EVERY HEART BEAT IS A TEMPLE BELL

           EVERY HEART BEAT IS A TEMPLE BELL

For the last four decades or so  I have not visited any temple. But I love them. I appreciate their majestic structures and their inner and  outer holiness.

During my childhood my mother took me to a famous temple almost every day. What enchanted me there were the reverently dressed devotees and their melodious chanting of numerous hymns. Another attraction was a host of fruit vendors and sellers of child-friendly articles outside the temple.

Later when I started thinking about the origin of the world, I got extremely puzzled.  The whole process was an intolerable  brain-teaser and each time I felt that I had entered into a deeply disturbing abstraction and in order to retrieve my mental equilibrium, I should immediately hold something solid in my hands.  I actually did so and resolved that I would never again attempt to know about the origin of the world and the chronology of its creator.

Today I am absolutely convinced that there is only one Supreme Creator whose laws are immutable and, if violated, inevitably punishable.  

Now it is also my firm conviction that everything that exists in the  universe bears His unmistakable signature and every heart beat in all the beings is a grateful temple bell.

I don’t want to elaborate this viewpoint. However, quote here one  of my favourite poems written by an Irish poet ALEXANDER CECIL FRANCES (1818-1895).

Its title is:   

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

ALL THINGS bright and beautiful.

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful.

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each  little bird that sings.

He made their glowing colours

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset, and the morning

That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

We gather every day.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

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27^th July 2020                                 G. R. KANWAL

THE GAME OF POLITICS

THE GAME OF POLITICS

What has motivated me to reproduce here the views of great thinkers about the game of politics is the way this game is being played in our beloved country these days. To express my feelings in a single sentence, I would recall the words of the three witches “Fair is foul, foul is fair, uttered in the beginning of Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”.

            Let us to begin with here see what Gandhiji said about the game of politics. In fact, Gandhiji laid down the rules of this game and followed them most faithfully. Politics, according to him, is a mission, not a profession. He wrote in an issue of Young India, July 2, 1931: “Political power means capacity to regulate national life through national representatives. If national life becomes so perfect as to become self-regulated, no representation becomes necessary.” He could not conceive politics as divorced from religious morality, so he says:  “For me there is no politics without religion –not the religion of the superstitions and the blind religion that hates and fights, but the Universal Religion of Toleration. Politics without morality is a thing to be avoided.       

            Almost a similar viewpoint is held by the French diplomat and political scientist Alexis Charles Henry de (1805-59), best known for his book Democracy in America”  He said: The political parties that I would call great, are those which cling more to principles than to consequences; to general, and not to special cases; to ideas and not to men. ---Such parties are usually distinguished by a nobler character, more generous passions, more genuine convictions, and a more bold and open conduct than others.              

            Let us hear some other thinkers: (a) Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong. Irish politician Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847). (b) How little do politics affect the life, the moral life of a nation. One single good book influences the people a vast deal more. English statesman, William E. Gladstone (1809-98). (c) I hate all bungling as I do sin, but particularly bungling in politics, which leads to the misery and ruin of many thousands and millions of people. German poet, dramatist and philosopher Goethe (1749-18320. (d) Two kinds of men generally best succeed in political life; men of no principle, but of great talent; and men of no talent, but of one principle ----- that of obedience to their superiors. American orator Wendell Phillips (1811-1884). € By discharging our duty thoroughly and well, subordinating personal desires to principle, and personal ambition to an exalted love of country, we will not only receive the endorsement of the people, but what is far better, we will deserve their endorsement. American politician Champ Clarke (1858-1921).

            And finally a casual reference to the old Greek doctrine propounded by Aristotle (385-323 B.C.) and others that the polis is the realization of  beautiful-and-good, on this earth and the state is the supreme moral end of life. Much later even  Italian political philosopher Niccolo  Machiavelli (1469-1527), for all his defiance of Christian morality, did have as a test of success , even for his Prince, a state in which the good life showed traces of the old pagan ideals of the beautiful-and-good.

            So, let us try that the politicians of our beloved country, whatever be their number, give up their belief in “Fair is foul, foul is fair.”

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18^th July 2020                                                  ----- G. R. KANWAL

           

GHAZAL : 17TH JULY 2020

 GHAZAL : 17^TH JULY 2020

                      

Wafa daro  ! wafa ko yaa rakhna

 Tum apni is ada ko yad rakhna

Raison ke gharon ke shor-o-ghul main

Faqiron ki sada ko yad rakhna

Gunahon ki taraf jhuknay se pehlay

Gunahon ki saza ko yad rakhna

Mazay se ghoomna jungle main lekin

Gulistan ki faza ko yad rakhna

Zamanay ki tarah mat bhool jana

Khuda ko na-khuda ko yad rakhna

Agar jao kabhi sehra ki janib

Kanwal bad-e-saba ko yad rakhna

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GLOSSAY

Wafa daro: Loyalists; faithful’s. Wafa: loyalty; sincerity. Ada: nature; manner; approach; style; characteristic.  Raison: rich men; nobles; people of high ranks. Shoro ghul: noise; hustle bustle. Faqiron: spiritual wanderers. Sada: spiritual prayer, voice. Gunahon: sins. Jhukney se pehlay: before being allured. Saza: resultant punishment of committing sins. Mazay se: with pleasure; cheerfully. Gulistan: garden. Faza: atmosphere; environment. Zamanay ki tarah: like common people. Khuda: God. Na-khuda: the boatman who sails the boat  of life. Sehra: desert. Janib: direct ion. Bad-e-saba: the cool morning breeze which is non-existent in a desert.

