ONE STEP ENOUGH FOR ME...

 

Pic: Bhusahn Thakkar

They say, “What you take to bed at night, you wake up with in the morning.”

Most of us watch TV programmes before we go to bed: the heated – call it hated if you like – debates on news channels, the melodramatic serials, the Travel shows, Fashion shows, Food shows, Reality shows – songs, dance, Big Boss… The Sports shows, the Laughter shows, and, yes, the Spiritual programmes…

Whenever I watch the heated arguments on the news channels before I sleep, I can make out why that’s not the nice thing to carry to my bed… I am left even more disturbed, biased, restless…

Well, I don’t watch serials or the Reality shows. So, I do not know its after effects…

As my family watches the Travel and Food shows, I, often, join them… Most of the times, they leave me with pleasant feelings when I go to bed…

Laughter channels… They are anytime good. It is best to die laughing in my sleep; rather than like a moron - a loser - grumbling and crying! Yes, I do like them…

Ditto for sports. I agree with the thought that those who know to play well - and play fair - out in the grounds, know how to play well - and fair - in life, too. Sportsmanship spirit is the spirit, I don’t mind taking to my bed… Because, I need it badly the next day. Yes, I want to wake up with it, sir!

That leaves me with the Spiritual programmes… I am told there are plenty on TV. Though I sound to others to be quite a ‘spiritual’ man, like any other mortal - any other ‘sinner’ around me -  I don’t like to be ‘preached’ too much… no matter how good it is for me. I think, the lesser the dose, the better! Thus, I rarely watch those programmes before I retire at night.

But, then, lately, I have chanced upon one, which, my wife and I, both, have begun to love immensely. It features Sister Shivani (from Brahmakumaris mission) discussing life-related issues mostly with Suresh Oberoi and, sometimes, with someone else. Both, my wife and I, consider Sr. Shivani’s discussion to be extremely relevant, simple and practical. What is amazing is the way she unfolds such complex wisdom with such simple clarity… clothed with such straight-from-the-earth examples and with such straight-from-the-heart honesty… That you really wonder as to how simple our problems in life are and how mountainous we have made them! There is no dogma in her teachings, no God or Master, no rituals or prayers… She simply leaves you taking home what you already have - and what you already know deep inside - but have just ignored all along...

To me, that’s something spirituality is all about… Hello, please don’t go to God in fear or guilt… Don’t beg before Him, don’t stoop… don’t complain. Please don’t overdo your rituals and pilgrimages… God doesn’t need to be praised and glorified… He doesn’t die for attention; nor is He insecure. Yes, like we are…

Last night, Sr. Shivani was light-heartedly pointing to our habit of going to the secluded places for retreats, workshops, discourses etc to refresh and distress ourselves… only to come back and live the rest of the year, once again, with the same old nature of ours: reacting, arguing, venting out our anger, and making mountains out of molehills…

The question she was addressing was roughly like this: “Why is that, when in the company of a peaceful and noble teacher, we are able to feel the calmness, peace and self-control… and, why not the moment we are out of that place?”

The answer Sr. Shivani gave was the answer my wife and I knew very, very well… Yes, we had chosen to ignore it like most of us do. She said, “Just try, consciously, to live well for one day, today… Then, when tomorrow comes, do the same… Each day, every day!”

Yes, I have put her message in my own words here…

Because, what is so out-of-the-world wisdom packed in her message? Is Sr. Shivani’s advice not the most sensible thing for us to do - and is it not the only way  - to over come our weaknesses… to become spiritual in life, if you wish to brand it so… and, yes, if we wish to please God and enter Heaven?

After the programme, last night, neither my wife nor I spoke a single word discussing on Sr. Shivani’s simple teachings… Perhaps, we had realized that she wasn’t telling us anything to change people around us… but, only to help us accommodate them beautifully within us…

As a Christian, I have sung in the church – and cried along it – the popular hymn, ‘One day at a time’…

I have, also, been left with goose-bumps every time I have read the famous Al-Anon poem, ‘Just for today’…

And, yes, I have been left humbled by Cardinal Newman’s famous prayer, too:

"Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

Is my day going well?

Yes sir, so far, so good… Really, tomorrow will be another day!

GERALD D’CUNHA