The Essence

Looking at our old pictures, we surprised ourselves. Is that really us? Just a few years ago, with neat hairdos and simple clothes, we looked so vibrant.

My teenage daughter, Vrinda, has recently become more interested in hair color, stylish clothes, shoes, and other fashion trends. One day, during a relaxed conversation, I decided to share a story with her.

A Silly Story

“Once upon a time” I began, “A villager discovered an ancient bread-making recipe. He bought a machine and used the best ingredients, but he didn’t get the expected results. Can you guess why?”

Vrinda thought for a moment and guessed, “Maybe he forgot the main ingredient… or the machine wasn’t good enough.”

I smiled, “Everything was perfect, but he forgot to switch on the machine.”

Vrinda rolled her eyes. “That was lame. You can be silly at times.” 

“True”, I admitted. “But we do this to ourselves too. Despite eating the best food, we sometimes don’t get the desired results. To properly digest food and absorb its nutrients, we need vitamins like B12, C, and D. Without them, even the best food is wasted.”

Transformation Story

I continued, “The villager switched on the machine but still did not get the results.”

Vrinda, now visibly bored, guessed, ”The factory’s main power  must have been off.”

“Exactly,”The main power of our body is our mind. When mind is relaxed, the whole system works magically.

You may not believe this, but I used to be very different. I was lazy, unmotivated, and easily overwhelmed. Winters were unbearable, and I spend most of my time in bed. I frequently fell sick. My favourite past was sleeping or watching television.  

“But everything changed gradually with meditation. At 50, I feel younger than I did at 30. I go to the gym, enjoy winters session, and haven’t been sick in ages.  I have started leaning classical music and  kathak, and I even paint. I look forward to go to my shop everyday. Meditation has transformed me into a fast leaner. I feel good inside, I eat right too. I know healthy mind and body can achieve anything. When we simplify our lives, everything improves.”

What is simplicity?

Vrinda asked, “What is simplicity?”

“To be”, I replied. It’s not easy to explain, but let me try. A child can be jealous, greedy, yet still be innocent. How? Because a child expresses exactly what they feel. Grown-ups, on the other hand, often do the opposite. 

Vrinda nodded thoughtfully, “People find children cute even when they are angry, their behaviour isn’t judged.”

“Exactly,” I said, “And they are not worried about being judged. That’s what make them natural and spontaneous. Acceptance from parents helps the most – it creates a safe space for children to express their emotions freely.”

Dealing with Anger

Vrinda  asked, “How to deal with anger? Should I try to think positively about the situation?”  

“If a machine isn’t working, will positive thinking fix it? It is better to step back and go for a long walk. People might judge you but let them.  Take space and let the process take its course. The mind will wrestle with the thoughts like  ‘It’s a small issue, let it go… No, I need to correct this…No, I should teach them a lesson,’  it will be a loop for long and exhausting.”

Vrinda signed, “Yes. It is a torturous inner conversation. That is why people escape to their phones”

“True, I said. “But inner work means facing those feeling. Sometimes, when I have conflict with some person, I comfort myself by being nice to others, to uplift myself. But I learned hard way that it is not helping for too long. I don’t have choice than to live with my inner discomfort. Let it take its own time. It might take a day, a week, or a month. But one day , something magical will happen. Meditation teaches us to tolerate difficult emotions. It creates space for transformation.”

Vrinda smile fainted, “Hmm… maybe one day I’ll give it a try.”

I smiled back , knowing that seed of change are often planted in quiet moments. And who knows? Perhaps one day, when she looks back at her journey, she will surprise herself, just like I did, realizing how simple yet profound the path to happiness can be”