Wednesday, July 01, 2009

My experiments with experience!

Experience is a wonderful teacher, the only problem being that the test comes first and the lesson later

-- Anonymous

Nearly all of my learning has been at-the-hands-of-life or what some may term livened by experience! Although this is a sure shot way of being bruised right down to the core of the ego, I guarantee it to be very effective, for learning acquired via such a medium is unlikely to be forgotten, ever!

Sometimes, I wonder what is it that we ought to do with all the learning that we do during the course of our lifetime, and almost instantly comes the answer of how the purpose is to constantly ascend to higher levels that render us to be better than what we already are.

In today's world where complications and confusions rule everyday life, it is essential to seek true wisdom and relentlessly pursue excellence in a effort to bring harmony within the self and outside of it. And here is where learning plays a pivotal role in shaping the outlook of a people, not just a person! Now, imagine how better off we have become (really?) in many aspects vis-à-vis our ancestors. Wouldn't it be fair to attribute this 'betterment' to a few Millennia of collective learning put to good use which then aided to evolution? Quite similarly, we are mere catalysts, I believe, to make way for a much better generation the primal requisite of whom will be the knowledge that we as an individual, institution and a social system will assimilate!

Ask yourself the question of your purpose and sleep over it a number of times before you come to a definite conclusion. Then, ponder over the answer many a times until the mind is exhausted by the repetitive analysis that you engage it in. What do you get? The compulsive need for ascension to a higher level? Don't let yourself be surprised or intrigued, for that is precisely the way it is supposed to be, except that such a process is certainly not conclusive as we may see it, for it is a continual course of action and not a point of arrival!

Can you imagine a process without a finale? Something that is not governed by time or space, or both? Oh, you and I are already a part of it, trust me!

Ever heard some wise old soul in an emphatically categorical affirmation that 'every learning is an attempt of mere recollection of a knowledge that already exists?'

37 comments:

  1. Interesting post there Rakesh!

    **for it is a continual course of action and not a point of arrival!

    I so agree. It's all in the journey. Even if u arrive at one destination, there's a new journey waiting.


    Keshi.

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  2. life is just a medium not a destination...:)...nice post there

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  3. Deep thoughts...

    Life has many meanings and everyone of us is in search of it to understand it.

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  4. Excellent post...life is the evolution of spirit...thank you

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  5. Interesting post, Rak...

    let me add something to it...after learning from all the experiences, in the later years a person often returns to his/her childhood -- don't you think so?

    and on learning...its all already there...The 'Search' was over years back...what we do is 'Re-search'....yet our ego, isn't satisfied...it wants to supercede only to be defeated more often..Sankaracharya has failed the test with Mookambika -- know the story? then what to say about us!

    think about this life only teaches you that lesson...Surrendering your ego is what it takes...yet, we can never realise that state,

    and there's one thing Rak, its the different egos that make living a wonderful experience...If all were to surrender their ego and be one with God...it will only be the "useless monotony of happiness"

    so much to talk on this....my blah blah will never end on this :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  6. Nice post.It reminded me of a book titled "What should I do with my life" by P.O.Bronson,some portion of which I had read recently. The book is a collection of true experiences of people whom the author had met and interviewed. I am sad that I could not read the whole book. But whatever I had read was really inspiring...of people who wanted to become something and became something else...of people giving up better jobs to find jobs that suited their passion...of men who let their wives go for a job and sit at home to look after their baby just because they wanted to have one and so on and so forth. As you have rightly said, experience is surely a learning process...but there are so many things connected to it....The spark in your life..your passion for something..your ability to take the correct decision..and remember that the final word must be your satisfaction..because everything depends..individual to individual.Sorry for taking much of your space..expecting more from you.

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  7. yea..its a never ending game...at-least till the earth exists.
    And one life time and one soul is not enuf to play this game..thats why souls gets substituted when they become tired..the new soul starts the game from where the old one has left..
    hehe..same concept expressed in a different way....

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  8. tis was rather intrestin...i need stuff like this...thou m yet to figure out wat i've learnt from any of my experiences...

    hmmmm but this made me ponder

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  9. quite true, buddy. n a thought-provoking post too

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  10. True, I believe that the events that happen, are several secrets to be decoded....so as to learn from them.

