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Journalism of Courage
Prophets, messiahs and souls we call ‘realised’ have had a few common mantras — ideas that have transcended civilisations, geographies, histories. These spiritual LCMs (lowest common denominators), while seemingly simple to read and understand, are exceedingly complex to execute. I’ll take just three: ‘Have faith’, ‘Everything happens for the best (EHFTB)’, and ‘Surrender to God’s will (STGW)’. So many generations of Indians have passed on these homilies as truth, without going through the rigour of assimilating them, questioning them. Perhaps that’s why we are such a contented nation, active to a point, inert beyond. Many wear these badges almost as stars and stripes on their shoulders.
At which point, the second mantra, EHFTB, takes charge largely, if I may point out, through thin-crust parroting of others. Perhaps it was time for him to go, else how would you have metamorphosed from a caterpillar into butterfly? It was good your baggage came late, else you would have missed meeting so-and-so. And finally, when you put faith and EHFTB together you reach STGW. It is the only way forward.
Somewhere inside all of us identify with these mantras and know them to be the Truth. Still, the problem lingers. Could it be because we try and cut-paste our shallow demands and expectations from God as valid spiritual rights to be wrested out of him, on our terms, on call? Let us not take these mantras lightly, but understand their deeper, vaster meaning before accepting or rejecting them; for finally they give us strength and direction. We tell ourselves that we must take these things seriously. We get ready to do it. But just then, damn, the power goes.
