The Wheels of Fortune
These days travel has become very easy. There are smoothly paved roads everywhere, well built cars that transport from place to place in great luxury, as if sitting on a couch at home. At one time it was not so. Very few people think about how difficult it may have been in the days when cars and roads were either unavailable or very primitive. The wheel of fortune is definitely in our favor and as a car rolls forward so does time. In this journey of life all discussions, doubts and pursuits must be completed before the wheels roll to a final stop.
Just as a car cannot run on only one wheel, we need the help, coordination and support of others in order to reach the goal of life. Parents may be thought of as one set of wheels on a car and the spouse the other set of wheels. Grandparents are like the spare tire, they are ready to help anytime it’s needed and the rest of the time they deserve rest and relaxation, having played their part in our upbringing. The people sitting inside a car can be thought of as children. Just as a car “comes alive” when we turn the engine on, a house comes alive through the lively energy that children bring into our lives.
A car can travel safely at high speeds only if the tire and the chassis can bear the strain. The chassis of a car can be thought of as knowledge and the shock absorbers of a car as our understanding. Greater our knowledge and understanding, easier it becomes to face situations in life which may not always be to our liking. Sometimes the road is smooth, other times it is bumpy. Regardless of the condition of the road, vehicles serve a useful purpose and if we carelessly handle them, accidents are caused. Similarly, regardless of how easy or difficult our lives may be, we must always be helpful to others. Even in the most difficult of situations, we must not even think of hurting others. Just as a road does not remain rough forever, eventually life will smoothen out.
Better the vehicle, the faster it can travel. Similarly, if the mind is kept calm and peaceful all the time, the more likely it is to function as an aid to help us achieve great things in life. If a vehicle travels quickly from point A to B, it gives us that much more time to do other things. Similarly, if we stop procrastinating and complete whatever task we may be doing safely and efficiently, time will always be in plenty to work on the next task. A great amount of stress in our lives is linked to the perception that we have no time for anything. If we are mindful of time, time will “slow down” for us.
Sometimes the road goes uphill and at other times it takes us downhill. Just as we have an accelerator and brakes to modulate the speed of a car and we place our trust in them to keep us safe, when the mind functions as a supporting aid in difficult times and it puts a brake on our desires and temptations in good times, life will be a pleasant journey.
Whether the car is placed in a forward or a reverse gear, there is power that is delivered to the wheels. Similarly, whether our lives are proceeding forwards or we appear to be sliding backwards, the divine is always there giving us power in the form of the breath. Recognizing and appreciating that divine power is more beneficial than worrying about the direction life takes us. Direction is relative. The power of the divine is absolute and is found in every direction. Just as car lights up the dark, life illuminates a body that appears dead and lifeless. Animals in the jungle have no access to light once the sun sets. If we drive a car through the jungle, even if it is for a short duration, we can provide them light. Similarly, without the contribution of scientists, we would be groping in the dark. If we cannot provide sustained light like the scientists have done, atleast we can provide some help to others even if momentary. The wheel of fortune never stops. That wheel is life and we are lucky to be passengers for a while on that never ending journey
Blessings to all
Swami Ponnurangam
Just as a car cannot run on only one wheel, we need the help, coordination and support of others in order to reach the goal of life. Parents may be thought of as one set of wheels on a car and the spouse the other set of wheels. Grandparents are like the spare tire, they are ready to help anytime it’s needed and the rest of the time they deserve rest and relaxation, having played their part in our upbringing. The people sitting inside a car can be thought of as children. Just as a car “comes alive” when we turn the engine on, a house comes alive through the lively energy that children bring into our lives.
A car can travel safely at high speeds only if the tire and the chassis can bear the strain. The chassis of a car can be thought of as knowledge and the shock absorbers of a car as our understanding. Greater our knowledge and understanding, easier it becomes to face situations in life which may not always be to our liking. Sometimes the road is smooth, other times it is bumpy. Regardless of the condition of the road, vehicles serve a useful purpose and if we carelessly handle them, accidents are caused. Similarly, regardless of how easy or difficult our lives may be, we must always be helpful to others. Even in the most difficult of situations, we must not even think of hurting others. Just as a road does not remain rough forever, eventually life will smoothen out.
Better the vehicle, the faster it can travel. Similarly, if the mind is kept calm and peaceful all the time, the more likely it is to function as an aid to help us achieve great things in life. If a vehicle travels quickly from point A to B, it gives us that much more time to do other things. Similarly, if we stop procrastinating and complete whatever task we may be doing safely and efficiently, time will always be in plenty to work on the next task. A great amount of stress in our lives is linked to the perception that we have no time for anything. If we are mindful of time, time will “slow down” for us.
Sometimes the road goes uphill and at other times it takes us downhill. Just as we have an accelerator and brakes to modulate the speed of a car and we place our trust in them to keep us safe, when the mind functions as a supporting aid in difficult times and it puts a brake on our desires and temptations in good times, life will be a pleasant journey.
Whether the car is placed in a forward or a reverse gear, there is power that is delivered to the wheels. Similarly, whether our lives are proceeding forwards or we appear to be sliding backwards, the divine is always there giving us power in the form of the breath. Recognizing and appreciating that divine power is more beneficial than worrying about the direction life takes us. Direction is relative. The power of the divine is absolute and is found in every direction. Just as car lights up the dark, life illuminates a body that appears dead and lifeless. Animals in the jungle have no access to light once the sun sets. If we drive a car through the jungle, even if it is for a short duration, we can provide them light. Similarly, without the contribution of scientists, we would be groping in the dark. If we cannot provide sustained light like the scientists have done, atleast we can provide some help to others even if momentary. The wheel of fortune never stops. That wheel is life and we are lucky to be passengers for a while on that never ending journey
Blessings to all
Swami Ponnurangam
