Soar Higher

 

 

Being part of a culture, where parents are supposed to be treated like God, I have wondered and more often than not resisted the sheer thought of comparing a human being to a Supreme Power, someone who has created this world.

Quiet recently, I got into this argument again within myself. It was a on a bright winter morning in Delhi, after a short tiff with my teenage daughter (call it Ego clash!) I drove to other part of the city. Solo driving is what makes me reflect well. In the silence of car, early in the morning, no music,‘ mind and heart’ both doing what they are best at - arguments on this topic. It could not have been a more relevant time as I had to drop my daughter to hostel the next week, was it my resistance to empty nesting?

Let me put forth my thoughts on that day on few similarities between the Two:

1)    Creator: God created the entire universe or may be multiverses, He created us : Same for parents, they are our creators.

2)    Provider: He provided us, based on his choice with senses, survival instinct, gives us birth in a family, social circle based on our past karma (if one believes in it), nevertheless, we don't have a choice to choose our parents : Same for parents, they provide us with what they think based on best of their ability and thinking. At least, early days we don't have a choice.

3)    Protector: In times of pain or distress, we look up to Him to help us and He helps though at times we can't see it immediately : Same for parents, though at times Both of their method of protecting and caring for us is beyond our comprehension.

4)    Pampering: We pray and ask for 'gifts' from Him, whether we have worked hard or not for it. We ask for it as if it is our right : Same for parents, we ask for many things from them because it's our right. Now, eventually, both of them give it to us or not is totally their prerogative but we expect both to pamper us!

5)    'Why me' questioning: We fight and complain with Him when things don't go our way, God, why me ? : Same for parents, we fight n complain with them why me as compared to other siblings or relatives etc etc.

6)    Teacher: God teaches us the lessons of cause and effect of our actions through 'karma' theory , ‘we reap what we sow’ : Same for parents, they teach us from basic learnings and values required for life. Formal education or academic education is often left to the professionals in both cases.

7)    Taken for granted: We normally take Him for granted many a times, we  don't pray and thank Him at every moment of life but he still takes care of us and does not give us pain more than we can handle. Now, one might say we do these rituals everyday, that's not what really is prayer : Same for parents, we take them for granted many a times, don't we ?

And the list is on and on, and the answer to the question all our parents equal to God is dwindling to one side? 

As these interesting thoughts were going on, I saw a nice tea cafe which broke the chain of my thoughts and I was tempted to go and have a cup of hot tea with my favourite cookie in the winter morning to continue this interesting self-discussion.

2^nd part:

Indeed, parents are a version of God, be it for any living being as they help us come to this world and help us in life stages where we don't have any senses.

But there is a difference that God, since He is the creator kept with Himself as against parents. He created 'Moh' or attachment in hearts of parents which is the cause of many happiness, many attachments, many ego and hence many sufferings as well. God is above 'Moh and Maya ' (attachment and delusion) as He knows this is all ephemeral and will go away. Parents themselves are human so normally get attached to their children and it's difficult to let the child fall and make mistakes and relearn. As parents, letting go of attachment is not easy for most of us.

 But as God is our Parents' parent too, he knows this is all temporary and he let's His creation learn and let go of them and hence is not attached to His own creation. Indeed as they say in Bollywood, God proves it, हम तुम्हारे बाप के भी बाप हैं  (I am your father’s father and hence I have an upper hand!)

 Because in essence, what is 'God'? - The one who creates, who protects, who provides, who teaches, who guides, who is there in good and bad times, with whom we can fight and love, yet who will let go of the attachment so you can be a free person to  act and bear the result on your own because that is Karma.

There are only few parents who understand this and able to detach themselves and see their children, their creation unfurl their wings at its own pace in their own zone.

 So, as I take the last sip of my tea and end such a nice reflective time, I move out of cafe with a smile and take my car towards my destination for the day, I mentally got ready to let my teenage birdie expand her wings, soar higher to follow her own Karmic journey.

This is not to become God myself at all, but to take a next step in my own journey too!

 May we all Soar Higher

 “This one is dedicated to my Parents and my daughter and above all Him!!