Learnings continue...

I browsed through different channels as it was break time on the show I was watching. Surprisingly all channels I skimmed through were showing ads so I was left with no choice but to watch ad of my choice. I stopped on one channel and kind of paid no ear to what was coming but one line on this ad caught my attention. 

This ad was for some hair fall prevention cream. The ad was nearly finished so don’t remember all particulars but the final statement by the model. The model must be in his mid-forties, not really bald but with less hair on his head. His statement was – do not repeat my mistake, take caution when you notice first hair fall and apply so & so cream. The ad somehow appeared different from all other ads I have normally seen. Generally they would compare situation before and after. A model with shiny hair and covered scalp would also have made sense in hair product ad but here I was seeing this model saying don’t repeat my mistake. My first thought was – great, you don’t need to have shiny, silky hair to be a model for hair product. However second thought took me more deep into analyzing and recollecting a similar example I had heard in Satsang.

The speaker was giving an example of a drunkard who is completely drunk and shouting ‘don’t drink don’t drink’. Speaker further said our normal reaction would be to question, ‘if drinking is so bad and you are prophesizing for not drinking why don’t you leave it yourself first’. There’s nothing sinful of looking at the scene from this angle but the message to take is, ‘don’t drink’, even if it is coming from mouth of a drunkard.

It is likely that the drunkard has realized his addiction but is now helpless to control or stop his drinking habit. Just because he has not recovered from his mistake doesn’t mean you need to commit the mistake. By giving this example speaker intended to share the message that at times we do overlook the learning at times while being judgmental of whether the speaker has himself followed his words. In such situations, credibility of one who is saying can be pondered upon but not of the message. Message in itself is complete and meaningful. 

Much like this model – who himself has lost hairs but his message is apt – don’t repeat my mistake, take caution when you should.

This reminds me of another email I browsed/shared few days ago with message to speak when you have followed the message to bring real impact, but when I am in listener’s seat I can learn even from people who themselves may not have followed the message. This is how listening becomes enjoyable and productive.

(Oct 2014)

Happiness from Walks & Talks

I don't recall our full conversation from that day but I cherish the fact that it led to a beautiful and such a precious learning. 

 

Bro and I must have been talking over the topic of happiness in spiritual world. All my life I have heard the importance of practicing what we preach. Also, it is well known fact that, the more we practice, the more happiness it will bring to our lives. Basically, if we practice what we preach, we'll be happier. 

 

Bro too told me something similar that day, however in his own style. "Chottu, our happiness is dependent on what we say and what we do. Our actions need to match with our words, this is crucial for our happiness."

 

He continued, "Sadly, our words are too high and our actions are way too low. They don't match up. There is such a huge gap. And amount of our happiness is inversely proportional to the size of this gap. Since the gap is so huge, amount of our happiness is low. So we need to work on minimizing this gap. We need to bring our actions at par with our words."

 

It sounded as if he was mathematizing all philosophy. Nevertheless, I kept paying attention to what he was saying. " And this is an ideal way of increasing amount of your happiness. But this will take time. But still do it. And meanwhile, try and bring your words at par with your actions. Even this will reduce the gap between your actions and words. And therefore will bring more happiness to your life. You don't have to speak low, but speak less. If you are unable to practice what you preach, then don't preach. Even then you'd be happy."

 

I had never thought like that prior to this conversation. And after that conversation I have never thought any other way. 

 

Practice what you preach. If you cannot practice what you preach, then don't preach. 

 

From that day onwards, I have tried to apply the simple formula of preaching less. It perhaps hasn't raised the level of my practicing but definitely has added to my happiness. ;) 

Even I want to learn

Chottu, just imagine if you get two gifts from your US friends.

Friend 1 sends you a gift worth 1000 dollars. However, to get that dispatched you need to pay postage worth 100 dollars and to send him an acknowledgment receipt you spend another 100 dollars.

Friend 2 sends you a gift worth 50 dollars. Here you dont have to pay anything.

Which gift would you appreciate more?

Sheelu, my brother, asked me this question on my recent trip to India. Before I could calculate the worth of first gift which was net 800 dollars, he answered himself - I think you should appreciate the gift from Friend 2.

For next hour or so, he mentored me on Unconditional actions - your acts are valuable as long as those are unconditional. The moment you start expecting, holding grudges...anything you have done so far looses its importance. You may do less, but do what ever keeps you grudge-less. Friend 1 might have spent 1000 dollars but his act costed you 200 dollars, however Friend 2 spent less but he did not ask anything in return. Cherish Friend 2 in your life, because his acts are unconditional.

The same thing I have been hearing from him for so many years, and even on this trip while he explained me this old message - I felt as if its new to me. Sheelu perhaps wants me to learn that what ever acts I do are unconditional, are something that I enjoy from core of my heart..no matter even if those are limited. Because this is what will keep me and others around me happy !!

Babaji....Thanks your mentoring !!!