FEAR
In India the popular saying goes, “he who is afraid, is dead”, but then the other side of the saying goes, “he who is scared, lives to tell the tale”. But I feel, that we have nothing to fear, but fear itself. All our actions and reactions are driven by fear. I feel that fear is the driving force, the reason and the impetus in our lives.
Since our childhood days, our parents control us by instilling fear, “ don’t do that/ this.... or else …God / Father will punish u”. The childhood curiosity is quelled and controlled by use of fear. A child’s imagination is snipped at the bud, using fear, never reason, because fear is so easy to instil and invoke whenever needed. Our child-like curiosity scares the hell out of our parents ('But mum, I just wanted to see what would happen if I used the phone in the shower'), which is why parents then try to scare it out of their kids. How? With stories about curious children who insist on prying into things that are best left alone and who end up getting turned into things, shoved into ovens or eaten by wild animals.
Even the Holy Scriptures and epics do a good job of instilling fear too. You'll find the Old Testament a rich source of this stuff: God says to the human race (the two of them) 'Listen you crazy kids, do anything, go anywhere but keep the hell away from the tree of knowledge... eat not of its fruit or you're history.' Well, you know what happened next - Eve got curious and God does some pretty heavy smiting. You can imagine God as a Robert DeNiro type... 'Are you listenin' to me? Are you listenin' to me? I'm askin' you if you're listenin' to me? Huh? Well BAM! How do ya like that?')
The good book makes the penalty pretty clear - mind your own damn business or the entire human race will be damned to live and die in pain.
Every culture tells the same story - a forbidden thing, a curious spirit, eternal damnation and death. These stories serve to keep kids at home and men & women in line... and by and large, they work pretty well.
The Indian epics and beliefs also instil this fear in abundance into the masses. Personally I believe God is man’s greatest invention. God and religion, the tools, invented to make the mankind compliant and obedient. “God is everywhere, God sees everything, and God is Omnipotent, Omniscient & Omnipresent”. The concept of heaven & earth, of liberation, mukthi & niravana, all invented to make people feel guilty. Guilt!!! The realisation of ones sins, the best tool used in conjunction with repentance, to harness mankind. Great were the minds, who realised the Fear Factor and invented the tools to make man subservient.
We as humans are scared about everything. We are afraid of what others think about us. We are afraid of making a fool of ourselves, or being laughed at. We are afraid of being hurt, we are afraid of losing our near & dear ones. Well, we are afraid of fear itself. Fear rules and governs our behaviours, actions and beliefs. Couple, fear with guilt and it becomes too potent a mix to handle, Heady & dangerous.
We love someone, with a fear of losing them; we work, fearing a life of joblessness and hardship. We do things, fearing what would happen if we didn’t. We have fun, but with a feeling of uneasiness involved. Always with a nagging thought or two we move ahead in life.
Cant we do things, for the sake of doing them and not because of the fear associated with it. Can’t we live our lives not having to cringe, whinge and complain? Can’t we live for the sake of living, without fear to cloud our thoughts and actions? Can’t we just BE??
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Friday, March 05, 2004
The Broken Mirror
I was on my way to college, the streets were overflowing with the rush hour traffic and I just couldn’t help but remember India. Though the blaring horns and the enraged drivers weren’t present, the melee did resemble India’s normal time traffic, though a lot more organised. There were lotsa cars parked on the way and I happened to glance at one such car’s rear view mirror.
The glass was cracked and I could see myriad images of myself in it. Each image a part of the whole, but also consummate in itself. Every image telling it’s own tale, but not big enough to make up a whole picture.
That’s when I realised, how that broken mirror reflected us humans. All of us have these images / experiences stored within us. Each one consummate in itself and still a part of the bigger picture. Each experience telling us different tales, ones of sorrow, of grief, of happiness, of joy, of every moment that makes our life complete. Each experience a story in itself but not big enough to make up the novel, namely our life.
Our whole life would be incomplete with any one piece missing, but then would it be complete if the mirror weren’t to have cracked at all. Would we have been better off without these cracks??? Or do these cracks, these pieces enrich us?? What would we be if we weren’t to have these broken pieces in us at all?? How would we behave?? How would we think?? Would we be happy always and ever after?? How do we find a balance, i. e how do we decide how many pieces to have, do we have a choice to decide?? Which pieces to retain and which to forget?? All of us are scared to have the cracks that causes up pain. We try to hide them, run away from them, and anything but acknowledge them. Can we ever outrun them?? Should we run ??
