Lessons from the East XVII: Curse of off-springs or Curse of Deeds
23 Nov 2022 16:08:49
Verse 17, Chapter 1 Ashtavakra Geeta states:
Meaning: You are unconditioned and changeless, formless and immovable, unfathomable awareness and unperturbable, so hold on to nothing but consciousness.
The enlightenment - Cutting the chains of Entanglement
Many centuries ago, there was a kingdom and the people of the kingdom lived happily. In the nearby forest that connected the capital city of the kingdom and nearby towns and villages, there lived a dacoit by the name of Ratnakar. He was strong, dangerous, and ghastly.
The king and his men tried to capture him multiple times but were unsuccessful. Hence they announced in the kingdom that people should not cross the forest at night and should only cross the forest accompanied by a troop of soldiers.
Ratnakar and his men on the other hand always got a good catch in the form of people carrying gold, silver, and precious jewels. He would loot and plunder the people who would cross the forest and would distribute the loot amongst his fellow dacoits equally.
One day Sage Narada, one of the devout devotees of Lord Vishnu came to the capital city and after spending a few days he was about to cross the forest to arrive at the next destination. People tried stopping Narada from crossing the forest alone and told him about Dacoit Ratnakar and his atrocities. Sage Narada told his disciples that he need to reach Sage Vashishta ashram across the forest, or else Sage Vashishta will be waiting for him.
Thus Narada embarked on the journey uttering "Narayan Narayan". In the middle of the forest, Ratnakar appeared from nowhere and stopped Narada, and told him to give whatever he has.
Narada replied "Narayan Narayan".
Ratnakar repeated his command, that Narada should give whatever, he has and there came an answer, "Narayan Narayan."
Angry Ratnakar told Narada, "You are sage, else I would have killed right now."
He further went on and asked, "Aren’t you afraid of me? Aren’t you afraid that I will kill you?"
Narada replied I am not afraid because I have Narayan with me and he is the only one that I have got.
Narada contrarily asked Ratnakar, “I am not scared or afraid but are you scared?”
Listening to this Ratnakar became furious and shouted in a loud voice, "Everyone is scared and fearful of me and not the other way round. I am not afraid of anyone."
On this Narada said, why is he then living in the forest and mugging and plundering the money and wealth of people who are passing by and who are incapable of protecting themselves?
On this Ratnakar became sombre and started narrating his past. Ratnakar stated that he was not born a dacoit. He was a respectable soldier in the army of the kingdom. But one day after the battle, his fellow soldiers raped and plundered the women of the kingdom that was won by his army. He tried stopping them from doing this heinous crime when they didn’t listen he killed them.
Post this event, Ratnakar was labelled as a traitor despite doing good and thus he became the dacoit.
Narada asked Ratnakar: Can two wrongs ever make a right?
If you have been wronged by a few people in the society or country, taking revenge from everyone in the society, is it just?
Wrong happened to you, will you perpetuate wrong by more wrong or try and correct it by doing right?
This got Ratnakar thinking.
Shifting gears here: This is the same question that Lord Shree Krishna asked Karna (the eldest Pandava) when Karna gave the argument to Shree Krishna that Duryodhana supported him when no one came to his support and thus Karna will have his lifelong allegiance to Duryodhana (The Kuru Prince)
Lord Krishna questioned, “if things, people and situations went against one, does that mean one should move to the path of Adharma and pursue the side of Adharma or become the voice of the weak who have faced similar Adharma?”
Going back to the conversation between Ratnakar and Narada.
Ratnakar said that he agrees that the Path of Adharma and wrong should not be pursued. But what choice one is left with when there are limited options and when one has to take care of one’s family, one’s child, one’s wife and one's offspring?
Listening to this Narada gently asked Ratnakar, “So these heinous acts and this loot and plundering you are pursuing to satiate demands of your offspring and family?”
Ratnakar replied with affirmation. He further declared that "If it was only for him, he could have lived on fruits of the forest and killed wild animals for his sustenance, satiating his hunger."
Narada told Ratnakar, that he should go and ask his family whether they will participate and be part of the outcome of deeds performed by him, in his pursuit to provide them food and shelter and protection.
Ratnakar went back to his lonely house in the forest and repeated the question in front of his wife. His wife replied - that she has promised to be with him in thick and thin, in sadness and happiness but the choices of deeds that Ratnakar has decided to pursue belong to him and only him and thus the outcome of those deeds and choices have to be borne by Ratnakar alone.
