Thursday 18 August 2011

Life is not a level playing field

There comes a time in everyone’s life, or rather numerous occasions, when you feel let down by what you trust most and the thought process that takes you forward culminates in the belief that ‘life is not a level playing field.




For one whose life is driven totally by listening and humming to only Hindi film songs, I have an English song by Rod Stewart that instantly comes to mind…

Some guys have all the luck
Some guys have all the pain
Some guys get all the breaks
Some guys do nothing but complain


Well, in gist this is life, or is it?


There is more to it than meets the eye; the World Wide Web will throw up a billion pages of content that would form the means to address the situation, motivational quotes, analogies of purportedly successful men and women and more, a thousand ways to make one believe that positive attitude is the key and that opportunities galore for the seeker… I can just go on and on…! But then, the basic premise that I embarked upon with an insanely true cliché, will stay… Yes - Life is not a level playing field!


The ‘saint’ is a myth. A perfectly contended or a ‘completely in peace’ human being is as much truth as Ethiopia being Utopia.


The fifth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament says “The meek shall inherit the Earth”, the context of the biblical world that it was uttered in has changed meaning now – it serves to aptly exemplify the present day lives – ‘the powerless will lead a life without striving’. I may be condemned of mis-interpreting one of the most famous of the Beatitudes, but then in times of media-judging, logical interpretations are the first things that are almost always, thrown out of the window.


How else can one explain the relentless struggle of the moralistic heart to overcome the constantly greed driven mind and succeeding only to succumb, endlessly.


Moving into a pluralistic society from the days of colonialism and subjugation has not meant equal opportunities but that of irresponsible growth of the incompetent through sustained sycophancy. This is true in all walks of life and corporate ladders are strewn by faithful followers of the doctrine – boot licking upwards.


In conclusion, even as I try hard to refrain from being positive, I am tempted to, and I succumb to, quote the verse from the Bhagawad Gita, that in which I had utmost faith and one which is gradually taking a beating:


Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana,
Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani


In simple terms which mean: Keep on performing your duties without expecting for any reward in return, leading a selfless life – this it what it is all about.


…. And when all fails I will retort to Deuteronomy 32:41



------------------------------------Notes: --------------------------
Pluralism: A social organization in which diversity of racial, religious, ethnic or cultural groups is tolerated
Mathew 5.5: The fifth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament
Deuteronomy 32:41: If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.

5 comments:

Deepak said...

Excellent post anna. It echoes some of my thoughts. Very nice to have you back blogging!

Sidenote: Whenever I find life is not a level playing field, I change the field. :-)

Venky said...

good one dear keep it up

Kitcha said...

Human mind always craves for one thing "Happiness". But there is gross misinterpretation that it is outside, but if you search carefully one will know that it is only inside... I agree with all your points... keep it flowing. I miss you... Cheers! Kitcha.

Me Inc said...

Very heavy stuff...cryptic too but one I could easily identify with...Great post !

mathu's memoirs said...

Good one venkat..i can feel the pain..but as u said when games are playing as per whims and fancies there is no fair rule apply to all the players.
Let the true winners play their games with heart rather than by some other means.
i have an excellent line which i kept on read and think everytime something good or bad happens to me..

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