SATSANG WITH A TECHIE

 

EPISODE 01

 

Dear Reader,

Sairam and welcome to this new series "Satsang with a Techie". It is a conversation between two fictional characters – Varun, a techie who lives in Bangalore and is immersed in the IT world, and Vivek, Varun's friend from his school days, who, after completing his studies, has settled down in Prasanthi Nilayam to dedicate his life in the service of Baba.

It all begins when Vivek, who has gone to Bangalore on some work, runs into Varun in a restaurant, where both are trying to grab a cup of coffee. Let's see what happens when they spot each other!

 

VARUN: Hi Vivek, long time no see!

VIVEK: Hello Varun, I too could say that! Anyway, I am glad to see you!

VARUN: I share your joy Vivek, but if we do not run into each other, that's because we live in different worlds, don't we?

VIVEK: I wouldn't quite say that Varun. Not only do we both live on the same planet but in fact are barely 160 or so km away from each other, you in Bangalore and me in Puttaparthi. However, in a metaphorical sense, what you say is perhaps true.

VARUN: That's right Vivek. But tell me, what brings you here to Bangalore? I thought you were busy all the time in Puttaparthi.

VIVEK: Very true Varun. However, I had a bit of work in this city and that is why I came here. In fact, I don't think I would stay here too long, and by this evening I should be pushing off. Have been very busy this morning and being a bit tired, I thought I would grab a cup of coffee; and thanks to that cup, I have been able to run into you after so many years! Tell me, how is life treating you?

VARUN: Me, I have been doing fine thus far. You know how it is in the tech world; one slogs all the time and you think it is finally time to hit the bed, when you get a call from New York because people there have just started going to office. That guy in New York does not appreciate the time difference and goes on and on over the phone with the problem I have to fix for him.

VIVEK: Yes, I can imagine how it is; and I guess by the time you really put your head down on the pillow it is 3 a.m. or so, and before you know it, the phone is ringing again, with a fellow from Japan calling this time; for him it is already 8 a.m. and he thinks you are up and running. Right?

VARUN: [sighs] You are absolutely right, and that is why sometimes I am jealous of you!

VIVEK: Jealous of me? What for? I earn very little. I don't jet around countries. I don't command the material comforts you can and do. How could you be jealous of me? That's impossible!

VARUN: As you know Vivek, the grass always looks green yonder. What I know about you is that you are always happy.

VIVEK: That is very true. My work is of that nature and always fills me with bliss.

VARUN: And that Vivek, is one of the things that makes me jealous of you!

VIVEK: [laughs] I thought even a mouse would not be jealous of me, and here you are, the great jet-setting Varun, the darling of the boss, jealous of me! I am sure you must be joking!

VARUN: Not at all Vivek. I am quite jealous, that is, when I have time to be so! There is one more thing I am really jealous about you.

VIVEK: One more thing? What's that?

VARUN: Well, compared to me, Vivek, you have so little work. No deadlines, no customers to please, not loaded with project after project, all of which must be completed yesterday! Do you realise how tension-free one would feel with that that kind of freedom?

VIVEK: My dear Varun, this might come as a surprise to you, but I too have projects, plenty of them, and deadlines too. So, in that respect, I am not at all that free as you imagine me to be. In fact, that is why I am in Puttaparthi all the time.

VARUN: Vivek, there is some kind of a mystery here. You are deep into Spirituality. I know about these Spirituality guys; they are to be found in all the metros these days and are on TV too. They are always singing bhajans, doing Yoga, meditating, and stuff like that. I mean that is not work, that is relaxation, 24/7! What is all this about projects and deadlines that you are talking about? Doesn't make sense to me!

VIVEK: [looks at his watch] Varun, it appears we need to have a serious talk. And when we do, you would not only understand why I am busy all the time but also what exactly I am busy about.

VARUN: OK, what is it that keeps you so busy as you say?

VIVEK: Well, this might come as surprise to you but most of the time I am busy with various tasks connected with radio broadcasting.

VARUN: What?! Radio broadcasting? From Puttaparthi? You must be kidding! That is a small place, and frankly though I am told it is only 150 km or so from Bangalore, I don't even know how to get there. I know there is an Ashram or something there, but broadcasting? What kind of broadcasting can one do from a small place – I guess your Puttaparthi is barely a rural town, right?

VIVEK: Varun, Varun, there is so much you must know! I still have some time before I have to rush off to the bus stand. So why don't we spend whatever time I have, talking about a few things that would help you to understand many things better, including what I am doing and why? Game for it?

VARUN: Why not? After all, it is really very long since we met, and I sure would like to know what you are doing. And to keep us going, shall I order some coffee for us?

VIVEK: [smiles] That would be nice. Now, before I get on to the real nature of Spirituality, what I am doing and all that, I would like to ask a few questions. Can I?

VARUN: Sure, go right ahead.

VIVEK: Very well then. When was the last time you took a few minutes off to appreciate how beautiful our planet earth is?

VARUN: Come on Vivek, you can't be serious! You know what a grind it is for us techies, even to survive! Who can waste time trying to find out how beautiful our planet is? I know it is beautiful, and sure manage to take a peek or two during vacations. I really don't understand what you are trying to get at.

VIVEK: Hmm... a pity you are so busy that you cannot even spare a few moments to see and enjoy a beautiful sunset and have to appreciate it via some pictures sent by some friend via e-mail. And when you go on this so-called vacation, do you leave behind your Blackberry?

VARUN: Vivek, I was just trying to find out what keeps you busy and here you are talking about my vacation, Blackberry and what not! What's going on? Are you OK?

VIVEK: Varun, it looks like you have got me completely wrong! Let me start all over again. You at least agree that planet Earth is very beautiful, do you not?

VARUN: Of course; who would doubt that?

VIVEK: Very good. And yet, in this beautiful planet that we all share, we also have so many problems, some of them pretty nightmarish.

There are problems associated with pollution, problems due to crime, problems due to poverty, and, of course, problems due to terrorism. The list seems to be endless, and wherever we turn, we seem to see plenty of problems. Agree?

Have you ever taken a minute off to wonder where all those problems come from, to spoil our beautiful earth and our lives too?

VARUN: Vivek, is that what you worry about?

