Gerald D'Cunha

  “In prayer, it’s better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” John Bunyan   A lmost every day, while speaking on phone or through messages, I say this to people close to me: “I am praying for you.” Sometimes, “I am praying for your family,” or “I am praying for your your parents’/children’s health”, or, some other times, “I am praying for the departed soul,”… and, even this: “I am praying for my country… leaders… neighbours… enemies,” and so on… Yes, I say that so many times a day, every day… But, I have never seen myself, after saying that, going down on my knees, closing my eyes, and really praying to God - “Dear God…. “ Frankly, I have never, ever done that… So, what does this tell? “I say it just to please my loved ones… Hollow words?” Or, “Am I the only one feeling like this?” J ust early this morning, on receiving an inspiring message (on Forgiveness) from a dear friend of mine, I said this in my reply: “Good morning, my frien...

  Only by examining our personal biases can we grow as artists; Only by cultivating empathy can we grow as people.” Jen Knox   W e all have compassion in our hearts. When I put myself in other people’s shoes - feel and understand their pain – yes, this kind of compassionate feeling is known as ‘empathy’. But, the kind of empathy, which most of us display in our lives is only selective. If you are not on my side of the divide, then, your pain doesn’t ache me… My heart doesn’t care. Why? Because, you are not on my side. So, I don’t cry for justice for you… I don’t think, you have been harmed… and, worse, I even find a sadistic pleasure seeing you suffer. On the other hand, if you are on my side of the divide, even the mildest pain to you can cause a turmoil in me; I am ready to pick up the flag… for you … against those who have harmed you… This is the kind of empathy that is rampant today… It’s ‘Selective Empathy’, not ‘Universal Empathy’! Let’s be honest on these ...

  “True miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.” Thich Nhat Hanh   E verything I have learnt in life has not been taught to me by my school and college teachers, parents or grandparents, or by my spiritual teachers. Yes, I have learnt a great deal from them. But, the most valuable lessons, which I have learnt in my life, often, I have learnt by being quiet… watching the sky and the sea, the grass and the grasshopper, the just-born and the just-dead… I have learnt many, many lessons from strangers and, even, from my oppressors… Like these simple things, which I have consciously embraced to practice in my life… To address people – including the parents of my students - as ‘Sir’ and ‘Madam’; regardless of their age, education or position… To rise when I greet people in person… I feel, I should follow this more and more often… Just rise… To add that personal touch in my every conversation – be it on SMS, WhatsApp, FB, em...

“The two most common elements in the Universe are hydrogen and stupidity.” Harian Ellison T he essence of every religion is the essence of Life; and, that’s love and brotherhood. It’s the common belief, that we all are the children of the same God – the same Creator… That, we are not even a speck in the vast Universe He has created… too, too, too small and insignificant! Hence, the fact that I am a Christian – and a Roman Catholic in that – is too insignificant. If that thought – that, I am a Christian - makes me feel different – superior to others – then, my religion is a dead religion… It’s dark and dangerous! Self-importance is the opposite of the religious essence of Love and brotherhood. If my religion makes me feel ‘different’ – superior to others – then, the God I worship must be a False God! Look at the stupidity to which some of us have lowered ourselves to, now… Yes, even at this time, when the whole wo...

“I don’t believe in God, but, I am afraid of him.” -        Nobel Laureate Gabriel Gracia Marquez I have come to work. But, if I am told to go back home, I will… Yes, I will co-operate with the authorities to ‘fight’ the present situation. Perhaps, I can afford to go back home, even though the nature of my work – classroom teaching – makes it difficult for me to work from home. Anyway, I will still figure a way out to help my students, sitting at home… But, is that the answer to ‘fight’ this virus… rather any virus, for that matter? I think, we all have lost our collective ability to ‘fight’. We have become too ‘soft’, too ‘spoon-fed’ and, thereby, too ‘vulnerable to being ‘infected’ by all viruses, including the deadliest of all – ‘Fear’! Yesterday, I had to tell this to the doting parents of some of my students, when they were telling me: “Sir, they will have to commute by autos”… “Sir, they will have to com...

T he French philosopher and Clergy, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, said: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are   spiritual beings having a human experience.” Whenever I come across this famous quote, I find it tough to take it in with total conviction. Somewhere, deep inside me, I do believe, that I am a spiritual being – the Godliness is in my bosoms. But, on the periphery, I hear this loud voice: “Come on! This is a harsh, real world… We are all mortals - sinful and imperfect. So, I question: “Are we not human beings having a spiritual experience, yes, here in this ‘imperfect’ world?” Whatever and whichever it is... I have stopped analyzing about it too much. After all, I have to live in this real world, and with its real people… In this world, There will be plateaus and there will be plains… There will be mountains and there will be oceans… There will be deserts and there will be oasis… There will be wars and...