Learning lessons

There are two common ways of learning a lesson. First is the way eklavya learnt it, by seeing others getting trained, and the second way is the way Arjuna learned, directly by getting directly trained. Majority follow Arjuna’s path.

Now, those of you who don’t know the story of Eklavya let me brief it for you. It’s a mythological story in India. When Kaurava and Pandava’s were having their training in warfare from Dronacharya Eklavya used to see them. By that observation he learnt warfare a far better than any of Kaurava or Pandavas.

That’s what happened in real life too. Some of us learn from the lessons of other people and manage those situations in life with more expertise. And some people prefer hands on experience in place of learning by observation and honing one’s skill by oneself.

Being a learner I prefer learning from every thing. Direct or indirect ways. It’s true that we can’t blindly trust or follow others but we can keep their experiences in mind, at-least give them the benefit of doubt that they are truthful and their experiences genuine. We can never say, even the most weird things can turn out to be true. In that case if we blow them away we will easily slide in the trap when we face those circumstances. But if we give them benefit of doubt, high chances are that we will be saved from those traps.

My childhood holi

I took birth in Uttar Pradesh. Holi runs in its blood. We had to take precautions from a fortnight ago. Always keeping an eye for a balloon landing right upon us, colouring us up or a shower of colour from rooftop, or sprinkling from a passerby. The day of Holi meant absolute insanity.

We were allowed to use colours on only the day of Holi. There were two colours permitted for us to use gulal (a dry powdered colour) and wet colours, which were mixed in water and then filled up in pichkaris (special sprayers).

When holi came in UP winter still lingered there. Not completely gone. So we used to start with gulal and then pick up the wet colours after ten in the morning.

Every home used to throw its door open, there were two things waiting for visitors- all types of colours and sweets.

There were homes where buckets of colours were poured on the visitors and there were homes where only a hug and a little gulal was rubbed on forehead or cheeks.

I loved the gujhias most. It’s a special sweet of UP. Dry, sweet Kheer (milk and sugar boiled together till they become like dough) stuffed in a samosa type structure. It still lingers in my tongue. But they tasted a little bitter on holi day because our mouths were filled with colours. We relished them later, on the coming days after our teeth have retained their normal colour and our tongue has become pink again. On holi it was usually either purple or green. Those two colours were the most obstinate ones.

After having the full fledged fun with neighbours we used to stand by the roadside with leftover colours and sprinkle them on the passerby’s. No, no one gets angry by that on Holi day, even if he is not a Hindu. People bear it with good spirit usually.

For next one week or so, our ears and fingers were multicoloured. That was quite a sight to behold.

Love for living beings

There are different forms of Love. Right? Love for God, nature, pets, friends, loved ones… the list is never ending. The love for other animals (including human beings … yes you saw it correct I am grinning) is most probably most intense. Why?

I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Well ever since I took in my pet pixie. A kitten. I believe the intensity with which we love living beings like cats (and human beings, of course not jelly fish or squid) is far greater than any other form of love.

But usually we love our pets more than human beings. Why is that so? They also express their affection in return, that’s why? We can expect hundred percent honesty and love from them, that’s why? They can extract our affection? Quite a mystifying thing for me. Ever since his entry I have noted that other loves are waning away.

Most probably we love them for their innocence, honesty and loyalty. Adding to that we can be ourselves with them. Never fearing for a second that they will stop loving us for that.