VIVEK: Varun, I asked you a question and please would you give me a reply? Do you worry about the existence of such problems? Yes or no?

VARUN: Be serious! I have plenty of things to worry about and do you think I am going to waste my time about problems that I did not create in the first place and further, have nothing to do with me? But tell me, why do you waste your time worrying about all those problems? You mean to say there are no better things to do? I thought you were deep into Spirituality! What have all the problems you mention got to do with Spirituality?

VIVEK: Everything!

VARUN: Oh my God! Frankly Vivek, I am wondering which of us two has gone nuts!

VIVEK: Varun, although we have not seen much of each other in recent times, earlier we grew up together and so closely too. On the strength of that old and strong friendship, I have to ask you to stop being brash and dismissive like many techies seem to be these days. If Spirituality was not connected with the problems faced by humanity, do you think I would spend time thinking and worrying about such problems?

Man, give me some credit for being intelligent!

VARUN: Sorry Vivek, looks Iike I have made a wrong start. OK, you have the floor, and make your point. I promise that I shall not interrupt, unless it be to ask a question or two; agree?

VIVEK: Thanks Varun! Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was trying to tell you something about the huge problems now confronting humanity. And what I was trying to tell you when we got side-tracked was that 1) that if we ignore these problems, then whether we are directly connected or not, one day they would swallow us. That is point number 1; point number 2 is that these problems arise because these days, humans are deliberately ignoring Spirituality.

VARUN: Vivek, hold on a minute! That precisely is where I have a huge problem.

VIVEK: I know what you are going to say! You would argue that Spirituality is for old and retired people whose end is coming near, and that young people like you have to dream about a future full of life as well as promise, and not one where death is just around the corner – that is what you want to say, is it not?

VARUN: Absolutely correct!

VIVEK: Well, in that case, let me take you head on. Consider the recent global market crisis, which someone described as an economic tsunami. It might have started in Wall Street, but you would agree wouldn't you, that its impact has been felt the world over?

VARUN: OK, so what?

VIVEK: The point is that though neither you nor I might have triggered this disaster, such tidal waves have the effect of sweeping a lot of people and even drowning them, although they did not directly contribute to the disaster.

VARUN: What do you mean?

VIVEK: Here is a tragic example of how an individual was swept by that huge tidal wave. The person concerned was of Indian origin, a bright young man who graduated from the prestigious IIT, Madras, then went to America, did an MBA there, and, working his way up the ladder, soon he had everything that came along with the famous American Dream – a good job, a great house, a working wife and three sons, with the eldest in the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles Campus, etc.

It all seemed really like a wonderful dream realised, until one fine day, this young man became unemployed; to add to his misery, thanks to Wall Street collapse, his huge savings were wiped out in one instant, just like that.

VARUN: What happened then?

VIVEK: Well, the person I am referring to found that suddenly the bottom seemed to have fallen out of his dream. There were so many bills to be paid, and he had zero income – that is right, zero income. True, his wife was earning but his life style had been tuned to a much higher income. Confident of the future, he had borrowed heavily, but at that time, borrowing did not at all look like the trap it later became.

VARUN: Looks like I completely missed that story. What did this fellow do then?

VIVEK: This is what happened then. Debts began to mount rapidly, and our young man found the going to be really rough. He then began to be consumed with shame. One thing led to another, and one sad day, he purchased a gun – as you know, purchasing a gun is so easy out there. There he was, sliding down the slippery slope of depression and now he had a gun in his hand, about which no one in his family knew.

Finally, one night, when all were sleeping soundly, he systematically shot his wife, her mother, and his three sons. Mayhem completed, he shot himself, leaving a suicide note and a will.

No one in the neighbourhood knew anything about this massacre because all the windows had been sealed. However, next morning the neighbours learnt with deep shock what happens when the dream turns sour.

VARUN: Oh my God! That's horrific!!

VIVEK: Yes it is. And I narrated that tragic story mainly to stress that just because we appear to be in a comfortable and safe position right now, we cannot assume that the bubble we have chosen to live in is all that secure. As such, we do have to spend at least some time, reflecting on the problems around us, how they could affect us, etc.

VARUN: I agree that we can suddenly find the bottom falling out due to no fault of ours.

VIVEK: That is right. Let us say that right here in Bangalore, we have a young man riding a bike, going back home from work. He has his helmet, his laptop, etc., but suddenly, a truck driven by a reckless driver hits this young man and he gets knocked down. As a result of the injury he suffers, he becomes paralysed, losing the power of all his four limbs. This condition is called quadriplegic.

VARUN: What you say is very true. In fact, the accident might as well have been caused by a bad pot-hole in the road, in which case one cannot blame any truck driver.

VIVEK: I entirely agree. The point I am trying to make is that many problems start in a small way and take root without our even being aware of it. However, they could easily snowball, and once they do, they begin affecting people even far away, including those that did not cause it by any means.

VARUN: You know Vivek, that is what I find so unfair about life. Why should it punish those who are not responsible? This seems to happen all the time, and I know how you Spirituality guys put the blame on Karma and stuff like that. I think that is like sweeping it all under the rug, and we simply cannot buy that!

I notice you are smiling; what are you smiling about?

VIVEK: I am smiling because slowly, we are coming to the heart of the matter.

VARUN: In what way?

VIVEK: Because all that we are now discussing is connected with Spirituality.

You see Varun, contrary to what you might be thinking, Spirituality is closely connected with the question of whether we can really afford to be so indifferent to the looming crisis and look the other way.

By the way, you do agree, do you not, that even though we might not cause the problems, they could actually engulf all of us, including you and me?

VARUN: I know there are problems like global warming and that kind of stuff, and that these problems are so huge that they could drag and swallow huge sections of the world's population. But then, don't you think there are enough people who are worrying about such problems and would fix them? That being the case, I don't see why I have to spend time bothering about such things.

VIVEK: No Varun, it is not as simple as that. If you think about it carefully, you would begin to appreciate that we really cannot afford to live in a cocoon, as many of would like to. Maybe we can go into details later, but the point I would like to make right now is that being involved in the affairs of Society, especially solving the problems, is what Spirituality is all about?

VARUN: Really? I never knew that.

