Pain-free Gain: Unrealistic Expectations or Blessings?

We all know the feeling - when we experience something wonderful and positive, gain a new insight or wisdom about life after a painful experience. We wish our loved ones, especially our children could also experience the same great feelings and get the same 'wisdom' or insight into life. Would we wish they too went through the 'hell' or painful experiences we went through? 

We often constantly wish aloud, pray or bless them to be spared the 'hell' or pain that we went through, but only get the positive takeaways. Is it not unreasonable to expect so? Some wisdom and feelings come only from 'painful' experiences - there is no way around it. Sure, in theory, others could learn something from some of our pain or mistakes, but for that, they need to feel empathy, literally feel the pain in their imagination and it has to be at their own initiative. 

Should we rather wish that our loved ones went through some of the deepest hurt and rough experiences, but that they came out of them, the better for having been through them? Maybe all that we can offer is support and an example to others that they too can make it. 

What do you think?


Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved 

Tujhe hi dil mein liye, Jaanum

Din dhalta hai 
Raat kehti hai 
Kalam chalta hai 
Siyaahi behti hai 

Tujhe hi dil mein liye, Jaanum,
Har pal rehta hai, ye deewana 
Har chot sehta hai,  ye deewana
Hanskar kehta hai, ye deewana

Tujhe hi dil mein liye, Jaanum
Tujhe hi dil mein liye, Jaanum

ENGLISH TRANSLATION :

It's with you in the heart, My Love
The day goes down 
The night says
The pen writes
The ink flows

It's with you in the heart, My Love
This crazy guy lives every moment 
This crazy guy bears every hurt
This crazy guy says, laughing 

It's with you in the heart, My Love
It's with you in the heart, My Love

Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved

EVERYDAY

At end of a day when you've given your best
You can proudly know you've earned your rest 

And may the dreamland angels in restful sleep
Pamper you,  and in comfort keep

So that when you wake up you smilingly say,
"Bring it on! I'm ready for another day!"


Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved 

Agle Janam Ke Meeth - Chapter 2

At the outskirts of the little town, a country road leads to a wooded area with grassy meadows around it. There is a small cottage like structure in it that is set among a little garden with flowers all around. There is an intriguing sign board on the roadside, near the entrance to the drive way that reads - "Agle Janam Ke Meeth Mandir" (Temple of Mates for the Next Lifetime).

The driveway leads to a rather large parking lot on one side. It seemed strange that such a small place could attract as many people as the large parking lot could accommodate. On certain days it would overflow into the adjoining paddock.

The young woman set out driving alone to a place she had never been before in her life, but felt she knew. She had looked up the Internet to find its location but ignored reading up the details written up about the temple. The only thing that had caught her attention was that it supposedly helped couples commit to and guaranteed a 'next lifetime together'. She had a feeling that it was what she had been seeking all along. She followed the road signs leading to the "AJKM Temple". She drove into the parking lot and parked, guided by a parking attendant. He asked if it was her first visit to this temple. When she said "Yes" he asked her to go to the office first before going to into the temple.

As she walked past the gated entrance to the temple itself within the large fenced area, there was a small office like structure with an old fashioned portico with a raised floor. There was an old lady sitting there behind a small raised wooden desk-like counter. She greeted young woman with folded hands and a smile saying "Namaste! Is this your first visit?"

"Namaste! Yes," replied the young lady and returning the greeting,"Are there some formalities to attend to before going into the temple itself?"

"Yes, Beta. We suggest everyone have a little counselling session before you go proceed with your intentions into the temple," said the woman kindly.

"Okay!  Seems unusual for a temple,"said the young one.

"Come and sit down here, next to me, we can talk," said the older woman.

"Oh! You mean you do the counselling?" asked the young lady, sitting down.

"Yes. I am Kamala. You don't need to tell me your name if you don't want to. We respect your privacy and confidentiality here. We will not ask you any private details or names or any intrusive questions," said  Kamala.

The young woman was intrigued and relieved to hear this. She relaxed and decided that she could share unimportant details and her name with this person.

"I am Karuna. I am happy I don't have to tell my story in detail. I was referred to this place by an older gentleman. I suppose you have an idea why most people come here, but how can you help or counsel me if you don't know my details? "

"Well, Karuna, We have a fair idea why most people come here and what they have on their mind. We do not need to know too many personal details. What we do in our counselling is ask you to pause for a little while, think seriously about why you are here, the true implications of 'committing' to a partner in your 'next life' and how it might affect your 'this life' and others in your life. After you have had a chance to think about this and are prepared for dealing with the consequences, you can proceed if you want to," said Kamala gently.

