PERHAPS THE ULTIMATE REALITY

“If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children.”

 

                                                                               Lines from the famous book ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom

While working in the garden today, I tried relating my experience of working with plants to the above lines which raised a question in my mind. How different is the role of a gardener raising a plant from a parent raising a child? A careful analysis led to a deeper understanding of the roles which is as follows.

S. No.

Gardener

Parent

1.

Seeks support of Mother Earth to serve as the Kshetra for a seed to germinate. 

Seeks support of Mother’s Womb to serve as the Kshetra for a cell to fertilize. 

2.

The appearance of a shoot signifies the birth of a new plant. A moment of celebration.

Birth of a child establishes a relationship with the material world. A moment of celebration.

3.

However tall the shoot may continue to grow, it would never lose its connection with the mother earth.

Irrespective of how old a person may become, s/he can never lose the bond with both the parents until death.

4.

Nurturing the plant with love and care at all stages during the life span is the responsibility of the Gardener.

Nurturing the child with love and care at all stages during the life span is the responsibility of the Parent.

5.

A gardener fences the plant

A parent educates the child

6.

A gardener adds manure to the soil for nourishment and healthy growth. 

A parent inculcates values which lay the foundation for self-actualization.

7.

Not all flowers that bloom become fruits.

Not all values nurtured would be internalized.

8.

Harvest is never in the hands of the Gardener.

Children’s reciprocation of love and care is never in the hands of Parents

9.

No gardener would ever stop cultivating plants knowing well that returns are never guaranteed.

No parent would ever stop blessing their children knowing well that returns are never guaranteed.

Perhaps this sloka from the famous Bhagavad Gita is the ultimate answer be it for a parent or a gardener who has a similar question as mine in their mind.

You have a right to action alone, never to its fruit. Your motivation should not be the fruit of action or should you be attached to inaction. 

No exaggeration in saying that it is always a Guru who plays multiple roles such as a gardener, a parent, and a teacher. No wonder both the human intellect and the soul would receive the much-needed nourishment under the guidance of able Gurus such as Sandipani, Valmiki, Ved Vyas, Adi Sankaracharya, Buddha, etc. The least one can do is to salute their invaluable contribution to the rich heritage of India. At the same time, to also practice in life at least one of their teachings making efforts to remain on the path of self-realization. 

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