VIVEK: No surprise, since most people do not.

VARUN: You mean to say that Spirituality is not about rituals, chanting of mumbo-jumbo, meditation and stuff like that?

VIVEK: Well, that is the mistaken impression people tend to have because they have not taken the trouble to understand what Spirituality is all about.

VARUN: Looks like I have a lot to learn. Listen, we clearly cannot do that today; you have to go and so do I. When are you coming to Bangalore again?

VIVEK: I don't think I would be coming in the near future. But I tell you what. Why don't you come to Puttaparthi? I am sure you can do that during the weekend. If you come there, you can not only have Darshan of Bhagawan Baba but also chat with me. That way, we can continue where we leave off today. What do you say?

VARUN: Hey, that is a great idea. We shall keep in touch and I shall send you an e-mail about when I can come.

VIVEK: What you're saying sounds like, "Well, let us see when we can meet." Instead, just say you would come! I assure you that you would benefit a lot, and coming to think of it, it would help me to think through many concepts carefully and achieve clarity in my own ideas. Who knows, you might even start believing in Spirituality!

VARUN: OK then, I shall come next Saturday morning.

VIVEK: See you then, and all the best till then! Take care.

VARUN: You too Vivek, and goodbye till then.

VARUN: Hi Vivek, here I am in your Ashram, exactly as I promised!

VIVEK: Hello Varun, so nice to see you here in Prasanthi, something which I never dreamt would ever happen. But first thing first. Did you have breakfast? And, if you don't mind my asking you, did you go for Darshan?

VARUN: Yes, I had breakfast, and yes, I did go for Darshan too.

VIVEK: Great! How was the Darshan experience?

VARUN: You know Vivek, to tell you the truth, it was a quiet, sobering and above all, a very elevating and calming experience.

VIVEK: Wow! Frankly, I never expected those words from you!

VARUN: Honestly Vivek, back in Bangalore, behind all the glamour of a techie's life, there is nothing but rushing, pushing and finally crashing!

It starts as a rat race, and when you do not know that you are yourself a rat and running for life, it appears very exciting. But soon it dawns on you that you are trapped, and are running not for money, career advancement, achievement and things like that, but for sheer survival. To tell you the truth, the glamour wears out pretty fast, once you know you have become a bonded slave!

VIVEK: Boy, those are very strong words! Something most unusual must have happened this morning for you to come out like this. It almost seems as if a pressure cooker is bursting. Tell me, what was it that happened during Darshan that made you talk the way you just did?

VARUN: Nothing very specific I must say. However, there was something amazingly calm, soothing, gentle, and quietly elevating about Darshan. There were all these people, thousands of them, and I could see that they had come not only from all parts of the country but even many corners of the world.

There they were all, seated quietly and waiting anxiously in expectation. When I first saw that scene, I was not only struck by the silence as well as the discipline, but also by the expectation. That feeling was written large on every face, and believe me, I never knew that anxious waiting could have so many shades and varieties.

VIVEK: What happened then?

VARUN: Well, suddenly there was some kind of an electric wave sweeping through the huge hall, with everyone sitting up straight and craning their necks towards the West, as if they expected something from that direction.

VIVEK: And did some music start over the PA system just then?

VARUN: That's right; it did and I am sorry I forgot to mention that; also, some chanting – I guess it was Veda chanting. And the next thing that happened was that we all saw Baba coming from that direction. Instantly, the mood in the entire hall went up by one gear.

VIVEK: What do you mean?

VARUN: The anxiety and anticipation that earlier prevailed was all gone and everyone was smiling broadly and eagerly leaning forward or craning their necks to get a good look.

VIVEK: Anything else that struck you?

VARUN: Yes of course.

VIVEK: What was that?

VARUN: Well, the astonishing thing was that as Baba – I guess you people here call Him Swami – as He gently glided along, the people in the Hall continued to remain silent; there were whispers of course, but none of the commotion that one sees in temples or even at the Darshan given by various Gurujis.

VIVEK: Why do you think people remained silent while Swami was giving Darshan?

VARUN: Honestly, I do not know. What I do know is that people in crowds generally behave like herds and tend to be noisy, and somewhat indisciplined.

VIVEK: And over here?

VARUN: Over here, they all seemed as if they were answering to the call of some unknown Higher Being!

VIVEK: What about you?

VARUN: I was of course totally new to all this and did not have a clue of what to expect. I guess I was just swept along, half of me absorbed in wondering about the magic of Swami that cast such a spell and the other half wondering how I, a confirmed disbeliever in Spirituality and all that stuff, was responding the way I did!

Tell me Vivek, is what I described something unusual, or something I am imagining, or is it real and quite common out here?

VIVEK: Varun, unknown to yourself, you have just given a beautiful description of your first encounter with your own real Self!

VARUN: Oh my God! Here I am describing something beautiful I had experienced for the first time, and when I ask you about it, you begin talking like one of those nut guys!

VIVEK: Hold on Varun, do not jump to hasty conclusions. This is the right juncture to introduce you to Spirituality, and when you pick up some of the basics, you would understand and appreciate what exactly it was that I was just saying to you.

VARUN: Let me ask you directly: Are you saying that what I felt was part of a Spiritual experience?

VIVEK: That's exactly right!

VARUN: But listen, there was no mumbo jumbo, no rituals, no cash collection, etc.

VIVEK: Who told you that's what Spirituality is all about?

VARUN: No one in particular told me that, but that is the general impression I got by watching many people and such events, including on TV.

VIVEK: Well, all that impression is utterly wrong, and you have come to the right place to get it all straight; and let me say that the Darshan you have had, has given you a great start.

VARUN: Listen, stop talking in riddles, and get to the point straight, would you please?

VIVEK: I think it is about time I did so, for otherwise your frustration would shoot up to such a high level that I might lose you altogether! OK, what is your perception of Spirituality?

VARUN: You tell me; you are supposed to be the expert, and remember, you called me over here so that you could tell me a thing or two about it. So, the ball is really in your court!

VIVEK: Fair enough! Let me start by asking whether or not you believe that there is a thing called the Human Spirit?

