Dearest Darling Friends,
Avinash Bajaj was returning after a long business trip. As his car neared his home, he is shocked to see his house engulfed in a blazing fire. It was one of the most beautiful houses in the town, and Avinash loved the house. Some people had even offered double the prevailing market price for the house, but Avinash never agreed for any price. That very house was now burning, right before his eyes.
He watched helplessly as the hungry fire devoured his house. Hundreds of people had gathered. The firefighters were doing their best. However, it was evident they were fighting a losing battle.
The fire has spread so far, so deep, so fast that nothing will be saved. Obviously, Avinash is unconsolable. Thinking about his huge loss, he breaks down into crying and starts cursing all gods.
Seeing this, his son Harsh comes running to him, and whispers in his ear, “Don’t be worried Papa. I sold it yesterday to Mohan, and at an unbelievably good price ― three times !!! The offer was so good I could not wait for you. Forgive me.”
Not able to believe his good fortune, thanking all gods, Avinash slowly smiled and said, “Good, if you have sold it for three times more than the original price of the house.” Avinash was relieved. There was no ‘financial’ loss. In fact, he felt strangely peaceful.
A few moments ago, Avinash was watching the burning house and was unconsolable. Now, he was watching just like the other watchers. He was detached to the loss.
In the beginning, he was not detached, he was attached. Later, he became detached. It is the same house, the same fire, everything is the same. but now he is not concerned. He is watching it, just as everybody else is. He is enjoying the colour of the flame, the height of the flame, how the fires were lighting up the night skies, et al.
Then, the second son Sparsh comes running. He screams and asks Avinash, “What are you doing? You are smiling?!?! And, the house is on fire?”
Avinash said, “Don’t you know, your brother has sold it.”
Sparsh answers, “Bhai had talked about selling it. Mohan had offered to buy it but nothing has been settled yet. No advance has been received. No legal papers have been drawn and that man is not going to purchase it now.”
Again, everything changes. Tears which had disappeared, have come back to Avinash’s eyes. His smile is no more there. His heart is beating faster with fear, anger and sadness.
The detachment is gone. He is again attached.
And then, the third son Sangharsh comes, and says, “Mohan is a man of his word. I have just met him and come. Mohan said, ‘It doesn’t matter whether the house is burnt or not, it is mine. And, I am going to pay the price that I have settled for. Neither you knew, nor I knew, that the house would catch fire.’
With this information, Avinash is again detached to the house. The attachment to the house is no more there.
What is changing Avinash?
The thought that “I am the owner, I am identified with the house, the house is mine” makes all the difference.
The next moment Avinash feels, “I am not identified with the house. Somebody else has purchased it. I have nothing to do with it. It is not mine. Let the house burn. I lose nothing.” Again, these thoughts makes all the difference.
This simple methodology of watching the mind, watching what it identifies itself with, tells us about the source of our miseries. It is NOT the events that causes us pain. It is our attachment to something when ‘IT IS ABSENT’ that causes us pain.
Once, what you own today, was not yours.. What you had once, you won’t have it with you one day. Enjoy it completely when you have it. Learn to let go when you don’t have it anymore. That’s wisdom. That’s life!
What comes, has to go. The only thing is, sometimes it goes when I am not ready to leave it yet.
A child fills the balloon with water during holi. It does so with the idea of throwing it on people and drenching them. A few balloons burst, as he fills them. Anyways, he was about to throw them. Yet, when it bursts in his hands, he cries. He does so, because he was not ready, yet, to see the balloon burst. He was attached to the balloons. Yet, a little while later, just before throwing it, he is not attached to the balloon anymore.
The thing about life is, sometimes the balloon bursts while filling it. Sometimes they burst when you throw it. Sometimes, even when you throw it, it does not burst. That’s the funny part of life.
When I accept this as a fact of life, I practice something very smart. I know the balloon MIGHT burst any time. I am attached to the balloon as long as it is there with me. I enjoy filling the water. I enjoy tying the knot. I enjoy carrying it in a bucket to the balcony. I enjoy waiting for a target to appear. I enjoy throwing it too. I enjoy shouting ‘Holi Hai’. In case, the balloon bursts in my hands, I wistfully smile at it and MOVE ON. I detach fast. The faster I detach, the smarter I am. I know there are ALWAYS many more balloons to enjoy. If not the balloons, there are many other games to play and have fun. I do not cry over the unexpected turn of events in life. I smile wistfully and KEEP MOVING.
When something is with me, I practice attachment. Something is not with me, I practice detachment.
My dear friends, is there anyone or anything in your life which is not there with you anymore, yet you are crying about it? Are you unconsolable about the balloon that bursts in your hands?
If this article resonates with you, please do hit the reply button. You will find me waiting on the other side. If you wish, do share this with your loved ones.
This might be just what they need right now. What are you waiting for?
With love, prayers and exceptional wishes,
naren
Imagine, when we wake up, we are given only what we had thanked for.