Sunday, May 26, 2013

Life as "The Glass Bead Game"...


Herman Hesse’s The Glass Bead Game is a book which I never read – at least, never read in full, cover-to-cover -  and yet in many ways it served as a reflection – and resolution - of much that was happening within as I was growing up. One conversation between Joseph Knecht and the Master remained relevant over years...
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"If only there were a dogma to believe in. Everything is contradictory, everything tangential; there are no certainties anywhere. Everything can be interpreted one way and then again interpreted in the opposite sense. The whole of history can be explained as development and progress and can also be seen as nothing but decadence and meaninglessness. Isn't there any truth? Is there no real and valid doctrine?"


The Master had never heard him speak so fervently. He walked on in silence for a little, then said, "There is truth, my boy. But the doctrine you desire, absolute, perfect dogma that alone provides wisdom, does not exist. Nor should you long for a perfect doctrine, my friend. Rather, you should long for the perfection of yourself. The deity is within you, not in ideas and books. Truth is lived, not taught. Be prepared for conflicts, Joseph Knecht — I can see they have already begun."

Sunday, May 05, 2013

एक तसवीर साथ रहती है ...

न ये रूकती है, न थमती है कभी
ना ठिठक कर के सांस लेती है
इक अधूरी-सी दास्ताँ में गुम
भूली यादों के साये में छुपी
एक तसवीर साथ रहती है ...

एक छोटी-सी वो कहानी थी
जाने क्यूँ खो गयी - पर वो कहते हैं
जैसे दरिया मिला समंदर में
हाँ, मैं जानता हूँ पर फिर भी
एक तसवीर साथ रहती है ...