I read that the PM was going to lead the Yoga Day celebrations at the UN! I’m glad yoga is being exported from India, and that slowly the whole world is realizing that attaining peace and joy are more important than even attaining nuclear muscle. That peace within can change the world and make it more livable, but again isn’t the taste of the pudding in the eating? Shouldn’t we as the yoga capital of the world be showing the world that we Indians through mediation are the most peace-loving people in the world?
Am reading a delightful book, called, ‘The Book of Joy’ which is a New York Times Bestseller. The book speaks about a wonderful week which his holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu spent together. Desmond Tutu, became the first black Bishop of a predominantly white Anglican South African denomination. It was a time when the majority African blacks had taken over their country, but between Nelson Mandela, and Tutu who he appointed as head of the Truth and Reconciliation committee, they managed to bring unity between the majority blacks and the minority whites who had previously been their rulers and harsh administrators.
Archbishop Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his great efforts. We all know what the Dalai Lama has gone through. Thrown out of his homeland Tibet by the Chinese, where he reigned as the spiritual head but he bears no hatred or anger towards China but continues to win people through his messages of peace and his spontaneous joy. If there were two gigantic leaders who had the right to discuss methods of bringing joy to a joyless world it was these two.
Thus, when they talk of joy, the world listens. The world listens when we practice what we preach! Charles Blondin was a famous pioneer of tightrope walking, which, is properly called “funambulism,” and which could mean the intricate balance between fun and ambulances. In 1859 Blondin crossed the Niagara Falls on a 3-inch tightrope, walking about 400 yards across the water at a height of 160 feet. Thousands of spectators gasped at his boldness and skill.
In subsequent shows, he repeated his performance with various twists: walking blindfolded, prancing on stilts, or sitting down on the rope in the middle of the Niagara Falls to cook himself an omelet. Once he even carried his manager across on his back. After lugging his manager across the Falls, Blondin went up to a spectator and asked, “Do you believe I could carry you across the Niagara on my back?”
“I sure do.” Blodin said, “Hop on.” The man replied, “Not on your life!” Today as I look at violent scenes all over my beloved country is that what we are saying, “Yes, we believe in Yoga!” “Then bring peace to your country!” “Not on my life!” Is that the way to sell joy sir?
—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com
