“We are caught in a vicious circle of busyness, and we don’t know how to come out of it” (particularly in the IT sector) was the question addressed to me when I went to Bengaluru for a function on April 14th. The same evening on Vijay TV (Neeya Nana), discussing the advantages and disadvantages of gadgets (blessings and problems), the same kind of issue was discussed from various angles: “We are trapped, and we don’t know how to come out of it,” etc.
Though a few people tried to offer some solutions, for those who are trapped and have become ‘addicted’ to such devices (particularly mobile phones and computers), their solutions won’t work.
But my simple answer is this: IT’S NOT THAT YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO COME OUT OF IT, BUT THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO COME OUT OF IT. THEN IT’S YOUR FUNERAL, AND NO ONE CAN HELP.
We often say that we can wake up one who sleeps but not one who pretends to sleep.
When I was reflecting on this topic this morning, the following points came to my mind:
1. Count the cost that you have to pay.
2. Think about what can be replaced and what cannot.
3. Seek help from those who can help you—particularly those who were once trapped (or addicted) but have now successfully come out of it.
For me, if everyone could work on one point, we could successfully overcome this issue: what can be replaced and what cannot.
For me, gadgets can be replaced, but not human relationships. Any material thing that cannot enhance and serve to celebrate human relationships never served its real purpose for which it was created. When a man is replaced by material things, we all lose the human touch in every area of our lives. This is not a big subject that needs to be further elaborated with lots of examples. One simple old story, but relevant for all people and in all times—particularly highlighting the importance of human relationships—is good to end this thought:
One rich but very proud and arrogant man in a village never respected others. So, when he was invited to any occasion, he used to send his walking stick through his servants. The same happened when someone died. So, when his servants went to inform others about his death, everyone sent their walking sticks through the servants. And he was buried only by his servants, without anyone attending his funeral.
Dayanand Bharati.
Gurukulam, April 15, 2013
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