Our next Generation

We have had a fairly good life with its ups and downs. We have seen a part of the world and have developed some idea to make sense of this vast world. Much more still remains to be seen and felt.

Not that we are going to die soon and not be able to see anymore of the world, but what's interesting is to see the world from the eyes of our next generation. What they perceive and make out of this immensely confusing world. If only we keep our eyes open for the perspective of our next generation, we learn that the world is a much more beautiful place than the one that we have seen.

The wonder is more pronounced when our younger generation inclines towards the very same thing or person that we once would fancy, all by themselves without even a small inkling of our own tendency towards such a thing. My nephew is all nuts about Madhuri Dixit, esp the song Ghaagra. He loves the song and her too. Now once upon a time nearly 18-20 years ago I used to like Madhuri for her songs esp Mohini, Saajan and many other movies. (That was an altogether different life, one that was social, which involved the world and it's people. Unlike my world for the last 10 years that's devoid of emotions, feelings and attachments.A life that I now regard as being an illusion. Something that many people never come out of, imagining the illusion itself to be Life)

Even more amazing is when this next generation shows us things that we never thought existed both in this world and within our very self.

In our school we were asked to write essay on the topic "Child is the father of Man" I was completely at loss for words and ideas on this topic. I couldn't imagine what it meant in the first place. But now I have first hand experience in this matter. Not that I'm the only one with such experience, I'm sure everyone who has gone through their children's childhood with heartfelt interest have experienced the same.

Who is Shiva?

It is surprising what people think of Shiva or of what he is or what he really represents. How much farther can people get from the real Shiva.

It is generally believed that Shiva is a God of the people, God who is Lord over everything, who takes care of everyone and fulfills everyone's wishes. They think of him as a guardian angel or something like that.

In fact he is exactly opposite of all that. He is a recluse who lives in a cave, hardly eats anything, smokes charas ganja, is disillusioned disoriented and hallucinating, hates meeting or being with people, who is himself in distress and needs help, who shuns the world(how can he be caretaker of the world), wears snake for necklace and dried seeds instead of flowers, smears himself with Ash, who neither dresses properly nor wears trimmed hairs, nor is he bothered with anything in this world either.

The only positive thing about him is that he is the upholder of the law. No matter who breaks the law or how, he makes sure that the right people are punished. Its Also a fact that he is the ultimate singer and dancer(artist) "Nataraj." And the source of all knowledge including the 4 Veda. Maybe someone so knowledgeable will ultimately become as reclusive and 'heaven may care' like as shiva!!

Mythology has given him prime place in the universe, ultimate authority over everything and power to appoint and remove Gods who take care of the various aspects of the world. It also considers him to be devon ke dev mahadev. But why, what for is a mystery.

Many people including many women idolise Shiva whereas the fact is that if they know the reality about Shiva, not only women, but even many a men, would shun, despise him. Something that Prajapati Daksh did.

Why Shiva?

Every relationship, whether spouse children or society as a whole, represents a binding on oneself that binds us to that which is not only an illusion (Maya) but also short lived (Nashwar)

Consequent to such binding, one is bound to do, perform certain duties towards these so called relatives(read loved ones, could very well be your spouse or children or parents). This binds one to these people and to this world which itself is short lived. And this binding also takes away one's freedom, makes one act in ways that one would not have had it not been for the binding.

The problem with such a binding is its difficult to let go of any of these relations. But the reality is relations are not meant to last. That is the root cause of pain and suffering among humans.

Wise men of the ancient past have discovered and enlightened us about the ill effects of Maya.

Shiva is the only one of all the heros of historical and mythological stories that not only understand this fact but also practice it verbatim. He also represents complete dissociation from all bindings and therefore truth and happiness bliss (Satyam Shivam Sundaram).

I'm not religious nor do I believe in any God who can help us with our sick excuse of a life in any way but I feel the ancients identified the problem correctly and Shiva comes closest to being the right solution to the said problem. That's why Shiva.

Jaane Woh kaise Log The

Jaane Woh kaise Log The Jin ke
             Pyaar ko Pyaar Milaa

Hum ne to jab kaliyaan maangi
             Kaanton ka haar Milaa

Amazing what feelings this songs represents.  That too it was sung way back in 1957.

One wonders how people say Life isn't about fair and unfair, but sometimes, just sometimes, one really questions the fairness of not only Life but the one who has given us this life.

Particularly when one gets the Lion's share of Unfair treatment, unjustly, one feels not only that the abovesaid question is irrelevant but Life itself is irrelevant. One tends to deny oneself of Life and it's joys in order to run away from the troubles and challenges that it throws at us.

This is what Shiva, the recluse, represents to me. Something I have begun emulating. I don't even know if that's the right thing to do. I neither know nor understand him or his ways completely.

But how long will one run? How long can one run! One runs so far and for so long that one forgets what it is that one is running away from!!