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17th July 2020                                          Dr.G.R.Kanwal

SOCIAL DISTANCING : AS A PROFESSIONAL HURDLE

SOCIAL DISTANCING :   AS A PROFESSIONAL HURDLE

            In this time of Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing Is an unavoidable preventive measure. It keeps people safe from catching infection. There is no alternative to it during person to person dialogue or participation in any large gathering.

            Yet, there is a problem when a patient meets a doctor.  Earlier if a doctor checked the chest, back and blood pressure of a patient, in social distancing norm, it is conveniently avoided and the treatment is prescribed only on the symptoms described by the patient. While this is a professional safeguard for the doctor, it is significantly disadvantageous to the patient.

            There may be many other professions where social distancing disallows fulsome performance of professional duties. Here is a short professional note  related to criminal interrogation and confessions.

            “The interrogator should sit fairly close to the subject, and between the two there should be no table, desk, or other piece of furniture. Distance or the presence of an obstruction of any sort constitutes a serious psychological barrier and also affords the subject a certain degree of relief and confidence not otherwise attainable.

            As to the psychological validity of the above suggested seating arrangement, reference may be made to the commonplace but yet meaningful expressions such as “getting next” to a person, or the “buttonholing” of a customer by a salesman. These expressions signify that when a person is close to another physically, he is closer to him psychologically .  Anything such as a desk or a table between the interrogator and the subject defeats the purpose and should be avoided.”

             The upshot of whatever is said above is that distancing such as is inevitable during the present pandemic cannot be made a permanent feature. It will have to be treated as a temporary measure.

14^th July 2020                                                                     G.R.KANWAL    

SOME TEACHINGS of LORD BUDDHA

           SOME TEACHINGS of LORD BUDDHA

It was on July 4 that Dhamma Chakra Day celebrations were organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in partnership with Ministry of Culture.  In his address on this occasion President Ram Nath Kovind said that the teachings of Lord Buddha were a cure for human suffering and they remained as relevant today as they were two and a half millennia ago.

            Buddhist scholars believe that Lord Buddha does not seek salvation in austerities, nor does he indulge in worldly pleasures and abundance. He has found the middle path. His message is that neither abstinence from fish and flesh, nor going naked, no shaving the head, nor wearing matted hair, nor dressing in a rough garment, nor covering oneself with dirt, nor sacrificing to Agni, will cleanse a man who is not free from delusions.

            According to Lord Buddha anger, drunkenness, obstinacy, bigotry, deception, envy, self-praise, disparagement, superciliousness and evil intentions constitute uncleanness, not the eating of flesh.

            He therefore lays emphasis on his eight-fold path which leads to the destruction of sorrow. It consists of right views; right aspirations; right speech,; right behaviour; right livelihood; right efforts; right thoughts and right contemplation. Collectively, he calls them ‘noble truth’ and the destroyer of sorrow. This eightfold path has an instant appeal and acceptability for each one of us.  Its practice can undoubtedly lead to deliverance from sorrow but it is also true that few amongst us can follow it uninterruptedly in our day-to- day life.

            One of the most significant teachings of Lord Buddha is about ten bad things. Three of the body:  like murder, theft and adultery; four of the tongue: like lying, slander, abuse and idle talk and three of the mind: like greed, hatred and error.

            The origin of suffering, says Lord Buddha, is lust, passion, and the thirst for existence that yearns for pleasure everywhere, leading to a continual rebirth. This also includes sensuality, desire and selfishness.

            Finally, his views about the rational nature of man. He regards it as a spark of the true light; the first step on the upward road. However, new births are required to insure an ascent to the summit of existence, the enlightenment of mind and heart, where the immeasurable light of moral comprehension is gained which is the source of all righteousness. 

Lord Buddha tells his disciples “I have found the truth and have taught you the noble path that leads to the city of peace.  I have shown you the way to the lake of ambrosia, which washes away all evil desire. I have given you the refreshing drink called the perception of truth, and he who drinks of it becomes free from excitement, passion and wrong-doing.”

7^th July 2020                            G.R. KANWAL

             

GHAZAL : 3rd July 2020

     GHAZAL : 3^rd July 2020

Agarchih aankh meri nam nahin hai

Ye mat samjho ke dil mai’n gham nahin hai

Bujha de har charagh-e-zindagi ko

Hawa mai’n is qadar to dam nahin hai

Chali jaati hai kuch din mai’n hi wapas

Khushi ko’I kahin har dam nahin hai

Mujhe wo ham-nafas phir mil g’ya hai

Tabi’at ab miri barham nahin hai

Praisha’n karta hai ye wahm mujh ko

Mira hamdam, mira hamdam nahin hai

Kanwal main is liye shu’lah fisha’n hoon

Mirey gulshan ma’n ab shabnam nahin hai.

                                    ……….

GLOSSARY

 Agarchih : although; even if. Nam: moist or wet with tears. Gham: grief; sorrow. Dam: energy; power. Wapas: return. Dam: moment. Ham-nafas: companion; friend. Tabi’at: mind; temperament. Barham: topsy-turvy; disturbed. Wahm: idea; imagination Hamdam: friend; loved one. Shu’lah fisha’n : flames scatterer. Shabnam: dew.

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3^rd Ju ly 2020                                                  Dr. G. R. Kanwal