The SK-ool

One fine, breezy evening. Bhagwan Sk is busy preparing for his exam. His prime disciple Saw-Raw walks in with others - yew-Sha, ma-Haa, gaya-Tree, ji-Know.


Saw-Raw, yew-Sha, ma-Haa, gaya-Tree and ji-Know: (in chorus) "Pranaam Bhagwan!"

Great to see you all. So what brings you all here to The SK-ool?


Saw-Raw: We would like to get some gyan on your Kids??? post. You say having kids is choice one has to make based on 'evolved thinking'? Don't you think procreation is man's nature? In what way is the 'evolved thinking' better?

What is nature? It is one of the most abused and misunderstood word. A weaver bird builds its nest. Would you agree if i call it natural?

Saw-Raw: yeah.

Then, in the same way, man building skyscrapers is also natural - part of evolution. Man, through a process of intelligent learning over generations and generations, has acquired skills and intelligence to do what he does. So intelligence is part of nature just like sex is. How do you say it is unnatural to question the need for procreation? The decision to have kids is contingent upon a lot of reasons - some obvious, some not so obvious. But everything happens for a reason. All I am asking you to do is to question the reasons behind whatever you do. Be it falling in love or having kids.

Saw-Raw: But if you have read Kant, you would realize that there is no point in thinking. Every thought framework is too limited in its ability to deal with reality. All reason is farce.

All frameworks are essentially limited as they are abstractions of reality. Agreed. But that doesn't take away the need to think and form frameworks. That a tool is less effective to deal with something doesn't mean that there is no need for tools. In fact, it calls for a more intense, intelligent search to make the tool more effective or invent a new tool. Absolute is an illusion - shaped by the tools you have.

yew-Sha: But how can you make preposterous statements such as kids are extensions of your egos. How can you call it "The Truth"? Why do want to hurt the sentiments of people who have kids? How can you say it is out of boredom and lack of passion? People have kids as a sign of their love for each other.

Ego is the basic identity of an individual. Your whole world is defined based on "I". Take out the "I", your whole world disappears! So how can you do anything or even exist without ego. Ego is there, however subtle and invisible it is. Mind you, we are talking about the normal humans and not talking about the "ego-less" ones like Buddha.

yew-Sha: Ego and greediness are two different things. Naan, enadhu-nu solradhu ego. Enaku, enakkaga-nu solradhu possessiveness.

Again yew-Sha, you are looking at the symptoms. You are looking at leaves and branches of a tree forgetting the root and the seed. Don't you see that the root of all that possessiveness is the ego - the "I"? All our "happiness" comes out of the gratification of our egos. Happiness or sadness can be reduced/increased if we think about it.

Saw-Raw: But everything is in pairs in nature. Day-night, male-female, yin-yang. So why would I need to short circuit one? I can enjoy my "sadness" as I enjoy my "happiness". That's what even Osho says.

I think you probably misunderstood what he said. Osho said do anything; but do it with awareness. It is very important to understand a basic difference here. It is also essential to remember your ego/identity essentially is a result of a mishmash of selectively filtered thoughts of others about you. Now, unlike the other examples you quoted like day-night, which exist outside you, happiness and sadness are created inside you. To be precise, created by your mind/ego. Duality is of the mind.

I am concerned with reducing "sadness" through thinking about it. Why? It might seem like short-circuiting as my dear Saw-Raw said. But understand, happiness is a physiological high and intelligence seldom works there. So by exercising intelligence on "sadness", you gradually build your awareness. And slowly, the fire of awareness makes you realize the futility of the mind and the happiness/sadness dichotomy resulting from it. And you start walking towards nirvana.

Saw-Raw: Nirvana? Kool!! Sounds exciting!!

Saw-Raw, adangu!!!


Just remember dear disciples, Truth is not a compromise.

And Ego is good! Enough for today.

Saw-Raw, yew-Sha, ma-Haa, gaya-Tree and ji-Know: (in chorus) "Unga gnyanathukku oru ellaiyae illa."


Sk smiles.