The Bubble People

The people in the bubble sighed, "Why cannot we at times get along? Why do we fight over things - while some are important to each of us; some are insignificant? Why for one do we fight about what each of us should believe in? Why can't we just let it be and simply let live?

If one breathes out poison wouldn't that affect all in the bubble? A bubble is a bubble no matter how big or small. And we better work together lest we break this bubble.

And why not look for the third alternative - if we think harder, can we not find a better way? And why not learn to find the balance between reaching out and letting go? So thought the bubble people."

Being put in this bubble was a privilege! And they had to breathe, eat and drink within and could never be without it even for a moment. Why would the left hand try to hurt the right hand? Can the two hands not come together in service versus clash to make a resounding noise?

The bubble people realized that their differences were a strength - while the left hand and right hand appear a bit different, they complement each other, have equal importance and can work in unison! They realized they are interconnected through an invisible thread and the thread needs to be nurtured so it strengthens and does not strangle. By working with a spirit of understanding they can make it work. True there are going to be polarizing differences and people sometimes have to take sides. True there are going to be a few who try to cut the thread and perhaps need reprimanding; but if the collective will is towards building, it will be possible to live long and prosper - as long as they each have to stay in the bubble.

"Let's protect the bubble so the bubble will protect us. Let us strengthen and build bridges for our own good... let's do it right here, right now."- the realization spread throughout and the bubble people lived in peace with each other!

P.S. Here is a share-able image of this narrative - feel free to share it with others if you like it!

On top of the pyramid ...

A little kid wanted to be famous!
"I want the whole school to see me" - he said to himself!

In his school, they were planning to do a talent show. Each kid was asked to consider volunteering in a show or performance. Some chose to dance, some to debate, some to run, some to act, some to sing and so on. The sports teacher also said there will be a pyramid show. "I need several of you to try out", she said. She picked many kids; some for the base, some for the struts and some for the top and picked the little kid to be at the very top!

The little kid was elated... dream come true indeed!

"I am going to be on top of the world", the little kid thought. While practicing with school mates... the little kid used to joke as to how far a sight it was from the top!

The day of the show came - the kids performed various activities - some danced, some sang, some showed their strength, some their grace, some their speed, some their gifts in acting and speaking and so on. Towards the end they announced that "the pyramid" would be performed.

In an orderly fashion the kids took their positions. Arms locked like steel that only cherubic but sincere hands could manage; legs in tight stance, focus and concentration - the kids did great to form the base, the struts and the top. Then the little kid climbed on to the top - he was supposed to stand on top and salute. As he climbed and then stood on top and saw the many others looking, he was filled with a sense of pride. And felt twenty feet tall!

A small gust of wind blew and one of the kids in the base shivered a bit. Needless to say, the foundation shook a bit and the small shock rippled up as each kid moved just a bit.

The little kid on top, felt it too. Rather he was shaken from his reverie! A moment of tumultuous revelation that he was not really twenty feet tall, and that he owed much of his view from the top to the ones below! That he was given the opportunity and privilege to go on to the top. He shook, almost fell, salute forgotten! He almost cried out loud but through sheer luck and perhaps due to the fortitude of his fellow school mates who stemmed the ripple and now stood their ground steadily, the little kid managed to stand on top.

He felt twenty feet tall no more, he felt humility, a feeling of knowing how interconnected he was with his friends; a feeling of thankfulness to them for holding the fort! A feeling of joy and relief, that swept his tear away.

Slowly and dreamily, yet fully aware of his greatest life lesson, and quite oblivious to the cheers on the sidelines, he raised his hand in salute!

P.S. Habits die heard and lessons sometimes get forgotten. Hence perhaps the need for self affirmations...

Freedom for the Pigeons

One more old story comes to mind. Another story that has been talked about by many and probably heard by millions but in the din of daily life it hides in a corner of the mind! When time for action comes, it is not a bad idea to remember these stories...

So here goes....

Away in a forest lived a large group of pigeons. As pigeons might very well have, they had a king. The king was just, wise and helped the pigeons live a peaceful life. It was a routine for the pigeons to forage the forest floor for food and on occasion fly over a village to a near by woods in search of food. Especially on days when their home location did not yield much food.

