Allah tero naam , Ishwar ,
Bhagwan..........
As I was watching PK, keeping the
hilarious portion aside wherein people just go to illogical extremes
in their beliefs and reach a point of blind faith, one pertinent
question that the Tapaswi Maharaj asks PK is worth introspecting. He
asks – OK , tell me if people should not believe in the power of
God , where should they look during times of distress?
The message of the film is crystal
clear. There is a power above us in which we rightfully trust.
However, the means through which we try to get connected are sham as
these are man made to exploit the fears of the masses. As they say in
good times no one remembers God! It is only when bad time befalls
that we earnestly pray for salvation. Also if we see the
psychological set up during fear, distress or despair we agonize that
there is loss of confidence, wavering mindset and fear of the unknown
or the future. What next? We shudder at the thought. Such a weak mind
automatically starts searching for solutions.
While watching PK I was also reminded
of another film with a similar theme – OMG! The theme more or less
is the same where in a comical way the film points out to the fallacy
of blind faith. Religion is nothing but way of life. Yet it is made
so complicated that the common man is really not able to fathom the
reality from the corporeality. They say reality is God and whatever
other forms you see is his Maya – creation.
Another version is that of Brahman. Christianity believes in Jesus ,
Islam in Allah. As many religions that many faiths. Yet at the base
of it all is a struggle to keep dangers at bay.
There is no denying
the magnetic fields and its impact on humans. We have also known
numerology, feng shui , vastu shastra – all trying to ward of
evils. Then there is astrology that can accurately look into your
future if the time and place of your birth is accurately recorded.
Now how does one record time? Based on hospital records or in cases
where the mother is alert and aware to see the clock in the labor
room just at the point where the baby is out of her womb? Yet what is
the guarantee that the clock in the labor room is accurate? Even a
few seconds can completely change the predictions. Horoscopes and
match making have had so many mutations just to get through the
alliance and in fact couples are known to have lived happily ever
after.
While the preachers
preach non attachment to the body , when you see the monasteries and
ashrams , they are no less than a palace. If they are so detached,
why do they need such lavish habitats? So just as we have doctors,
lawyers, teachers should we look at preachers as professionals who
thrive by rendering God services just as a heart surgeon helps you to
survive a heart attack? This is how the faith of the masses is
systematically exploited to fill their coffers. By rendering faith
services they have a thriving business with no regulations, no rules
and a fan following that could put a celebrity to shame.
So we come back to
the Tapaswi Maharaj's question - if people should not believe in the
power of God , where should they look during times of distress? The
answer lies in the question itself. Look nowhere but within. Trust
yourself. Do what you are best at. Yet this exercise is to be done
not during the time of distress but a continuous one where you
regulate your breath and mind – the two closest to your body and
soul. Something that the Karma yog – in the Bhagwad Geeta expounds.
By learning to
breath correctly and taming the mind through meditation one can
resurrect oneself when calamity befalls. If one is already well
entrenched in the practice, he will not get perturbed in bad times.
And mind you schools that engage in teaching breath and meditation
are almost free to the sadhaks or the fee is minimal to cover costs.
Will this ensure
that no calamities befall? No warding off evils is not possible. Even
people who claim that they can do so are fooling themselves or the
public. The external environment is not within our hands but internal
strength is. Drawing a corollary - Indian stock markets are in an
upswing. Does that mean they will continuously rise? The answer is
obviously - no. The Indian markets are as vulnerable to global shocks
as any other but yet after every challenge if the markets emerge
strong, it reflects the resilience of the Indian economy.
Another thing is to
keep engaged in oneself so much that you really do not have time to
sulk. Wiping others tears is one of the best ways to forget one's own
problems.
Zaroorat nahi hai
ki har pal zubaan par khuda ka naam ho....
Woh lamha bhi
ibadat ka hota hai , jab hum kisi ke kaam aayein!
When Amitabh
Bachchan was asked in an interview about his bad times , he responded
….kuch nahi, main apna kaam karta raha,ek din kaun banega karodpati
ka offer aaya and rest is history.
So while we are all
like a cog in the wheel of the great design continue doing what you
do best and leave the rest to destiny. Each birth is for a purpose.
Destiny is the compass that guides you through to achieve that
purpose. At the end of the day, no prayer of the unwavering goes
unanswered.
Anagha Hunnurkar
7th
April 2015
