GREATNESS SPEAKS WITHOUT A NAME

 



“Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.”

Gary Snyder

 

Srinath Shetty was my student when he was doing his T.Y. B.Com some 38 years ago. He came from a working-class family with zero business background. But, being a disciplined and determined young man, he went about acquiring one of the chemical factories his uncle had built… and, from there, he never looked back.

Yesterday, Srinath and his wife Neeta had organized a puja to celebrate the house warming of their new abode… It’s a massive mansion with more than 4,000 S.F. From the 23rd floor height, the large windows treated the beholders’ eyes to some of the breathtaking expanse… One could stand there and get immersed in the stunning silence, feeling small…

I said – ‘Feeling small’…

I expressed my joy and gratitude in a message I had typed on my way back home… Such an exclusive spread of delicacies… and such genuine warmth. Srinath had worked hard to deserve this height –- literally –- through his honest toil and clean business ethics…

“It’s all His grace and blessings of my well-wishers like you, Sir,” Srinath knew what he was saying…

Not easy to keep one’s two feet firmly planted on the ground when success crowns… Most get swept off their feet… Srinath stays firm.

Last afternoon, when I complimented him in the midst of thoroughly relishing some of the rare delicacies laid out for lunch, Srinath simply said, “Sir, nothing can beat the vada pavs my friends and I would feast on near your classes.”

I knew, from the dizzy, heady heights of his 23rd floor mansion, the man had not forgotten where he had ascended from!

Yesterday, also, happened to be the football match between the formidable Argentina and the now-world’s favourite underdogs -– Cape Verde. On the one side, there were the reigning world champions and their celebrated star, Lionel Messi; on the other side were this tiny-unheard-of county by the name Cape Verde and their phenomenally-loved (and respected) goalkeeper, Vozinha (40)… The last match, Cape Verde lost to Argentia; but, not before winning billions of hearts…

When ordinary people achieve extraordinary feats, it inspires. Cape Verde and Vozinha were the new underdogs –- they arrived at the FIFA contest (first time) as unknown strangers; but, they left as true legends…





The Cup belongs to them… to the Vozinhas and the Srinaths of this world!





And, this morning, after almost six years, I rejoined Tai Chi classes. Though I regularly attended Tai Chi sessions for close to seven years before I discontinued (in the middle of Covid), today, I was finding it hard to do the basic things like a Tai Chi walk…

Body gets accustomed to sluggishness just as it gets accustomed to flexibility… Tai Chi walk re-instilled in me the importance of building balance –- physical as well as mental. Yes, with commitment and consistency, I will regain the lost balance… I have vowed, today.

On the way back home, I thought of having a cup of tea in the popular Mani’s open restaurant (stand-and-have). An elderly South-Indian gentleman was struggling to pick his cup of coffee… His hands were visibly shaking… I quickly volunteered saying, “Sir, let me help you.”

“Thank you, Son,” the gentleman expressed his gratitude, while I helped him pour the hot coffee from the steel glass to the steel saucer…

He must have been in his late seventies… I was in my late sixties… We both had lost our balance in our own way…

The young Angad, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, was assisting Rakesh Sir (our Tai Chi teacher). This young man and Rakesh Sir were extremely gentle and patient with me while I was losing my balance during the Tai Chi walk… Just a little while later, I showed similar gentleness and patience to an advanced senior-citizen, who was struggling to hold a cup to hot tea. I remembered what Gary Snyder said:

“Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.”

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic's.:  1. Pixabay.com                         

                2. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EJ1npGXKs/

Video: Messi Xtra

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