I woke up in the morning believing it to be a just another day in hot summer. But to my surprise, there was pleasantness in the air with rain as the main ingredient. The fragrance of the moisture laden winds instilled a state of blissfulness in me.
I went out for a morning walk to enjoy the weather. I opted for a cup of tea. There I am very much perturbed to see an old man in his late fifties utter that it is better to take birth as an animal than a human being.
This is an instance of a human being not realizing his true potential, divinity and the purpose of his creation due to a lot of external and internal factors in the environment. The reason for the most of the evils & problems surmounting the World is the failure of the mankind in their life time to realize his own self and the purpose of his creation. I started to focus my thoughts through the prism of my own self on one of the problems the World faces now: Climate Change.
I returned home to see Ashwata standing at the gate. (Ashwata is my neighbor’s daughter in the apartment I live).
Karthik" you are such a selfish person". You have left me alone and went for morning walk to enjoy the weather all alone exclaimed Ashwata in an angry yet childish voice.
(Karthik) : Ashwata,You are sleeping that time and I don’t want to disturb you my sweet friend.
( Ashwata) No I don’t want any excuses. I will not allow you to enter inside the apartment. You stand there itself.
(karthik) : Ashwata, forgive me this time. Come on! The weather is pleasant, let’s go for a walk.
( Ashwata: With a smile on her face) : Ok karthik but with one condition, You have to take me to the nearest Garden and answer my questions.
Questions about what? I asked.
That is secret. I wont reveal you this moment exclaimed Ashwata.
We started walking amidst the drizzling rain enjoying the serene atmosphere.
Oh God Pl save me from this intelligent girl. I don’t know what she has in store for me this time? (Karthik).
Are my questions troubling you a lot? ,Karthik.
No ashwata, The fact is “Your questions are too much for your age. Sometimes I have to search deep within myself and books to answer your questions and I fear for the punishment you give once I fail to answer your question up to your satisfaction. You are an intelligent girl with lots of passion.
Karthik "It’s already raining and I am feeling cold" witted Ashwata with her sweet smile.
We have reached the Paradise garden. With the fragrance of fresh flowers, colors of lush green grass & flowers, drizzling rain, the place seemed like Heaven for both of us.
We choose to sit under a tree.
Karthik “You see how nice that sight of blossoming rose spotting a blossoming yellow rose.
Ya its very nice. You can't happen to see such sights too often (karthik)
How does a flower blossom? asked ashwata
I answered . Actually there is a connection between nature and the flower. The rays of sun light induce chemical reactions inside the plant which makes the flower to blossom
Of course the purpose of the flower is to blossom and give fragrance to the World. Nature is just an instrument to make the flower realize its purpose.
Then what's the connection between the nature and the human being? What is the purpose of a human being? asked Ashwata.
(Karthik) Ashwata only a few from last generation had found the answer to this question. If the majority had found the answer to this question, then definitely the world would have been a better place for us to live. Our generation should find the answer and implement it in order to make the World the better place to live for the future generations.
(Ashwata with eagerness in her voice) Its interesting Karthik. Now tell me the answer. At least we both will implement in the near future.
Karthik: See Ashwata, Our Universe is made up of five basic elements namely fire, water, wind, sky and the earth. The Earth houses all the four elements and all the elements are inter-linked with the Earth. Similarly our body and soul is made up of these five elements. Our being is just a subset of the universe.
Our being derives its energy from the universe. Our body is degradable and just an instrument for the immortal soul which resides in it.
Ashwata: Is our soul immortal? I am not getting it.
Karthik: Same on the lines of law of conservation of Energy, All the Energy contained in the Universe at the time of big bang will remain same in this universe beyond time. Only the Energy gets converted from one form to another. Similarly, Soul as a mixture of five basic elements can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can be transferred from one body to another body or higher state*. Every soul is immortal. Soul has no beginning, no end and no death. The divinity of the soul is present everywhere in this universe. Those who reached the higher state* after many cycle of births and deaths gets merged with the five elements namely fire, water, wind, sky and the earth and forms a source of supreme divine energy through which the life cycle of this entire universe is being maintained.
This is where the saying “God is present everywhere fits in.”
Great Karthik Then what is the purpose of a human being? asked Ashwata
I have already told the answer. You extrapolate it my dear friend.
Ashwata: Karthik from what you have said I can conclude that the supreme aim of an human being is to acquire that which never fades i.e our own good deeds, sacrifice, our spiritual excellence that follows us beyond the grave. Every thing else is left behind here with the body. Our main purpose is to purify our soul from impurities which is acquired during the cycle of births and deaths due to ignorance of our own self and to merge with the five elements of the universe.
Karthik: Great Ashwata, You are correct. Our soul like a diamond, it is ever pure but it is covered by the layers of impurities accumulated due to ignorance, karma. Once you peel off all the impurities by meditation, You can see the purity of your soul like rays of light radiating from a diamond. Diamond just like soul even when covered with impurities will not lose its shine and properties. But you cannot see the radiance of the diamond when it is covered with impurities.
(Ashwata in deep thought and then breaks into laughter.)
Ashwata: Ha Ha Ha….I can’t stop my laughter Karthik . I have imagined the sight of you and me becoming saints wearing red clothes and volunteering for spirituality. From what you have said it seems that everyone has to quit family, friends, job, politics and go to Himalayas and chant vedic hymns to become a perfect human being.
Karthik: No buddy, like many people you have also misunderstood the term Spirituality. It’s high time the term spirituality needs a makeover. People have misconceived opinions about spirituality. If such is the case, then what the sachin tendulkars, bill gates, ambanis,and millions of human beings with work & family commitments like you and me will have to do?
