God in my backyard

What we speak is a reflection of how we think, and by extension, of what we are within. Ancient books of wisdom advise us to be correct in our choice of words and compassionate in the way we utter them. Often, harsh words escape our lips, only to bring regret and misery. Poet-saint Rahim spoke of the need to be gentle and moderate in dealing with all human beings. 8220;Rahiman is sansaar mein sabse miliye dhaaye/ Na jaane kis roop mein narayan mil jaaye let us be good to all, for we know not where we might run into the Lord.8221;

The idea that the feeble, meek or defenceless individual in front of us might be a manifestation of God is not new, for all living beings are said to embody different Anshas parts of the divine in themselves. It is also possible that a familiar presence in our life might be God8217;s own messenger, or in this case, God Himself, as Arjuna discovered on the battlefield. His mortification is expressed in a touching verse in the Bhagavad Gita: 8220;Sakheti matva prasabham yaduktam/ He Krishna, he yadava, he sakheti/ Ajanata mahimanam tavedam/ Maya pramadat pranayena vapi Believing you to be my friend 8212; Sakha 8212; I presumptuously addressed you often as 8216;O Yadava8217;, 8216;O friend, 8216;O Krishna8217;, not knowing your boundless glories. Often, we relaxed on the same bed, sat and ate together and I jested with you even in front of others. Forgive me, because my irreverent utterances stemmed from foolish ignorance.8221;

Look at the striking contrast between the proud Kuru prince of Hastinapura, who thought of Krishna as a friend and ally and the terrified, guilt-ridden Arjuna of

Kurukshetra, who has just finished seeing the Vishwarupa. Arjuna is left dumb-struck at the fact that all through his easy friendship with Krishna, never once did he come to know that the latter was Vishnu or Narayana incarnate.

This predicament begs the question, can our dealings with others not be infused with respect, courtesy and sensitivity? Must we alter our standards of interaction based on status or rank? Must we bully those who are in a position of weakness, even as we fawn before those we consider superior? We rebuke our children, demean our subordinates, rant at our loved ones, insult those who serve us 8212; centuries after Arjuna shamefacedly pleaded guilty.