Awaken

In Zen, a Buddha (Sanskrit: awakened) is one who has become fully enlightened. Nearly 30 years ago, I met a Marxist who was a student of philosophy. We had a common interest in Zen. Narayan Desai was three times my age when I met him but the gap never mattered. His exuberance towards learning was simply amazing.

As a writer, he wrote over 20 books in Marathi, Konkani, English, Gujarati and Hindi; Biography of Lenin, Swami Vivekanand in 21st century, Me - a socialist, Buddha – my companion, etc. He also compiled a Spanish-to-Marathi Dictionary. As Director of Thinkers' Academy, Mumbai, he devoted his entire life to research and writing.

Desai never gave up on learning and kept updating himself with global as well as local happenings. He de-emphasized theoretical knowledge in favour of direct individual experience of one's own true nature. He would say that ‘thinking and experiencing’ was the only to live. He refused to play dead, till he died on 5 August 2007.

It is easy to awaken the sleeping. But you cannot wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep. When we pretend to sleep, we choose to be selectively insensate to the incidents around. Our vision is adversely affected if our viewing lenses are cracked or coloured. We cannot hear right if we allow negative ‘noise’ to clutter our mind.

We must learn from Narayan Desai who did not play dead. He chose to open his mind to the diverse reality. He sought to learn and was ready to unlearn. He did not get stuck in the mire of prejudice. He chose to be awakened all through his life. And he chose to awaken others too!

16 December 2019 marks the start of the centenary year of Narayan Desai who lives through his awakened thoughts and reflective writings. The greatest connect with his inspirational ways would be for us to awaken. We must shed blinkers of single prejudice that prevents us from seeing the wide perspective of multiple stories.

Don’t play dead, don’t look away

Awaken to the reality every day!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3fBsnqUYpI&feature=channel

Reason

Mullah Nasrudin borrowed a brass pot from his friend. The next day, he returned it along with a smaller pot. ‘Your pot gave birth while I had it,’ said Nasrudin, ‘so I am giving you its child.’ The friend, happy to receive the bonus, did not question him.

A few days later, Nasrudin borrowed the pot again. After a week passed, the friend asked Nasrudin to return it. Nasrudin answered, ‘I can’t as your pot died.’ ‘How is that possible?’ the friend shouted, ‘a pot can't die!’

‘Well, you believed it gave birth,’ said Nasrudin, ‘so why can't you believe it died?’

So often, so many of us accept things only when they benefit us. Being self-absorbed is about being pre-occupied with only one’s thoughts, interests and paybacks. However we change our stance when the same thing is to our detriment.

We must align with reason. Reason is the power of mind to think, understand and form judgments logically. We must not allow our emotions to block up multiple perspectives. When we stick to self-absorbed approach, we give up on reason.

We jump to conclusions and believe it to be right. We refuse to look at other angles to the situation. We stick to our blinkers and our prejudices. However, if we are put into the position of the other or another side; we may realise that we ignored reason.

A basic template for reasoning is evenness. We cannot argue differently depending on how it suits or concerns only us and our single perception! Reason cannot change as per gender, location or affiliation. It must be based on a 360 degree perspective.

Good for goose, is good for gander too

Reason is about sticking to what’s true!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Teach him Now

He looks at her and what she wears

He looks as she shamelessly stares…

He looks at her wander in the night

He looks as she seems an assured sight…

He wants to teach her… real lessons

He wants to hold her… off her passion!

He wants to rein her before it is late

He wants to chain her inside the gate!

He hears her argue with her mother

He hears her treat advice as a bother…

He hears her ask her father for rights

He hears her speak, stand and fight…

He tells her that she is a lesser one

He tells her to stop acting like a son!

He tells her she is asking for trouble

He tells her to be just random rubble!

Now when she is brutalised, he is full of fury

Now he wants to play prosecution and jury

But the ones who abused and set her ablaze

Are just like him… movers in a bigoted maze!

He saw her as a lesser thing… so did they

He saw her as a pet… they saw her as prey!

He held dirty thought, they did the dirty act

Thoughts lead to actions… that’s a real fact!

So clear the dirt now that blurs the brain

Treat her like a human… not as a stain!

No lesson needs to be taught to any girl

It is the boys who need the washing swirl!

He needs to change his outlook of her

He needs to learn humane behaviour…

Abuse, brutalisation is the same chafe

Teach him now so that she can be safe!

Teach him now so that she can be safe!

 ~ Pravin K Sabnis

Race Not

Pedro regularly goes for a morning walk. One day, an older person overtook him while walking. Pedro’s ego was challenged. Although he was tired and dehydrated, he briskly walked… eventually he broke into a run till he overtook the elderly chap.

