An exam, an error, a delay …God’s larger plan via a stroke of bad luck? Reblogging my favorite post from This month That year. March 2014 Read on …
Circa 1993 . H.S.C exams. Biology, my favorite paper. Every answer on my fingertip; and from there fluidly onto the answer paper. The giddy bubbly feeling when everything is sailing smooth. Life is perfect!
My answers fill Main plus 3 extra sheets. I crosscheck my roll number and hand over the paper bang on time. I stroll out with a silly smug smile hovering over my lips. As I collect my bag, Disaster strikes! I have forgotten
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Impractical Dreamer 
I’ve gone through the original post. I was looking for that perspective in your book but it was conceived from different one – a more rational & worldly approach.
Anyway, as I see, nothing could be defined in absolute black & white. Reality is paradoxical & mysterious. It cannot be known from mere reasoning & analysis. The post beautifully stated it and is in congruence with chapter 2 verse 16 of Bhagwadgita. The verse says that bad has no existence and good never ceases to be; the reality of both has been acknowledged by seekers.
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Hi Ravish. As usual, a beautiful response from you.
Are you referring to Krishn in my book? The denial of his Godliness was a very deliberate & conscious decision. Let me explain –
I’ve always thought that God Krishn has overshadowed strategist Krishn- and that’s a pity. Its like a great film with great story, dialogues & plot, but which gets awards & fame solely for its special effects instead.
I don’t like that Krishn’s wisdom, eloquence, diplomacy, foresight get sidelined by his Sudarshanchakra shrouding the sun or producing reams of cloth for Draupadi.
Hence I deliberately stressed on human Krishn’s qualities throughout. Infact, when some of the reviewers mentioned *** SPOILERS AHEAD ***the absence of vastraharan scene, it was a direct byproduct of my decision to picturize a human Krishn.
1] I don’t think her trauma was any way diminished or less horrific in the absence of vastraharan. 2] I would rather stress on Draupadi’s courage, presence of mind, shastra knowledge and eloquence in those moments, rather than on a godly miracle.3] Even if I want to credit Krishn for it, isn’t it possible that God Krishn’s messenger came in form of Gandhari/ Dharma/ Vidure instead of endless cloth?
All that , of course, doesn’t change my views on atheism vs theism. I wrote from both povs in ‘Myths’ section to get the point across. I don’t like Kurukshetra described as a war of God vs Villains, since I think it belittles Krishn and unnecessarily elevates villains to a status they don’t deserve. *** SPOILER ENDS
That said, yes, Truth is grey – and many shade of grey. And Fact is stranger than fiction. Thank you for your thoughtful & insightful comments.
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I was talking about the approach: adversity is a blessing in disguise. I was talking about your lines: “Life maybe too abrupt to swear & blame. Life may spring you a gift when you thought it was a curse.” I was talking about the understanding of the positive side of those 10 minutes arguing and pleading with the Bxxxh that saved your mother’s life. I was talking about unravelling of God’s Jigsaw Puzzle.
I only saw its glimpse once: “Focus built on shame. Intensity bred on insults. The bird-eye, the fish-eye; both capitalized upon that smutty, murky feeling.” Though, you stated: “What does a blame game achieve? The accused feels defensive & bitter, the accuser feels absolved of all responsibility… and neither comes out wiser, cleaner or better than before.” But the philosophy didn’t reflect in actions in the book
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As the verse says “Bad has no existence and good never ceases to be,” there exists no sin. For sin, concept of SATAN is needed. There’s no SATAN in Indian Philosophy. Indian Philosophy is about A-Dwaitaya i.e. non-dualism. HE/SHE is the cause of both: Beginning & End. HE/SHE is both: Cause & Effect. HE/SHE is both: Hero & Villain. That is why, Krishna could easily allow his Narayani Sena to fight from Kaurava’s side. (I know you have different approach for it because you’re seeing it from different vantage point.) For Krishna, both good & evil are hindrances in path to Stitha-Prajna.
Krishna advocated Swah-Dharma in Geeta because there could not be any Universal Dharma. What is right for you may not be right for others. So, what appears sin to you may not appear sin to others. Mahabharata was said as Dharma Yudha not Dharma-Adharma Yudha.
Well, I have many disagreements regarding Krishna. I wasn’t against the denial of his Godliness but stripping off his Spiritual Wisdom.
And there are no facts but only interpretations.
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Ah, I see. Thank you for unravelling it for me.
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Dharma Yuddha implies a fight for dharma and against adharma. The same way India’s Freedom struggle was a war for freedom and against bondage.
