Edited by Open Chatgbt
Introduction:
Almost the whole day, I was subconsciously thinking about the song I wrote yesterday. I often questioned what exactly is that ‘aanmeeha amaidi,’ which I can roughly translate as ‘atma shanti’? I know that by keeping silent or living as a recluse, one cannot attain that.
Exploration of Atma Shanti:
Does it mean keeping some kind of ‘stoic indifference’ about everything in life, particularly what happens around us? For example, when I listen to the petty politics that some politicians, particularly the opposition parties at local, national, or international levels, make against every government in this Corona crisis, I become very upset. Every government is doing what it can and should do in such a crisis. But as the politicians want to politicize every issue, it irritates me.
Frustration with Societal Reactions:
More than that, some of the WhatsApp messages circulated by so-called NGOs or Messiahs of the poor really upset me. Those who cannot take care of their own near and dear ones at home are making a huge cry about the suffering of the daily laborers in the unorganized sector. They failed as a father/mother, son/daughter, husband/wife, brother/sister, friend, and neighbor in so many ways in their personal life but suddenly run a crusade attacking the government about the shutdown. Even some expect their parents to share their savings and pension to take care of them to lead their idealistic life.
Observation and Challenges:
One of my friends, Kannan, complained that in his town, several daily laborers are suffering, unable to earn money for livelihood. But when I challenged him to show that anyone is actually suffering without food and starving, he accepted that the government and several generous people are doing their best to see that everyone is getting the minimum requirement for survival. This does not mean that they are enjoying the same kind of life which they led before. Many of them miss their alcohol and other kinds of drinks. But they somehow manage to get it illegally even in this crisis but blame the government that they are starving. These kinds of people merely create sensation by using their art of attacking anything and everything in life with a negative attitude. For them, nothing positive happens in life or in the world.
Reflection on Atma Shanti:
In such a scenario, keeping a blind eye and maintaining some stoic indifference to all that happens around is not ‘atma shanti’ according to me. I have to involve in life, even as a sannyasi, when I accepted certain responsibilities as per my dharma (as a son now to my mother) and have to do my best. At the same time, though relatively I live a peaceful life compared to others, still there is no content in the life I live. For me and my mother, life goes on as before. The shutdown does not affect our normal life. The only thing is that I cannot go to the library once in ten days to bring books for my mother to read. But I managed to get more books for her to read.
Silver Lining:
One more good news is that all the mega serials, which annoyed me as they show all kinds of domestic violence (that too women against women), are now stopped, and they are showing films. As my mother is not interested in films, I need not close my room and put on earplugs and sound (Carnatic) music to avoid hearing those serials. Now with much peace of mind, I can do my work of reading and writing. And I wish that they eternally close all kinds of serials in India. {No use, after a week, they began to show the same old serials, and my mother (and most Indian women) never becomes tired of seeing the same serial again and again.}
Ongoing Discontent:
Still, there is no content in this life thinking that God has really given me a blessed (Single person) life. Though I am thankful to him, I still cannot realize that ‘atma shanti’ in my spirit. When I think that I have done enough sadhana, the Lord expects more and always raises the bar.
Faith and Idealism:
But amidst these trials in life, several times all the promises which the Lord gave seem more idealistic than real. For example, the peace which our Lord promised to give, not like the world, seems more idealistic than real for me. But there is no other option for me but to go back and ask, seek, and knock at his door. Either I have to complain against the Lord and lead a life with pessimism or continue to live with TRUST and HOPE in him.
Conclusion:
So after meditating about this ‘atma shanti’ and how I failed to understand or receive it, I wrote this song [BT 1189].
Revised on 7-7-2024
Gurukulam.
Edited by Open Chatgbt
Introduction:
Almost the whole day, I was subconsciously thinking about the song I wrote yesterday. I often questioned what exactly is that ‘aanmeeha amaidi,’ which I can roughly translate as ‘atma shanti’? I know that by keeping silent or living as a recluse, one cannot attain that.
Exploration of Atma Shanti:
Does it mean keeping some kind of ‘stoic indifference’ about everything in life, particularly what happens around us? For example, when I listen to the petty politics that some politicians, particularly the opposition parties at local, national, or international levels, make against every government in this Corona crisis, I become very upset. Every government is doing what it can and should do in such a crisis. But as the politicians want to politicize every issue, it irritates me.
Frustration with Societal Reactions:
More than that, some of the WhatsApp messages circulated by so-called NGOs or Messiahs of the poor really upset me. Those who cannot take care of their own near and dear ones at home are making a huge cry about the suffering of the daily laborers in the unorganized sector. They failed as a father/mother, son/daughter, husband/wife, brother/sister, friend, and neighbor in so many ways in their personal life but suddenly run a crusade attacking the government about the shutdown. Even some expect their parents to share their savings and pension to take care of them to lead their idealistic life.
Observation and Challenges:
One of my friends, Kannan, complained that in his town, several daily laborers are suffering, unable to earn money for livelihood. But when I challenged him to show that anyone is actually suffering without food and starving, he accepted that the government and several generous people are doing their best to see that everyone is getting the minimum requirement for survival. This does not mean that they are enjoying the same kind of life which they led before. Many of them miss their alcohol and other kinds of drinks. But they somehow manage to get it illegally even in this crisis but blame the government that they are starving. These kinds of people merely create sensation by using their art of attacking anything and everything in life with a negative attitude. For them, nothing positive happens in life or in the world.
Reflection on Atma Shanti:
In such a scenario, keeping a blind eye and maintaining some stoic indifference to all that happens around is not ‘atma shanti’ according to me. I have to involve in life, even as a sannyasi, when I accepted certain responsibilities as per my dharma (as a son now to my mother) and have to do my best. At the same time, though relatively I live a peaceful life compared to others, still there is no content in the life I live. For me and my mother, life goes on as before. The shutdown does not affect our normal life. The only thing is that I cannot go to the library once in ten days to bring books for my mother to read. But I managed to get more books for her to read.
Silver Lining:
One more good news is that all the mega serials, which annoyed me as they show all kinds of domestic violence (that too women against women), are now stopped, and they are showing films. As my mother is not interested in films, I need not close my room and put on earplugs and sound (Carnatic) music to avoid hearing those serials. Now with much peace of mind, I can do my work of reading and writing. And I wish that they eternally close all kinds of serials in India. {No use, after a week, they began to show the same old serials, and my mother (and most Indian women) never becomes tired of seeing the same serial again and again.}
Ongoing Discontent:
Still, there is no content in this life thinking that God has really given me a blessed (Single person) life. Though I am thankful to him, I still cannot realize that ‘atma shanti’ in my spirit. When I think that I have done enough sadhana, the Lord expects more and always raises the bar.
Faith and Idealism:
But amidst these trials in life, several times all the promises which the Lord gave seem more idealistic than real. For example, the peace which our Lord promised to give, not like the world, seems more idealistic than real for me. But there is no other option for me but to go back and ask, seek, and knock at his door. Either I have to complain against the Lord and lead a life with pessimism or continue to live with TRUST and HOPE in him.
Conclusion:
So after meditating about this ‘atma shanti’ and how I failed to understand or receive it, I wrote this song. [BT Song 1189]
Revised on 7-7-2024
Gurukulam.
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