Ratnakar asked the same question from his son. His twelve-year-old son said, I never asked you for anything, what I experienced in the house, what environment I was exposed to created my need for things, what I, saw heard and listened to, I learnt and thus I am neither responsible for your actions or the outcome of it.
Ratnakar went back to Sage Narada numb from within and started crying bitterly on his feet. They both looked at each other, Ratnakar had got his answers and his tears enabled him to wash off the blindfolded fascination (Andha moh) for his family and offspring.
The Oxymoron or Justification of evil deeds
The dichotomy of life is that innumerable human beings on the planet do wrong under the garb of them satisfying the needs of the Senses, and urges or under the belief of satiating the desires of loved ones, family and or offspring.
The reason for wrong deeds can be any, but the repercussions of the same have to be borne and experienced by oneself as there is no escape from Karma (Law of Deeds. To understand what the law of deeds in detail is and how it works, click here ).
Modern-day parents do everything – good, bad ugly so that their children should not face challenging times. One succumbs to all small and big demands of their wards thinking that this is the way one is buying a ticket for their children’s good life and in turn a guarantee that once they become old, the children will reciprocate back by bringing things and care one will need in old age.
Convoluted thinking
Unfortunately, the assumption with which one acts is faulty. Convoluted thinking involves three aspects:
1. Sheltering: If the sampling is not exposed to the sun, it never grows. Good times create weak people and weak times create strong people. Thus sheltering the offspring, only makes one more vulnerable. Every other non-human species on this planet after a point in time, force their offspring to fend for themselves rather than feed.
2. Past Deeds: Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan-I, was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. Shah Jahan had four sons namely Aurangzeb, Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja and Murad Baksh.
When all four sons of Shah Jahan were born, the father was happy and delighted. Since Shah Jahan was a Mughal emperor, he made sure all his sons got a good education, good virtues and good life under his reign.
Despite providing all amenities, things and resources to his sons, six years before the death of Shah Jahan, he was put in prison by his son Aurangzeb. Furthermore, Dara Shikoh, who was a knowledgeable spiritual man, and translated 2 Upanishads and The Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit into the Persian Language was his father’s favourite.
Aurangzeb was scared that Dara Shikoh will not allow him to be the successor of Shah Jahan and plotted to kill Dara Shikoh. He subsequently assassinated Dara and presented the head of Dara Shikoh to his father while his father was in jail.
Shah Jahan gave everything to all his four sons, then why did he has to face the pain, anguish, the grief inflicted by his very own son?
3. Dharma aviruddha Artha and Kama- In the present world, lot many children have a chequered and challenging relationship with their parents, be that famous pop stars like Beyonce, who removed her father from managing her troop or Justin Bieber who mentioned that his relationship with his mom was "pretty nonexisting" or business tycoon Vijaypat Singhania who accused his son of ousting him from the role of chairman emeritus and also having forcibly taken away a bulk of his property.
Why this sourness in the relationship?
Is it to do with the attainment of money or the fulfilment of desires in an unethical manner or something else?
Human relations are complex and there is no easy solution but circling back to the questions mentioned above.
Wrong or Perception of being Wronged
First, there is no way that every expectation of one will be met or can be met. As one expectation gets satiated, a bigger one takes shape. On the other hand when one’s expectation is not met, one believes one is wronged. In that scenario, one needs to self-analyze what happened and whether it was unjust or was it a sheer mismatch of expectations and outcomes.
If it was unjust, punishing the Adharmi (sinful person) is right but taking revenge as a consequence from everyone will only multiply one’s wrong deeds.
Also if one forgives the Adharmi, and moves on, Universe will make sure that the one who performed the heinous act will be punished.
The heinous crime may be over but the remnants of it are left within the criminal and eventually, the criminal suffers.
According to Sanatani Scriptures, one of the worst forms of torture or human hell is the guilt arising from a hidden crime that one experiences.
On the other hand, if one has been wronged, one should collectively take the cause of others who have been wronged and then correct it rather than revenge.
As far as offerings are concerned, what will matter is only one’s deeds. Irrespective of what one gives to one’s child, the only determining factor for one’s outcome of the future is one’s intent, one’s words, one’s actions and actions of others driven by oneself, thus in short – Karma.
As someone rightly said,
No need for revenge. Just sit back & wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves & if you’re lucky, Universe will let you watch.