VARUN: I don't know if it exists for sure, but I do know that people talk about it often. Like for example, when our cricket team just caves in to an opposing team and gets thrashed without even trying to put up any fight, everyone goes around cursing and saying, "What happened to these fellows? They did not show any Spirit? Look at those overseas teams! They always play such a spirited game; they dive to save every run, put such fire into every ball they bowl, and pack so much power into every shot they hit!

VIVEK: Good! So at least in cricket, you agree that one could talk of a thing called the Spirit. By the way, the Spirit is not a cooked up idea or an imaginary thing. There is some strange thing within each of us, a mysterious power which, if we are able to tap, enables us to do amazing things.

VARUN: Such as what?

VIVEK: Well, here is an example I heard a doctor from Bombay describe. There was an accident to a suburban train and many people were injured. They were all rushed to various hospitals in the neighbourhood, and two people of middle age were brought to this doctor's hospital.

The doctor said that the injury these two people had suffered was more or less similar. Further, they had the same physical constitution and all that, and the injury was serious; however, there were good chances of recovery too.

The doctor continued, "I assured both patients that I would do my best and with God's Grace they sure would pull through. However, while one patient kept saying, 'I am not going to live, God will not save me, I will die, etc.,' the other injured man felt highly optimistic and kept repeating, 'I am not going to die; God is sure to save me!'

"In the end the patient who had hope survived, while the one who refused to have hope died. I gave the same treatment to both, but one patient took help from his Inner Spirit while the other refused to."

VARUN: OK, but what exactly is it that you are driving at?

VIVEK: Well, my first point is that there is within us — every single one of us without exception I might add - a mysterious power that we call the Spirit.

VARUN: And what does this Spirit do?

VIVEK: This Spirit, which sometimes is referred to as the Human Spirit, does many things. It helps one to bite the bullet and come through very adverse circumstances. It aids one to hang on to hope and survive through impossible situations; this has happened to sick people as well as to adventurers who were caught up in dangerous situations from which there appeared to be no escape.

VARUN: Anything else we can give credit for to this Spirit, as you call it?

VIVEK: Plenty; it is the Spirit that drives many to do astonishing feats, explore the remote corners of the earth, dive deep into the ocean to learn of its mysteries, or venture into Space.

VARUN: Gosh, I never knew all this came from the inspiration provided by the Spirit and by drawing upon its power.

VIVEK: Hold on, I have not exhausted my list!

VARUN: You mean there is more?

VIVEK: Of course, and plenty too!

VARUN: Amazing! Go on please.

VIVEK: Well, for one thing, the urge for exploration and discovery springs from the Human Spirit; in a sense, art too is a kind of adventure, involving exploration in the realm of creativity.

VARUN: OK, anything else?

VIVEK: Sure.

VARUN: What is that?

VIVEK: Well, that involves exploring something within which is the infinite, sublime, and blissful.

VARUN: I am not sure I quite understand you, but even if what you are saying is true, what is the connection between that and Spirituality?

VIVEK: In a manner of speaking, Spirituality is all about exploring that infinity within.

VARUN: OK, I shall temporarily accept that and put that idea on hold; but tell me, why should a busy person like me bother about looking inside for this infinity, as you call it? What's there in it for me?

VIVEK: [laughs] What's there in it for me? That is what people ask all the time! But Varun, do you realise, this infinity about which you seem to be so very sceptical is the REAL YOU?

VARUN: [totally surprised] What? What on earth do you mean by saying that something which I am not even sure exists, is the REAL ME? What about the person sitting in front of you, bearing the name Varun, a techie with an MBA, and so on? I mean, what do you mean by ignoring all that?

VIVEK: Calm down buddy, those are the knotty questions that need to be sorted out. Be patient, listen carefully, and one by one your doubts and questions would all be taken care.

VARUN: [shaking his head as if very doubtful] I am not too sure, but shall hold my horses for the moment. Alright, go ahead with whatever you were trying to say.

VIVEK: Thanks a lot. Let me begin by mentioning that what is described as Spirituality is, in a sense, nothing but the science of the Human Spirit. Believe it or not, human inquiry into the nature of the Spirit began long before religions made their appearance.

VARUN: Really?

VIVEK: Yes indeed. You see, soon after they moved out of the caveman phase, ancients in all parts of the globe began to wonder about all that they saw around them, and how they were related to it all. They asked questions like: "What is the meaning of all this wonderful diversity and phenomena I see around me? Where did it all come from? Where did we humans come from? How am I related to it all? In fact, is there any relationship at all?"

VARUN: But listen, what has all that got to do with Spirituality?

VIVEK: My dear friend, why don't you be a bit patient and give me a chance? This is a difficult topic and one has to go through it all, slowly. Agree?

VARUN: OK, I agree.

VIVEK: Very good then. So, as I was telling you, ancients almost all over the globe began wondering about what they saw around them, above them, below them and their relationship to it all.

VARUN: And this wonderment, as you call it, was half the time in terms of questions posed to themselves?

VIVEK: That is right and what we call knowledge, emerged from the distillation and refinement of the answers they found, over a period of time, of course. Broadly speaking, there were two categories of knowledge they gathered; one was largely connected to the world they lived in, and how to survive in that world.

VARUN: And what was the other category all about?

VIVEK: I am coming precisely to that. It dealt largely with how this great system that we call Nature ran? I mean, they wondered who makes the Sun to rise and then to set? Who decides, if there is actually some such agency, that it shall rain during some periods and it shall not during other periods? Why does the earth shake violently all of a sudden? Who, if there is any such being, has become angry and has decided to shake the earth?

VARUN: You mean to say these kind of questions were asked all over the world?

VIVEK: Of course, and there is plenty of evidence for that. For example, people in China, India, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece, all learnt to track the stars across the sky and that was how they were able to make almanacs, predict eclipses, even the time of sunrise and sunset, and of course the high and the low tides.

VARUN: OK, from what you say, these ancients in various lands, were able to deduce patterns of various kinds, sometimes even complex patterns, relating to diverse natural phenomena.

VIVEK: Correct, and that is how the foundations were laid for astronomy in many old civilisations.

VARUN: But Spirituality….

VIVEK: Hold on, hold on! I am slowly coming to that. You see Varun, slowly people began to see patterns, then some empirical rules behind those patterns, and after that connections between different patterns and so on.