Krishn very definitely was distinguishing the sinners vs sinned. Why else would he say ‘Pavitranay saadhuman, Vinashaya cha dushkritaam’? If he couldn’t decide & identify saadhuman vs dushkritaam, how would he know whom to destroy, punish or judge? (Again, his destruction applies to body and not soul).
Yes, he believed in giving sinners a chance to redeem or rectify, but only with a purpose of lessening their punishment – not to negate or nullify all sins.
As for adversity being a boon in disguise, yes, it was demonstrated by A multiple times.
Drona tried the wide mouth pitcher technique to favor Ashwatthama over A, he also tried to keep A from learning sonic archery via his advice to keep all lights on during dinner. Arjun vaulted over both setbacks by using Varunastra to fill his pitcher & by teaching himself sonic archery, instead of cribbing abt Drona’s partiality. Drona never taught him Narayanastra and Brahmadanda, which he taught Ashwatthama. Again instead of cribbing, A sought new tutors and higher astras like Pashupat, Vajra, Varunapasha.
If Eklavya’s thumb was adversity, A showed the possible way out by becoming Savyasachi himself. If Urvashi’s curse was an adversity, he turned it into a blessing for an entire year. If exile was an adversity, A utilized it for learning newer astras and for learning new art forms. Being lone warrior at Virat war was an adversity, which he overcame easily. He didn’t excuse it with ‘I wont fight until you give me a large army as backup.’ Being chariotless on day 14 was an adversity which he again overcame.
Vyas’s Arjun blamed or judged very few, whether his own or his enemies. My Arjun did ask some tough questions in chp 21 & 25, but I would love to have answers to them.
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Hi Sweety
I quite like your frank discussion. Actually, we are seeing it from different reference frame.
Dharma Yudha is about Yudha in which both parties are fighting for their respective Dharma. Dharma of one party may appear to other party as Adharma. It’s completely different thing & obvious.
You said regarding India’s Freedom Struggle but from only one side. Yes, Indians were fighting for their freedom against bondage but why British were punishing them; for what British were fighting? British believed that they were civilizing Indians. According to British, they were teaching us ‘how to be civilized.’ In their opinion, Indians were savage & uncivilized. In their opinion, it was Dharma; that’s why, they took the burden of civilizing rest of the world. According to historians, the intention of spreading the message of Christianity played a major role in colonization.
Well, it isn’t ‘Pavitranay saadhuman’ but ‘Paritraanaaya saadhoonaam.’ While answering your questions, I found that I’ve written quite a long reply. So, I’m turning it out into a full fledge post on my blog.
As for adversity being a boon in disguise, I’d be more happy & flattered if you would have shown that perspective in events like Draupadi marrying 5 Pandavas or disrobing of Draupadi.
As you said “Vyas’s Arjun blamed or judged very few, whether his own or his enemies. My Arjun did ask some tough questions in chp 21 & 25, but I would love to have answers to them.” If you ask some direct questions, I’d love to answer those from the reference frame I see it.
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I would love to read British school textbooks and writers views – I’m quite sure they would term our freedom fighters as terrorist rebels. Most criminals justify their crimes in their own minds – the latest documentary on India’s daughters being an example. So obviously they don’t see themselves as adharmic or deserving punishment.
India’s invasion started off with spices, trade and money. Frankly, India faced so many invasions b’cos it was flourishing and prosperous. So I don’t think Christianity was their main issue, although it could be one of the secondary factors.
Ques I would love answered are – being sent via email don’t WANT SPOILERS here.
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Strange unexplainable things happen. God does not appear in person. As they say, deivam manushya roopena. He came in the form of that Bxxxh and saved your mom. By the way, who is Rhea? Or did I not read carefully?
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‘Rhea got to see her Grandma’ – She is my niece and my Mom’s grand daughter.
Yes, I only hope the delay saved my savior too – Wouldn’t it be horrible if God’s plan included a toss-up between her and my Mom? What if the 10 minute delay put my savior on some deadly spot at a wrong moment?
That day was a blessing for me – but a curse for so many unlucky ones. I wonder what upheavals went on in their minds about God, his existence and his motives.
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So true. . I sometimes perceive my life standing on props I created and also supported by what I thought were obstacles but were really deterrents pushing me out of worse situations
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wow, Pallavi! That’s quite a finely worded & expressed statement. Do I see a hidden talent here?
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Great story.God sees a big picture!
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God designs the bigger picture. It is we who may or may not see it and may/may not appreciate the final painting. Thanx for the comment, Z!
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A powerful and lofty aspiration 2wards Truth is always accompanied with a keen sense of sorrow / bravery / mystery of life !
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Wow – a profound statement, Eben!
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