निरपेक्षो निर्विकारो निर्भरः शीतलाशयः ।
अगाधबुद्धिरक्षुब्धो भव चिन्मात्रवासनः ॥
Meaning: You are unconditioned and changeless, formless and immovable, unfathomable awareness and unperturbable, so hold on to nothing but consciousness.
The enlightenment - Cutting the chains of Entanglement
Many centuries ago, there was a kingdom and the people of the kingdom lived happily. In the nearby forest that connected the capital city of the kingdom and nearby towns and villages, there lived a dacoit by the name of Ratnakar. He was strong, dangerous, and ghastly.
The king and his men tried to capture him multiple times but were unsuccessful. Hence they announced in the kingdom that people should not cross the forest at night and should only cross the forest accompanied by a troop of soldiers.
Ratnakar and his men on the other hand always got a good catch in the form of people carrying gold, silver, and precious jewels. He would loot and plunder the people who would cross the forest and would distribute the loot amongst his fellow dacoits equally.
One day Sage Narada, one of the devout devotees of Lord Vishnu came to the capital city and after spending a few days he was about to cross the forest to arrive at the next destination. People tried stopping Narada from crossing the forest alone and told him about Dacoit Ratnakar and his atrocities. Sage Narada told his disciples that he need to reach Sage Vashishta ashram across the forest, or else Sage Vashishta will be waiting for him.
Thus Narada embarked on the journey uttering "Narayan Narayan". In the middle of the forest, Ratnakar appeared from nowhere and stopped Narada, and told him to give whatever he has.
Narada replied "Narayan Narayan".
Ratnakar repeated his command, that Narada should give whatever, he has and there came an answer, "Narayan Narayan."
Angry Ratnakar told Narada, "You are sage, else I would have killed right now."
He further went on and asked, "Aren’t you afraid of me? Aren’t you afraid that I will kill you?"
Narada replied I am not afraid because I have Narayan with me and he is the only one that I have got.
Narada contrarily asked Ratnakar, “I am not scared or afraid but are you scared?”
Listening to this Ratnakar became furious and shouted in a loud voice, "Everyone is scared and fearful of me and not the other way round. I am not afraid of anyone."
On this Narada said, why is he then living in the forest and mugging and plundering the money and wealth of people who are passing by and who are incapable of protecting themselves?
On this Ratnakar became sombre and started narrating his past. Ratnakar stated that he was not born a dacoit. He was a respectable soldier in the army of the kingdom. But one day after the battle, his fellow soldiers raped and plundered the women of the kingdom that was won by his army. He tried stopping them from doing this heinous crime when they didn’t listen he killed them.
Post this event, Ratnakar was labelled as a traitor despite doing good and thus he became the dacoit.
Narada asked Ratnakar: Can two wrongs ever make a right?
If you have been wronged by a few people in the society or country, taking revenge from everyone in the society, is it just?
Wrong happened to you, will you perpetuate wrong by more wrong or try and correct it by doing right?
This got Ratnakar thinking.
Shifting gears here: This is the same question that Lord Shree Krishna asked Karna (the eldest Pandava) when Karna gave the argument to Shree Krishna that Duryodhana supported him when no one came to his support and thus Karna will have his lifelong allegiance to Duryodhana (The Kuru Prince)
Lord Krishna questioned, “if things, people and situations went against one, does that mean one should move to the path of Adharma and pursue the side of Adharma or become the voice of the weak who have faced similar Adharma?”
Going back to the conversation between Ratnakar and Narada.
Ratnakar said that he agrees that the Path of Adharma and wrong should not be pursued. But what choice one is left with when there are limited options and when one has to take care of one’s family, one’s child, one’s wife and one's offspring?
Listening to this Narada gently asked Ratnakar, “So these heinous acts and this loot and plundering you are pursuing to satiate demands of your offspring and family?”
Ratnakar replied with affirmation. He further declared that "If it was only for him, he could have lived on fruits of the forest and killed wild animals for his sustenance, satiating his hunger."
Narada told Ratnakar, that he should go and ask his family whether they will participate and be part of the outcome of deeds performed by him, in his pursuit to provide them food and shelter and protection.
Ratnakar went back to his lonely house in the forest and repeated the question in front of his wife. His wife replied - that she has promised to be with him in thick and thin, in sadness and happiness but the choices of deeds that Ratnakar has decided to pursue belong to him and only him and thus the outcome of those deeds and choices have to be borne by Ratnakar alone.
