The Hindu : Three thieves in human body

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Three thieves in human body

CHENNAI FEB 5. The common denominator driving all human beings is the urge to do better than the next man, to amass as much wealth as possible, and yet, running through all the worries and anxieties is the fine thread of divinity. This awareness of God is never far from human consciousness. A person desirous of travelling from his hometown to another city can get there by using any of the available modes of transport. Similarly one can chart out his course towards reaching God, provided it is within the codified principles of virtue.

In his discourse, Sri. M.V. Ananthapadmanabhan said half- hearted attempts at spiritually accepted mores of behaviour would not help anyone gain the objective of escaping the cycle of rebirths. Like the very natural tendency in many of us to switch off the ringing alarm and continue sleeping, to postpone devotional quest is a common phenomenon in all. However, when it comes to watching movies, serials and other forms of entertainment of the senses, everyone is a willing slave. Like birds, which flock to a tree, sons and daughters want the wealth amassed by parents but do not like to be burdened with the liabilities of the older generation. It is to spare human beings such agony that scriptures state that one should trust totally in the Supreme Being alone — "You are my mother and father, you are my relatives and friends, you are knowledge and wealth, you are everything and my God."

The chain of attachment, both emotional and material, is irresistible to many. However, sensory pleasures, anger and miserliness are the three resident thieves stealing the gem of true knowledge. One has to be alert and safeguard against such pitfalls. Just as how a small lamp is sufficient to dispel the darkness of a large cave, so too does the light of knowledge help man emerge from ignorance. In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna requests Lord Krishna to teach him that which will help him lead a righteous life. Arjuna also rues the destruction of age-old traditions. There once lived a wise man, who, born as a drummer, used his vocation to discourse on right conduct, on doing one's duty at every stage with care but without attachment. A teacher need not and does not teach everything he knows to all his pupils. The most renowned and wisest of the great preceptors have all assessed the worth of their wards before imparting the knowledge and skills in their repertoire. A good teacher is aware of what is appropriate for his student's capability and level of preparation.

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