TANTALUS' PUNISHMENT





















In Greek mythology, there was a king by the name Tantalus. For one of his gruesome acts of cruelty, the Gods cursed him with a strange punishment. For rest of his life, he was to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches! 
 

When hungry, Tantalus tried to reach for the tempting fruits, just over his head… But, alas! The branches turned away from the hungry king’s reach! On the other side, when thirst made him reach for the water, right under his hands, Oh Fate! The water receded and the king suffered with unquenched thirst!


This was the Fate of Tantalus, once a mighty king! Imagine this: he seemed to be blessed with everything that could satisfy his hunger or quench his thirst. Delicious fruits hung right over his head… and, crystal-clear water lay right below his hands! Yet, he was eternally deprived from getting hold of them… yes, when he needed them the most!



Last evening, our young-ones were told this story by Shri Uday Acharya, who was conducting the session on ‘Decision Making’. It was very interesting!


In Life, we have options to choose from. We have options as to what to eat when we are hungry… And, we have options as to what to drink when we are thirsty. We have options to waste our time and fail in the exams, or study hard and excel… We have options to make loads of money by foul means and bring disrepute  in our lives, or earn enough with dignity and respect and feel proud and happy… We have options to eat sensibly and keep good health or abuse it by our sheer indulgence…


Yes, there are always options before us… We just need that simple wisdom to choose… A heart that feels right and a mind that thinks right… That’s all…




Decision-making becomes easy, 

when we weigh various options 

laid out before us…



When hungry, our hands can easily pluck those ‘tantalizing’ delicious-fruits over our heads… and, when thirsty, our hands can easily reach for water which is there below at arm’s length… No Gods have been angry with us and cursed us with the fate of Tantalus… Yes, yes, our Gods have, always, been merciful… very, very benevolent!


And, still?


Last evening, perhaps, our young-ones might not have asked this question: "And, still?"


But, I did…


And, still, why is this hunger, despite such lovely fruits? And, why is this thirst, despite standing knee-deep in water?


Why is this Tantalus’ Punishment?




GERALD D’CUNHA


Pic.: Gloria Pinto




Comments

Hitesh R. said…
So true sir! Hitesh
May 13, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Tanuja Alva said…
Tantalus story still holds good!
--- Tanuja
May 13, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Anonymous said…
very meaningful. Nivas
May 13, 2013 at 4:40 PM
Yusuf Khan said…
Keep writing sir. Yusuf
May 13, 2013 at 5:09 PM
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