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Unexpected things has been happening around my close relation that I felt a sense of helplessness. It was one after another. I hardly has a moment to catch my breath.
Maybe.... just maybe we have all reached that age where the inevitable happens.
I was remembering a wise teacher once said in his talk : "... ... and this too will pass... ..." I always find comfort in this sentence. It a wisdom I am trying to master. I was googling this phrase and chanced upon this blogpost that wrote about the same thing and the story behind the phrase.
I particularly like his afterthought.
The author was kind enough to let me share this post over here.
Extract from www.aussiepete.com
[ This too will pass ] Once a King called upon all of his wise men and asked them, "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?" All the wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all questions? Something that works everywhere, in every situation? In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought.
After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way out, only then will he be allowed to see it. The King put the paper under his Diamond ring.
After a few days, the neighbors attacked the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of the King's enemies. The king and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King was forced to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in the Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley a thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished. He could not return the way he came, because it was a small, narrow road. The sound of the enemy's horses was approaching fast. The King became restless. There seemed to be no way out of thi situation.
Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great. The message was – "This too will pass."
The King read it. He read it again. Suddenly something struck him- Yes! It too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all its pleasures have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However, if those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. Calm come on his face.
He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him.
After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy was receding. They had moved into some other part of the mountains and were no longer on the same path. The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire.
When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on the King from every house, from every corner.
People were dancing and singing. For a moment, the King said to himself, "I am one of the bravest and greatest Kings ever!! It is not easy to defeat me!!"
With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging inside himself.
Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: "This too will pass"
The King became silent. His face went through a total change - from the egoist he transformes to a state of utter humbleness.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher. Everything passes by. We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.
Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away. Life just passes away. There were friends in the past. They have gone. There are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go. There were enemies in the past. They have gone. There may be enemies in the present. They too will go. There will be new enemies tomorrow and... they too will go.
There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away.
Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time. However, there is something in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable? - It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change.
