Xenophobia of a different class………..

Xenophobia of  a different  class………..

Discovery of steam Engine is credited to James Watt. During the life time of James Watt no train ran on steam engine. In 1804 first successful steam locomotive hauled a train near Tydfil in Wales in England, train of ten tons of iron, with 70 passengers’ in five wagon covered the distance of nine miles. The use of commercially successful steam locomotive started in 1812.This is recorded in the History. The   experiments with steam locomotive were carried out prior to 1804. At that time People were apprehensive, afraid to board the train.

People can’t believe that the steam that they were familiar with in their kitchen, looked so simple can move a train. Older version of railway engine and trains looked ferocious .Religious people, race mind said ” God has not created train,  when it created the world. It must be invention of devil.” No one was ready to sit in the train. They were persuaded almost given bribes in form of free passes, breakfast, given money too, to board the train. But the people, intellectuals, Church preachers were skeptical; they all believed it is impossible. “Devil is at work, its devils domain, the Train   may start, but what is the guarantee that it will stop? Devil is running the train not the steam” Life shall be in danger, they prevented people to board. A sort of xenophobia was created in the mind of people.

Nobody wanted to risk their lives. Fifteen daredevils’ criminals from jail were brought and they   boarded as passengers. Any way they were sentence to life, even if train did not stop no problem .Fifteen prisoners, guard, motormen totaling around 20 people experienced the journey.

This is always happens whenever new thing is introduced to the people. Since the period of steam engine till today man has made astonishing progress in the field of science and technology. We are all fortunate; we are living in this era. One thing is certain in this fast changing world that Only Change Is Constant. Human consciousness has developed; we are more receptive to the changing environment around us.

What I want to drive the point through this story is you need to rise above the race mind thinking. Had those people involved in building an locomotive believed “God has not created train, when it created this world.” Just think. It is true. Everyone is bestowed with Creativity and Potentiality, one need to use it.  Please do not allow it to bog down.

By Ajeet Bhide

LOL: Laugh Out Loud

Other day I was taking morning walk in a pleasant and warm atmosphere. I was in meditative mood. Suddenly group of people gathered doing aerobics, started laughing loudly. I was irritated for a while. I kept on walking and started laughing, smiling with myself as reflection of their act.

Is laughing infectious?  I felt good, no doubt laughing makes you feel good, serotonin level might be raised. Your face is relaxed, muscles are relaxed and mood improves. No doubt laughing is a powerful antidote to stress, pain and conflicts.

Let me share with you a beautiful  Story of ‘Three laughing Buddhas’ . 10^th Century Chinese monk Ho Tei , the incarnation of Bodhisattva  who was  known as laughing Buddha. Do not confuse “Three laughing Saints” with laughing Buddha  Ho Tei.

All The three were bald, jolly fat men with generous pot-belly stomach. They did nothing, simply moved from one village, to another.

They would stand in market place, mall road & start   laughing.  All the people at market place and from the villages would surround them and they too start laughing, laughing became contagious & the whole market place nothing traded except laughter, people were dancing , enjoying and laughing. This changed the quality of life & everyone  felt  rejuvenated.

These ‘Three Saints’ did not preach any religion, philosophy, no commandments, , no sermon. 

As the chronological time advanced they too become old, One day news spread across the village that one of the laughing Saint has   passed away. Entire village gathered to pay homage to the departed soul. The villagers wanted to witness and curious to see how other two Saints react .They have seen them laughing, now wanted to see them wiping.  But they were  surprise and annoyed too.

At this sad moment remaining two Saints were laughing and dancing and rejoicing. Old men from the village express anguish, questioned their behavior. The laughing Saints talked for the first time, they said ‘Entire life we together enjoyed, laugh, danced , this is our biding retreat to our departed friend and we all were committed to make death a celebration, who so ever moves first and today  our friend has won, he is celebrity  for the day, please understand”

The story moves forward, the body was taken to the cremation hall, for burning. As per rituals prevalent in those time, the  body need to be bathed with water. The two friends skipped this rituals they said ‘ Our friend has said don’t do this’.  They put the body on fire, the departed Saint has last laugh. There was  fireworks at cremation. He has hidden many fireworks, crackers under his cloths, suddenly the   entire atmosphere was charged ,changed into  festival of  light. Whole village started  laughing  ,they paid tribute to the departed soul with joy, laughing,  smiling,  dancing .

Yes , I know it is difficult  to  comprehend, it may sound good  in fairy tale but  far stretched for real life. If one has lived the life with full glory, happiness  and in present tense then  one can take own personal death   as  Happy   beginning  to New  Openings. Please do pounder over it.

By Ajeet Bhide