What have you been putting off doing? Why?
What have I been putting off doing?
Living in the “now”!
Why?
Because unfortunately it cannot be taught! A lesson on “now” would be about conditioning the self, and it will lose the now-ness!
Can it be self-learned? It’s tough, because then we will be living in the past with the help of our memories, which is not the “new” and the inexperienced “now.”
Is there a way?
Yes, we can live in the now by emptying ourselves!
The power and the value of zero (emptiness) are decided on where it is placed. If it is put in front of any number, then that zero becomes meaningless, but if zero is placed after a number, then it increases the value of that number. This teaches us that being nothing is necessary but not sufficient. We need to empty ourselves and put others before us. When we prioritise the growth of others before us, we become love-ly, i.e., our actions are only to increase the value and growth of others; in essense this is “love”.
Unfortunately, our society has been busy praising the heroes, the rockstars, which tempts us to live in the future and to be like someone, and we have forgotten the value of being zero and living like our own unique selves.
So let’s be nothing, and let us ensure that we keep others ahead of us in our relationships to help them grow.
Today on Dussehrā (dasha-hara : slaying of a ten-headed demon), a Hindu festival, the ten-headed demon Rāvana was killed by Lord Rāma.
The ten-headed demon represents Kāma (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Delusion or Attachment), Mada (Pride), Matsarya (Jealousy), Mānas (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect), Chitta (Will or Consciousness), and Ahamkāra (Ego).
May I slay myself, or the Rāvana within me, and become empty but full of love!
Getting rid of the ten vices can help us empty ourselves and bring pure love within us so that we can live in the now!
Happy Dussehra (Dasha Hara)!!
Mo sam kaun kutil khal kaami.
Jehin tanu diyou taahin bisraayou, aiso namak-haraami. [1]
Bhari bhari udar vishay koon dhaavou, jaise sookar graami.
Harijan chhaadi Hari-vimukhan ki nisdin karat gulaami. [2]
Paapi kaun bado hai motein, sab patitan mein naami.
Soor, patit ko thaur kahaan hai, suniye Shripati swami. [3]
— Shri Surdas
मो सम कौन कुटिल खल कामी।
जेहिं तनु दियौ ताहिं बिसरायौ, ऐसौ नमकहरामी ॥ [1]
भरि भरि उदर विषय कों धावौं, जैसे सूकर ग्रामी।
हरिजन छांड़ि हरी-विमुखन की निसदिन करत गुलामी ॥ [2]
पापी कौन बड़ो है मोतें, सब पतितन में नामी ।
सूर, पतित कों ठौर कहां है, सुनिए श्रीपति स्वामी ॥ [3]
– श्री सूरदास
Meaning:
Lord Shree Krishna has given me this birth/body so that I can come out of the birth-death-rebirth cycle, but I have been living a life full of lust like a greedy pig. My name will come first when the names of sinners are listed. I should have lived my life with people who have surrendered themselves to Shree Krishna or a life towards His cause, but I am involved in activities that are completely opposite and have become a slave to materialistic things. Surdas ji, the poet who has written this pad (hymn), prays to Shree Hari, Shree Krishna, to help reorient and save him from the materialistic path.
Bhavin Shukla 
Leave a comment