44 +0000
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