October 14, 2011
Despite having lived in Mumbai for so many years, I was amazed when a rickshavalla told me that that tourists often wanted to know if stars such as Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan had real houses in Mumbai. Occasionally, some even paid him to drive past their homes despite having no chance of getting a glimpse of their hero.
Similarly, when studying the Geeta, it is logical to wonder if the Bhakta (devotee), Jñāni (wise man) or Karmayogi (man of action) as described by Śrī Kṛṣṇa really exist in this world? Arjuna's question in chapter 2 is very direct: "Hey Kṛṣṇa! How do I know such people exist? If they do, tell me how they walk, how they talk, etc?"
Take for instance, Geeta 14-25:
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते।।14.25।।
maan-aapamaana-yostulyas-tulyo mitraaripakShayoH .
sarvaarambhaparityaagii guNaatiitaH sa uchyate .. 14\-25..
He who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, and who has abandoned all selfish undertakings, he is said to have gone beyond the Guṇas
When Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the Guṇātīta (the one who has transcended the Gunas) as one who treats "honor and dishonor the same", we logically ask "Show me!".
All this came to mind when I saw this classy Richard Feynman video where he talks about honors. He is asked "Was it worth a Nobel Prize"?
Direct quote:
It is true that Richard Feynman was a confirmed atheist. Yet, in what he says he has demonstrated that what motivated him was not the prospect of gaining honor, but for the sheer joy of discovery (for Feynman, this is his स्वधर्म swadharma, his chosen path). This is an example of rising above honor.
Traditionally, Śrī Rāma is given as the example of one beyond honor and dishonor. When Daśaratha announces that the assembly has decided that Śrī Rāma must be made crown prince, he does not get carried away. Likewise when Kaikeyi insists that he be exiled to the forest, Śrī Rāma's response, "Is that all? You could have simply asked me directly instead of upsetting the king".
Yet, in our own times, it is heartening to see someone like Feynman.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post.
Despite having lived in Mumbai for so many years, I was amazed when a rickshavalla told me that that tourists often wanted to know if stars such as Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan had real houses in Mumbai. Occasionally, some even paid him to drive past their homes despite having no chance of getting a glimpse of their hero.
Similarly, when studying the Geeta, it is logical to wonder if the Bhakta (devotee), Jñāni (wise man) or Karmayogi (man of action) as described by Śrī Kṛṣṇa really exist in this world? Arjuna's question in chapter 2 is very direct: "Hey Kṛṣṇa! How do I know such people exist? If they do, tell me how they walk, how they talk, etc?"
Take for instance, Geeta 14-25:
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयोः।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीतः स उच्यते।।14.25।।
maan-aapamaana-yostulyas-tulyo mitraaripakShayoH .
sarvaarambhaparityaagii guNaatiitaH sa uchyate .. 14\-25..
He who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, and who has abandoned all selfish undertakings, he is said to have gone beyond the Guṇas
When Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the Guṇātīta (the one who has transcended the Gunas) as one who treats "honor and dishonor the same", we logically ask "Show me!".
All this came to mind when I saw this classy Richard Feynman video where he talks about honors. He is asked "Was it worth a Nobel Prize"?
Direct quote:
I don't need anything else... I've already got the Prize. The prize is finding something out, the kick of the discovery, the observation that other people use it. Those are the real thing, the honors are unreal.
It is true that Richard Feynman was a confirmed atheist. Yet, in what he says he has demonstrated that what motivated him was not the prospect of gaining honor, but for the sheer joy of discovery (for Feynman, this is his स्वधर्म swadharma, his chosen path). This is an example of rising above honor.
Traditionally, Śrī Rāma is given as the example of one beyond honor and dishonor. When Daśaratha announces that the assembly has decided that Śrī Rāma must be made crown prince, he does not get carried away. Likewise when Kaikeyi insists that he be exiled to the forest, Śrī Rāma's response, "Is that all? You could have simply asked me directly instead of upsetting the king".
Yet, in our own times, it is heartening to see someone like Feynman.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post.
Dr Feynman was out of this world. To know about his multifaceted facility do read his autobiography "Surely you're joking Mr Feynman"
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