Wake Up!

Are you bothered about the state of the world?

Heat is unrelenting in many countries and soaring temperatures are making life a misery for those without air-conditioning. And those who do have air-conditioning are stuck in their houses and not particularly happy. There is economic turmoil, financial instability, and political dysfunction. There are wars and insurrections in different parts of the world, and they could cross borders and grow out of control. The pandemic is still around though it has receded from headlines. Social media is an unrelenting purveyor of doom and gloom.

What should you do? What can you do?

India, in the early twentieth century, was a country racked by strife and turbulence. Nationalism was coming to a head and atrocities like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre were inflaming the populace. Leaders like Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel were leading a revolt for independence and against colonial rule.

People would come to Ramana Maharshi, in his humble abode in Tiruvannamalai, and ask him why he was ‘doing nothing’ in this time of great need for the country. Some were earnest seekers of knowledge. Others were contemptuous and accusatory.

The great sage generally remained silent. But he did answer a particularly sincere and troubled devotee. “How do you know that, by remaining silent and immersed in the Self, I am not doing more than those involved in frenetic activity?”

Note that he did not say he was doing more. He simply asked a question that opened up the possibility.

Anthony DeMello also stated numerous times that the world is just fine. It is you who is troubled. What you need to do is simple.

You need to wake up.

You go to bed at night and have a dream. You are on a jungle safari and the entire party is captured by terrorists. You are newly married and love your wife dearly. Her health is fragile and you are worried about her ability to deal with the abuse, lack of food and rough conditions in captivity.

One of the captors shoves your wife roughly and you protest. He kicks you in the knee and you fall to the ground screaming in agony. For good measure he slams his rifle butt into your face leaving you with a broken nose.

One of your fellow prisoners discovers a hole in the wire mesh fence that imprisons you and a few decide to make a break for it. Your wife is one of them at your urging. You cannot go because you are unable to walk.

Shortly after they leave there is a commotion. There is shouting and gunfire. You see guards running out and try to stop one. He pushes you and you fall twisting your hurt leg. The pain is so intense that you….

…wake up.

When you wake up do you try to go back and ascertain if your wife made it to safety? The idea is absurd. It was all a dream.

You only realize it was a dream when you wake up.

Are you bothered about what is happening in the world and about your circumstances?

Wake up!

Peace!