VARUN: Just a second please. What do you mean connection between patterns?

VIVEK: Well, they found that rains came during certain periods of the year when the stars were in certain position in the sky. From such observations, they realised that there was some connection between seasons, the movement of the Sun across the constellations, and so on.

VARUN: Oh I see. But where did all that lead them to?

VIVEK: That is an important question and it connects humanity right to the present.

VARUN: How?

VIVEK: In the following manner. The search for answers to certain kinds of questions led slowly to what we call Science. For example, an astronomer called Tycho Brahe spent many decades, patiently sitting up every night watching the skies, and recording the positions of all kinds of stars and planets he could identify.

VARUN: OK, Tycho lost a lot of sleep, but what good did that do?

VIVEK: Plenty of good. A little later a man named Kepler put it all together and deduced that all the planets moving around our Sun followed three simple laws.

VARUN: Oh, you mean Kepler's laws of planetary motion, don't you? We studied that in school and college.

VIVEK: That's exactly right; and you remember of course, what happened after that.

VARUN: Indeed I do. Newton came along, gave three basic laws which explained not only the motion of planets but in general the motion of bodies moving and responding to forces acting on them.

VIVEK: Right; and Newton, if you recall, added icing on the cake by discovering the existence of the gravitational force, which suddenly enabled us to understand in one sweep, a whole lot of things happening in the sky, both near and far.

VARUN: So what you are saying is that one type of enquiry led to scientific knowledge.

VIVEK: Exactly, and as you well know, that enquiry has greatly enriched mankind and has not stopped yet because there is so much to know.

VARUN: I have to agree strongly because after all, I owe my job to such knowledge.

Listen, it has no doubt been interesting talking about all this, but these are things we both know. I still fail to connect all this to the question I am seeking an answer to…

VIVEK: I know. Your question is: "But what has all this got to do with Spirituality? Right?"

VARUN: You got it; that indeed is the question that is bothering me.

VIVEK: Before I deal with that question, let me ask you if you have ever heard of a person called Steven Weinberg?

VARUN: No, I have not. Who is he, and why should I know about him?

VIVEK: Well, Steven Weinberg is a brilliant physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics – actually, he shared it with two other brilliant guys, Sheldon Glashow and Abdus Salaam – for his role in the discovery of what is called electro-weak unification.

This brilliant man once said: 'The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless!' Varun, do you think so? Do you believe there is no purpose behind Creation?

VARUN: You know Vivek, these are questions I never thought about; how can I? Where is the time? I don't think you know anything about a rat race!

VIVEK: We will come to rat races later, but meanwhile, let me ask you if you have heard of Stephen Hawking?

VARUN: What do you mean? Who has not?

VIVEK: You have? That's good. Now here is what this great scientist says:

"We find ourselves in a bewildering world. We want to make sense of what we see around us and to ask: What is the nature of the Universe? What is our place in it and where did it come from? Why is it the way it is?"

OK, that is the remark of Hawking; what does that say to you?

VARUN: Looks like some of the questions ancient man asked are still with us; that is how I read the signal.

VIVEK: You are right. Varun, over thousands of years, mankind has made a lot of progress where questions related to the external world are concerned. But about certain other matters, there is a gulf.

VARUN: Gulf? What kind of gulf, and between what and what?

VIVEK: The gulf is between those who focus heavily on the external world, ignoring certain issues for a variety of reasons, and others, who are less bothered about the external world and look deep within.

VARUN: Vivek, I am afraid you have lost me!

VIVEK: I am referring to the gulf between people who concentrate on Spirituality, and those for whom Spirituality is at best a waste of time, and at worst, a lot of bunk. By the way, I have to tell you that until the time of the Renaissance, Science and Spirituality actually went hand in hand, being closely intertwined. Actually, Newton, a giant in his days and even now one might say, was a very religious man. These days, however, Science and Spirituality are almost divorced; the parting of ways started soon after the Renaissance and presently, the separation is almost complete.

VARUN: Vivek, what exactly is the point you are making?

VIVEK: What I am trying to convey is that in earlier times, Spirituality was not regarding something as different from Science, or, for that matter, unrelated to daily life.

VARUN: So, Spirituality does not mean withdrawing from the world and all that – is that what you are trying to convey?

VIVEK: Exactly! On the contrary, Spirituality is very much needed in daily life.

VARUN: What makes you say that?

VIVEK: The answer is quite simple. You see Varun, Spirituality boils down to basic values, and surely we cannot banish values from daily life, can we?

VARUN: There is something in what you say, and maybe we can come back to it later.

VIVEK: We certainly must do that. Meanwhile, have you looked at your watch? It is almost lunch time!

VARUN: You are right Vivek!

VIVEK: I think we should grab some lunch after which you could rest for a while. It would then be time for afternoon Darshan, etc.

VARUN: So can we meet after evening Bhajans, have a bit of supper and then go for a long walk, and talk as we walk?

VIVEK: Sounds great, and that's what we shall do.

VARUN: OK, come along, let's go for lunch!

VIVEK: So Varun here we are, almost at the end of your first full day in Prasanthi Nilayam. How do you feel?

VARUN: To be honest, I feel calm, peaceful and quiet. It is an unusual kind of feeling which, I don't think, I have experienced before, and I must say it is good.

VIVEK: No surprise in that, but do you know why you are feeling that way?

VARUN: I think I do; far less crowd and traffic, and all the irritating hustle-bustle of the Bangalore city. That makes a huge difference you know.

VIVEK: I agree, but is that all? No other difference?

VARUN: Coming to think of it, yes there is another important difference. Over here, the people as a whole are in a different sort of mood; to me at least, they seem to be far away from wheeling and dealing that is right at the centre of the world I live in.

VIVEK: I think you have come close to the point I wish to make. Remember we earlier talked about the separation of Science and Spirituality in Europe starting around the middle ages? That basically split Society right in the middle, Western Society that is.

VARUN: I am not quite able to follow what exactly you are getting at.

VIVEK: You see Varun, during the last few centuries Western Society has become increasingly materialistic. And Bangalore, a city of the East, has now begun to live by Western values! Over here, we still try to stick to our ancient values, and that is behind all the differences you are noticing.

