Then of the Thee In Me who works behind
      The Veil of universe, I cried to find
      A lamp to guide me through Darkness, and
      Something then said -
      ‘An Understanding blind’
      In the whirlpool of life, when without tends to dictate within, I often recall this beautiful quatrain of Omar Khayyam.
      I am not a poet and as such can’t subtly interpret the mystic connotations of Omar Khayyam’s words. But it sounds that an understanding blind is a person who recognizes and perceives well the extent of his blindness. Although blind and no judge of colours, he realizes that he is groping in the dark and seeks light to lead him on the right track. In other words, he is a person who cannot see, but can listen to the “still small voice” within.
      At certain junctures in life, a tormenting clash hits you. You feel you are wedged up unknown and your cherished notions are facing a threat. It seems as if you are getting drowned in the ocean of maddening crowd and the shore of your mind is drifting away. Even though your head makes you to adjust and fine-tune with the ambience, the inner person within you but seems always angry and annoyed. There is no other way perhaps. It resembles a sort of forced choice.
      Recently I had a very long conversation with my best friend, who happens to be my hubby. He quoted the saying that as the magnetic needle always points towards the North, hence it is that the sailing vessel does not lose her course. So long as the heart of man is directed towards Almighty, he cannot be lost and drowned in the ocean. He will definitely reach to the destined shore.
      Obviously he wanted to convey that strong people are not nettled by adversity. They believe in the words that “there is nothing stable in human affairs, and therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity or undue depression in adversity”. A balanced approach is quite necessary to give life a genuine meaning. There is every possibility of a new and perhaps a different kind of lesson dawning on you even amidst unfavorable circumstances. And as they say, alien ideas can be received like guests, in a friendly way, but with the reservation that they are not to tyrannize and transform their host.
      How forcible are right words! When they knock on the door of heart, an echo is sure to come from within. A chord is struck somewhere in the soul. The clarity is so awe-inspiring that the listener is promptly convinced. Right words, even a few, are always bound to create righteousness.
      Thanks to my friend whose offbeat views, good advice and proffered knowledge always comes to my rescue. His words have a magical effect. After listening to him, I always re-affirm my determination to go on through thick and thin.
      The other day he narrated an interesting event related to a person who is hailed as one of the wisest men of all times: Socrates. The marital life of Socrates was miserable. His wife gave him hell. She regarded his strange attitudes and disdain for the temporal benefits as utterly foolish.
      Once when she raved and screamed, Socrates chose not to respond. She tried her level best to draw him into an argument. However, she found him deaf to all her criticism. Her words failed to trigger him into a verbal joust. She became frustrated. She decided to make him respond in anyway. For this there was need for something more than mere words. Only then would Socrates realize the depth of her anger. So, she picked up a pot containing water and emptied its contents over his head. Socrates quietly rearranged his robes, ran his palm over his bald head, while mumbling—“After so much thunder, it is only reasonable to expect a shower”.
      Of course, heavy clouds in the sky are usually accompanied with thunder-clap. And they are best relieved by the letting of water ala heavy hearts. Things seem better after a good weep since tears are summer shower to the soul. But then only little minds get wounded by little things.
      “Great minds never mind”—my friend uttered with aplomb.

      (The author teaches at Media Education Research Centre, MERC, University of Kashmir) 


Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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