On one such occasion the flock set out in search of food. As they were flapping away over the village they noticed sparks of rice glittering on the floor of a field. Lots of it too! Instintively and due to a drive by hunger they started swooping down to catch a few mouthfuls.

"Wait!", said the King. "It looks like a setup! Let's not go there!".

"But we are hungry! Besides we need fly several miles before we go the woods and we are not assured of a meal there either!", groaned a few hungry pigeons.

"Sometimes when it looks like an easy meal is waiting for us, someone else might be waiting to make an easy meal of us... listen to me. I am your king, I care about you. Do not fall for this!".

Hunger and the apparent easy meal right before them and the familiarity with the king perhaps made the pigeons lose their mind. Unmindful of the good advice and not watchful of perhaps a small voice inside - they slowly and then in an accelerated fashion, swooped down and started pecking fast at the glistening beads of rice! They had their fill with the king hovering above helplessly watching his friends satisfy their hunger!

As the pigeons moved about near their landing areas they started feeling a tug, a gentle pull at first that soon tangled their tiny legs in a vice like grip... too late! Heavy with food in their bellies, the rush of earlier excitement now became screeches and screams of dispair!

"Oh my!", they cried. "We are stuck in a net! We are done for! We should have listened to the wise king!"

The king said, "Friends! Even after my repeated warnings you did not listen to me! I had only your good in mind! Now you are close to being captured by the hunters who probably laid this net knowing we will pass through some day!"

"Do not dispair, I have an idea.", so saying the king jumped into the field and got himself entangled too! "I am your king, and I have entered the net so I can help you get away! I did not notice any hunters when I circled up in the sky earlier - they are probably sleeping off the hot sun!"

"Do as I say and please listen to me! I still think we can get free from this menace on our feet!"

"I want each of you to point to the north" - they did as told, now realizing that questioning such an order at this point was futile. What did they have to lose, did the king not enter the net and entangle himself. They were elated to have a chief who would risk his life to protect them... mechanically and almost as if on a machine they all turned facing north.

"Good! now flap your wings hard... and raise together. We need to all fly together in the same direction - first up and then north. If we do this, we can lift this net up... let's do it.", said the king.

Once more the hitherto scared pigions woke up, their impending freedom motivating them. Together they flapped their now energized wings, together they rose and lo and behold! The net rose too... just as the sleeping hunters roused looking at an apparent flying net with a flock of birds.

Dreamily they eyed the spectacle and having realized it was a real escape they jumped up picking up their sticks and made a dash towards the now steadily rising birds. Thanks to their leader's guidance and their following in unison the pigeons were now well above the ground and they started flying away towards north... knowing their king will take them to a safe place, perhaps a place where their fetters would be cut but for now full of energy and faith - they flew towards north!
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Note: In the original Pancha Tantra tales (Origin - India), the pigeon king proceeds to the hole of his friend who happended to be a rat. The rat and his cohorts cut the net loose.

Perhaps the spirit behind this metaphorical story can be applied to any situation, when leaders raise to the occasion to help their fellow beings!

Alternately, there are many thoughts pulling us in many directions, sometimes these lead us astray. But we have the intellect to free ourselves and apply our selves in any situation to take the "right" decision and go in the "right" direction. Thus one can raise one-self!

Perspective

This story has been narrated before by many. Sometimes there is a need to remind ourselves, hence the desire to write it in a different way.

Four people were called upon to a test by a wise person. The rule of the test was that they will accept to be blindfolded and feel with their hands to make an assessment of what they feel. The four people felt this would be a good adventure and decided to embark on it.

One morning they assembled in the front door of a large hall to which they were called in after being blind folded. A guide walked them to a rather warm area.

"Welcome!", said the wise person. "You may move forward one by one now, when I call you to come forward. You will have one minute to feel what is in front of you, then you will tell me what you think this is."

He called them one by one forward, each were guided in a circumlocutory way by a guide to the spot where they were going to make an assessment.

