The Radio

The quality of sound from a radio depends on (among other things), how properly tuned it is. It is not a big technical exercise, rather a very simple but delicate act. A minute movement is enough to set the reception at right level. And it is experimentation. Sometimes here sometimes there and then we know where the best tuning comes.

It seems that situation of this world today is like a untuned radio. There is no melody, no balance, but the harshness and haphazard actvities without any synchronisation. As the untuned radio keeps giving unwanted sound, this world is producing unwanted situations. There is chaos in place of harmony, there is confusion in place of clarity, there is misery and sadness in place of rythm and joy. Man, as he sits beside radio and cribs about its sound, keeps cribbing about the state of affairs - at home or in the world.

Why does this type of situation arises? Let's start from the beginning. In the beginning, people knew why they used radio. They used it for music, for entertainment and to get relaxed. The radios (or the world for that matter) were finetuned. Melody, harmony and music was the part of life. The great thinkers, philosophers and well wishers draw the guidelines on where and how to finetune life and world as a whole. They prescibed the ways and means so that tuning is maintained at that level.

Then, years passed by. Generations kept on using radio. They had seen their forefathers using it and so knew it is supposed to be used, it is supposed to be played. But with time, they forgot the purpose behind its use. The radio kept on playing without generating the feelings it used to generate in previous generations. It became more a showpiece and a tradition. Everyday on some particular times, it has to be played. It became more of a routine for the sake of it, rather than a means to serve a bigger purpose. (If want to think in context of world, just replace word 'traditions' for 'radio'.)

Then some more changes happened. Technology changed and model of radio changed. New frequencies were introduced, older ones became redundant. Now the man should have tuned it to the better and new frequencies. But, he does not want to think at his own. He wants to live under the comfort of guidelines given by the forefathers. So he does the tuning with same old guidelines. He does not apply his mind to understand the principle and logic behind those guidelines. He does not discover new guidelines which might be useful for present and future generations. His closemindedness does not allow him to challenge old rules. He keeps tuning at the same levels and with same means. On the new radio, many times he is not able to find the old buttons as were given in guidelines. He cannot understand the new buttons which have come up in new radios. He avoids to know about any new frequencies being introduced. Man does not want to know that the rules prescribed by forefathers were applicable in that time and situation and needs to be redefined for the present requirements. How can those great forefathers be wrong? What this new generation knows? He never gets any answer, nor the satisfaction. (If want to think in context of world, just replace word 'moral teachings' for 'rules and guidelines' and replace word 'life' for 'radio'.)

People keep following the rules and guidelines given in scriptures and moral teachings, which were perfectly applicable in olden times. The essence of those principles is not understood and teachings are followed only by words not by their deeper intentions. Their psychological slavery to old traditions does not allows them to challenge old rules. At the same time, their inner sense of logic and rationality keep knocking their mind questioning their actions. Now, it creates a conflict and person becomes even more confused. He keeps suppressing his inner voice, which keeps warning and questioning him. He knows that there is something wrong, but cannot figure it out.

Then, the suppressed inner voice is no more stoppable. But, it has now changed its course. being suppressed, it has got distorted on its way and comes out in ugly ways also. Somewhere the traditions were ruling the person. Now, the suppressed emotions go to other extremes. There is rebellion. So, if they are taught to be religious, they will become atheist. If they are taught not to accumulate wealth, they will worship money. If they are asked to observe austerity, they will become womaniser. If they are asked to repsect elders, they will put them into old age homes. If they are asked to spread love, their arrogance will sweep the world.

And thus, the tuning, which was on one extreme (that was also not right), goes on to the other extreme. This also generates nothing but dissatisfaction, because man is still not on the right tuning.

So what is this right tuning. Right tuning is something, which puts this world on track, in harmony with the nature, which makes everybody happy and this world a peaceful and prosperous place to live.

How to know, what is the right tuning level. To know the right tuning level, first there is need to undertand the purpose behind it. Why at all we use radio (why do we live life). One needs to be very clear about the goal. This goal becomes his compass whenever, he needs direction. Once the goal is determined, now he needs to know the right way to move towards it. First of all he himslef needs to chalk out his course of journey. Then, he can take help and assistance from the old teachings. These teachings are based on extensive experiments and learnings for a long period. They act as a good consultant. But only as consultant. The decision has to be yours only. so there are only two steps - find out your purpose and take the right course of action (right course means something which matches your values, something which when followed, gives you inner peace and happiness)

Are You Feeling Uneasy

We all feel uneasy in different life situations and many times during the day. Most of the times, we are not even able to identify that there is feeling of uneasiness, as most of our efforts and attention goes into avoiding it, not to feel it. And that is obvious, nobody likes to be uneasy.

But what is this uneasiness? Why does it occur? What makes us feel uncomfortable? Let's go back to that feeling. Let's feel it as it is. Let us see what happens at that time. If we observe deeply, uneasiness is nothing but an internal discussion, a fast dialogue going on inside our mind. There are two arguments going on. One wants to take you towards one direction and second wants you to be in another.

Actually this dialogue, this discussion goes on so fast that we cannot even see or know what are the thoughts rushing through the mind. Pull and push continues, but as you are not involved consiously in it, the dialogue goes on only at surface level. You would have experiened sometimes that in uneasiness feeling, a single thought or a couple of thoughts keep occuring and repeating in mind. So both sides keep pulling you in their direction, without giving you a chance to understand the matter. Most of the times, you even do not know the subject matter or the cause of uneasiness. Sometimes you know it, but the rattling does not allow you concentrate anywhere. Rather, it makes you feel like running from it and when u are running away, how can you understand it.

Now, as the discussion goes on only at surface level, without going deeper into the matter, it remains at the same level and does not get solved. And your irritation and uneasiness level rises. The serious levels of depression are result of this phenomena, when the uneasiness feeling is not resolved at the earlier stage itself.

So, how to get out of uneasiness. It is very simple and rather full of fun. Whenever, you feel uneasy, say STOP very loudly in your mind, give a jerk to your body and open your eyes wide. Now you are fully awake.

Now, with full compassion and love ask (as if u are asking two fighting children), what is
the trouble? The answer may not come immediately. There might be silence for sometime. Just see it. You might get some words or sentences, which might not make sense. You might also get a comlete arguement coupled with a contrary point of view on a matter.

Listen to each of your thought. There will be contradictions, there will be traditions fighting logic, there will be culture fighting freedom and many more. Listen to them patiently, not to get rid of them, but to have fun out of it. Do not rush anywhere. be with them. Just listen, do not try to provide any solution or comment. Just be present. Just obeserve it curiously as a third party who is present there just for the sake of it. You will find that your mind has become lighter and the conclusion is in front of you.

Most of the times, you will be surprised to note how useless and irrelevant rattling was going on in your mind. Many times, it will give you a feeling of Eureka. Many times you will feel that you have got closer to yourself. And every time, you will feel more relaxed and lighter.

So next time, if you feel uneasy, get ready to have fun.