"When the transience of life is understood in all its depth and significance, material possessions are viewed merely as gifts granted for temporary enjoyment" - Swami Chinmayananda
A man once went to an exhibition mela along with his son, five years of age. Enchanted by the colourful balloons flying high, the little child expressed his intense desire to possess one. The lovi
ng father
fulfilled the innocent wish of his beloved child and soon the boy was
playing joyfully in the open ground with his favourite balloon. The
father too didn't mind joining him in his merry making.
For some time everything was going well. A loud burst and lo! The balloon disappeared from the sight. The shocked child started weeping. And the father couldn't control his laughter!
The situation was the same - a balloon burst. But the reactions were so different - One burst into tears while the other burst into laughter! The reason? The above quote answers it all.
The child gave a permanent reality to the balloon and got blindly attached to it. Hence he was heart broken when the balloon was gone; whereas the father, even while engaging in the play, was expecting a burst any time. His prepared mind made all the difference to his reaction.
In fact everything of the world - our relationships, physical beauty, health, strength, mental and intellectual capacities, worldly possessions, name and fame, power, influence are none other than varieties of colourful balloons, very enchanting and attractive, but unfortunately, one day or the other they have to 'burst' and depart from us.
For some time everything was going well. A loud burst and lo! The balloon disappeared from the sight. The shocked child started weeping. And the father couldn't control his laughter!
The situation was the same - a balloon burst. But the reactions were so different - One burst into tears while the other burst into laughter! The reason? The above quote answers it all.
The child gave a permanent reality to the balloon and got blindly attached to it. Hence he was heart broken when the balloon was gone; whereas the father, even while engaging in the play, was expecting a burst any time. His prepared mind made all the difference to his reaction.
In fact everything of the world - our relationships, physical beauty, health, strength, mental and intellectual capacities, worldly possessions, name and fame, power, influence are none other than varieties of colourful balloons, very enchanting and attractive, but unfortunately, one day or the other they have to 'burst' and depart from us.
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