Ratnakar asked the same question from his son. His twelve-year-old son said, I never asked you for anything, what I experienced in the house, what environment I was exposed to created my need for things, what I, saw heard and listened to, I learnt and thus I am neither responsible for your actions or the outcome of it.
Ratnakar went back to Sage Narada numb from within and started crying bitterly on his feet. They both looked at each other, Ratnakar had got his answers and his tears enabled him to wash off the blindfolded fascination (Andha moh) for his family and offspring.
The Oxymoron or Justification of evil deeds
The dichotomy of life is that innumerable human beings on the planet do wrong under the garb of them satisfying the needs of the Senses, and urges or under the belief of satiating the desires of loved ones, family and or offspring.
The reason for wrong deeds can be any, but the repercussions of the same have to be borne and experienced by oneself as there is no escape from Karma (Law of Deeds. To understand what the law of deeds in detail is and how it works, click here ).
Modern-day parents do everything – good, bad ugly so that their children should not face challenging times. One succumbs to all small and big demands of their wards thinking that this is the way one is buying a ticket for their children’s good life and in turn a guarantee that once they become old, the children will reciprocate back by bringing things and care one will need in old age.
Convoluted thinking
Unfortunately, the assumption with which one acts is faulty. Convoluted thinking involves three aspects:
1. Sheltering: If the sampling is not exposed to the sun, it never grows. Good times create weak people and weak times create strong people. Thus sheltering the offspring, only makes one more vulnerable. Every other non-human species on this planet after a point in time, force their offspring to fend for themselves rather than feed.
2. Past Deeds: Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram, better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan-I, was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. Shah Jahan had four sons namely Aurangzeb, Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja and Murad Baksh.
When all four sons of Shah Jahan were born, the father was happy and delighted. Since Shah Jahan was a Mughal emperor, he made sure all his sons got a good education, good virtues and good life under his reign.
Despite providing all amenities, things and resources to his sons, six years before the death of Shah Jahan, he was put in prison by his son Aurangzeb. Furthermore, Dara Shikoh, who was a knowledgeable spiritual man, and translated 2 Upanishads and The Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit into the Persian Language was his father’s favourite.
Aurangzeb was scared that Dara Shikoh will not allow him to be the successor of Shah Jahan and plotted to kill Dara Shikoh. He subsequently assassinated Dara and presented the head of Dara Shikoh to his father while his father was in jail.
Shah Jahan gave everything to all his four sons, then why did he has to face the pain, anguish, the grief inflicted by his very own son?
3. Dharma aviruddha Artha and Kama- In the present world, lot many children have a chequered and challenging relationship with their parents, be that famous pop stars like Beyonce, who removed her father from managing her troop or Justin Bieber who mentioned that his relationship with his mom was "pretty nonexisting" or business tycoon Vijaypat Singhania who accused his son of ousting him from the role of chairman emeritus and also having forcibly taken away a bulk of his property.
Why this sourness in the relationship?
Is it to do with the attainment of money or the fulfilment of desires in an unethical manner or something else?
Human relations are complex and there is no easy solution but circling back to the questions mentioned above.
Wrong or Perception of being Wronged
First, there is no way that every expectation of one will be met or can be met. As one expectation gets satiated, a bigger one takes shape. On the other hand when one’s expectation is not met, one believes one is wronged. In that scenario, one needs to self-analyze what happened and whether it was unjust or was it a sheer mismatch of expectations and outcomes.
If it was unjust, punishing the Adharmi (sinful person) is right but taking revenge as a consequence from everyone will only multiply one’s wrong deeds.
Also if one forgives the Adharmi, and moves on, Universe will make sure that the one who performed the heinous act will be punished.
The heinous crime may be over but the remnants of it are left within the criminal and eventually, the criminal suffers.
According to Sanatani Scriptures, one of the worst forms of torture or human hell is the guilt arising from a hidden crime that one experiences.
On the other hand, if one has been wronged, one should collectively take the cause of others who have been wronged and then correct it rather than revenge.
As far as offerings are concerned, what will matter is only one’s deeds. Irrespective of what one gives to one’s child, the only determining factor for one’s outcome of the future is one’s intent, one’s words, one’s actions and actions of others driven by oneself, thus in short – Karma.
As someone rightly said,
No need for revenge. Just sit back & wait. Those who hurt you will eventually screw up themselves & if you’re lucky, Universe will let you watch.