I had misplaced it somewhere deep inside the clump of books I have, but today by some accident or purpose, it surfaced again.
The book is, "The Imitation of Christ", by Thomas A Kempis. The copy I have is published by The Bombay Saint Paul Society. I got it for Rs.40 in Ramakrishna Mutt. It fits my pant pocket, I have carried it around with me, kept a copy in my office desk, and have gifted two copies, lost one.
It is one of the best books I have ever read, combining spiritual wisdom with common sense. It is positive in a way that is not apparent in the first reading. It guides me well in the conduct of my life, in the adjustment of attitude that everyday life demands of all of us. If only I could keep its lessons in mind, I would be lot more peaceful and happy, that is what I tell myself.
To sample its virtues, I will quote a few lines from Chapter 16: "Of Bearing the Defects of Others"
What do you do when you find someone repeating the same mistakes? Your gentle pointers are useless, criticism provokes enmity and your aggressive postures raise the stakes higher.
Kempis offers this sage advice: "If anyone, being once or twice admonished, does not comply, contend not with him, but leave it all to God, who knows well how to turn evil into good, that his will may be done, and that he be honoured in all his servants. Endeavour to be patient in bearing the defects and infirmities of others, be they what they may; because you also have many things which others must bear with".
Take people for what they are. Don't make them worse by your criticisim, condemnation. Resign yourself to the situation. Be patient; do you not expect others to bear with your faults?
Anyone can say this. But it takes a true Saint to put it in proper perspective:
"But now God has so disposed things that we may learn "to bear one another's burdens" (Ga 6:2); for there is no man without defect; no man without his burden; no man sufficient for himself; but we must bear with one another; comfort one another, assist, instruct and admonish one another. But the measure of each one's virtue best appears in occasions of adversity. For occasions do not make a man frail, but show what he is".
A difficult situation does not make you weak, it demands the best from you: it is then that your true nature is revealed to you. We are all joined together; we live or fall together. Relatedness is as important as Individuality. It is in the enduring relationships that we can cherish our individuality.
I hope to bring Kempis again in my future posts.
Sage stuff. Agree with the commonsense approach. However the difficulty with humans is to parctice commonsense at all times. Somehow the oceans of commonsense overtly appear not to be so "changing" as a single ripple of the opposite in it. It stands out, enlarged, almost like a tidal wave on the pacific face of sageness and commonsense. It appears more "changing" to as many as those t whom it appears destructive. There are also a few who see it as for ripple it really is and let it be.
ReplyDeleteWorth remembering...thank.
Your remarks put the post in perspective. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I will ever generate any forbearance, it seems a long way away from what I am. But it helps, to read and reflect.
"Endeavour to be patient in bearing the defects and infirmities of others, be they what they may; because you also have many things which others must bear with"
ReplyDeleteAdvice can't better than this. It contains both an appeal and a pointer to one's defects. After all it is not difficult to practice. Only that one needs to shed his/her ego and love people. That then difficult. Isn't it?
Welcome back SB. It will be nice to have you here regularly. I remember Ian Chappell uttering following words during his commentary often. "Commonsense is not very common".
You picked the right words, balajhi. Sparkling.
ReplyDelete