GRIHA PRAVESH

There is a simple spiritual law. It goes like this:

 “When you leave a place – any place - you leave it in a better condition than you found it when you first came in.”

Well, it says, ‘Any place’!

Just a while from now, Mr. Kamal * and his family are all set to step into their new house. The auspicious moment is just round the corner… and, they have invited my family, too. I have asked the Florist to deliver a lovely bouquet at the stroke of the clock… “Wish you and your family all happiness, prosperity and peace, dear Kamal,” I have written on the note. 

What a happy moment for young Kamal and his family!

Incidentally, the man who sold that house to Kamal was not liked by anyone around. He had lived in that house for nearly five years… and, during all these five years, he had been a chronic complainant… mean and vengeful… short-sighted and selfish.

Well, it is not my perception… It is the general perception of everyone around here.

Five years ago, when this man had come to stay here, he must have come with big dreams… They say, he was not liked by the people there, too, and he was literally banished from that place. Now, here, in the company of similar men, he continued to live by his old ways… and, he carried himself when he landed here, five years ago.

People don’t change just because they have moved to a big house… Wherever they go, they carry themselves!

Two days back, when some of us were talking, this man happened to come. “Only two days for me here,” he said, maybe hoping to find some sympathy. 

None even raised an eyebrow!

“Good riddance… Why two days, get lost today itself!” This was how all of us had felt. Yes, he had polluted this place… He was leaving it in a condition worse than how it was when he came in.

And, today, young and friendly Kamal is moving into this house. He was on rent in this very complex for the last five years… and, even though he did not own any house, every one out here loves him and his family…

So, Kamal will carry himself to the new house!

Yes, he will carry the goodness, happiness, prosperity and, above all, peace.

He will leave, one day, leaving this place in a condition much, much better than how it is now. I have no doubts about it. 

Leave the place a little better than how you  found it when you first came in!

Does this spiritual law also apply to relationships?

I think, it does.

As a teacher, 

 

I will apply this law 

to send my students as much better 

a lot 

than how I found them 

when they first came to me. 

As a father… As a husband… As a business associate… As a friend… As a neighbor… As a Society member or as its Chairman… As a co-passenger… As a well-wisher… As  whatever…

Yes, the spiritual law is at play everywhere, every day…

I should not leave my place making it ‘dirty’…

I should not leave relationships making them ‘dirty’, either!

The time for ‘Griha Pravesh’ is here…

The time to make my home a better one…

I have come… in you, dear...

When I leave you, your heart will surely tell me –

That I have left you a lot happier, a lot richer
And yes, a lot more peaceful.

* The name is changed

GERALD D’CUNHA

THANKS:
The image used in this Post is by Ashok Ahuja. He is a professional Photographer and a very dear friend of mine. He is also one of the founder members of The Dawn Club, and, along with his gifted-artist wife, Sudha, has been helping me, and the Club, right from its inception.