I am not even asking – “Are we on a wild goose chase?”. Because I am sure that we are 😉 Looks like all our activities are centered around how to make money! If some activity does not make money, then it is not worth pursuing it. That seems to be our line of thinking.
Even simple things like podcasts, which were a means to share ideas just a few years ago, have become a gold mine for earning a quick buck these days. Not just individuals, but even almost every giant, be it google, apple, amazon, spotify have all jumped into the band wagon of podcast. Focus is on “how to package and market”! Authors are finding newer and newer ways of luring the listeners and making money. And if you run out of ideas, google, as always, has newer suggestions!
It is not just podcast; every activity seems to be around money making. I agree that money is important, but should that be the only focus of our lives? What is this money for? Luxuries, comforts, security, power, popularity? Beyond a point do we really get them? Are we chasing a wild goose which is never attainable?
Talking about futile chases, I am reminded of a story in the Buddhist Tipitakas. Apparently, there was this robber called Angulimaala who used to brutally rob and kill people who came his way. Buddha once happened to cross the forest inhabited by this robber. Many advised Buddha not to take that risk. But Buddha ignored their warnings and started walking carelessly.
Angulimaala saw Buddha and he started following him. But even after chasing Buddha for a long time, he could not catch up with Buddha who was in no hurry to reach anywhere. Buddha was moving totally unconcerned. That surprised Angulimaala. He had seen people running away at his sight. But here is this frail monk who walks unconcerned just in front of him. And the biggest puzzle was that Angulimaala was unable to catchup with him however fast he chased him. At last Angulimaala shouted aloud – “Hey you there, stop, don’t run!”.
Buddha just turned and with a smile on his face coolly said – “I am not running. It is you who is running. As far as I am concerned, I have stopped long ago!”.
Many Buddhists attribute this to Buddha’s psychic powers. They say that Angulimaala could not catch up with Buddha because Buddha mesmerized him by his psychic powers. That sounds silly to me. Buddha’s words have a deep hidden message. He was telling Angulimaala that it was Angulimaala who was on a wild goose chase, to acquire worldly things that would never make him happy in the long run. Whereas Buddha had stopped that silly chase and settled for a peaceful life, long back in his life. Basically, Buddha had “stopped”.
Angulimaala was a robber, but still he was a brainy one. He got the message. Why then would he become Buddha’s disciple and give up his useless pursuit of acquiring worldly processions? He surrendered to Buddha then and there and became a perfect monk.
Whether it really happened that way is not really important. The message carried by this story is important. Sometimes we need to pause and ask ourselves whether we are on a wild goose chase?
Young boy Nachiketa had realized it a bit too early in his life. That is why he was not tempted to worldly riches when Yama, the God of death, tried to tempt him. I am talking about a story in Katha Upanishad. This boy went to the world of death to fulfil his father’s angry retort. His father had blurted out that he would donate Nachiketa to the God of death! His father never meant it seriously. But Nachiketa felt that it was his duty to keep his father’s word.
Yama was so pleased with Nachiketa that he offered a boon to Nachiketa. He offered him all the riches in world, beautiful maidens, comfortable palace, and what not. But Nachiketa was not interested. His only interest was to know the secret behind death. What will happen when people die? That was his question.
That was exactly Yama’s closely guarded secret and he was not willing to disclose it. So, he kept tempting Nachiketa with all kinds of lures. But Nachiketa was steadfast on his question. That is because Nachiketa had ‘stopped’ and is no longer running after worldly thigs. He wanted something which is more longer lasting.
Not going after worldly riches beyond a point has been the emphasis in all the Upanishads. Not just the Upanishads, all ancient religions emphasized on it. Whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, or even Islam, all emphasized on setting a limit to our greed. That does not mean that all these religions had a negative approach to life as some modern Gurus make it out to be. They never recommended self-denial to the extent of harming oneself. They were only cautioning against over indulgence.
Even the Vedas that appeared to be totally focused of pleasing the divine beings to acquire worldly riches, completely change the emphasis when it comes to the Upanishads. Does it mean that they are speaking in multiple voices? Not really.
As I said in the very beginning, the ritual parts of the Vedas are meant for a stage in one’s life where one is more focused on meeting his worldly needs, setting up a family, living comfortably and so on. But one should not get stuck in that. Nor our body permits that as we age. Sooner or later one enters the stage where material enjoyment no longer looks as attractive and one looks for higher goals in life. That is when one turns to spirituality. Upanishads are basically meant for such a stage in one’s life. I will talk more on these stages, may be in a subsequent series of talks.
But if you are like the Nachiketa, or Buddha, or Jesus, or Shankaracharya, age does not really matter. All of them abandoned the ‘wild goose chase’ very early in their lives since they realized it’s futility. They had their eyes on much higher goals. Have you ever thought about such a possibility? May be some of you would have, in the recent onslaught of Corona which seemed to threaten your lives.
Start Previous Next
A series discussing the most ancient of the Indian scriptures, nay the world scriptures namely the Vedas. © Dr. King, Swami Satyapriya 2021-22
No comments:
Post a Comment