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  11. Hi Rakesh
    Interesting post,
    great words, so well written :)

    Greetings
    Anya :)

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  12. Ask yourself the question of your purpose and sleep over it a number of times before you come to a definite conclusion.

    Well said pal. I too grew up in Pune. It is a lovely place. I have friendly and memories.

    Back to experience: Experience needs to be reached before it does to you; that is the trick. Once the two have met, it is also important that you keep holding the hands of the experience for a long time to come. Take care and cheers!

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  13. That's right! The point of lesson coming after the test is very interesting. It is better that way, and hence nature designed the examination system like that, I guess.

    Destination Infinity

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  14. Keshi

    Glad you liked it!

    What a journey we traverse, isnt it?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  15. Vatsal

    Thanks very much! Glad you liked it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  16. Survivor

    Indeed, life has many meanings, all very different for every single one of us!
    Each of us has to be in the quest for one's meaning and purpose

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. Ramesh R

    Thanks very much Sir . Glad you liked it.

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Kuan

    Thanks very much! Am glad you liked it.

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  19. Devika Chechi

    Of course yes, a person does return to a childlike state always!

    Indeed, surrendering the ego is that is needed of us to do! Your insights are very deep and appreciable.

    Please share the story of Lord Sankaracharya, I'm very eager to know!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  20. Old Monk

    Very happy to see you here! And thanks so much for your comments, which I truly appreciate.

    Thanks for an insight into the book "What should I do with my life", I certainly hope to read it at the next available opportunity.

    I believe experience is an absolute necessity which must help shape our lives despite whoever we are at whatever stages of life. Life can only be improved my constant learning, which in turn can be obtained by experience.

    Thanks once again!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  21. Rahul S

    Quite true, life is indeed a never ending game! The more we play, the more we learn to better ourselves.

    Thanks for your insight, which is very valuable

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Mayank

    Thanks very much! We all need an introspection from time to time to shape ourselves and reorient ourselves towards that we intend to pursue.

    Glad you liked it.

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  23. Satish

    Thanks very much! Glad you liked it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  24. Ajeya

    Indeed, everything that happens, happens for a very good reason!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  25. Anya

    Thanks so much! Greatly appreciate your visit and encouragement.
    Truly appreciate this!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  26. Kulpreet

    Thanks very much! Am glad you liked it!
    I quite agree with your take on experience, which is very insightful!

    Yes, Pune is a wonderful place, very youthful and vibrant!

    Thanks for your visit and comments!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  27. DI

    Yes, lessons such ways are lessons very well learnt, the reason why they happen so, as you rightly said!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  29. The belief is that Adi Shankaracharya had a vision of Sri Mookambika Devi (a diety combining Shiva and Shakti) during his meditation at Kudajaadri hills and he wished to have Devi's temple in Kerala for his worship... He revealed his wish that he wanted Devi to go with him to Kerala

    Devi agreed on condition that she will follow Shankara and he should not look back until he reaches his destination...also, they were not to talk anytime during the journey...

    Devi was to follow Sankara silently (Mookam)....She was testing his faith over his ego/intellect..A test of his ability to surrender ego to faith...

    and Sankaracharya who was walking in front could hear the sound of fallen leaves crush under her feet, so he was sure in mind that she was folowing him...some say its was the sound of her anklets...But, if you have been to Kollur/Kudagadri route and the Sauparnika river valley...you would see fallen leaves like bed on the land...anytime of the year,

    And then to test Shankaracharya, Devi deliberately paused in between...when he couldn't hear the sound of footstep,Shankara suddenly turned. His intellect took over his faith..

    Devi then stopped following him and asked Shankara to install her vigraha as and where he saw her...and so the temple of Mookambika was installed in Kollur (which incidentally was part of ancient Kerala)

    okay? :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  30. Happy that you liked my comment. For more details about P.O.Bronson kindly log on to www.pobronson.com .

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  31. Devika Chechi

    This wonderful account, I knew not until now! Thanks so very much for sharing this!

    Great to know!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  32. Old Monk

    Thanks very much for the website! Appreciate it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  33. Great Work !!! Undoubtedly!! Very well plotted and close to heart !!

    Cheers !!

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  34. Arpan

    Thanks so much! Am glad you found it interesting!

    Something, certainly close to my heart!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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