AN EXPERIENCE!!

Both the previous posts of mine were more of my thoughts and less of experience..so this time I decided to come up with an experience of my own…

Isnt it true that all of us worry over even the slightest problems? Well.., “ALL” of us may not be so but am sure that majority of us fall in to that category.. I am going to explain a small experience of my own regarding such an issue….

The issue was about a placement oppurtunity which fell on my way very unexpectedly. I wrote a bank recruitment exam and it was a suprise even to me that I received call letter for interview. I am doing my bachelor’s degree (now final year) and most of the people who wrote that exam with me were post graduates (although the minimum qualification required was +2 pass). So naturally the victory got in to my head and I began to weave dreams. If I get through the interview ( and it was said that interview was merely a procedure and if we pass the written exam it is almost sure that we get placement) I wil hav the merit of gaining a central government job at the age of 19.

I made a very detailed preparation to go for interview. New clothes,chappal,other accessories everything. Also I read numerous books and newspapers so as to be “updated” about the latest happenings.

On the interview day I reached the place almost 1 hour before the stipulated time with my mother. I comfortly placed myself in the waiting room. Within half an hour the waiting room was full of candidates. The girl who sat beside me took interest in talking to me. She wanted to know my name and also asked what I was doing. From my dressing and all she guessed that I was working already and asked “so..were are you working now?”. I replied tht I am not working but is a student but didn’t give any further explanation as I did not wish to reveal my age. Then I asked her if she was studying and her answer was “no,I completed my M.Sc and B.Ed and is not looking for job”. I said “ok” . Then came a guy,smartlooking and since there was no other set available,he placed himself next to me. And no sooner did he took seat than he started talking.. he too made a mistake guessing that I am a working woman and I corrected it. Also I learned that he was “doing MBA after completing his M.Com”. Also he said that “I qualified the prevoius written test also and appeared for the interview but didn’t get through it”.

These were all plain hints to me by the loving god that “this is not for u” ,but yet I didn’t take them so and assured myself that “I will get through”. I was very confident when I appeared before the board and answered all the questions they asked.The board members let me go with a good smile on their face.I felt that they treated me as a child and the questions were not very serious but only very informal ones.They wanted to know about my hobbies (when I said I like reading and cooking, one of the board member laughed merrily and asked me what dish do you know to make.. I took that question seriously and answered that I make almost all homely dishes and was suprised to see that he didn’t believed me at all.But what I said was true and I was taken to cooking in the early years itself by my mother who thought it is a must for a girl to know the basics of cooking).I came back from the interview chamber with a smiling face and my mother was very happy to see that.

Also my hopes were very high because I answered all the questions they asked (on my subject of study,on recent political developments, on banking etc.,) and I was almost dead sure that I am going to get posting..

Months passed by after the interview.I had classes in the college and I was worried about what to do if I get posting soon (it was said that the order would come within 2 or three months and we will have to join immediately).The idea was that to take medical leave from college,complete probationary period in bank and then take leave from bank and complete my course.Day and night I was thinking about the job only…what should I do with my first salary (even I decided the colour of the first saree that I am going to buy for my mother!! ) .

Daily I would visit that banks site to see if the result was published.And after 2 months filled with sweet dreams, THE RESULT CAME!! I entered my roll no to see the result and the answer given by the site was “SORRY! Your name is not in the list of successful candidates. Thank you for the interest shown in our organization. You may try in the subsequent recruitments.“

Can u imagine my mindset then? My dreams… everything vanished in a second.. A tear or two rolled down my cheeks. I saw the result this Friday night (03/07/09, 11.30 pm). As it was late night I didn’t had to inform it immediately to my family members.I went to bed.The dreams came to my memory even if I tried to forget them.I didn’t get sleep at all.I felt like crying.. I woke up and turned on the light.. my plan was to hear some music so as to get away from that mood.. when I put the light, I saw a book lying on my table.. it was a autobiograohy of a saint (An Autobiography Of a YOGI by paramahansa Yogananda) ..i always enjoyed reading it. I simply took that book and opened, the page I got was page no. 115 and it had a line which was underlined in red by someone (it was a library book). The line read “IN SHALLOW MEN THE FISH OF LITTLE THOUGHTS CAUSE MUCH COMMOTION. IN OCEANIC MINDS THE WHALES OF INSPIRATION HARDLY MAKE A RUFFLE”.

Another shock!! I didn’t turn on the music system but went to bed again.. the next thought came to mind was about that line.. Yes, the commotion was created by my mind. I got interview call.,yes true but who told that it means I am going to get job at such an early age? I saw that all the other people who came for interview were much much qualified than me. All of them had more rigth for that job than me. For many of them,the age was up and it was the last chance for them to get palced. God lovingly told that fact to me through that MSc BEd girl and that Mcom MBA guy. But I simply did not listen. I dreamt a lot and put myself in trouble.


These thoughts provided a good insight for me.. “YES!! My heart was shallow and hence it got caught in commotion at this small thing.. lots of oppurtunities lie open for me but I was blind and was about to cry at this simple thing..” and I got answer to the very question which was hurting my mind “if god didn’t mean to give me job,then why did he planted ray of hope in my heart by giving interview call? “ the answer was “he did so because he wanted you to develop your mind from being shallow to being oceanic which will be calm ,no matter whatever good or bad comes your way”.. I had read that book (and that sentence) twice or thrice but never took that sentence that seriously but only took a passive interest in it. But now it became imprinted in my mind as one of the precious lessons of life….

I thought of writing this here because I thing this wil inspire you too to discover the answers which god says secretly to you through various incidents in the life..
So be alert.,


Next time if something happens in your life and you think it as “incidental”.. do think twice.. may be it is speaking silently some thing god wanted you to know…

A LIFE PLAN!!

