Eat Bitterness

The thought of this topic came from our visit to the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. This phrase for depicted in an exhibit. “Eat Bitterness” means when hard things happen, we learn to endure them.

I don’t like bitter foods – whether its bitter gourd (Karela), bitter medicine or beer! Eating bitterness calls for determination. I am reminded of a Gujarati Poem “Kadva Karela na gun, Kadva vachan na hoy kadva” which means though the bitter gourd tastes bitter, it has lot of essentials to stay healthy and similarly even if words are bitter, the intent may not be. The intent may be to push our potential. Hence “Eat bitterness”.

“Eat bitterness” also reminds me of Thomas Edison. He was 67 and he lost everything in a fire– all his experiments, innovations and money. It was devastating. His thought was, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” What an attitude and what a way to “Eat bitterness”!

In the spiritual path, I think this is tested even more and our Gods have acknowledged and eaten bitterness themselves - Whether its exile of Shri Ram or crucifixion of Christ or the hardships for Prophet Muhammad, all of them ate bitterness.

There are 6 kinds of tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. In life, we get all of them. We live with all of them and we eat all of them. Just as I eat and relish sweetness, let me relish bitterness too. Cheers!

The scorching sun

Parched throat

Blazing heat

And miles to go

"Eat bitterness"

She had said

And I go on..

A stream?

Or a mirage?

The salvation

Will come in time

And I go on…

A tiny cloud

Hiding the sun

What a relief

And I go on…

I eat bitterness

I surrender

And I go on..

No Big Deal

This topic was inspired by my husband Pranav. Let me paint the picture. I typically get up around 5-5.30am but I take my own sweet time to get ready usually by 7.30am. So on the days when I have an earlier business meeting, I get edgy. I start rushing things, becoming short and making it into a “big deal”. Pranav, on the other hand rolls with the flow. He has to take a 6am flight pretty regularly. He takes it easy after getting up at 3.30 am! He is calm and happy and it’s “no big deal”. I need to and am trying to learn that it’s “No big deal”!

My friend calls this a first world problem. She is so right that we make small things that can and should be ignored into this mammoth endeavor. It’s no big deal!

I often remember the story of this gentleman. His day didn’t start right. The alarm didn’t go off. He was late. Being edgy he spilled his coffee on himself. Finally as he got out of the house, he got stuck in traffic further delaying him. The anxious energy was rising high. Suddenly he saw the accident. That was what was delaying the traffic. And things came into perspective. He was alive. He was well. He had a nice family, a decent job and good health. Being late on one day was “No big deal!”

I remind myself to keep things in perspective, to count the blessings, to be grateful for all we have and let things go. It’s really “No big deal”.

“No big deal”

Is Pranav’s motto

“Let it go”

Is Ashna’s

“Be Happy”

Says my mom

“Laugh it out”

Is mine

“It doesn’t matter”

Reinforces my dad

“Forgive”

Advices daddu

“Beat it”

Showcases Mumma

“It’s His desire”

Acknowledges my bro

“Accept the change”

Calls out sis-in-law

“Drive”

Says bro-in-law

“It’s all good”

Reminds my friend

“Live in Grace”

Guides the Guru

“Trust me”

Smiles my God

10,000 Ears

The inspiration for this topic is the story of King Prithu from Shrimad Bhagwat, a Hindu religious scripture. King Prithu did a lot of penance and as a result God appeared before him. God asked him to ask a boon. The King requested to get 10,000 ears to hear God’s praises and Satsang. Satsang is defined as company with an assembly of persons who listen to, talk about, and assimilate the truth.

The orator, Satish Sharma, who was explaining this story mentioned that we all hear things that we either remember or forget. If we hear with our two ears, we may forget but if we hear with all our 10,000 ears we will remember.

As I reflected on it, what have I heard with 10,000 ears? I know harsh words are up there! Those, I wish I would have heard with just two ears to forgive and forget. On the other hand, I wish I would have paid even more attention and heard the scriptures with 10,000 ears. I am sure that would help me experience Him.

What have you heard with your 10,000 ears?

10,000 ears

And my mind

Hearing

Ignoring

Listening

Focusing

Living

Our ears

Our choice

To keep it in

or throw it out