I am not sure why I am feeling so. But at the moment I do not know if I can, ever, trust a group. Individuals still I may, but groups I am not sure.
Something happened today. Something that I had not seen ever before. There was this guy who was the leader of a team. Now he had certain powers and certain responsibilities. The powers were given to him by his brothers and he was responsible also towards his brothers. All the brothers worked hard for getting fruits at the end of the day. One of the leader's responsibilities was to help the brothers get better fruits.
For 6 months this leader continued to fulfill his responsibilities. Some brothers has problems along the way but they preferred to remain quiet. Then on one fine day, this leader made a mistake. He called one brother and gave him a task. This task would enable the brother to have a bigger fruit than others.
The other brothers were very angry. They asked him why he had done so. The leader replied that he wanted to give everyone a task that will help them get bigger fruits. But then tasks were hard to come by and they would need to wait. If enough tasks did not come up, he promised to distribute whatever tasks were there, equally amongst all.
But the brothers did not believe him. They felt that again he will give the tasks to his favorite brother. So they called him. He came with his favorite brothers but they sent them away. And then they questioned left and right. There were those also who did not need the task, but they also pitched in. Everybody wanted a share of the applause that accompanied every abuse hurled at the leader. The leader tried his best to tell them that he was not wrong at heart, pleaded guilty, but the applause and the abuse did not stop. They abused till the end - the thrill of it was just too overpowering.
The verdict came, and the leader was removed. Purpose served - the merriment began.
but then, what about being brothers. That was just lost somewhere. Somewhere deep down everybody just murdered the brother inside them before walking on to murder the brother in front. Nobody though of forgiving - of giving the leader a chance to go back and correct himself. Nobody thought that they would just lose a brother - after all, everybody knew that brothers no more stay long. One day, you would also be murdered by another brother.
I was also a brother. I felt safe when I would be with my other brothers. I would feel happy and protected. But what do I do now. I didn't knew brother also Kill. I didn't knew that my mistakes would never be forgiven. I didn't knew that I would always have to be right always. I didn't knew that forgiveness has long been forgotten.
Its very cold - I am freezing. But I won't ask you for a blanket brother. Maybe its not correct.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Cut above the Rest
All our lives, we are in a constant war-like environment. One battle ends and the next begins. You are born a child who is urged to speak earlier than other children, walk earlier, eat better. Then at school you're nothing if you're not in the top 10 and just about average if you're below 5. Then competitive exams wreck you lives and even 16 hours a day for IIT entrance exams seems paltry. Finally, you end up in a job where you keep wondering all your life weather the struggle was worth it.
But then there are some, who even in this rat race, strive to make a podium for themselves. A podium on which they can stand and feel above the rest of the rats running along them for some time. A podium where they are a cut above the rest.
Now the reasons or rather the motivation for these people to be above the rest can stem from multiple reasons. The most obvious one would be to get noticed. If you have a podium, you are bound to be noticed and everyone likes a bit of attention in the middle of the rat race. There may be some who are determined to prove themselves to the world. Yet some others may just be seeking some appreciation from their peers.
One may argue that these minor reasons may be too superficial for one to create a podium for him/her self. One may say that there are individuals who are motivated by higher desires and are above the usual stuff of getting noticed, or proving themselves or seeking appreciation. I just finished reading Dan Brown's latest novel 'The Lost Symbol' in which one of the central characters, Mal'akh, tattoos himself all over his body in a bid to transform himself and then proceeds to search for a secret. Though throughout the book, the motive seems to be a 'higher' one, it reveals at the end the same desire for Mal'akh to prove himself.
What I mean essentially is, that even the higher virtues that try to pursue, like honesty, love, charity, chivalry etc are a result of a combination of these three very ordinary looking and worldly things. And I do not mean that it's bad or undesirable, as long as your intentions remain good and you do good things, what motivates you really does not matter. But if you realize what it is that is really motivating you and you know that it is a small thing under your control, it will help you to set your priorities and make better decisions.
And so, when next time you feel that you need that podium in the middle of the rat race to stand above the others for some time, be sure that you know what your motive is.
But then there are some, who even in this rat race, strive to make a podium for themselves. A podium on which they can stand and feel above the rest of the rats running along them for some time. A podium where they are a cut above the rest.
Now the reasons or rather the motivation for these people to be above the rest can stem from multiple reasons. The most obvious one would be to get noticed. If you have a podium, you are bound to be noticed and everyone likes a bit of attention in the middle of the rat race. There may be some who are determined to prove themselves to the world. Yet some others may just be seeking some appreciation from their peers.
One may argue that these minor reasons may be too superficial for one to create a podium for him/her self. One may say that there are individuals who are motivated by higher desires and are above the usual stuff of getting noticed, or proving themselves or seeking appreciation. I just finished reading Dan Brown's latest novel 'The Lost Symbol' in which one of the central characters, Mal'akh, tattoos himself all over his body in a bid to transform himself and then proceeds to search for a secret. Though throughout the book, the motive seems to be a 'higher' one, it reveals at the end the same desire for Mal'akh to prove himself.
What I mean essentially is, that even the higher virtues that try to pursue, like honesty, love, charity, chivalry etc are a result of a combination of these three very ordinary looking and worldly things. And I do not mean that it's bad or undesirable, as long as your intentions remain good and you do good things, what motivates you really does not matter. But if you realize what it is that is really motivating you and you know that it is a small thing under your control, it will help you to set your priorities and make better decisions.
And so, when next time you feel that you need that podium in the middle of the rat race to stand above the others for some time, be sure that you know what your motive is.
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