VARUN: Hold on for a minute; I take exception to this charge about becoming materialistic and all that. I mean, don't you agree that abysmal poverty that once used to be hallmark of India has more or less vanished? How do you think that happened? Because of material progress! How do you think roads, schools, communication facilities, hospitals, etc., are going to appear without material progress? I see a lot of you so-called Spiritual guys blindly decrying material progress, without even taking a minute off to examine how much good materialism has done to removing drudgery, lessening poverty, improving infra-structure facilities and so on? Come on friend, be reasonable!

VIVEK: [laughs]

VARUN: [sounding rather irritated] What's so funny about what I said? Why are you laughing in that sarcastic and supercilious manner?

VIVEK: Calm down buddy! I am not making fun of you or trying to ridicule you or put you down – all that is your imagination. I am just remembering how so-called passionate advocates of materialism and Spirituality get hot under the collar, when they start discussing such issues.

Relax! There is far more in common between all of us than you and I realise. As a matter of fact, that common aspect is really what true Spirituality is all about. But forget all this for the moment, and allow me please to ask you a couple of simple questions.

VARUN: [sounding slightly mollified] OK, go ahead.

VIVEK: You have seen thousands here today. Did they all look like old fuddy duddys?

VARUN: I wouldn't say that.

VIVEK: Good! Next, did you not see vehicles moving around here in the Ashram?

VARUN: Yes, I did see vehicles, in fact far more than I had expected.

VIVEK: OK and you must have seen some, especially kids, munching popcorn, eating ice cream, and many of all ages, speaking on cell phones. Did you not?

VARUN: I agree I did, but what is the point you are trying to make?

VIVEK: The point I am trying to make is that Spirituality does not mean just shutting one's eyes, ears and mouth like the famous three monkeys are supposed to be doing – you know that famous icon with three monkeys, don't you? Spirituality does not mean living just like a Buddhist monk!

VARUN: Alright, I conceded that Spirituality might not mean that; but in that case, what exactly does it mean?

VIVEK: I shall answer that question by going back to the famous three monkeys. They are not asking you to shut yourself off or become a recluse. All they are saying is: See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. What's wrong with that?

VARUN: Look, I have to absorb and digest that, besides placing it in context. But meanwhile, let us get back to what you referred to as the debate between the so-called materialists on the one hand and the so-called Spiritualists on the other.

When did it all start? Why has it become so fierce now and such a polarising issue, if I might say so?

VIVEK: Varun, I must really thank you for restoring focus to our discussion. That split you are referring to began in Europe at the time of the Renaissance. In the following centuries, the separation between Science and Spirituality rapidly increased and by now the divorce is almost complete.

VARUN: Are you saying that you are on one side of the divide and I am on the other?

VIVEK: As far as this issue is concerned, it is something like that.

VARUN: But why did the split occur in the first place?

VIVEK: Ah, that is all connected with the question of what is real and what is not.

VARUN: I don't quite follow.

VIVEK: The split that we are talking about arose because one set of people argued that physical reality has nothing to do with Spirituality while the other group insisted that Spirituality is the mother while Science is the daughter! Over a period of time, people engaged in Science said physical reality is all that is meaningful because we can see it, experience it and experiment upon it; anything beyond that is pure imagination. People who believed in Spirituality did not accept that, and that is how the divide occurred.

VARUN: These Spiritualists you were mentioning; what was it that they said existed beyond the physical world?

VIVEK: Remember we were discussing aspects of the human Spirit earlier? That's what they argued existed beyond the world Science was preoccupied about.

VARUN: I am not surprised that they said that. I mean who has seen this Spirit? How can one talk about things one cannot see, touch, experiment upon, etc?

VIVEK: Hold your horses for a minute please! Let me just ask the question: "This so-called Spirit; where did it come from?"

VARUN: You tell me!

VIVEK: Indeed I shall, but in the meantime, do you realise there are many such questions like, "Everyone must be having this Spirit inside. Now, people are different; does that mean the Spirit in different people is also different?"

VARUN: That's right! There are quite a few questions really.

VIVEK: Questions may be many, but every one of them has answers.

VARUN: Really?

VIVEK: Of course, and the beauty is these answers have been known for several thousands of years. At least in India, all this is ancient knowledge. By the way, I am sure you have heard of the Bhagavad Gita.

VARUN: Yes of course, who has not?

VIVEK: Do you know that the Gita has the answers to the questions that I just posed, and many more like them?

VARUN: You mean to say that answers to the questions Scientists are now asking already exists and have been known for thousands of years? Amazing, I never knew that.

VIVEK: That's because these days, few bother about such things. They are all too busy to know something about their true nature and where they came from!

VARUN: Have a heart Vivek. You have no idea how tough life is for people like me; I tell you, life for us techies is no picnic.

VIVEK: I agree, but don't you think you must also know something about what life is all about, the real purpose of life, etc.?

VARUN: What makes you think I don't know what the purpose of life is?

VIVEK: If you do, do you mind telling me what exactly the purpose of life is?

VARUN: Come on, you must be kidding! Life is all about succeeding, making it good, making plenty of money so that one could have all that one wants, travel wherever one wants, have a good time, etc. Your problem Vivek is that you are holed up in one place and don't bother about enjoying the many wonderful things this world has to offer.

VIVEK: Let me for a moment say that I do not know much about this world and that you know about it far better than I do. Let us also forget the current economic downturn and go back say a few months before the boom suddenly burst.

Now tell me. At that time, you and hundreds, if not thousands like you, in Bangalore who are techies, must have been doing fine. And your bosses - all highly paid - were holding exciting jobs, and were jetting around the world – Melbourne one day, Moscow the next day and Montreal on the third. With all the money they were supposed to be making, with the jobs they held, the stocks they owned, and the globetrotting they were doing, they must have had a great time. Right?

VARUN: I believe so.

VIVEK: OK, now here is my question to you: How many of these hundreds if not thousands belonging to your tribe are really happy, I mean truly happy?

VARUN: I don't know what you mean by being happy; I think they all were, and that is why we all were in this business, fiercely competing with each other, trying to go up the ladder, and so on. Incidentally, we seem to have got off-track once more; I thought we were supposed to be in conversation about Spirituality!

