YOU ARE ALONE

 

          YOU ARE ALONE

‘You are alone’ is a reality. You have many friends, relatives, lovers  throughout your life is an illusion.

All friendships as well as relationships are transient. Those who love you today and get some reward in exchange may start hating you tomorrow. That is why we have a proverb : It is better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.

            Indian mystical philosopher Acharya Rajneesh, popularly known as Osho (11 Dec 1931 -19 January 1990) said  in one of his lectures: On the road of life someone walks with you a few steps and then he parts company. All relationships are temporary ; you cannot say how long anyone is going to be for or against you.

Friends turn into enemies and enemies into friends in a split second. So a person who lives his life like a river makes neither friends nor foes; he accepts whatever life brings.

            Religiously, there are people who believe that they are never alone because God is always with them. According to them  God does not let down anyone of his devotees provided the devotee also maintains his loyalty.

            Sadly enough, the present age is awfully poor in the matter of loyalty. It is not an age of togetherness but of alienation. Not only kith and kin are extremely disloyal but also those who are members of a social or political group or the followers of a particular religion. We see leaders of one party  hating and causing damage to another party . They belong to the same state and country, yet are bitter opponents not co-operative comrades.

            The English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) rightly says in his play As You Like It, Act 2, Sc. 7: Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.

            Finally another extract from Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII, Act 2, Sc.1.

“Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels

Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends

And give your hearts to, when they once perceive

The least rub in your fortunes, fall away

Like water from ye, never found again

But where they mean to sink ye.

********

G.R.Kanwal

16 January 2025