In today evening's study circle, Shri Ramakrishna's "খপর নাই (Not aware of)" came again and again. This was in reference to unexplored wealth / faculties within us. Those being not cultivated, we feel ourselves weak, miserable, unfit in front of challenges.
The topic was "Life Building." Excerpt from a small booklet written by Sri Nabaniharn Mukhopadhyaya was read out (Link). It talked about three basic elements within - Body, Mind, Atman. Vivekananda made it easier to understand with 3H - Hand, Head, Heart. Each of these requires balanced food and exercise for its development.
Then the house was open for discussion. The first question was if the idea of development of 3H would resonate with someone who is fighting hard for survival. The answer was, the more the struggle, the more is the need to equip oneself the best way possible.
We have example of people applying Head to make intelligent use of time in difficult times, Heart coming into play to remain united and fight together. And of course, Hand symbolizes physical labour, hard work and that has no substitute.
Someone referred to one of the prayer song with which the study circle started... বিদ্যার সুফল প্রকাশ করে উভয়কে সমভাবে পালন কর (Let the education yield good result to take equal care of us). Therefore, there is a constructive role to play to make each one of us stand on one's own feet.
Our upbringing, narrowing of exposure which results in narrowing of vision and de-growth of certain important faculties make us vulnerable. This gets exposed when we cannot avoid facing hard realities of the real-world. Each of us has our own challenges. Individual development trajectories may take divergent view of same challenge - if it is extreme or if it is just another one that comes and goes.
Narrowing of exposure in our formative years is very much related to improper nutrition and lack of exercise. We do not feel like playing team game in the open field where you lose one day but win another day. We think that reading of biographies of great people and the struggle they went through is a wastage of time. Any effort to know our relation with the society draws askance. Anything unselfish is for someone else to act upon.
Then came the discussion on Atman, our deeper self, for which Vivekananda refers to Heart that feels. Part of the poem, "Quest for God" written by Vivekananda (Link) was read out. This was part of the letter written exactly one week before his famous Chicago Address of 11th September, 1893. The letter was to Prof. John Henry Wright, the Harvard University Professor who introduced Vivekananda to Parliament of Religions. Vivekananda was not aware of the need to carry something with him from India as a credential to represent Hinduism.
Vivekananda writes ~ O'ver hill and dale and mountain range, / In temple, church, and mosque, / In Vedas, Bible, Al Koran / I had searched for Thee in vain. / Like a child in the wildest forest lost / I have cried and cried alone, / "Where art Thou gone, my God, my love? / The echo answered, "gone."
Vivekananda continues ~ Thou speakest in the mother's lay / Thou shuts the babies eye, / When innocent children laugh and play, / I see Thee standing by. / When holy friendship shakes the hand, / He stands between them too; / He pours the nectar in mother's kiss / And the baby's sweet "mama". / Thou wert my God with prophets old, / All creeds do come from Thee, / The Vedas, Bible, and Koran bold / Sing Thee in Harmony.
P.S.1: Yesterday, read a survey based article on mental health of students in premier higher education institutes of the country. Read the proposed solutions. In today's study-circle, it came in the thought when Shri Ramakrishna's "খপর নাই (Not aware of)" was referred to.
P.S.2 There is certain acknowledgement (Link) in the shift to consider EQ (Emotional Quotient) over IQ (Intelligence Quotient) in workplace: for choosing leader, engaging team, training, making one move out of one's comfort zone etc., even if the aim is to maximize the organizational output. EQ here is categorized as: Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social Skills.
P.S. 2a: To note, character qualities cannot be manufactured in a certificate program or a motivational speech event. Behavioural makeover falls off when one is put to test outside (air)conditioned environment. To assimilate character qualities, one needs to go through a life building process by taking up appropriate nourishment and exercise on a regular basis that develops 3H. It needs conscious and sustained effort as anything contrary would undo what is incrementally gained. There is no short cut.
