"Kulakke moola kodali kaavu"

കുലയ്കേ മൂല കൊടലി കാവു is a saying in Kannada which means, "the wooden handle of an axe kills its own race." 

Immense are the possibilities of technology, but many of the things invented are used for the destruction of the living and non-living beings directly or indirectly. We are least bothered about what happens to others when we apply something – be it the chemical fertilizers for farming or atomic weapons used for wars.

There is a story about the human predicament.  Four princes went in search of some special science that shall help the humans to have a better life.  They went round the world and each one learned a special art. The first one, learned to assemble the born of any dead animal together; the second one learned to put flesh on the skeleton and the third one to put the skin and hair to the skeleton.  The fourth one learned the art of giving life to a dead body.  They went around, found a skeleton; the first one put it together, the second one put flesh to it and the third one its skin and the fourth one gave life.  But the sad fate was that it was that of a lion.  I do not have to tell the predicament of the four people in front of a lion.

There is another story - about a demon called Bhasmasura in Hindu mythology.  He gets the boon from Lord Shiva that whatever he touches should be reduced to ashes.  But as soon as he received it, he wanted to test it on Lord Shiva himself.  Shiva took to his heels.  Lord Vishnu appears in the form of a beautiful woman, Mohini, and distracts his attention from Lord Shiva.  He wanted to marry her.  She puts one condition that he should dance with her and do whatever she does. He agrees and she dances many postures and finally makes him touch his own head with his hand.  He was reduced to ashes. 

Modern technology seems to be like the burning power of hands granted to that demon.  If he turns out to be negligent even for the slightest moment, it may lead to the ruin of the world or self-destruction! 

The greatest enemy of humankind is humans themselves.

BE HONEST

Honesty and integrity are values that are very rare these days.  “Excel no matter how” is what is projected now. ‘Being honest’ is only when it brings gain in your life is what is intentionally or unintentionally taught even in Schools. It is a known fact that many Schools (especially the well reputed ones) encourage their students to use unethical means to be achievers so that their ‘name’ can be kept high. In a world of cut-throat competition, honesty and integrity has no place – ‘succeed’, ‘achieve’ ‘win’ etc. are the watch words of the present. We have to bear in mind that a dishonest world cannot stay for long.

Once a general manager wanted to test his people about their values of life.  He announced that in their seminar folder, there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put it in good soil in a pot and look after it very well.

He would hold a competition in the next year's seminar and that the best plants would be awarded suitably.  Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And next year in a big hall, there were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants - a great scene.

Except one pot in which the soil was there and no plant! The owner was standing quietly and seemingly ashamed of himself!

The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed which he was given – and did that was to be done- but nothing happened!

The general manager declared him the winner!

Everyone was shocked. It was announced, "Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds.

This man was honest to his work and, therefore he did not cheat me or himself!"

Please remember that when you are dishonest, you are cheating yourself.  When you cheat yourself, you are disintegrating your personality.  The end result is you become the ultimate loser. 

MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES ARE NOT

The affluent in the so called poor countries are not at all guilty about wasting their resources; moreover, they consider it their right to do so because they pay for it.  As a priest, I go to receptions hosted by the Church and the individuals, where  I am disturbed to see that so much food is wasted – the guests pile-up all the food stuff into their plates and throw it off after consumption of not even a quarter of what is taken.   A Tweet by Chetan Bhagat has prompted me to write this post.  I quote it verbatim:

Germany is a highly industrialized country.  In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life.

When we arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty.  There was a table where a young couple was having their meal.  There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on their table.  I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.

There were a few ladies on another table.  When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.

As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.  When we left, there was still about one third of un-consumed food on the table. 

When we were leaving the restaurant, the old ladies spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much of food.

“We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind,” my colleague told the old ladies.  The old ladies were furious.  One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone.  After a while, a man in uniform from Social Security organization arrived.  Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Euro fine.  We all kept quiet.

The officer told us in a stern voice, “ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME. MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.  THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES.  YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.