The questions to which I have no answers, however much ever I delve into it. It amazes me, that we as humans fight against all odds, but are never really able to fight or define the cracks within us.
I was on my way to college, the streets were overflowing with the rush hour traffic and I just couldn’t help but remember India. Though the blaring horns and the enraged drivers weren’t present, the melee did resemble India’s normal time traffic, though a lot more organised. There were lotsa cars parked on the way and I happened to glance at one such car’s rear view mirror.
The glass was cracked and I could see myriad images of myself in it. Each image a part of the whole, but also consummate in itself. Every image telling it’s own tale, but not big enough to make up a whole picture.
That’s when I realised, how that broken mirror reflected us humans. All of us have these images / experiences stored within us. Each one consummate in itself and still a part of the bigger picture. Each experience telling us different tales, ones of sorrow, of grief, of happiness, of joy, of every moment that makes our life complete. Each experience a story in itself but not big enough to make up the novel, namely our life.
Our whole life would be incomplete with any one piece missing, but then would it be complete if the mirror weren’t to have cracked at all. Would we have been better off without these cracks??? Or do these cracks, these pieces enrich us?? What would we be if we weren’t to have these broken pieces in us at all?? How would we behave?? How would we think?? Would we be happy always and ever after?? How do we find a balance, i. e how do we decide how many pieces to have, do we have a choice to decide?? Which pieces to retain and which to forget?? All of us are scared to have the cracks that causes up pain. We try to hide them, run away from them, and anything but acknowledge them. Can we ever outrun them?? Should we run ??
The questions to which I have no answers, however much ever I delve into it. It amazes me, that we as humans fight against all odds, but are never really able to fight or define the cracks within us.
VROOOOOMMMMMM
I have to confess that I am a humble devotee, an ardent worshipper and a zealous fan of F1 (Formula 1 for the uninitiated). And I have had this unique privilege to watch it live today. A day I shall remember for the rest of my life, not as much for the sound and the furore the cars create, but for the guts, strength and will of the drivers to race at such breakneck speeds.
My father would have termed such racing as lunacy, almost bordering on insanity. I mean, who in their right mind would hurl down a road at nearly 300 Kmph, and take corners at 100 k’s, I could totally understand my dads feeling. But then the same madness of hurling down the tight corners attracts me to this marvellous sport.
This game typically personifies the glorious uncertainty of life. The drivers do not know what lies behind the turns or for that matter whether they would live to see another turn, or whether they would finish the race, as they compete for supremacy. The odds stacked against the competing drivers, equally, and the adrenalin rush being the only prime motivator. F1 is such a treat to watch, as much for the technology and glamour associated with it, as for the sheer audacity and temperament of the drivers. Each twist & turn testing the mettle of the driver, prodding him, cajoling him and daring him to make a mistake and every driver pitting his wits against the fellow driver and the track itself, makes for a fascinating & eclectic mix. The cars are really a piece of art every car unique by itself and a technological masterpiece in its own right.
They say seeing is believing and today I saw the spectacle that I have always been dreaming about.
I have to confess that I am a humble devotee, an ardent worshipper and a zealous fan of F1 (Formula 1 for the uninitiated). And I have had this unique privilege to watch it live today. A day I shall remember for the rest of my life, not as much for the sound and the furore the cars create, but for the guts, strength and will of the drivers to race at such breakneck speeds.
My father would have termed such racing as lunacy, almost bordering on insanity. I mean, who in their right mind would hurl down a road at nearly 300 Kmph, and take corners at 100 k’s, I could totally understand my dads feeling. But then the same madness of hurling down the tight corners attracts me to this marvellous sport.
This game typically personifies the glorious uncertainty of life. The drivers do not know what lies behind the turns or for that matter whether they would live to see another turn, or whether they would finish the race, as they compete for supremacy. The odds stacked against the competing drivers, equally, and the adrenalin rush being the only prime motivator. F1 is such a treat to watch, as much for the technology and glamour associated with it, as for the sheer audacity and temperament of the drivers. Each twist & turn testing the mettle of the driver, prodding him, cajoling him and daring him to make a mistake and every driver pitting his wits against the fellow driver and the track itself, makes for a fascinating & eclectic mix. The cars are really a piece of art every car unique by itself and a technological masterpiece in its own right.
They say seeing is believing and today I saw the spectacle that I have always been dreaming about.
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