P.S.3: If this post appears too heavy, then here is a video made this morning. For this, HH finds a talent in me which I do not seem to be aware of. She advises me to take up film direction after retirement!
The topic was "Life Building." Excerpt from a small booklet written by Sri Nabaniharn Mukhopadhyaya was read out (Link). It talked about three basic elements within - Body, Mind, Atman. Vivekananda made it easier to understand with 3H - Hand, Head, Heart. Each of these requires balanced food and exercise for its development.
Then the house was open for discussion. The first question was if the idea of development of 3H would resonate with someone who is fighting hard for survival. The answer was, the more the struggle, the more is the need to equip oneself the best way possible.
We have example of people applying Head to make intelligent use of time in difficult times, Heart coming into play to remain united and fight together. And of course, Hand symbolizes physical labour, hard work and that has no substitute.
Someone referred to one of the prayer song with which the study circle started... বিদ্যার সুফল প্রকাশ করে উভয়কে সমভাবে পালন কর (Let the education yield good result to take equal care of us). Therefore, there is a constructive role to play to make each one of us stand on one's own feet.
Our upbringing, narrowing of exposure which results in narrowing of vision and de-growth of certain important faculties make us vulnerable. This gets exposed when we cannot avoid facing hard realities of the real-world. Each of us has our own challenges. Individual development trajectories may take divergent view of same challenge - if it is extreme or if it is just another one that comes and goes.
Narrowing of exposure in our formative years is very much related to improper nutrition and lack of exercise. We do not feel like playing team game in the open field where you lose one day but win another day. We think that reading of biographies of great people and the struggle they went through is a wastage of time. Any effort to know our relation with the society draws askance. Anything unselfish is for someone else to act upon.
Then came the discussion on Atman, our deeper self, for which Vivekananda refers to Heart that feels. Part of the poem, "Quest for God" written by Vivekananda (Link) was read out. This was part of the letter written exactly one week before his famous Chicago Address of 11th September, 1893. The letter was to Prof. John Henry Wright, the Harvard University Professor who introduced Vivekananda to Parliament of Religions. Vivekananda was not aware of the need to carry something with him from India as a credential to represent Hinduism.
Vivekananda writes ~ O'ver hill and dale and mountain range, / In temple, church, and mosque, / In Vedas, Bible, Al Koran / I had searched for Thee in vain. / Like a child in the wildest forest lost / I have cried and cried alone, / "Where art Thou gone, my God, my love? / The echo answered, "gone."
Vivekananda continues ~ Thou speakest in the mother's lay / Thou shuts the babies eye, / When innocent children laugh and play, / I see Thee standing by. / When holy friendship shakes the hand, / He stands between them too; / He pours the nectar in mother's kiss / And the baby's sweet "mama". / Thou wert my God with prophets old, / All creeds do come from Thee, / The Vedas, Bible, and Koran bold / Sing Thee in Harmony.
P.S.1: Yesterday, read a survey based article on mental health of students in premier higher education institutes of the country. Read the proposed solutions. In today's study-circle, it came in the thought when Shri Ramakrishna's "খপর নাই (Not aware of)" was referred to.
P.S.2 There is certain acknowledgement (Link) in the shift to consider EQ (Emotional Quotient) over IQ (Intelligence Quotient) in workplace: for choosing leader, engaging team, training, making one move out of one's comfort zone etc., even if the aim is to maximize the organizational output. EQ here is categorized as: Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social Skills.
P.S. 2a: To note, character qualities cannot be manufactured in a certificate program or a motivational speech event. Behavioural makeover falls off when one is put to test outside (air)conditioned environment. To assimilate character qualities, one needs to go through a life building process by taking up appropriate nourishment and exercise on a regular basis that develops 3H. It needs conscious and sustained effort as anything contrary would undo what is incrementally gained. There is no short cut.
P.S.3: If this post appears too heavy, then here is a video made this morning. For this, HH finds a talent in me which I do not seem to be aware of. She advises me to take up film direction after retirement!
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