The mindset of the people of this rich country must put all of us to shame.  We are to be aware that we belong to a country which is not very rich in resources and many live in abject poverty.  To show off, we order large quantity and also waste food when we give others a treat. Recently while I was in a dinner, a person sitting near me felt ‘ashamed’ that my plate was empty after which he commented, “Can’t you leave something in the plate so that others will not think of you as deprived.”  There is a saying in Malayalam “undaal paathrathil irikkanam” which means there should be some left over so that your host will come to know you have been given more than enough.  My interpretation to the above is that your plate should be so clean that you can sit on the plate. Let us be affirmed: MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.  

YOUR LIFE HAS A PURPOSE

As we are on the threshold of a New Year, I take this opportunity to wish all my readers a purposeful and impactful year!

Whatever that was in the year 2014 (good or terrible), please bear in mind that it had a purpose.  If we try to evaluate our life objectively (without any sentiments attached), we will find that whatever that had happened had a purpose. There is some good hidden even in the happenings that were very bad. (As children, we all had gone through the disciplining of parents. At that time, it was painful, frustrating and discouraging.  But, that disciplining has made us what we are now.  We do this to our children as well). Then why can’t we accept the Creator’s purpose in us? Our life has a purpose.

Our life can be compared to a book to be written – our whole life a full book, each year a chapter and each day a page. We can write the full pages or leave blank many of the pages. If we have a purposeful living, we cannot but write something on each page. We are to give account to the Publisher who has given us all the facilities and entrusted us to write the story. Our story is important.

If we want to take along our story, we are to foresee and dream about our life’s purpose. If there is no vision, we cannot achieve anything.  Our dreams count.

We should always remember that we are ‘born to win’. We have the potential to be a winner; but many a times we act as if we are not – we condition ourselves to be losers.  We are born to make an impact.

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS FOR YOU: A HOLIDAY OR A HOLY DAY?

Chrsitmas is celebrated universally: the celebration is such that regardless of religious affinity most of the people join in the celebrations. If the Christmas celebrations started the previous week of the Christmas day (this is what I remember: I assume that the celebration of Christmas  may have been just for a day among the previous generations!) - starting with carol rounds, sending greeting cards, hanging a Christmas star etc. and ending with  a carol service on the previous day of Christmas. Now the celebrations of Christmas starts as the page of the calender turns to Decemeber (it is jokingly said that the stars first appear in front of the Liquar Shops declaring the coming of Christmas. What an irony!). Christmas stars of various kinds and illuminations are presented with all kinds of pomp. In the Western countries, exchange of gifts is very common. We are so much involved in the celebrations of Christmas that we forget the context, meaning and content of Christmas. (I assume that I do not have to narrate to the readers what is the context, meaning and content of Christmas).

It is in this backdrop of realities I am prompted to ask my readers: What is Christmas for you: A holiday or a holy day? Though the words are pronounced almost the same manner, we know it has a world of difference in the meaning and content.  Let us try to recapture the true context, meaning and content of Christmas. 

I take this opportunity to wish my readers a meaningful Christmas recapturing the context!  Let our celebrations focus on the content of Christmas.  Let us be a step forward in becoming more humane, taking the model of Jesus Christ who showed us what a human being should be, as we celebrate Christmas this year.

EVALUATE YOURSELF

You may have heard the story of a little boy who went into a store to phone some one.  He dialed the number and started the conversation. The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:

Boy:  Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?

Woman: (at the other end of the phone line): I already have someone to cut my lawn.

Boy: Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.

Woman: I'm very satisfied with the person who is presently cutting my lawn.

Boy: (with more perseverance): I'll even sweep your curb and your side-walk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of Palm beach, Florida.

Woman: No, thank you. He is giving his best for me. There is no need of a change now.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job.

Boy: No thanks.

Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one.

Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady  I was talking to!  

How many of us can dare to do it? How many of us introspect about our faithfulness and contribution to the responsibilities given to us?  Isn't it true that many of us are unwilling to listen to others?