"This is nothing but a warm, leathery rope!", said one; "I am sure of it!"
"This is a big tree trunk, may be covered with cloth", said the second; "I am pretty sure of this!"
"There is no doubt!", said the third; "This is a wall, more dome like. But a wall, solid wall!"
"No! This is a snake", said the fourth person; "I can feel it hissing and hot air coming here. I can feel it twisting!"

The wise person said, "Thanks to each of you for showing us all a good lesson!", and requested the guide to remove their blind folds.

The four people looked at in astonishment at the being in front of them. The wise person was sitting atop a beautiful elephant! With a leathery tail, tree trunk like legs, wall like body and an ever moving snaky trunk!

"The truth", concluded the wise person; "is probably like this!
Perceived in many ways by many, it has no solitary explanation.
Each sees their own side and each is right in their own way and assure it by their experience, indeed!  Is there any point in contesting over it?"

~ Story adapted and modified based on ancient Eastern fable
- Narayan Srinivasan, Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hall of Silence

The sign outside the building read -
"All are welcome"
"Please come empty handed"
"Please leave your footwear outside"
"Please wash your hands"

It was a 20 foot tall single story building... with big windows. Just one big room - lit by the sunshine of the day and by bright lights at night.

Inside there were a few low chairs that one could sit on the ground but lean their backs comfortably.

The person who built the building was usually seen quietly sitting inside...

At the beginning, a few people passed by; then a few entered curiously. They all read the sign and did as told. They all sat down in silence... and silent they were as long as they stayed.

Then many more arrived... all removed their footwear outside, all washed their hands, all came empty handed and all sat in silence.

Not many knew each other here, for none talked here. They nodded may be; a smile once in a while.

At first they came with their thoughts... but inside they found a peace. A tranquility unexplained. So they stayed as long as they could.

The person who built the building was silent too... he did nod when someone came in if he had his eyes open. Most of the time he visited this place, he sat silently; most of the time eyes closed, some times eyes open.

Nobody paced, there were no discussions; no talk about anything as they all kept silent.

Soon more people visited... a couple of gaurds were posted outside. The press came and respectfully checked their cameras outside; they did take a few pictures and videos from outside the door; they did walk around the windows to get more pictures. They asked the person who built the place when he stepped out, "Why did you build this?"

He smiled and said nothing.

"There must be a reason", they persisted... he smiled and said "Nothing really!"

A few weeks passed. "Please limit your stay to 30 minutes a day" a new sign was added!

There were many more who arrived and stayed their 30 minutes. Some who used be constant visitors stopped showing up... they probably found a spot of silence where ever they were from. Some did revisit briefly and went back.

Presidents came along, so did people from all walks of life. The sportsmen, the doctors, the lawyers, the artists, the students, people with many beliefs and philosophies, the theists, atheists and agnostics visited... they all left their footwear outside, came empty handed, washed their hands and stayed silently for 30 minutes.

There was a peace there that some did not feel outside... some felt it outside and inside. Some just came by for no real reason. Some visited late in the evening, some early in the morning, some arrived later in the day... a few even showed up at night.

More press people came there, talk radios talked about this place. This time they requested an interview from the person who started this place. "Why again, please could you tell us?", they asked."What is your purpose? What is your mission?"

He smiled softly and this time he said...

"Not much really!
I fretted and fumed at the beginning when I read a lot about a lot of things... I wanted tolerance, love, peace and happiness all over this world! I wanted to change the world. "

He paused, reflecting for a brief moment;

"... then one day it made sense to be silent. The peace was tremendous and so I felt like building this place.

All are welcome here as long as they do not talk in this hall. No one is required to come here, no one is requested to leave - they seem to respect the 30 minute limit; no one is asked to pay any fees; a donation box outside clearly states any money left will go towards maintaining the Hall of Silence and the associated expenses. I have setup a trust to take care of this and manage the funds...

Not much really!", he repeated.

Years passed, many came, many left, many returned, the person who built this place stopped showing up too! The trust ran the building, collecting the donations (more poured in and a PO BOX had to be setup) and for building a few more Halls of Silence.

Atleast they did in this story... may be there are some out there like this, may be not.
May be we can just find that hall in our mind... may be, may be!