wise?

How wise and sagacious the tortoise and the chameleon looks.Their drowsy and heavy lidded eyes are limpid pools of wisdom.

But the chameleon often changes its colours and the tortoise often withdraws into its shell

Messengers.

The scalding heat of summer months have given way to milder temperatures. With intermittent drizzles every other day , the Ac's have been switched off ,as the entire city of Chennai ,is air cooled from above.

An weather to rival that of any higher reaches. But forces are at work ,non stop to prevent me from enjoying this unbelievable weather.

If I sit in the balcony with a newspaper or a mag or a book to enjoy and relax in a little open space,can I ? No! From their hiding places the eternal pests, those tiny creatures so easy to squash ,find the most unreachable places [back] to draw their daily rations and go at it in glee,making me squirm , twist and turn in impossible yogic postures , that would do my guru Dhirendra Bramhachari [late] proud!

After some hard walking ,when I drop down on those glazed tiled benches in the park ,that are so inviting, to regain my breath, a huge school of piranha's , those little beasts , hiding in the grass ,start picking my feet and ankles in a orgy of feasting,making me execute dancing steps , I have long since forgotten.

Once twilight falls no place in the house is free from these devils . With their acute night vision and carnivorous appetite and hunting skills honed to perfection , they keep me on my toes. My hands clap thunderously , hurting only myself, my aim thwarted by their easy evasion , a survival technique handed down by their ancestors from generations to generations as old as mine!

I can't read nor can I see TV nor sleep in peace . The fogging operations, a deterrent of sort, undertaken assiduously a few years back by the corporation have become virtually non existent.

Yamadhuthars need not bestir themselves to transport me to the nether worlds . These tiny man eaters , manning every nook and corner ,will do it swiftly and with great elan!

A handful of grass!

With regard to riches Bharthrihari has the following to say...


Giving, spending and losing are the three ways by which the amount of one's wealth is lessened . And the man who neither gives nor spends ,may yet be ruined by the third way!

A part of jewel is cut away by stone when polished . Yet it sparkles, .Similarily noble men who have depleted their wealth by bestowing it on the needy ,still remain illustrious!

A change in fortune of men makes things seem greater or smaller like a starving man longing for a handful of rice on being satiated regards the whole world as a handful of grass!

Destiny has prescribed for every man his portion.The pitcher holds same quantity of water whether filled in a well or from depths of a ocean.Do not become miserable by envying the rich .

I am reminded of a interview of a very rich man by weekly magazine .On being enquired with obvious curiosity and envy as how it felt to be literally rolling on money ,pat came the reply,dousing, like a bucket of cold water.''My bank account may be overflowing and I do own palatial bungalows,but I can eat only four idli's in the morning, like you or anybody else!''

Survival.

One can survive even if one is lost in the vast ocean.

One can survive even if one is lost in hot as well as cold deserts.

One can survive even if one is lost in the ridges of icy peaks.

Can one survive if lost in the infinite space?

Edge of the sword ....

Brithrahari has the following praise for 'firmness'.

The dog falls prostrate at the feet of anyone who gives him food, wagging its tail and opening wide his mouth. But the elephant remains unmoved in such circumstances and will not eat until coaxed with flattering words!

The dog finds the dirty little fleshless bone of some ox ,and over this he will rejoice . Even though it maynot satisfy his hunger. But the lion scornfully passes by the jackal and rushes upon the elephant .

The lion may be overpowered by hunger, and his strong frame weakened by old age, he may lie in a state of misery and at the point of death, his majestic appearance may have departed from him and his life slowly ebbing away ,yet his one desire is to swallow at a mouthful ,the brow of the noble elephant .How could he the mightiest of all living beings feed merely on withered grass?

In like manner ,the man of firm mind , no matter what condition of distress he may be in ,seeks that which is most accordance with his natural disposition .