You must have heard about some kings who went around their kingdom trying to understand the opinion of the people about their rule.  History tells they could contribute better for their kingdom.  At the same time there were kings who were interested in the cacophony of the 'chamchaas'  (boasters). They were least bothered about the welfare of their people.

Are we among the many who are unwilling to listen to others' advice? We have to spare time and mechanisms for self-evaluation.  

HOW ARE WE TRAVELLING?

Worry, anxiety, depression etc. are the marks of the present day world. It is a paradox to note that the above emotions attack the affluent than the economically weak people. They are so much worried and preoccupied  to carry the load of their achievements in the form of wealth and possessions that they forget to live in full.  Their thoughts always are on how to 'maintain' and 'increase' what they have. The world tends to call them achievers and enterprising persons.  The burden on them is such that they cannot sleep well and have a calm life. They are not willing to let go.  It is thoughtful to note that the Indian philosophy divides the life cycle into 4 ashrams (the human life was divided into four periods. The goal of each period was the ideal fulfillment of each of the four consecutive stages of life.) :  Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha  (household life), Vanaprastha (retired life) and Sannyasa (renounced life). Earlier days, once a person is retired, he/she was having a leisurely life.  Now they search for new avenues to 'get engaged'.  Executives go for consultancies, Bank employees go for private banking, teachers go for teaching in private Schools and Colleges... the list goes on.  I know a person who is above eighty five years, known as enterprising,  still working on 'new projects'; but the worst thing is that his sons are least interested to take up any of his projects (they are busy in foreign countries trying to build 'empires' there!)  

Here is a thoughtful anecdote: A wealthy man was sitting in his balcony  when a little ant caught his eye. It was carrying a big leaf several times more than its size. The man watched it for more than an hour. He saw that the ant faced many impediments during its journey, paused, took a diversion and then continued towards destination.

At one point the tiny creature came across a crack in the floor. It paused for a little while, analyzed and then laid the huge leaf over the crack, walked over the leaf, picked the leaf on the other side then continued its journey.

The man was captivated by the cleverness of the ant, one of God’s tiniest creatures. The incident left the man in awe and forced him to contemplate over the miracle of Creation. It showed the greatness of the Creator. In front of his eyes there was this tiny creature of God, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to analyze, contemplate, reason, explore, discover and overcome. Along with all these capabilities, the man also noticed that this tiny creature shared some human shortcomings.

The man saw about an hour later the creature had reached its destination – a tiny hole in the floor which was entrance to its underground dwelling. And it was at this point that the ant’s shortcoming that it shared with the man was revealed. How could the ant carry into the tiny hole the large leaf that it had managed to carefully bring to the destination? It simply couldn't!

So the tiny creature, after all the painstaking and hard work and exercising great skills, overcoming all the difficulties along the way, just left behind the large leaf and went home empty-handed.

The ant had not thought about the end before it began its challenging journey and in the end the large leaf was nothing more than a burden to it. The creature had no option, but to leave it behind to reach its destination. The man learned a great lesson that day.

There is a famous malayalam song "Samayamaam radhathil njaan" (For the non-malayaali readers: I travel in the chariot of time) in which a stanza is thus: 

  

   Bhaarangal koodunnathinu onnum venda yaathrayil

     Alpamappam vishapinnu, swalpam vellam daahikkil

(Do not carry unnecessary load which hinders your journey;  For hunger some food, for thirst a little water)

I am reminded of the writing in the train compartments in the earlier days: "Less luggage, more comfort".

Isn't that the truth about our lives?

We worry about our family, we worry about our job, we worry about how to earn more money, we worry about where we should live – 5 bedroom or 6 bedroom house, what kind of vehicle to buy – a Mercedes or BMW or a Porsche, what kind of dresses to wear, all sorts of things, only to abandon all these things when we reach our destination – The Grave. We don’t realize in our life’s journey that these are just burdens that we are carrying with utmost care and fear of losing them, only to find that at the end they are useless and we can’t take them with us.