Point to Ponder: May be the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. May be it is about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you so you can be what you were meant to be in the first place. –Author Unknown
Story Line: In response to the Friday Reflection Be Yourself in late June, a reader Prasad Vepa commented as follows: Your cryptic reflection is sound indeed. It is similar to the last line of the advice Hamlet received from his father: “Above all, to thine own self be true!” The well known observation from Rumi points to the same insight: I kept knocking on the door until I realized I was inside! We generally knock on other doors hoping to find compatible shelters and voices until we realize we need to not knock — but unlock — our own door from within to find and uncover our authentic self in the cave of our own heart.
I would say that ‘Being yourself’ is necessary, but not sufficient. It is much more important to KNOW yourself. Otherwise one runs the risk of acting like one of our presidents who suffered from the illusion of being ‘The Decider’ and erroneously concluded that it conferred upon him the powers of a Nero and the wisdom of a Solomon! But he was being himself. The duty to awaken from our long, deep slumber of hazy illusion and to uncover the truth of our deepest self is the highest human obligation as Vedanta teaches us and as Shankara proclaimed. This truth will set us free and liberate us from suffering, which is really caused more by ignorance of our true self than by desire. When you know yourself you WILL be yourself. And your thought, word and deed will be aligned.--Your dear friend, Prasad Vepa
While reading his comments I remembered one of old colleagues and the choices he made about 18 years ago.
Reflection: I worked with him in late 90s. He was an engineer, easy to work with and very good at what he did. At the age of 38 he decided to return home to be with his aging parents; giving up on a very lucrative career, opportunities of Silicon Valley and all the rewards it could have brought him with his talent.
During our trip to Oahu in May, My wife and I spent two days with him reflecting on the time that had passed. His goal was to spend a few years after graduation on the mainland and then return home. Some would assume that he must have “Made It” in order to give up on the future rewards this growing industry would have brought. From what I know that wasn’t the case. He did what was consistent with who he was and what he wanted out of life.
Prasad Vepa’s comments and the story of my friend are appropriate to end the year; the time to reflect and also time to look forward.