Gerald D'Cunha

I f the blot called ‘discrimination’ should go from our society, it should first go from our own hearts. If we still do not like to shake hands with those who come to pick thrash from our doorsteps, if we have a ‘separate’ cup, glass and plate for those who come to clean our floors or cook our food, if we still assume that we are from an ‘upper caste’ or ‘upper class’… then, there must be a separate God for those who we think are ‘lower’ than us and for us – yes, the ‘upper’ ones… Even though we are, so often, so brutally discriminated in the hands of people who think ‘upper’ and ‘higher’ than us, the blot still persists in us… We still discriminate.  Yes, on the basis of such silly things… The race. The caste. The colour. The class. The gender. The abilities. The education. The locality. The language. The age. And a dozen other silly things. L ast evening, my wife and I watched the latest Hindi movie – ‘Article 15’. And, yes, we came back home shaken ...

“I am exhausted from trying to be stronger than I feel.” –Unknown “I t's a good thing that when God created the rainbow, He didn't consult a decorator;” said Sam Levenson, “or, He would still be picking colors.” Yesterday, during the lunch break, I asked one of the trainers (who headed the primary section of one of the Vibgyor schools in Mumbai, “Ma’am, how do you pronounce your school name?” Now, I knew some students who studied in this well-known school. I, also, knew some school counselors and parents associated with this school. Moreover, I have been a teacher for over four decades… and, here I was: asking, with all my innocence (please do not call it ‘ignorance’!), this lady trainer, “Ma’am, how to you pronounce your school name?” So kind on her part, she never made me feel, that I was a dumb idiot… “VIBGYOR’ She said. “Those are the colours of rainbow.” Explained, happily, another male trainer, “...

I s it possible for us to stay motivated always? Maybe, it is possible for ‘super humans’. But, for most of us here – humans, I mean – I don’t think it is possible. Oh Yes. To stay motivated ‘most of the times’ – not ‘all the times’ - I think, it is possible. From my own experience, I can say this: Our motivation is, always, linked to our goals… What we desire to achieve… How important for us to achieve it. So, if our goals are not clear and steadfast, desire is not intense and resolve is not strong, our motivation cannot last. Yet, let’s accept it: We are humans… Not super humans. When we face setbacks and when we get wounded, are we not supposed to take a break, step back and spend some time licking our own wounds? I have done that umpteen times. Yes, it’s okay to feel down and depressed… It is okay, sometimes, to doubt our abilities, paths and step back for a while. It is okay to let go our efforts for a while… Just rejuvenate… Lic...

Y esterday, during a training programme in one of the colleges in Mumbai, I had asked the young students (Final year) to reflect on two or three of their main weaknesses. A young girl shared: “Sir my main weakness is, that I trust others easily! This statement triggered a discussion. It was a familiar experience for most of us... That, when the trust is betrayed, we get hurt, angry and even cynical... Once bitten twice shy... “People cannot be trusted,” we declare, “They betray.” So, what is the other option? Don’t trust at all? Screen and scrutinize every soul before you trust, help and reach out? The extreme other option is to doubt and suspect others easily! I had explained to the girl, yesterday, that a few bad experiences like the ones she must have had were what we all went through in life. I had advised, “Yes, some people break your trust; but, trust anyway... It is far better to leave home trusting the goodness in others than leaving home d...

“Dharma is not about believing in God. It’s about making the right choices, doing the right things and leading the right life.”  ―  Anurag Shourie,  Half A Shadow I love the expression ‘Dharma’. Frankly, to me, it’s much, much, much more than the typical expression, which, most of us use   grossly, loosely and irresponsibly – ‘Religion’. To me, that word - ‘religion’-   is dead wood! Yes, ‘Dharma’ has a lot of life in it! So, when we reflect on the essence of all our holy texts – be it Gita , New Testament, Quaran or any holy text – they give us insights to live   a harmonious and principle-driven life. Period. The rest is ugly… contaminated… born from human greed and selfishness. In fact, what goes on in the name of God and religion – a huge part of it – is harmful for our co-existence. What was supposed to unite us and make us sensitive human beings, only ends up s dividing us and make us insensitive...

“Find the sweetness in your own heart, then you may find the sweetness in every heart.”  - Rumi O ur enemy is the creation of our own insecure mind. We perceive someone as our ‘enemy’… because, we are not confident of ourselves… We are insecure. Moreover, an enemy takes birth in our mind, when we fail to see our own goodness and the goodness of another soul – including our so-called ‘enemy’. Deep hatred towards another person, therefore, is nothing but a deep hatred towards our own selves. Yes, ironical – and unbelievable – it may sound! Learning to love ourselves - by recognizing and accepting all our human flaws – is the most crucial step towards learning to love others. We all are ‘flawed’ people on this planet… The flaws that we see in others are the flaws that we have to see in ourselves. Kabir described it beautifully: “The river that flows in you flows in me, too.” How true! Humanity is this river… The only reli...