Re-Actions..

Recently there was a video message getting circulated on the social media about the plight of a rich business man in India after he gave away all his wealth to his son. He was lamenting on his miserable life with the ill treatment from his son and advising others to take precaution.

There are some related incidents from Indian scriptures and history. On one end is the

Shantanu and Bhishma episode from Indian epic Mahabharat. It is an example where a son gave up all his material comforts for the sake of his father.

On the other end, we have the example of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, kings of magadha and contemporaries of Gautama Buddha. Here a son imprisoned his own father in the quest for material benefits.

History is a witness to all sorts of incidents filled with actions and experiences.

Isn’t life nothing but a series of incidents? results of the karma (past actions) that one has to experience?

Perhaps a ‘bad’ experience is the thing we need for the next stage of growth?

Are our experiences nothing but the required learning to evolve in the eternal process of realizing life’s true meaning and purpose?

As long as we are part of the nature, we cannot abandon but continue to do our actions.

However ideally, if and when our karma allows us, it will be good to live life like a lotus untouched by the muddy waters it lives in. One who performs his duty without attachment and surrendering the results, is not affected by it.

బ్రహ్మణ్యాథాయా కర్మాణి

సంగం త్యక్త్వా కరోతి యః |

లిప్యతే న స పాపేన

పద్మపత్ర మివాంభసా |

ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: |
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ||

brahmany-adhaya karmani
sangam tyaktva karoti yah
lipyate na sa papena
padma-patram-ivambhasa