Let Us Be Different, Not Indifferent To Realities Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Let us be different, not indifferent to realities

Let us not take pride for what we are
We know for being what we are
A number of others contributed more
Than what we did for being what we are
So
Our wisdom does not permit us
To take pride in being what we are

Let us not beat our own drums
We understand people come to know us better
In our silence, as silence is
More expressive in communication
And let us not demonstrate
Our capabilities and powers
Only to show to what far we are competent
And what are our physical and mental strengths
And
We are not competing with any one
But we do compete with our own self
To scale higher levels of excellence

Let us not be violent in
Thoughts, words and deeds
We know demonstrating non-violence is easy
But we will keep striving
Not to nurse violent thoughts
So that we are not violent to the core

Let us be patient, patient, patient
We know nothing is going to harm us
Except our turning turbulent and impatient
We understand that it is all changing
Will soon change to our favour
Though we have realized that
There is nothing like ‘favourable’ or
‘Unfavourable’ situation

Let us remain clean
In our thoughts, words and deeds
Like a child we will talk what we think
And we will do what we speak

Let us remain a learner ever
Trying all the time to learn
And to unlearn so that we remain
Very clear about everything
Within and without

Let us keep our physique clean
Of dirt and diseases
Let us nurse healthy practices
And enjoy living to the last breathe

Let us stay fearless
As we are confident of facing anything
Good or otherwise
We believe we can negotiate adequately well
Situations requiring a thoughtful navigation
We are sure nothing can hurt us
As we have the tact of handling them safely

Let our deeds remain totally unselfish
Not that we negate our self
But we will not long for a selfish end
In all what we do
Collective interest and common good
Will decide our acts

We know which stimulate our sensual organs
Let that be what we see,
What we hear,
What we smell,
What we taste and
What we touch
We know how to enjoy them
Let us exercise caution against
Overindulgence and
We have the strength to reject a stimulant at our choice

Let us give up arrogance of ego
We will effectively resist its dominance
We will enjoy the utility of things and people
But we will not possess any
We will not cry over things going their way
And we will not mourn their departure

We know the vagaries of life and living
We have the acumen to foresee the emotional imbalances
Associated with birth, death, ageing, diseases and disorders
None of these come in our way
And hamper our progress towards self actualization


Let us not be madly bonded to any weakness
We know we can stay strong and in balance
Only if we can stop being attracted to things
We will not repel any thing at the same time
Though our mission is to be un-attracted

Let us have a balanced and weighed bonding
To our dear and near
Not that we do not care for them
We love them adequately
But we exercise control over love to them
So that they do not feel our caring a burden
And they remain independent

Let us have an emotional balance ever
The so called favouring or unfavouring situations
Do not influence this emotional balance
As we treasure this as our greatest possession

Let us be devoted to one particular divine understanding
And faith so that we reach some far
In our spiritual path and be ever guided
To take meaningful decisions while living

Let us select a clean and calm environment
As our habitat
Which is congenial to our inner search
And help us understand the
Power that energizes the universe
And nurtures its components

Let us not relish being in the mid of a crowd
Not that we stay alone
We will stay with people, any number, any kind
But we know that we only are our company
Crowd psychology will not penetrate us
Let us be guided by our righteous will

Let us ever dwell in search of the real self
We are totally devoted to know our self
We understand it is a waste of time
To make efforts to understand others
As such an effort leads us only to misunderstand

Let us be ever preparing to
Have the feel of ultimate truth
We know it is more a realization
Of the self and its relationship with the infinite

And thus, let us be different
And not indifferent to realities