FABLES: THIS TOO SHALL PASS

1. Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society
Some of you will be successful, and such will need but little philosophy to take them home in cheerful spirits; others will be disappointed, and will be in a less happy mood. To such, let it be said, "Lay it not too much to heart." Let them adopt the maxim, "Better luck next time;" and then, by renewed exertion, make that better luck for themselves.

And by the successful, and the unsuccessful, let it be remembered, that while occasions like the present, bring their sober and durable benefits, the exultations and mortifictions of them, are but temporary; that the victor shall soon be the vanquished, if he relax in his exertion; and that the vanquished this year, may be victor the next, in spite of all competition.

It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! -- how consoling in the depths of affliction! "And this, too, shall pass away."


2. An emperor at the height of his powers decided that he needed something to bring balance to his life. So he went to a renowned spiritual master, bowed before him and asked him to impart some wisdom. The monk gave him two slips of paper and said, “Open one during a time of great sorrow and distress, when you see no way out and think all is lost.” The king asked, “And what about the second note, o master?” The master said, “Open that one when peace and happiness reigns, and you think it is the best, happiest moment of your life.”

The king kept the two notes with him at all times but never got the chance to open either. Many years later, the neighbouring kingdom’s army invaded his kingdom in a surprise attack. The king was driven out of his city with the rival army’s general following close behind, with just his closest coterie to keep him safe. He finally gets separated from even his trusted lieutenants during the chase. Finally his injured horse throws him off and the king lands against a tree, exhausted. Sure he’s about to be captured, just on time he remembers the master’s note. He opens the relevant one and it says ‘This too shall pass.’ Though his situation is hopeless a calm descends on him. even in capture he keeps his dignity. Just when the king is about to be jailed, his kingdom, now in enemy hands, is stormed by his own men, a band that had gathered to take the enemy by surprise. the enemy is vanquished and the king gets his kingdom back. After the incident, when he’s back on the throne and peace and prosperity reigns again, the king remembers the monk’s other note. He opens it and it reads ‘This too shall pass.’


3. The Jewish king Solomon one day decided to put his minister Benamiah Ben Yehoyada to the test, and humble him. So he asked him to accomplish a seemingly impossible task – he ordered Benamiah to find him a special ring with magic features. If you were happy when you wore the ring, it would make you sad. On the other hand, if you were sad and wore it, your spirits would be raised!

Solomon gave him six months to find such a ring. Deep down in their hearts, both Solomon and Benamiah knew that such a ring did not exist. Benamiah prayed hard for a miracle. He searched for such a miraculous object wide and low, but had no luck. Just when his time was running out, he decided to go to one of the poorest places in Jerusalem.

There he saw an old merchant who was spreading out his goods on a carpet. Benamiah was intrigued. He thought, “Let me take a chance with him.” He asked the merchant if he had a magic ring that could make a happy person forget his happiness and a sad person forget his sorrow. The merchant smiled. He took a gold ring from his wares and etched four words on it. Benamiah took the gold ring. When he read the inscription his face broke out in a wide smile – his task was accomplished.

On the day of the deadline he went back to Solomon. The king and all his ministers began making fun of Benamiah, certain that he would have returned empty-handed. Benamiah smiled and offered the gold ring to His Majesty. As soon as Solomon read what was written, the smile vanished from his face and he stopped the mockery. For the words etched on the ring were – ‘this too shall pass’. At that moment Solomon realized that everything in life was ephemeral, and nothing lasts forever, joy or sorrow, wealth or poverty, people or objects. At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

I may have started this blog on a lighter note, but guess it’s time to get down to business – the business of living life… one moment at a time (ooh, the drama of it all!)  

Ever had days when you’ve woken up in the morning and everything seemed so bleak you didn’t even have the will to drag yourself out of bed? It happens to me once in a while. Those are the days when the so called problems I’m facing in life bog me down. Be it relationships, career woes or random irritants, every ole things takes on dinosaur-like proportions in my mind, sapping my energy, draining me out and making me a prime contender for the Miss Grumpy award (I’m sure there’s one out there, except there’re too many contenders!)