VIVEK: No, I have not lost my way, and shall get back soon to what we were discussing earlier. Meanwhile just tell me this. Even during those good times, those golden days, how many of these exalted men of the corporate sector were free from stress? How many of them did not have problems with blood pressure, diabetes, etc.? How many of them tried to take crash courses in meditation, yoga and stuff like that, paying big sums of money I might add, to get some relief from acute tension?

VARUN: I think I know what you seem to be getting at, but grow up man! In these days of globalisation and all that, there is no free lunch! You want a job that is heady, exciting and gives a lot of perks and highs, then there is a price one has to pay. It is all a part of the occupational hazard.

VIVEK: I agree. Things look fine as long as there are no major upsets and the boat does not get rocked. But what happens when the bottom suddenly drops out, as indeed has happened lately?

VARUN: Vivek, the world has changed dramatically since 1980 – surely you know all about that. We live in a different era, the era of globalisation. It is a different world now, and it runs according to entirely different rules compared to earlier times.

You take huge risks and you gamble; you win some, and you lose some. This is a game for the big boys and not kids.

VIVEK: Varun, I am aware of all that but why gamble when the chances of failure and disaster are so high? Is the game worth the candle as they say?

However, there is a higher point and that is where we get back on track. You talk about taking risks, gambling for high stakes and all that. You are able to do all that because of the advantages you have had in terms of education, opportunities, etc. What happens to those who are not as lucky as you have been and who have had to struggle even to survive at the very bottom?

VARUN: Listen, these are age-old questions for which there are no easy answers. You take things as they come and move on. There are winners and there are losers; this is the way it always has been and this is the way it always shall be.

VIVEK: [smiles] I know exactly what you are saying. And this is what is called living in a bubble.

VARUN: I don't care what you call it but this is what all smart and successful guys do, and I don't see why I should not emulate what successful people have done earlier and proved that their formula for success actually works.

VIVEK: At last, we have come to the central question.

VARUN: What do you mean?

VIVEK: I mean that we now have to grapple with questions like: What exactly is meant by success? How long would material success that most people are after, last? How long would the bubble into which every successful person tries to withdraw, escape bursting?

VARUN: Are you trying to say that true Spirituality is all about answers to such questions?

VIVEK: Exactly, and to make my point, let me first tell you something about the Surat Plague outbreak of 1994. Do you know anything about that?

VARUN: Never heard of it; in fact, I hardly know anything about plague itself.

VIVEK: In that case I think I should tell you a few things about that incident, because that would help us to understand better what true Spirituality is all about.

VARUN: Frankly, I am sceptical about plague having any connection with Spirituality; it all seems to be so convoluted. But you being my old friend, I am willing to give you a chance.

VIVEK: Before World War II, plague was a dreaded disease, feared almost as much as small pox. Rats were the carriers, and I believe the disease itself was due to bacteria carried by the rats, which thrived under insanitary conditions. It all boiled down to the absence of sanitation and cleanliness.

VARUN: Tell me, was not plague prevalent in Europe also?

VIVEK: Of course it was, but over there they eliminated it long before we were able to do it in India. Back in the thirties of the 20th century, whenever there was a plague outbreak in India it was a wave that swept town after town, city after city claiming thousands of lives.

VARUN: But they got rid of it, right?

VIVEK: Sure they did.

VARUN: Then how did plague break out in Surat in 1994?

VIVEK: For the same old reasons. However, the strain of plague this time was different; it was less virulent. Nevertheless, it was pretty scary all the same.

VARUN: Tell me more.

VIVEK: Sure. The outbreak as such occurred on September 22, 1994. However, there were certain things that happened earlier that greatly facilitated the plague outbreak, when it actually occurred.

VARUN: What were those circumstances?

VIVEK: Well, for two months there were heavy rains in Surat. The drainage system simply could not cope up and just folded.

VARUN: So I suppose that there was water-logging everywhere, choking of drainage, etc.

VIVEK: Correct; in fact, there was much more. Many animals drowned, and that included goats, sheep, and cattle, not to mention hundreds of stray dogs and cats.

VARUN: Oh my God! You mean to say those carcasses were all just floating around, and no one did anything?

VIVEK: Not till the plague outbreak.

VARUN: What happened when the plague outbreak occurred?

VIVEK: The usual thing – panic!

VARUN: And how did this panic manifest?

VIVEK: The well-to-do packed their bags and fled the city. Seventy percent of the doctors abandoned their clinics and their ethics too I might add, and they too fled.

VARUN: That's horrible! What happened then?

VIVEK: Some of the rich who were still around, started finger pointing.

VARUN: What do you mean?

VIVEK: These folks simply said: "It is all due to those who live in the slums! Those people simply do not know how to live clean, and the municipality has made things worse by not bothering about garbage removal. This is how it has always been. And when incessant rains came, hell broke loose in terms of piles of garbage rotting, carcasses of dead animals in hundreds floating around, polluting land, water and air… You know how it is!"

Varun, please note that is not what I am saying; I am merely telling you about the finger-pointing that started as soon as disaster hit.

VARUN: It always seems to be that way, does it not? People sleep over problems for years and years, even though the problems are grim and stare in the face. And when trouble comes, instead of doing something to handle the crisis, every one is busy blaming every one else. Why is that?

VIVEK: The answer to your question goes back to what we were trying to discuss earlier. You see Varun, when life becomes a rat-race as you called it, everyone contributes to the problem; but when it comes to finding solutions, every one disowns his or her share!

As someone said: All are guilty but some alone are responsible!

VARUN: And you think that Spirituality has a method for fixing all such problems?

VIVEK: I do.

VARUN: Frankly, I am not able to understand the connection between Spirituality and keeping a city clean. Maybe, you could educate me!

VIVEK: Would be happy to discuss that. In fact, that is the primary lesson of Spirituality, and instead of trying to learn that, people are trying all sorts of short-cuts. I can assure you all those short-cuts would simply not work.

VARUN: Vivek, why don't you get straight to the point?

VIVEK: You are right, and I should not be wasting time in side comments. OK, let me get straight back to the Surat story. Remember, I have not yet completed it!

