” A mistake is not a truth because it is shared by many people, just as a truth is not false because it is emitted by a single individual. ”
– Mahatma Ghandi
Kabir – The couplet
??? ?? ?? ?? ?????, ?? ?? ??? ? ??? |
????? ????? ???? ????, ????? ????? ???? ??? ||
transliterated:
Ati hat naa kar baavare, hat se baat na hoy |
Jyon jyon bheege kamari, tyon tyon bhari hoy ||
Translation:
Do not insist to the point of stubbornness – insistence does not help any end be acheived |
As the bag of salt gets wetter, it only becomes heavier – not easier to carry||
My understanding:
I have often seen a child carry on for something he/she wants, and a parent give in if only to appease the child. However, this is not true of life.
No matter how long we carry on, we cannot change reality through mere word. We cannot also change behavior by demanding it for long enough.
Change needs justification. Change needs a different way of thinking. Change needs a different perspective. We can only convince people to listen to us as long as we are reasonable, as long as we make sense. Else, we become a nag and get tuned out.
If I do not want to be the heavy bag of salt, I will have to learn to be pleasant, brief and to the point. In the extreme case, the bag of salt, if left in water long enough, will have the salt melt and flow away, leaving behind only an empty bag. [In this metaphor, I am the bearer of the bag, the bag is my mind and voice, and the salt is my desire/idea. ]