जो घर फूंके आपनौ, चले हमारे साथ

Each of us makes numerous decisions almost every day. We decide which career to choose, which college to take admission in, whom to make friends with, whom we marry, and whom we socialise with. Life is full of choices.  We plan what food to eat, our pleasure trips, groceries, and which appliances and furniture we want to buy. Generally, we make choices based on our past experiences. A child born into a family of doctors may naturally choose the medical profession. A similar thing applies to CAs, engineers, businessmen and industrialists. Not only our choice of career, but also other choices are, by and large, a product of our experiences. We get cheated in a relationship, and that makes us bitter and apprehensive vis-à-vis the rest of our relationships. We socialise with people who love partying and dancing, and slowly we feel like socialising more with such a type of person. On the other hand, we socialise more with spiritually inclined people, and the more we feel inclined to be in the company of such people.

When a child is born, he is a clean slate. He does not have any choices or preferences. An infant does not have a choice of colours or food. He does not have a belief system and may pray to any God. If he is born in a Hindu family, he may pray to Lord Shiva, and if he is born in a Muslim family, he may start praying to Allah. He will develop a taste for the food that he has had since childhood. He will develop the choice of clothes that he has worn since childhood. The vocabulary, thought process, and belief systems are a product of the ecosystem we are brought up.

Deep thinking into the genesis of our choices, beliefs and thought process would reveal very clearly that all these things are acquired from our ecosystem. But our brain owns them up. This is my view, and all the other views that contradict my view are wrong. This is my belief system, and all other belief systems are wrong. Whenever we encounter something that contradicts our belief system or thought process, or preferences, we have two choices. First to reject that and second to examine. A weak mind would choose to reject because of its insecurities. It stands on a very shaky platform of “what it knows”. Since it knows very little, the platform is very shaky. It's like a leaf in the ocean on which an ant is living. The ant holds on to that leaf very tightly, unable to realise that the platform on which it seeks stability is itself very unstable. However, since it does not have the capacity to swim across the ocean or shift to a more stable and bigger leaf, it has no way out. It holds on to that leaf very tightly out of desperation.

The Second response, when our belief system and thought process are challenged, is that we examine. We examine ourselves and also the new thought process. In the process, we realise that the leaf we are standing upon is very unstable. It may sink at any point in time. We try to find a more stable leaf that may carry us farther. That’s what many people do when they realise the narrowness of their belief system and thought process. They switch over to more evolved thought processes. There were belief systems and customs like Sati, Child marriage, racism, casteism, dowry, etc. As societies became aware, they realised that these customs do not make any sense, and they grew broader. However, some societies decide to remain orthodox and resist change, and they fail to grow. But the real challenge for the ant is to learn to fly so that it is no longer dependent on that leaf for support.

No doubt, staying on the leaf seems easy. But everyone knows it will not take us very far. What appears simple is often the most dangerous choice. Many people opt for that easy way, rejecting new ideas and ways of thinking, and stay on that leaf until they die. If weather conditions are favourable, they survive long time on the same leaf. However, some smarter individuals examine themselves and constantly shift to a larger leaf. They keep adding to their qualifications. They expand their network of relationships. Some even start investing in “good deeds” for their future lives. It requires considerable effort; nonetheless, they see value in it and keep growing. Still, what they do at best is move from a less stable platform to a more stable one. The transformation of an ant gaining wings is a different matter. It’s an inner change—realising inner truth. We can’t struggle to fly until we are comfortable on that leaf. As long as that option is available, we won’t feel desperate to fly. The mind will always be conflicted about staying on the leaf or making efforts to fly. That’s why Kabir said that the spiritual journey is like burning our own home, and those who dare should join him on this path.

कबीरा खड़ा बाजार में, लिए लुकाठी हाथ 

जो घर फूंके आपनौ, चले हमारे साथ।