“Anybody who’s ever
mattered, anybody who’s ever been happy, anybody who’s given any gift into the
world has been a divinely selfish soul, living for his own best interest. No exceptions.”
Einstein didn’t discover
the theories and formulas of relativity with the intention of serving
humanity. It was his interest, his
passion, to dwell on such matters.
Otherwise he wouldn’t have been Einstein. His mind was such that it couldn’t be
satisfied with anything less than those ethereal concepts.
There are hundreds of
artists, writers, scientists, who defied well-established and domineering (even
ominously threatening) authorities in order to express the truths they had
discovered. Galileo, for example. Even Salman Rushdie, why not?
Most of us are not
Einsteins and Galileos. We are ordinary
mortals who would like to do our ordinary jobs to the best of our abilities and
earn our living which will help us live happily with our families or engaging
in our hobbies or other meaningful passions after the regular work hours.
What if that bread-earning
work becomes an oppression for the soul?
What if the work environment changes all of a sudden for reasons beyond
our control, tossing us into a new world with a structure that sits on us like
the yoke on the neck of a bullock?
It is in such times that I’m
reminded of Richard Bach’s reluctant Messiah whom I have quoted at the
beginning of this piece. You can quit
the job even if it is your life’s mission when it becomes unbearable, that’s
one of the fundamental messages of Bach’s book [Illusions].
“I command you to be happy
in the world, as long as you live.” Suppose
God tells this to an individual what would he do? Go your way, discover your happiness, says
the Messiah’s God in Bach’s novel.
Let not the system kill
your creativity. Let not the system sap
your vitality. Let not experts define
the crests and troughs of the wave that you are commanded by them to surf. The vast ocean beckons you. The ocean does not command you anything. You can ride any wave. But the ocean has its own laws. If you break them, they will break you.
They are the laws of the
ocean. You should know them if you want
to break free from the structures laid around you like a debilitating trap by
people who call themselves experts. You
are the expert in the ocean if you know the laws of the ocean.
Ready to break out of the
structure? The ocean beckons you.
The last second para!! What motivating lines!! Totally inspired!
ReplyDeleteCertain truths of life are born within the fire that is set in you by others. Some of those are what I've expressed here. Glad you found them inspiring. Your comment is a motivation for me.
DeleteNice one Matheikal, esp when you talk about the laws of the ocean. This reminds me of a book - Jonathan Seagull and its quest to fly. Brilliant one!
ReplyDeleteJonathan Seagull and Illusions were two of my favourite books in my early twenties. Later, other books took their place. But certain ideas and thoughts from them still live on in my memory, motivating me, inspiring me... to go on.
DeleteI agree with Richard Bach's quote. We do things only to meet our selfish needs whether for this world or some other. As I see, Law of Ocean gives the right to big fish to eat small fish.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's why I said we should know the laws properly. Knowledge equips you with the skills called for. However, the piece I've written is not to be taken scientifically. It's poetry in prose!
DeleteWow, such amazing play of words. totally impressive. Btw, have you ever stumbled on the works of Ayn Rand on objectivism?
ReplyDeleteI have a personal copy of 'Atlas Shrugged' and have read "The Fountainhead" as well as quite a few other books of Rand. But her philosophy doesn't excite me now. As a young man I was enthralled by her.
DeleteIntense and inspirational ....
ReplyDelete... gifts of life, Maniparna.
DeleteIllusions has been very close to my heart. A master piece that can guide anyone who has questions on life or its materialistic nature. I like your motivational lines wound around it. Beautiful indeed.
ReplyDelete'Illusions' is a unique blend of the Western outlook and the Eastern mysticism. The plot is simplistic. But I admire the insights it provides into life.
DeleteThe vast ocean beckons you. The ocean does not command you anything. You can ride any wave. But the ocean has its own laws. If you break them, they will break you.
ReplyDeleteTotally in love with these lines, inspiration is in the air today.
I'm gratified, Athena.
DeleteOh lovely! It doesn't just inspire but it excites me at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThere's some excitement in me too, Namrata. I'm looking forward to a new beginning... though it may take a little time.
DeleteI wish you all the best. I too am looking for a new start.
DeleteTomichan .. I appreciate your absorption of the surroundings and its conversion into prose-poetry. The rules are very essential. .alas...one has to learn the rules all along. ..while playing the game of life. ..the rulebook is never handed to you at the start. ..not fair
ReplyDeleteLet me add this, Bushra: rules are often made by silly people who have infantile aspirations. In smaller communities it becomes very obvious. I'm living with such a situation right now.
DeleteLife wisdom that comes to you as you grow. As Bushra so insightfully says - one has to learn this, nobody tells you how to do it. Good post Methikal. As always.
ReplyDeleteLife can give us more wisdom if we are ready to throw our security to the winds, Kalpana. Life can be a big joke. It can be a terrible tragedy too. Matter of perception.
DeleteAccording to my observation, many professionally successful people have a bad personal life. Or a bad personal life has directed them to professional success. And many personally successful people settle down with a mediocre life.
ReplyDeleteAMEN. You said it. Most wonderfully. I couldn't have said it better in so few words.
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