Am Quoting an English translation of a Tamil poem composed some 2000 years ago by Avvaiyar
"It is rare to be born as a human being,
It is still rarer to be born without any deformity.
Even if you are born without any deformity,
It is rare to acquire knowledge and education.
Even if one could acquire knowledge and education,
It is still rare to offer service to the mankind and contemplate on the higher self.
If one leads such a selfless divine life,
The gates of heaven open to greet such an evolved soul."
I Read this poem in Dr. Abdul Kalam's book Ignited Minds. It took a while to absorb the import of this poem but later two thoughts built up inside me. I am sharing them below:
One that India had a thinker/poet of such high capacity as far back as 2000 years ago [Did some research on net to find about Avvaiyars (Tamil: ஔவையார்). It means "respectable women" and is a title of more than one poet active during various times of Tamil literature].
Hasn't India been blessed always ? Throughout our history, there are countless stories of thinkers, philosophers, scientists and innovators. A well endowed and rich country in more ways than one.
But eventually the thoughts travel to the the present condition of our country which looks a bit less rosy. Is there hope? I believe there is. We, the youth would turn things around for our country.
As Mr. Kalam hopes in his book that the youth would wake up and rekindle the spirit of knowledge and victory.
Second thought was more on the poem itself. Resonating with the spiritual cord.
Drowned in the monotony of our daily routine, we get lost. Isn't it easy to forget who we are and what's our purpose here. Sometimes we don't even bother to find out.
I felt a strange sense of calmness reading the lines. Whatever the situation, there is a scope to be thankful for what we are, today. Aren't we made humans. That was a rare chance that materialized. Is that enough or should we be chasing something rarer. If we are capable enough to be at service to others, wouldn't that be wonderful. Not only we take care of our own lives but can also be a factor for happiness in somebody Else's. What a rarity !!!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avvaiyar
Ignited Minds - By Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam
"It is rare to be born as a human being,
It is still rarer to be born without any deformity.
Even if you are born without any deformity,
It is rare to acquire knowledge and education.
Even if one could acquire knowledge and education,
It is still rare to offer service to the mankind and contemplate on the higher self.
If one leads such a selfless divine life,
The gates of heaven open to greet such an evolved soul."
I Read this poem in Dr. Abdul Kalam's book Ignited Minds. It took a while to absorb the import of this poem but later two thoughts built up inside me. I am sharing them below:
One that India had a thinker/poet of such high capacity as far back as 2000 years ago [Did some research on net to find about Avvaiyars (Tamil: ஔவையார்). It means "respectable women" and is a title of more than one poet active during various times of Tamil literature].
Hasn't India been blessed always ? Throughout our history, there are countless stories of thinkers, philosophers, scientists and innovators. A well endowed and rich country in more ways than one.
But eventually the thoughts travel to the the present condition of our country which looks a bit less rosy. Is there hope? I believe there is. We, the youth would turn things around for our country.
As Mr. Kalam hopes in his book that the youth would wake up and rekindle the spirit of knowledge and victory.
Second thought was more on the poem itself. Resonating with the spiritual cord.
Drowned in the monotony of our daily routine, we get lost. Isn't it easy to forget who we are and what's our purpose here. Sometimes we don't even bother to find out.
I felt a strange sense of calmness reading the lines. Whatever the situation, there is a scope to be thankful for what we are, today. Aren't we made humans. That was a rare chance that materialized. Is that enough or should we be chasing something rarer. If we are capable enough to be at service to others, wouldn't that be wonderful. Not only we take care of our own lives but can also be a factor for happiness in somebody Else's. What a rarity !!!
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avvaiyar
Ignited Minds - By Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam
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