VARUN: That's right. So there was the huge pile of uncollected garbage in the slums of Surat. Then came the heavy and incessant downpour and that created a huge flooding.

VIVEK: And after that, many quit town while a fraction of those who were left behind started blaming each other, even as the drains remained chocked while carcasses were floating all around and rotting.

That's when the plague broke out. It turned out that this strain was not the same as the very virulent strain that used to attack in the early years and take huge tolls. It was of a different variety, but it sure caused a terrible panic.

VARUN: Before you proceed further, tell me, how many people died due to the Surat plague?

VIVEK: As disasters go, the number of people who actually died was relatively small, only about 45 or so. However, the panic that the outbreak of plague created was enormous; in fact, it was international!

VARUN: International? How come?

VIVEK: You see Varun, Surat has long been an important diamond trading centre, somewhat like Antwerp in Europe. Raw uncut diamonds would be imported and the diamond cutters and polishers of Surat would then painstakingly cut and polish, adding a huge value to the gems. These polished diamonds would then be exported back to the big traders in Europe, from where they would make their way to various jewellery shops all over the world.

VARUN: I guess what you are trying to say is that there was always a lot of money floating around in Surat.

VIVEK: You bet! There really was no shortage of cash in Surat. People might look poor; but almost everyone made a good wage, thanks to the huge diamond trade.

VARUN: Alright, if the city was awash with cash, then how did all the problems arise?

VIVEK: They all arose due to indifference. There was plenty of cash no doubt but what was in short supply was public spirit and civic consciousness.

VARUN: I don't get you.

VIVEK: Look, many of those who lived in slums were not dirt poor like slum dwellers in the big cities like Mumbai or Bangalore are. In other words, they spent money on TV and stuff like that, but did not bother about local cleanliness.

VARUN: What was the Municipality doing about it? Was it not the Municipality's job to keep the city clean?

VIVEK: Sure, but that is in theory. In practice, there were two major problems. The first is that people avoided paying Municipal taxes in all sorts of ways. It is not that people did not have money; just that they thought all their earning was for personal enjoyment! Second, almost all the elected officials were busy trying to make money themselves; who had time for civic work? So both the public as well as the officials that were supposed to serve the public forgot their respective duties and responsibilities!

VARUN: Shocking, but let's get back to the crisis; something must have been done after disaster struck. How did that happen?

VIVEK: Mercifully, there were many people of public spirit still left and they all joined together to tackle the crisis. You see, it was not just a case of a huge epidemic breaking out. The Surat crisis became big news internationally, thanks to its diamond connection. All of a sudden, diamond traders from Europe and America who used to come regularly in hundreds simply cancelled their trips.

VARUN: Oh my God!

VIVEK: Not just that; many governments banned flights from their countries to Mumbai or Bombay as it used to be known then, and also prevented flights originating from Bombay from landing in their country.

There was thus a huge snowballing of various factors, and the people of Surat realised that they had better do something not merely to stop the plague from spreading, but also for improving their city.

VARUN: And did it work?

VIVEK: Indeed it did.

VARUN: That is nice to hear!

VIVEK: What happened was that finally, everyone started to work together - the government, non-governmental agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Doctors in public and private hospitals joined hands with the civic authorities. Top priority was given to the cleaning of dirt and debris, disposal of carcasses accumulated due to the floods, pumping of stagnant water, spraying of pesticides, and anti-rodent operations. The people of Surat from all communities started cleaning the streets. Junior doctors worked tirelessly in the public hospitals.

VARUN: Thank God, people woke up finally.

VIVEK: Not only that; within about 18 months, the city changed completely from being a very dirty, garbage-strewn city to one of the cleanest cities in the country.

VARUN: Amazing! Now let us come right away to what all this has to do with Spirituality. Otherwise, we would go on talking endlessly about one social problem after another.

VIVEK: I entirely agree, and that precisely is what I am going to do now. You see Varun, what the Surat episode teaches us, as do so many other examples, is that though individuals may create a bubble for themselves and try to live in it, cut off from the problems of life, the bubble is porous.

VARUN: And it can also burst.

VIVEK: Yes of course.

VARUN: So either way, we cannot insulate ourselves from what goes on around ourselves and must get involved, etc. That's what you are driving at, aren't you?

VIVEK: That's correct, and let me predict that next you would ask, "OK, but it is still not clear how all this is connected with Spirituality?" Am I guessing correctly?

VARUN: You are absolutely right, and how could you guess? Does Spiritual training help you to do mind reading?

VIVEK: [laughs] Nothing of that sort! You see Varun, all these are questions I have been asked before.

VARUN: By whom?

VIVEK: You remember when we met in Bangalore, one of the very first things I told you was that I am involved in radio broadcasting?

VARUN: That's right, you said something to that effect and after that we drifted away to all sorts of topics!

VIVEK: I am involved in preparing all sorts of radio programs, for listeners interested in Spirituality of course, and in the course of our work, we receive plenty of questions, including like the ones you have been asking.

VARUN: That sounds interesting; you have got to tell me something about that!

VIVEK: I would love to do that, but first take a look at your watch? It is getting to be 9 pm and over here, it's time for lights off!

VARUN: What?! You must be joking!

VIVEK: No sir, I am not; remember, this is an Ashram, and it lives by a different set of rules.

VARUN: So what happens to our discussion? I thought we had arrived at a critical point.

VIVEK: Don't worry about that. We still have tomorrow; it is Sunday and I guess you would be around for morning Darshan. We could meet after that, chat for a while, and after that we could have a quick lunch. After lunch, you could push off to Bangalore, back to your world!

VARUN: That's a deal! So, goodnight for now, and see you again tomorrow after Darshan is over.

VIVEK: Good night, have a nice rest, and God bless you. Jai Sai Ram!

Thus ends the first full day of Varun's first ever visit to Prasanthi, to learn more about Spirituality and its relationship to the daily world.

The next episode would take us to the Sunday morning session.

As always, your comments are welcome. Please write to h2h@radiosai.org. Thank you. Sairam

Illustrations: Saikaustuv Dasgupta

- Team Radio Sai

TEXTO TOMADO DE:http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_10/01JUL12/05_satsang_with_teche_01.htm

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