6. Insight.

One of my pals asked me “When are you planning to retire?” Pretending to be in a hurry I told him “Catch you sometime later and discuss the retirement stuff”.

On my way, typically I asked myself – “What is retirement and why does everyone seek it?”

The very self-feedback was – Of course, to sit back, relax and have a good time doing either what I want to do or simply nothing.

What would be the ideal age then? Probably, the age when I will be simply good for nothing for my friends, family, society, nation, etc. Isn’t it? This almost compliments the self-feedback above. Have I overlooked a striking point though? What about doing what I want to do rather doing what I love to do? When will I do it? How will I be able to do it at that age?

Nothing atypical about this insight which almost always ends with one word questions like What? How? When? Why? Also, It’s easy to digress from questions where the replies seem to be more chaotic or fussy.

Can I not think of restructuring the emblematic insight? Can I not feel – Retirement is here and now. Sound weird, huh!

Of course, it has to sound weird as ‘restructuring’ is more than a word. I got to think laterally. I got to think out of the box. Well, just think? Not really.

I got to pen down the to-do and to-be list and just start living it up. Pretty theoretical! Yea, I know!! In the world of here and now, theory and practical are synonymous. This is the moment where I can do and the restructuring is “I am doing”. Besides this, there is nothing in my control. If I fall, the activity of falling has happened. Uncharacteristic implementation here would be to rise this moment and resume.

I unlocked the door, picked up the phone, called my friend and left a voicemail - “I am retired” and hung up the phone.

5. School.

Another year has passed by and one more Paryushan have arrived. Sometimes I think, are Paryushan synonymous to the Final exams or are they the beginning of the next step towards the ultimate purpose of life? What about those like me who neither have any purpose of life nor do treat Paryushan as a Final Exam.

Well, on another note, I feel Paryushan days are just like a pre-admission talk sessions where in a bunch of saints and dignitaries feed us with the concepts of religion and the ultimate goal/purpose/lakshya of life. More or less, the focus is on Moksha (Salvation) which is the destination and before that Self-Realization which is the highest milestone achieved in this birth as per Jainism nitty-gritty.

Some like to attend these talks while some don’t. Some do force themselves and attend while some where the external forces work.

I do like to attend the talks (around 30 minutes per session) every year but have I really taken admission in the school? If I say, I have taken admission years back, have I progressed each year? What is the outcome if I just sit back and evaluate my progress in last few years (forget years back) or may be precisely 5 years (since 2003)?

What is the use of settling in the same class every year? Hello!! Am I abiding the same class at least? Or have I deteriorated? Hey, have I deviated?

Who is better off, if the above 3 questions have an affirmative reply?

PS: After reading the above, many will differ saying it’s the best time to charge the battery for the entire year or the real time to seek for forgiveness and more. What happens after 8/10/17/18 days for battery charging. Let me ask myself. What do I do after seeking forgiveness? Again, let me ask myself.

As mentioned in my blog Paryushan (September 2007), Paryusham is 8/10/18-days of religious "CELEBRATION" as per jainism.

4. Paryushan (A Verse).

Aa rahe hai parvadhiraaj paryushan
Karvaane apne bheetar ka pradarshan
Sahi Samay hai karne ka swa-parikshan
Saaf kartey hue karmo ka pradushan

In dino, hota hai khub, seva,pooja, darshan
Saath saath hotey hai alochan aur pravachan
Par uske baad phir wahi sansar ka gharshan
Wahi moh-maaya aur baahar ka aakarshan

Kyon na is baar kuch aisa kare nirikshan
Bhoot-bhavishya bhool, jiye vartmaan kshan
Is kshan se mehenga nahi, hai koi aabhushan
Is tarah ka de hum, apne aap ko shikshan
Jeevan ho santusht, kartey hue aatma-sparshan

3. Work and Luck.

I have so much work
And I don’t want so screw up
I will put all my efforts
But result will be on luck

This mentality will make me work
Only with efforts, not considering luck
If at all, I do screw up
I’ll not dwell on past, but again start up

2. Kya maine kabhi socha hai.

Kya maine kabhi socha hai.
Parinaam ka kya bharosa hai..
Sab kaam theek karne par bhi
Aakhir me hota kyon locha hai

Mere karne se hi sab hota hai
Ye to sab se bada dhoka hai
Karya ki safalta ka saara shrey mera
Asafalta mile, kismat ke naam rota hai

Ya phir sada auron ko kosa hai..
Apna jimma dusro pe thosa hai..
Sach ye hai, jo tha maine pakaya
Wohi mujhe gaya parosa hai

Fal waisa milega, jaisa beej bota hai
Par mann to moh maaya mein sota hai*
Poora saal debit karne ke baad…
3 ghante ki credit me saare paap dhota hai

<< In jainism, once in a year people sit for around 3 hours, remember their sins and seek forgiveness for the same>>

*This line was changed as per Suchit's apt suggestion.

1. Chahe...

Chahe ho jaao TV se koso dur
Par khud ke kareeb rehna zaroor

Chahe ho jaao Cinema se khafa
Par khud se karna sada wafa

Chahe duniya saari ho jaaye be-imaan
Par aap kabhi naa khonaa ye imaan

Chahe badle samay, badle zamaana
Bhool naa jaana, biwi se kiya vaada nibhaana

Chahe Bhool bhulaiya uljhaaye aapko
Thoda samay dena apne maa-baapko

Chahe mailbox me mail ho hazaar
Doston ke emails ko karna sweekar