Will they ever reach the higher abode of Supreme Being with their deeds? Or do they have to quit their work, family commitments to reach the higher abode?
Definitely not Ashwata. According to Bhagawat Gita Ch 9:27,28 Lord Krishna says : Whatever austerities & duties you perform, Whatever you do, whatever you offer or give away do it as an offering to the God Himself. In this way, you will be liberated from your bondage of Karma. With your mind fixed on the God, you will be freed from the cycle of your actions. You will reach the abode of the Supreme Lord.
Ashwata: It’s really nice to hear that average beings like you and me have a chance to reach the Higher abode without staying away from our work & family commitments. But I have only one doubt, then why do some people quit everything in the name of spirituality?
Karthik: From what Knowledge I have gained till this date, I can conclude that some human beings after many cycle of births and deaths realized the temporary nature of this materialistic world and they want to renounce everything by not entering into any family commitment, by doing service to mankind & by meditation to liberate themselves from the cycle of births and deaths to reach the next higher dimension of life: The Eternal abode of Supreme being.
Guru Ji.. Will you please finish your spiritual disclosure? I can see rays of light radiating from your head? witted Ashwata pointed out the rays of sunlight behind my head.
Ok Madam As you wish.
Karthik what about your novel on Climate Change? I am damn sure if you pack this much spiritual content then no one other than yogis and gurujis will ever have patience to read your novel. Of course I will read it for the sake of your friendship.
Thanks dear. Actually my novel is not about spirituality. It is about an intelligent, passionate girl with research aptitude, strong will power and single minded determination fighting against anti social elements & industrialists with money power to combat climate change along with the help of an emerging cricketer (whom she met accidentally) who quits playing cricket to safeguard her. It’s about how a group of young minds with their intellectual power defy all odds to achieve their goal of cheap, clean & sustainable renewable energy solutions affordable to the common man.
Ashwata: sounds interesting. Have you ever come across such a girl? What prompted you to write this novel? What is the name of that girl in the novel?
(Karthik) Too many questions but one answer. Guess.
No I can’t Karthik. Don’t add this much suspense. Tell me na.
(Karthik) I have come across a young girl with lot of intelligence and passion. She is a child at heart and often mesmerizes you with her innocent smile. She troubles you with intelligent questions and often catches with little fights. She likes to read books on scientific inventions, research & spirituality and plans to join IIT in the near future. Truly climate change & that girl and is the motivation for me to write this novel. She is studying only ninth standard and I have extrapolated her life after 10 Years with my imagination in my novel. Her name is …….................................Ashwata.
(With a beautiful smile on her face & her eyes glowing with love, she expressed her gratitude by making me close my eyes. She whispered gently …….)
Karthik Anna I love you so much. I am really fortunate to have a caring brother like you to guide and motivate. Its really heartening to see your faith and confidence in my abilities. I will certainly put my best efforts to realize your dream …..sorry our dream of cheap, affordable renewable energy solutions for the common man.
Thank you so much my sweet sister, I cherish this moment. I can see the promise in your eyes. Mark my words Ashwata, You will reach for the stars. I would like to finish this pleasant morning session with my take on climate change.
So Nice of you Karthik ( Ashwata)
One Soul. Many Species. One Planet. One Future.
We, the human beings, superior form of all species in this planet, as a guardian to Mother Earth, should take oath to conserve the natural resources in this planet for the present and future generations by adopting eco friendly solutions like harnessing clean Renewable energy as an alternative to reduce emissions & pollution from Non Renewable Energy sources.
Our being same as the universe is made up of five basic elements namely fire, water, wind, sky and the earth. If we pollute these five elements in the Universe in the name of industrialization, globalization and for the sake of creating wealth for future generation, we end up in digging our own grave and also for future generation. Our being derives its energy from the Universe. If the basic elements of the Universe itself get polluted, what will happen for our being? Our ultimate purpose of existence gets defeated.
Remember Ashwata, The World is a great Gymnasium where we have come to make ourselves strong, pure & divine.
Our soul will have to take repeated cycle of births and deaths in the future to become pure, divine and perfect before merging with the source of supreme Energy through which the entire universe is maintained. Our soul will be transferred from one body to another. i.e we have came here for a short visit (picnic) and will have to visit again sooner or later. So my friends keep this in mind before doing any irreversible harm to our nature and its resources.
The ultimate purpose of a human being is to realize the presence of Omni potent Lord in the form of those five basic elements of Nature as perceived by our ancestors and to protect and preserve the environment from degradation for the present and future generations. Remember “Change is good but Climate Change is definitely not .Let us not destroy the Self by the self. Meditation is the key to realize this truth.
Ashwata: Simply Great. I have not thought on these lines before. You see Karthik, I would like to see the best of you in your debut novel. You should not give up like in your previous attempts.
Promise me, You have to complete the draft copy by June 5 2011 and the final version by June 5 2012
Sure Ashwata .I will keep the promise this time. As soon as the draft copy is ready, I will give the second copy of my novel to you for your review. First copy reserved for my ever loving parents and my younger brother.
“I anticipate the same by June 5 2011 ."Ashwata said.
Time: 9.00 AM. It started to rain heavily. Myself and Ashwata walked slowly enjoying the chillness of the pure drops of rain falling on us. Suddenly ashwata splashed a pool of water with her leg on my face and started running away. I chased and caught hold of her and started splashing water on her. We played in the rain for a while and then returned home. I started writing my novel on climate change with renewed enthusiasm and passion derived from my love for nature.
The present Climate Crisis can be solved with the collective efforts of every individual. Here's How to Start. Join Indian Youth Climate Network.
(IYCN) at www.iycn.in.
My Friends. It's time to take the initiative.
Let all the Glory be to GOD.
A blog by Karthik
5 June 2010
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