Blend with Trend – Yet Sustain Values

“Jolly well do get married my child” was the advice given by Socrates to his confused eligible Gurukul student who daily witnessed the naggings of Socrates’ quarrelsome wife.

Socrates continued:

“If you get a good wife, no problem, you are happy. And if you get a quarrelsome wife, then also No problem. You will become a philosopher”.

During my tenure as the President of our local Rotary International Chapter as I presented the opening statement during our Thursday meetings I started with “I solemnly declare in the presence of beloved wife who is present in this August audience, that “If at all I am a philosopher, it is since my childhood and definitely not after my marriage. So, help me God! and So Be It”.

Note that the above situation could be vice-versa also.

Here’s a rejoinder my spouse has insisted I should also read. She says that “Now at your age of 71, it is you who has become quarrelsome and it is I who is becoming a philosopher”. Here I would like to assure the audience that before my next article, we would both become applied philosophers!

(Gurukul Applied Philosophy: Do what the Guru says. Not necessarily what he does).

In our shastras, Vivek Chudamani is a classical treatise of Applied Philosophy. In a nutshell “Discretion is a better part of Valor, and Application is the best part of philosophy”. Knowledge is - assimilation of facts. Wisdom is knowing how to use the knowledge. In day-to-day activities also, we experience practice of philosophy. For example, while driving your car you follow “No Entry, One Way. Keep Left. Keep to your lane. Speed limit 60 kmph etc. Avoid dashing with a heavier truck / bus even if it is wrongfully overtaking etc.

Continuing the above Gurukul applied Philosophy, usually students are very idealistic and hence reach a Cross Road when they actively step into the material world. When I expressed my dilemma to my beloved father that “instead of joining business in city life, which is full of hypocrisy, snatching other’s business etc. I would rather prefer to do farming at our rural plot, and nearer to Nature and God. My father – friend philosopher and guide, said, “Life’s journey is like a chariot on two wheels: the material wheel and the spiritual wheel. Most importantly, during life’s journey, the diameter of both these wheels has to be the same. The chariot will tilt on the opposite side of the larger wheel if they are not aligned and of the same size.

So, you have to balance the diameter of both these wheels for a smooth running. However, if you want to travel through life only on one wheel, go to the Himalayas. Well, even at 90 I am still balancing here and hopefully I can now afford to reduce my diameter of material wheel and withdraw / detach by increasing the diameter of my spiritual wheel. Maybe, after charioting through this article that I am writing, I will be more matured for a ‘U’ or a ‘V’ turning point.

Soon after one enters the Grihastha Ashram: the phase of testing and responsibilities begins and one soon realizes that all of us are Fellow cosmic co-travellers on the same journey that we call Life. I fondly address all my readers as “Priya Antariksh ke Atmajan”.

Having entered this stage, our ideals, morals, values come for practical testing as the real strife and conflict between the materialistic needs and moral values now begin to collide. At this age, the stage is set for applied philosophy. “Right or wrong. This or that, Yes or No, Do or Not, Lies or Truth” Here the God’s grace (Karmic Blue print) and Moral courage (Gurukul conditioning) comes into action. I would like to share a small anecdote from my life here.

The business scenario in Calcutta had the British influence and was complex to say the least when I started in around 1953. Business is normally initiated and developed over a drink and dinner hosted by the interested party. At a young age one’s ambition and enthusiasm is likely to tempt you and sometimes unwillingly escape into an unhealthy and unethical lifestyle.

When I ordered a soft drink after my guests had ordered a cocktail, they morally pressurized me to join them. I was jolted with their pressure and words like “It is not business manners, you should not have invited us, you are being disrespectful of your guests” and so on. I was confused fearing that I may not succeed in developing the business. In the end, I could politely circumvent this situation without consequences. Would you believe, my fellow philosophers, that after a few of these meetings, the guests shared a secret and confided in me saying: “Friend you are very fortunate, we are addicted and fed up and are trying to change our drinking habit”. Following this incident, I became more closer to them from a long-term perspective than if I would have succumbed to their lifestyle and expectation from our very first meeting.

Another experience comes to mind from my early business days in the late 50s. A staunch teetotaller and elderly business associate came one day announcing “Come on, Let’s go for a drink”. I was shocked. He reasoned that he was under so much tension and stress that he would like to RELAX by having a drink. I said “Ok, I will join you for a drink” (recalling my father’s advice that if at all you drink, do not drink under stress and when you are overjoyed) after evaluating my two options.

By initiating to drink you have harmful Direct Side and After Effects (Money, health and mental) and form habit. Instead of illusionary temporary relaxation it will further increase your tension, thus affecting health, family life and much more.
If you do want to relax without the above effects, I have a non-costing, more effective, long-term, and instant formula. Listen:
When you are in a negative situation, your nerves and muscles come under stress and tension. Best way to relax them is do “Shavasana” a yogic kriya. Lie down and release your nerves and muscles, like a dead body. Within a few minutes you will be blissfully relaxed contrary to the drinking effects.

With this I have reached the end of my first article. I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Here is a glimpse into my next article

All world religions promote self-actualization / invoking / reaching the cosmos. Despite these teachings, human beings do not harmonize with their earthly counterparts. Here, as an eye opener. I would ask only this. “Did you have the choice of choosing or selecting your parents, sex, country, religion and so on?” Since we had no choice, it is possible that we could have been born in totally different circumstances and situations. So why the distinction and prejudice? Every human is a sacred being because he is the child of God. I would finally say that religions may apply to different sections of humans depending on beliefs but Philosophy applies to all beings irrespective of religion and is a lifestyle.

Question: Which is one of the biggest barriers to human harmony and peace?

Yes! It’s the EGO. Reflect on this one word that holds answers to many challenges, issues and lifestyle problems that act as a barrier to human harmony and peace.

Stay tuned for the next article as we delve into the facets of EGO to take a step towards Divinity.