A CHAT WITH LIFE AND DEATH (LEAF -3)

“Some people lose diamonds in search of stones” is a proverb. I think this proverb is very much relevant for those who are trying to be pessimists in an environment of optimism. It is important for us to create our own lives and be ourselves. Unfortunately, most of us engage with imitation and want to shape our lives like those of others. This very idea of our wanting to be some one else, clearly indicates that we have killed ourselves intellectually, emotionally and psychologically, just leaving the physical body to exist. The people who engage in such activities are those ‘who lose diamonds in search of stones”.

Every species on this earth has some kind of uniqueness. Understanding the uniqueness of our existence is the real gift of life. The earthworm and the snake belong to the same family but have different characteristics that define their existence. The sparrow and the eagle belong to the same classification of the species, but have certainly different qualities of life. Neither of them should tend to become  or behave like the other; any such attempt would destroy their peace of mind. Further, it goes very much against the foundatins of the laws of Nature, where every one has to play their part. It applies to the humans too. We need to live our own lives and desist being others. “श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह:” “It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger”, says Bhagavad Gita.

How do we create our life? Can we have a chat with life itself? Do you really think that life can talk to us? Many would possibly think it doesn’t. But.. there..

Please listen to each beat of your heart. Does it tell you something?

Please listen to the gentle breeze that is whistling a sound into your ears. Does it say something?

Please smell the fragrance of the flower that is near you. Does it bring some fragrant thoughts unto you?

Please touch the soul of the sculpture that is by your side. Do you feel that it is communicating something to you?

Have you ever danced along with those beautiful plants when they signal their happiness when you water them?

Don’t you think they are all talking to you? Are you willing to listen? Is the silence around you is also sending a message to you? Haven’t you felt relieved after communicating with that silence?

If you could, yes, you are living.

If yes, you are chatting with your life.

If no, you seem to be something. You are lost somewhere.

Life is, certainly, more than the way you look, the way you are dressed, the possessions that you have, the relationships that you have established, the sketches you have made about your dreams. There is harmony in life: diversity too. One should be able to see both. One should be able to see the underlying divinity that codes and correlates life, wherever it is, however it is.

In his song “The Stream of Life” Rabindranth Tagore brings the beauty of harmony in our lives.

“The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.”

The unity of life across the universe has been advocated by all spiritual masters of yester years across the Universe.

“Ekam sathyam: Vipra bahudha vadhanthi” – Truth is one; Learned call it by different names” says ancient Hindu scriptures.

“O people! Your God is one; your forefather is one” says Islam.

For one who is able to see the omnipresent everywhere and in one’s own self has possibly understood the essence of Life. This is an experience, so sweet, so unique, so personal and so amazing… as the one that happened to Kabir.

In his ecstasy, Kabir sings:

लाली मेरे लाल की, जित देखूँ तित लाल |

लाली देखन मैं गई, मैं भी हो गई लाल ||

In his desire to see the beauty that encompasses the universe, he becomes one with that.

The great National Poet Subramania Bharathi, known for his dialogues with Life, death and God, and his ability to challenge each of them, sings:

காக்கைச் சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா-நின்றன்

கரியநிறந் தோன்றுதையே நந்தலாலா;

Kaakai siraginile Nandalala, nindran

Kariya niram thondruthayya Nandalala.

பார்க்கு மரங்கலெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா -நின்றன்

பச்சைநிறந் தோன்றுதையே நந்தலாலா;

Parkkum marangalellam Nandalala, nindran

Pachai niram thondruthayya, Nandalala

கேட்கு மொலியிலெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா - நின்றன்

கீத மிசைக்குதடா நந்தலாலா;

Ketkkum oliyellaam Nandalala, nindran,

Geetham isaikkuthada Nandalala

தீக்குள் விரலைவைத்தால் நந்தலாலா-நின்னைத்

தீண்டுமின்பம்ந் தோன்றுதடா நந்தலாலா.

Theekkul viralai vaithal nandhalala - ninnaith

Theendum inbam thondrudhada nandhalala

Meaning:

I see your black colour in crow's feather Nandalala (krishna)

i see the green colour in all the trees i see Nandalala

In all the sounds I hear your songs Nandalala

If i put my fingers in fire i feel the touch of you nandalala

Nature embodies herself in everything; the entire bio-sphere is her home. We are a part of that life spirit. Then, why should we limit our existence to a frame, name and a shape? Can we live through our life spirit rather than through the caricatures of bones and flesh?

That will help us to transcend our present myopic understanding of life and death.

Can we make an attempt?