Thursday, June 20, 2013

We need much less than we think we need


Satisfaction, contentment.... these BIG words are so much in talks these days.  You sit down with a bunch of guys and in some way or the other you'll end up using these words once and again. I don't have AC, it's too hot, my apartment is bad, my family sucks, neighbors are too nosy, I have no friends,  no job, no clothes, washing-machine screwed... and what not. Kvetching round the clock and trying to quench perpetual  thirst for little more comfort.

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
~Lao Tzu

We  just can't get out of it, can we ?  We are stuck so deep in our self created swamp of comfort that outside world is alien for us. We feel perplexed when exposed to the glimpses of stark reality.  Do we really need all this decorum and panache to feel happy and content?  Does flaunting of leisure life and lavish habits  make us feel any better ?

Leaning against my window
oblivious  to the ever hustling world
there was so much rush-- in my midget world
in a jiff I peeked outside
d o w n p o u r , big heavy drops
gushing down, plop, plop
frantically running poor fellows
scudding to hide

HIDING, wherever they can

Muddy, soggy all soppy outside
there was this shack
dripping, all sides, lives there
a couple with three kids, drenched
felt terrible seeing this, I care
I went to doze off, only if I could
I'd go down to check on them
stop you dang  rain, you should

I went down..

Distressed, about their whereabouts
where they will lay down ?I doubt
looked furtively in the shack
still dripping, not a soul inside but me
I was in a bind, then only I saw
wide-opened was my jaw, they were sleeping
safe and sound, in the shade
oblivious to the outside world

left me astound, I just stare them :O

Next day at the crack of dawn, I was awake
that family was half done with their day
morning meal was done, they were ready to sell
balloons, all filled, ready to Go in all colors
red , green, blue, orange, pink and yellow
I think my life sucks, nobody gives a damn
now, when I think of them, so many faces
no names, I question myself and places

Questioning ???

From where I stand
they live so low, yet so poised and content
maybe they are, maybe not
but little I do know now
they demand little, need so less
peace of mind, where have you gone? when I see
mirror every day, why can't I ?



That family living in the shack is struggling every day for their survival. I guessed they needed help and I had it all wrong. They don't worry about rain, or about some status to maintain, they prepare their food wood-fired in less than an hour, they lay down on bare concrete road, watching those twinkling stars and moonlight molting their loads.
I was worrying about them, huh, now I worry about myself..

Oo Simple thing where have you gone ??

75 comments:

  1. See the smiles of these lesser mortals to realize how little people with all so called possessions can smile ! Very well written Jyoti!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sir..
      that's what I felt..with all possessions still sometimes we feel empty !!

      Delete
  2. When we learn to adjust with life and things available, the feel of content will come automatically. I realized that things never give the feel of content and the enthusiasm last not long. Yes, the poor needs helping hand and we need to share what we have excess… I guess even with the basic things we can live a happy and healthy life. I think an improvement with inner self is worth important than adding on things forever.

    Well done with the post and thoughtful poem, Jyoti! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. improvement within is all we need Jeevan.. and that ain't easy..
      it's a continuous struggle with self.

      Delete
  3. Fruitful lines........................Satisfaction......contentment..:-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. And this is called contentment...I liked the image and their spirit...of course:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful words to start my day. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katie.. Glad you liked it.
      Welcome here !!

      Delete
  6. I like the picture the poem painted.It true that we all want a little more comfort,we strive to get,sometimes,what we do not even need.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”
    ― Oprah Winfrey

    superb post jyoti

    love-
    anu

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yep, we don't need all we think we do at our zoo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Realization of the very truth comes only when someone observes the world through the inner eyes like you and once Lord Buddha did......Jyoti contentment comes from within not without........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. true.. everything lies within, unless we do something to make it better
      none works.. Thanks A !!

      Delete
  10. be content..be content...be content......i keep telling myself everyday...your post would help me further..thank you ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd be more than happy if it did :)
      Thanks Ritesh !!

