I came across this ancient jaina story that made an extra grey cell move in my head...
A prince had gone to listen to Mahavira with his wife.. when they came home, as was the tradition in ancient India n particularly in the luxurious homes, the husband was bathing n the wife was pouring rose water over him... they started talking about wat they had heard the Mahavira say...
The wife said, "My brother has been thinking of becoming a sannyasin of mahavira!"
Her husband asked, "How long has he been giving this a thought?"
She replied saying, "How long? I think it must be atleast 5 yrs now."
Then the husband laughed n said, "He will be thinking his whole life.. This is not the way to become a sannyasin!" The wife felt hurt as something was said against her brother..
She said, "Do u think u can do better?!"
He was sitting naked n taking a shower... He did not answer, he got up, opened the door n walked out... The wife said, "Where r u going naked???"
He said, "Mahavira's sannyasins live naked.. Iam going to my master to b initiated.."
She said, "R u kidding?"
The man said, "Forget all that! IF I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, I DO IT.. I dont go on thinking for 5 yrs!"
She said, "Forgive me that i asked you wat u wld do in his place!"
He said, "Now it is too late!" n he went on to become a sannyasin n never looked back..
I guess those who really decide to live drop all fears, all thinking, all security n all safety! they end up risking everything because life is so precious n so fleeting... so momentary that one just cannot go on postponing... Thinking is a way of postponing... feeling is a way of postponing... even desiring is a way of postponing sometimes... life enfolds much better when there is a streak of spontenity to it... This does not mean am propaganding skinny dipping on a shallow bed of rocks jus because someone challenges u to...
But i have learnt to believe that nothing is ever right or wrong except for that single light in each of us called the 'instinct'... once the instinct strikes then there is no looking back... the risk in opening ones' wings seems much lesser compared to the risk of never opening it...
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2 comments:
nice one... :) Very true!
I will accept to the point of doing something and not thinking about it if one decides to do it. But somehow, as we always converse, I'm unable to accept this point of there's nothing right or wrong. There's always a right thing and a wrong thing. The basic difference between these choices are to not affect a commitment already taken. The wrong one always affects a commitment already taken. Enjoy as long as none is hurt.
Although the point said in the story is a nice one, the prince leaving his own commitments is something that cannot be taken for granted.
Agreed spontaneity does add a lot of spice to life.
Not trying to be offensive here. But felt the post needed a point. You've always have the freedom to delete this comment :)
makes sense.. how can the prince jus leave all his commitments!? on wat basis r these commitments even made then??
one commitment that begins n ends is the commitment to self! u commit to keep urself happy.. n dont confuse this with 'selfishness'.. making oneself happy n happy at the expense of others r 2 different things..
if ur heart has decided the path that has to b taken, the only way to reach it is change the path u had taken earlier.. the more time u take, the more cumbersome it gets.. the more confusion.. the spontenity jus makes the decision complete as there is no lookin back...
n i never say there is no right or wrong.. i say right or wrong completely depends on whether we ever get an opportunity to regret or feel bad about it.. if u dont, then it shld b the fate of life.. if u do, high time u learn from those mistakes..
My one stance is,
Never repeat ur mistakes as u have so many other mistakes to commit n learn from!
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