We all know that ancient rishis followed a “four ashram” system consisting of

1. Brahmacharya

The schooling time. The students should observe celibacy and normally stay away from home. This ensures that their concentration is pointed only towards studies. As they stay with their guru (teacher) at his ashram (house),they will get training in normal household chores like cleaning,cooking,washing etc along with academic studies.

2. Garhasthya

After studies the people will get married,enter in to some sort of job and will look after their family and bring up their children.

3. Vanaprastha

When the children complete their “brahmacharya” and enter “garhasthya” ,the parents will enter the “vanaprastha” stage. The parents will transfer all the ancestral fortune to the children,will built a simple hermit at some forest side and will take up the position of “guru”. They will help youngsters(not only their grandchildren but anyone who come to them seeking knowledge) and teach them (about things they mastered in their “garhasthya” period, for eg.,if they have done business they can teach aspirants about the various things they learned and used in that branch) in their “brahmacharya” stage.

4. Sannyasa

Now they have successfully completed their duties and its now time for “self introspection” .They will sort out a “maharishi” ,accept “sannyas” from him and become a monk. Then they will learn more about life,meaning of life and prepare themselves for that “higher state of living” (known otherwise as death).


We can see that this plan is ideal for the body and mind condition of the various age groups (brahmacharya for children and teenagers, garhasthya for youth ,vanaprastha for middle aged and sannyasa for old).

Now,it is obvious that in this modern era,its difficult for us to follow such a plan. But why cant we think of using a modified version? A humble suggestion from my side.

Age 0-4 :

Make our parents happy by walking,playing and being easily manageable. Wat else?

Age 4-25 :

Study time. Concentrate only on studies. No affairs,marriage or even job. If possible it is good idea to be away from home so that we will learn to be self sufficient and can escape from “spoon feeding”.

Age 26-50 :

Yes. Now we are mature enough to enter into relations. We can marry,have children and also take up job. Also give happiness to parents in form of car,understanding and love. Also take good care of body and retain it fit or else you wont be able to enter to the next stage and enjoy it completely.

Age 51-75 :

Tired of job? Now make sure that children are able to look after themselves and its time for us to get away from all tensions. Quit the job, renounce all luxuries and leave away all to our children. What about some free service? Write some books if you think the experiences you had can help others. What about conducting free tuition classes (since you had studied till 25 you must have enough knowledge to help youngsters, right?)? What about going on tours (that’s why I emphasised on health care during 25-50 period)? This is the period for us to fulfill all our wishes that we had to forget because “we don’t have leave”,”children have classes” ,”parents are not well”,”no time” etc., during our youth.

Age 76-100:

Now our age is calling up on us. Its risky to go for tours or even going out without others with us.So better stay indoors so that we are not causing trouble to others. Mind fixed in god,think only about god. If u can,get a very small house without any luxury at some country side and live life. Enjoy the greenery,fresh air,do mild exercises so that you don’t need assistance for yourself. Mind is at peace and you will be extremely happy as you have done all that u have to do. No tensions ,no worries…just waiting to enter that “higher state of living”.

howzaaat??? enjoy life!! :)

stages of life-a comparison

All of us talk very eloquently about the different stages of life. The duties,the responsibilities and also the purpose of the different stages of life. Some people say that childhood is the most beautiful and preferable stage of life since it is devoid of responsibilities and the mind is very Innocent. Some say that teenage is the best phase and many say that adulthood is the best stage. Well,but never I have heard someone say that old age is the best. I know not why but majority don’t like this stage of life and they wish they haven't entered it…. Result-hair dye makers and beauticians are able to overcome recessions of any degree. Now.,here lets have a look at the different stages of life. We all know that comparisons always help us to understand more about facts. So here lets compare various stages of life with the various stages of a MANGO!!


(1) Green tender mango and our childhood:-

Green,tender mango:

Very sour flesh,soft easily destroyable nut.

Childhood:

Strong ego,highly emotional. Cannot withstand even the slightest irritation\hurt. Very immature heart.


(2) half ripe mango and our teenage:-

Half ripe mango:

A sweet-sour taste which is appreciated by many.
The nut is yet not ripe enough to have productivity.

Teenage:

Do I need to say about it? Body gets matured but a highly immature mind inside. So do we need explanation for the PROBLEMS FACED BY TEENAGERS?


(3) Ripe mango and our adulthood:-

Ripe mango:

Very sweet taste. Nut is ripe somewhat but yet lack completeness.

Adulthood:

At this stage we become more mature. we know to adjust with our children,make adjustments with the spouse and also the tough management of family! But yet not fully mature since we secretly worry about our social status,appearance,health and also the fastly approaching old age.


(4) overripe mango and our old age:-

Overripe mango:

Cannot be eaten. The overripe mango has awkward taste. But the nut inside is completely grown. When planted it can give rise to a very good mango tree.

Old age:

The body is good for nothing. But mind is extremely strong. It is charged with the wisdom it acquired in the journey of life. Now it knows it need nothing and that social status or appearance or anything is going to help it from the sure death which is approaching. Naturally it turns to god. Its senses may fail but yet it can understand the language of heart. And it has that spectacular mind power to redirect the youngsters. The wisdom to say them which is right and which is wrong.


So isn't it high time that we should understand what is knowledge and what is wisdom? We neglect old people or take them lightly with a comment “what the know about this modern systems” and such “blah blahs”.. BUT REMEMBER…WISDOM is different from KNOWLEDGE.We have to learn much from them. Now is it a bad thing to be old? Being able and qualified to lead others with authority? Is physical strength the only thing that matters? Think yaar…..