      Delete
  11. Beautiful! It looks like a real story,Jtoti. Life is a question for some and an answer for some others.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sometimes contentment is found where we least expect it...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Simple questions and simple answers, difficult to arrive at.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Given a choice would they not choose comfort?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. of course they will..
      swamp of comfort is too enticing to get away with :P

      Delete
  15. Self created swamp of comfort....well said

    ReplyDelete
  16. smiles...there is def an appeal to simplicity...i think you can find contentment at many levels...you dont have to live completely poor....its an attitude and state of mind...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. State of mind it is..
      a state very difficult to arrive at :)

      Delete
  17. thats very well said yaar.... somehow these things just dont seem to get in to human brains!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ha ha..
      true.. we are too weak and we give up easily to worldly pleasure..
      which are never enough :P

      Delete
  18. Very thoughtful!
    I would be lucky If I get a chance to meet you and listen your words.
    I am really impressed ! each of your posts are highly intellect.
    Worth reading you dear

    My best wishes!
    Happy Writing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to meet you Simran..
      you are such a sweetheart :)

      Worth reading you dear... Feeling is mutual my friend :)

      Delete
  19. What a beautiful post, Jyoti :)
    Follow each other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ♥●• İzdihër •●♥..
      Sure I'll... Welcome here :)

      Delete
  20. Lovely & Deep Jyoti.. We really should be satisfied with what we have.. Interesting Read.

    ReplyDelete
  21. We are never happy with what we have ... we always want that extra bit ... we don;t need stuffs, we just need contentment !!! Very beautifully written !!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is a beautiful and powerful post. Your words are so true and I am guilty of always being unhappy with my life, not because of the lack of material things, but because I lack direction or patience. I should be more grateful for the job I have, even though the people there make my life very unpleasant, at least I have a job. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guilt is the common thing between us :P

      We keep kvetching day n night.. on the other hand we have so much to appreciate.

      Delete
  23. Not only is this an exquisite post, your timing is perfect. I'm presently downsizing (simplifying?) from a 3500 sq ft house to 500 sq ft apartment, leaving my pottery, book collection, and most of my furniture behind. I try not to whine. Sometimes I'm successful, other times, not so much. I intend to print this out and carry it with me, a perfect reminder that contentment comes not from things but from within.

    VR Barkowski

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. awww :)
      I'd be really happy if it can help you even in minutest possible way..
      that's the thing... We got to keep re-reminding ourselves.. :)

      Delete
  24. Very lovely post ~ We should be content with what we have ~ And others who have less, maybe that too is a blessing so we can concentrate on what is really important ~

    Have a good weekend ~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you summarized my post in single sentence Heaven :)

      you too have fun !!

      Delete
  25. laying down on concrete is a detail worth pondering. being content, is it acceptance or a realization? great post...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is more of a realization.. acceptance come later.
      Thanks Ed :)

      Delete
  26. reminds me of a discussion that I listened to recently about EMI. The only thing they stressed on was 'don't buy something that you will need tomorrow; but something that you need today'. That explains it well. We really need much less that what we think we need. A very thoughtful post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you just mentioned the inherent theme of the post Diwakar :)

      Thanks and Welcome here !!

      Delete
  27. lovely post, liked the click too , beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  28. i think contentment is a key to a happy life and it doesn't need much-- we just think we need this and that to finally be happy and it's a lie...cool story about this fam as well..and they DO look happy...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Be happy" is the Mantra we all need to adopt in our lives :)

      yeah they seem happy.. :)

      Delete
  29. जो है उस से संतुष्टि कभी नहीं मिलती ... ये तो वैसे भी यूनिवर्सल नियम है ...
    लाजवाब शंडों में रची रचना ...

    ReplyDelete
  30. So correct. We look at them from our perspective, not theirs.
    In reality, we're worse off. They have nature to en strengthen them.
    Its a beautiful captive piece of reality, you've portrayed. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks dear :)
      and yeah in some respects we are worse off..
      Welcome here !!

      Delete
  31. very nicely written...its said that..One of the greatest things to know,
    and often the least known knowledge,

    ...is when you have enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mam..
      agree with.. it's like the most complex thing to construe..

      Delete
  32. Contentment is hard to come by these days. In today's fast paced world, one often doesn't get time to contemplate on it as much as you have done. When people look at someone less privileged than themselves, they feel they have achieved something worthwhile. The problem with this line of thought is sooner rather than later they end up comparing with someone more privileged and begin to harbour discontent. True contentment usually comes when one feels no need to compare themselves with anyone else.

    I added a new word to my vocab - kvetch. Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. comparison is the bug we find so hard to get rid of :)

      Thanks..!!

      Delete
  33. There's a saying, 'the bigger the bowl, the bigger are the needs' or 'the bigger the bowl, the bigger the wants' Obviously their needs and wants are just basic. AS long as they fill their stomachs they're ok! They don't worry and they're happy! Nicely Jyoti!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved the saying..
      More becomes less very often :)

      Thanks Hank !!

      Delete
  34. learning to be happy where one is is a virtue and blessing. One can look at the pix above and either see the cracked walls or the smiling family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you see what you want to see :)
      Thanks Ginger..

      Delete

Write whatever may come to your mind..
I'm here with my fingers on keyboard waiting to reply :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...