On such days the single phrase I try to keep remembering is this - THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

This Zen thought is one of the most profound phrases I’ve ever come across in my life. If beauty lies in simplicity, the sheer gorgeousness of these succinct words and meaning, always blow me away. Everything we face in life - from worries and problems to blissful moments and down-in-the-dumps days - it’s all ephemeral.

So while going through the highs and lows, victories and blows of life, if I get too caught up in it all, I just go whoa! And distance myself a little bit from it - literally. I shut my eyes and imagine myself on a hot air balloon, rising higher and higher, far above the problems. This gives me immense perspective. When I have the wide blue skies above me, why would I want to focus on the tiny dot on the ground that the problem is becoming? My universe expands, along with it, my consciousness. It makes me feel like I’m far bigger than as well as very distant from the problem, so why would it get me down?

That’s not to say that I sail through every difficult moment – oh if I were that wise! - but after some tears, teeth gnashing and pulling-out-my-hair moments, I remind myself that just like how all good things must come to an end, so will the bad and the ugly. The key is to not get attached to the good or overwhelmed by the bad.

Which brings me to the modern day version of ‘this too shall pass.’ Will the wise person who first said ‘sleep on it’, please stand up (or roll in his/her grave). When a situation threatens to overwhelm you, all you have to do is put it aside and go to sleep. Yep, literally. When you wake up the next day the gravity of the problem or intensity of that negative emotion - be it anger, sorrow or a desperate need for revenge - would have gone down. Don’t believe me? Check out this link, which explains it scientifically.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/work/Sleep-overnight-to-solve-a-problem/articleshow/6851009.cms

Give it a day – and a night – and either the solution presents itself, or the problem itself ceases to bother us as much, because our priorities would have gotten sorted out. Reminds me of an old Ally McBeal episode. Ally, as usual, is hyperventilating and being a drama queen about the problems in her life. A colleague walks in on her venting and snidely asks, “What is it that makes you think that your problems are bigger and more important than others’?” Ally gives her a puzzled, ‘do you really need to ASK?’ look and retorts, “Because they’re mine.” Sleep on this. 

MY VERY FIRST TIME!

Hi all
OK, first off, I have to admit that I got onto the blog-wagon rather late - like wake-up-and-smell-the-twitter late. This is my very first blog, people! And why I didn't leapfrog into the Twitter stage is - let's face it - I've always been a rather verbose sort of person. 140 characters? Hell, I can't write a Haiku in less than twice those amount of Words! So as to not scare you off so soon in the game, let me add that not ALL future blogs will be subject to verbal diarrhoea. Just to prove my point, I shall end this post right here...
But then on second thoughts, you don't grudge me a few extra words... sentences... or paras, here and there, do you? OK, what was my point here? I'm sure there was a point to this whole thing, dammit. Oh yes - life's not a bitch. No, I did not pick that because I had lost out on every other option. I picked it coz I believe it.

You know how after a rough day at work, or a killer traffic snarl, or when we just have the blues, we all tend to go, "Life's a bitch, man." I beg to disagree. Which is why, my blog is gonna be about the little things that make life worthwhile. There, I've finally come to the point. And it's taken me just 1-2-3-4-5, OK, 905 characters to do that (relax! I said characters, not words! Talk about ADD).
Before you think I'm some sanctimonious saint types who will spout spiritual aphorisms, yes, there will be a little bit of that too (just the latter part, not the former.) But just a little: mostly I want to bring out the beauty of life that's staring us right in the face, which we often don't notice until someone throws a rock at us. (P.S - I'm hoping to be the someone, not the rock - just saying.) From books and music, to technology and nature, everything has something to teach. I just want to share some profound and not-so-profound things I've learnt from the mundane AND the exotic.

Let me end with one of my favourite Zen stories. Once a seeker went to a great spiritual master, who was quietly doing domestic chores. He asked, "Master, what is the quickest way to attain enlightenment?" Straightening a little from the burden of wood on her back, she said "Chop wood, carry water." One day, the seeker heard she had attained enlightenment. He asked her, "Master, now that you are enlightened, what is it that you do?" She said simply, "Chop wood, carry water."
And, thats 443 words - yippee! Later, then...

Aum

Here's to an auspicious start... Good luck to me!