The greed that lands one in a state of misery
People with varied interests, background and different strata of society come to my newspaper office daily. Some of them walk into my room and if I am free engage myself in conversation with them for a few minutes.
Recently, a person, known to me for a long time, well placed in society, who retired after serving as a senior officer in the Central Government ,had come to meet me. He is fond of cars and changes his automobile whenever a new brand comes into the market.
In the course of our casual talk he told me that his fellow-officer had bought a “luxury car” by paying Rs ten lakhs and drives around merrily .There was a feeling of jealousy, coupled with a sense of remorse. “ Well, You can also go in for a similar car”, I asked.
“Where can I get Rs ten lakhs”, he questioned me.
“You have a car, your family is blessed with good health and you are relatively financially sound. There are people who cannot afford to purchase a cycle. D’t you think you are blessed.”?
He got up from his seat and remarked sarcastically, trying to hide his sarcasm, by faking a smile “ Mr Krishna Vattam, it sounds philosophical, but philosophy is different from reality”
After he left, I began to ponder over the mental- make up and his attitude to life. Instantly Purandaradasa’s exposition, on the greed of men, in his beautiful composition “Binnahake Bayillavayya” flashed my mind.” “He has given him this much, but he desires some more. Even the desired one is given, he asks for more.He desires that he be spared from suffering , and a life of comfort.
He desires that the life he led in the past(youth) should come to him, Oh;Purandara Vittala”
I began to wonder as to why we do not realize that the state of happiness does not come from comforts he enjoys.The two are different. In a moving lorry , laden with sand, a helper sleeps on the heap of sand , where as sleep evades some although they lie down on a cosy bed and surrender to sedatives.. In their mad hunt of the mirage of happiness, they stray away from the path and land themselves in a state of self inflicted misery.
I do not mean that a man should not aspire to go up the ladder in one’s life. But the means chosen should be fair. When they see others being happy, they feel jealous of them.
Yet another bard, in his immortal, magnum opus, “Manku Thimmanna Kagga”, DVG (D.V.Gundappa ) says “If the flame of jealousy is burning in your being, where do you get water from (to extinguish)it .If this flame has made its home in you, where is the place for sleep? He cannot sleep , can any one free him from the state of agony.God only can save him.”
The words of wisdom of the enlightened do not appeal to them, much less influence them , for their chosen path is different, one of self inflicted pain, suffering , agony and state of being jealous.
I am reminded of a story relating to “Club 99 “ In short the story revolves round a maharaja and a lowly man. The King, inspite of the wealth, men and material, is unhappy, where as he finds that man going about his job, singing and dancing.The raja questions him the secret of being happy.That poor man answers, saying what he needs is a small shelter, and food to eat twice a day.I work and am blessed with them.
The king was not satisfied with the answer and narrates this incident to his minister.
“Your Highness” obviously that man is not a member of the Club 99.
The same night the minister went to the dwelling of that poor man, placed at the door steps a bag full of 99 gold coins. Next morning that poor man found the bag and was dancing with joy on finding the bag full of 99 gold coins. As he counted the coins again and again that sense of joy vanished.To earn that extra one coin, he slogged day and night , and the sweet strains of song he was rendering were no longer heard.
Recently, a person, known to me for a long time, well placed in society, who retired after serving as a senior officer in the Central Government ,had come to meet me. He is fond of cars and changes his automobile whenever a new brand comes into the market.
In the course of our casual talk he told me that his fellow-officer had bought a “luxury car” by paying Rs ten lakhs and drives around merrily .There was a feeling of jealousy, coupled with a sense of remorse. “ Well, You can also go in for a similar car”, I asked.
“Where can I get Rs ten lakhs”, he questioned me.
“You have a car, your family is blessed with good health and you are relatively financially sound. There are people who cannot afford to purchase a cycle. D’t you think you are blessed.”?
He got up from his seat and remarked sarcastically, trying to hide his sarcasm, by faking a smile “ Mr Krishna Vattam, it sounds philosophical, but philosophy is different from reality”
After he left, I began to ponder over the mental- make up and his attitude to life. Instantly Purandaradasa’s exposition, on the greed of men, in his beautiful composition “Binnahake Bayillavayya” flashed my mind.” “He has given him this much, but he desires some more. Even the desired one is given, he asks for more.He desires that he be spared from suffering , and a life of comfort.
He desires that the life he led in the past(youth) should come to him, Oh;Purandara Vittala”
I began to wonder as to why we do not realize that the state of happiness does not come from comforts he enjoys.The two are different. In a moving lorry , laden with sand, a helper sleeps on the heap of sand , where as sleep evades some although they lie down on a cosy bed and surrender to sedatives.. In their mad hunt of the mirage of happiness, they stray away from the path and land themselves in a state of self inflicted misery.
I do not mean that a man should not aspire to go up the ladder in one’s life. But the means chosen should be fair. When they see others being happy, they feel jealous of them.
Yet another bard, in his immortal, magnum opus, “Manku Thimmanna Kagga”, DVG (D.V.Gundappa ) says “If the flame of jealousy is burning in your being, where do you get water from (to extinguish)it .If this flame has made its home in you, where is the place for sleep? He cannot sleep , can any one free him from the state of agony.God only can save him.”
The words of wisdom of the enlightened do not appeal to them, much less influence them , for their chosen path is different, one of self inflicted pain, suffering , agony and state of being jealous.
I am reminded of a story relating to “Club 99 “ In short the story revolves round a maharaja and a lowly man. The King, inspite of the wealth, men and material, is unhappy, where as he finds that man going about his job, singing and dancing.The raja questions him the secret of being happy.That poor man answers, saying what he needs is a small shelter, and food to eat twice a day.I work and am blessed with them.
The king was not satisfied with the answer and narrates this incident to his minister.
“Your Highness” obviously that man is not a member of the Club 99.
The same night the minister went to the dwelling of that poor man, placed at the door steps a bag full of 99 gold coins. Next morning that poor man found the bag and was dancing with joy on finding the bag full of 99 gold coins. As he counted the coins again and again that sense of joy vanished.To earn that extra one coin, he slogged day and night , and the sweet strains of song he was rendering were no longer heard.
posted by Krishna Vattam at
9:00 PM
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