Karuna had not thought of her situation in this manner yet. She was in a state of misery and disappointment. She could barely imagine a life without the love that she had fantasised about, had seemed within grasp for a few hours and had suddenly been snatched out of reach. The dream had been shattered quickly and she was still hurting deeply. Karuna had drawn some comfort and composure from meeting the gentleman at restaurant the previous day. She had gone home and cried as if bereaved. In love. it was not the length of time but the depth of feeling that counted. She was still strongly attracted to the possibility of a lifetime, even if were to be the next one, with the one that had got away this time.

"Karuna, you seem quite young to me. We usually have more of the older ones who come here and proceed to the temple. Many young ones come, think about it and often move on. There is nothing wrong with it. In fact, that is normally preferable. Often many mistake the intensity of their feelings at the moment for something else. It is best to commit and make the most serious decisions when you are not upset," said Kamala looking into Karuna's eyes

The young woman felt the gaze and realized she needed to be honest. She looked back and her eyes stung and moistened.

"Can I ask you how you are feeling now?" Kamala said softly.

"I am hurting a lot. I cannot believe my wretched fate. You are right, I should not be making this decision right now. But I don't know how to proceed with life," said Karuna.

"Don't fight your thoughts about your loss, whatever it is. I would suggest you devote some attention on what you would like to do. Focus on the details and implications of your actions for the future," said Kamala.

"I have lost someone I loved the most by a chance of fate. I have grown up feeling he was the one meant for me and I know he felt the same. He says he loves me too. If I can be assured we would be together at least in our next lives, I can perhaps bear to go about living this life and getting it over with, without being too miserable and affecting everyone around me," said Karuna.

"Does that person also feel the same? Remember, we believe that for it to work, both partners have to wish for the same thing and make their wishes known at the altar of the temple," said Kamala in a serious tone but with a smiling expression.

Karuna was stumped. She knew and believed that her beloved meant what he said, but would he really come to the temple and commit properly?

"Well, he was the one who first brought up the idea of being together in Agle Janam. We had lost touch over many years. He had recently married before getting in contact with me and is about to become a father. He is committed and loves his wife too. I was devastated and he could tell. Do you suppose he was just trying to console me? He is not the kind of person to say something and not mean it," said Karuna.

"Let us assume he meant it, dear. Now, do you suppose he would come with you to the temple or send his wishes to the temple? How do you think it will affect his marriage and life with his wife in this life?" Kamala put it gently.

Karuna was stunned. It struck her in a flash and forcefully. It was no trivial thing to seriously commit to someone in the next lifetime. If both she and her beloved were sincere and truthful, it would have a serious impact on their relationships in this lifetime with their spouses. How would they feel or want to feel at the end of a long lifetime together, after having raised a child and living lovingly together. How could they say "Goodbye" and wish not to be with each other for the next life time? If one knew the other did not want to be with them, would it not strike a sour note? Would it not ruin even the possibility of a good, loving relationship and marriage?

"I did not think that far or deep. I was too distraught and feeling my own disappointment. I was focussing on just my wishes. I need to think this through. Thanks! I think I will not do anything hastily. I am thankful for your counselling. I need to think this through more deeply," said Karuna.

Kamala was impressed.

"Sure, Karuna. I am happy and impressed that you are being thoughtful and mature. Take your time. You are going about this in the right way. You can come back anytime and we can talk as many times as you want. If you feel it is right you can proceed to commit or not. There are people on both paths that come to the temple and find comfort and solace," she said in a tone of kind and quiet authority.

"Thank you! I think I would like to find out more about all that you and people do at this temple. Can I simply go in and observe?" asked Karuna.

"Yes, you may, and if you have any questions or want to talk to someone, come to the office. I or someone will be here," Kamala assured her.


Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved 

Gained (or Lost) in Translation - 1

The Amazing Transformation due to Translation into another language

"Since the day I downloaded your image into my heart,
I wander around with you, not apart,
Painting in new colors,
The parties of my dreams"

Sounds so modern and contemporary, does it not? Probably paints a mental picture of modern young love with possibly some implied drug references or connotations..

Well, just translate it into Hindi and we get quite a different mental image, though the theme of love is maintained.

Here is the song with the complete translation and it takes it further...

Hope you enjoy it..."Tasveer teri dil mein, jis din se utaari hai.."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBgk0Ho0xkk


Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2016
All rights reserved