However, he realised two pertinent lessons. He missed the turn to his home and lost time getting back. Secondly and more importantly, the senior person was not in the race and unaware that Pedro was in competition with him.

So often, so many of us run a race with a person who is oblivious about the contest. We get into rivalry without reason. We want to buy a bigger car, a bigger seat, better curtains, better cutlery… when someone acquires something new.

Even in a sports race, the main focus is on reaching the destination fastest on the track. It is definitely not in overtaking a person moving on the side-lines. We must focus on our own purpose, path and performance.

   

We must stop the unnecessary race. In the quest to run a race where there is none, we end up getting worked up and stressed out. We end up going off-track onto a road to unhappiness. We must stop being unnecessarily competitive.

For happiness, heed the following thought

Run well to your destination but race not!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Careless

Pedro received a call that his close friend Pawan had met with a life threatening accident. Although distressed, Pedro quietly asked, ‘who told you the news?’ The caller said, ‘A friend told me…’ Pedro persisted, ‘And who informed your friend? And do let me who started the chain? Did he confirm? Did he rush there?’

The caller realised his mistake. He should have asked basic questions to confirm the veracity of the information. He told Pedro that he will find out and revert. In the meantime, Pedro called up Pawan who was livid, ‘What if my family were to hear this false information? How can friends do this?’

It eventually turned out to be a case of mistaken identity as well as a distortion of whatever was heard. The concern was being undone by the carelessness in passing on a message without confirming. It was sad that a series of worried friends were doing wrong by passing on a deadly rumour about a person they claimed to care for.

So often, so many of us forward news without checking it out. If we truly care we must confirm before forwarding. In case of unpleasant news, we must refrain from being careless. Even if it is true, we must not play a part in turning it viral. We must be bothered about the hurt and scare to the family.

It is pertinent to note that such careless forwards come from a habit... a habit of passing on information immediately as we receive it… without examining it for its truthfulness… without reflecting on the consequences of sharing it… we try to show that we care… but we end up confirming that we are careless!  

Those who frivolously forward may not truly care

Careless indeed are those who share such scare!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Be Prepared

Robert Baden-Powell explained the Scouts motto BE PREPARED as being in a state of readiness in mind and body. He urged scouts to be prepared in more ways than one. He insisted that they should acquire various skills: camping, cooking, first-aid, self-defence, mapping, messaging and many others. They ranged from survival training to safety protocols to utility techniques to be used for different challenges.

The motto seeks to pre-empt the need before it’s time. It is about equipping and empowering the mind and body through multiple abilities and capacities that would be required in various situations. Unlike the afterthought or reactive mechanism, this preparedness comes from proactive choices.

So often, so many of us are clueless about even simple life skills. We need to ask the questions: Can I survive in tough situations? Can I find my way when lost in the woods? Can I assist others in difficulties? Can I mend things that need mending? Can I cook? Can I sew? Can I be of help to self and others?

We must learn basic skills even if there seems no instant need. You may someone else cook for you yet you must know how to cook a simple meal. You may have assistants or technology to do certain tasks yet you must know how to do them yourselves. Be prepared is about being equipped before the need arises!  

Be prepared before time… to find key ways

Be of use to self and others on trying days!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Free of Chains

Last Saturday, I was invited to conduct a full day workshop on Cognitive Skills for the teachers of Sanjay Centre for Special Education. It was part of an extensive program over 11 days that included Sundays. It was commendable to note the willingness of the teachers to attend training during vacations. But some stood out even more so!

While one was mother to a month old baby, the other had a three month baby. Yet another was in the advanced months of pregnancy. These amazing women wore no chains. They displayed the freedom to make positive commitments as teachers wanting to learn. Cheryl Nogar’s one month baby was in her reach within the campus.

So often, so many of us complain about our chains. We glorify our burden as if we are unfortunate to bear it. We project our priorities as hurdles in our path. We complain about the fetters that come from our commitments. We cite our urgencies as an excuse to avoid other obligations.

We must learn from the attitude of Cheryl Nogar and her tribe… they are free of chains. They are not deterred by multiple commitments. They do a fine job of managing the work life balance. Most importantly, they do not complain and whine about their predicament.

We must stop treating commitments as chains. They are just roles that give us the opportunity to cope with challenges. In fact responsibilities are not really chains. They are more like the string that helps a kite to soar. We must treat challenges as an integral part of life… not as restrictive chains!

Ensure a mind free of chains

Live life full on to truly gain!

~ Pravin K Sabnis