The very thought of people deprived of certain faculties of vision, speech, sounds, etc. gives me the feelings of helplessness, frustration against Him, sympathy, etc. I seem to pity them. I shudder to think as to how they are deprived of the means to appreciate arts - paintings, music, nature, etc. In the recent past, I was fortunate to interact with a visually-deprived person (he prefers being labelled blind). Ironically, it was an eye-opener for me. It was then that I realised as to how muddled up my entire thinking was. In the context of trying to help them, I was doing the worst possible thing. It was like hitting them where it would hurt the most. They do not want my useless pity and inaction.
Their essential philosophy in life is to be like normal persons and be treated so without any pity or contempt. They do not want our misplaced sympathies and ears. Most often, people simply talk or rather act concerned and do not do anything for them.
People are often entangled in their very own web of life, that they simply do not see outside the gambit of their problems. Everyone considers their life to be not so rosy. Life is a journey and should be seen as a learning experience. How would life be if everything were so very well charted out, without its share of ups and downs? Believe me, the experience of the opposites helps us value the good things in life better. We need to be grateful for everything.
He was telling us that, "In case of doubt, I simply ask someone for the way". Such a simple and effective way of doing things. But, how many of us dare to ask when we do not know? Most of the times, we do not want to publicly accept our ignorance for fear of ridicule or whatever. Often, the ego comes into play - falsely assuring the soul that everything is all right when it is definitely not so. Asking when in doubt is the key. That is the Principle of Seeking.
Further, he told us that normally they do not like sympathy or pity. They want to be treated as normal persons. They use their other faculties of learning in a charmingly different manner and show amazing alacrity and ingenuity in their quest towards normal living. All that they would want is encouragement and confidence in their capabilities. Instead of being resigned to their fate or carping on their misfortune, they seem to approach life in a highly positive manner. Agreed that bouts of frustrations are normal in them, but they seem to overcome such emotions too. Self-pity would definitely be there, but then, it would only prove to be more damaging than constructive. I guess, a fair dose of self-pity everyday is the solution.
After that experience, all that I could wish for - May ALL their dreams come true. May He give them the fortitude, strength, determination in their noble quest towards normal living. We should not be bystanders in their struggle. We need to help them in the truest sense; and celebrate the strengths in them.
Their essential philosophy in life is to be like normal persons and be treated so without any pity or contempt. They do not want our misplaced sympathies and ears. Most often, people simply talk or rather act concerned and do not do anything for them.
People are often entangled in their very own web of life, that they simply do not see outside the gambit of their problems. Everyone considers their life to be not so rosy. Life is a journey and should be seen as a learning experience. How would life be if everything were so very well charted out, without its share of ups and downs? Believe me, the experience of the opposites helps us value the good things in life better. We need to be grateful for everything.
He was telling us that, "In case of doubt, I simply ask someone for the way". Such a simple and effective way of doing things. But, how many of us dare to ask when we do not know? Most of the times, we do not want to publicly accept our ignorance for fear of ridicule or whatever. Often, the ego comes into play - falsely assuring the soul that everything is all right when it is definitely not so. Asking when in doubt is the key. That is the Principle of Seeking.
Further, he told us that normally they do not like sympathy or pity. They want to be treated as normal persons. They use their other faculties of learning in a charmingly different manner and show amazing alacrity and ingenuity in their quest towards normal living. All that they would want is encouragement and confidence in their capabilities. Instead of being resigned to their fate or carping on their misfortune, they seem to approach life in a highly positive manner. Agreed that bouts of frustrations are normal in them, but they seem to overcome such emotions too. Self-pity would definitely be there, but then, it would only prove to be more damaging than constructive. I guess, a fair dose of self-pity everyday is the solution.
After that experience, all that I could wish for - May ALL their dreams come true. May He give them the fortitude, strength, determination in their noble quest towards normal living. We should not be bystanders in their struggle. We need to help them in the truest sense; and celebrate the strengths in them.
No comments:
Post a Comment