In life there are two paths. One is a well beaten path travelled upon by most of the people. It is an easy path. The journey on the same is comfortable. But at the end of the journey one, is at the same level as the one with which one started.
The other path is the one which is less travelled upon. It is difficult. It is uphill and one has to struggle to progress on this path. The end of the journey sees one at a far greater height. One may be breathless, but one would be very happy and satisfied.
The first one is called the “Preya” path in Upanishads; the second “Shreya”.
When one looks around, one finds that the present generation is better fed, better educated, lives longer, and is relatively healthier than the earlier ones. However, this is true only of the upper crust of the society. For most of the others, things have not improved. Most of them are poor and have no food, water, or shelter and no education. Closing our eyes to the problems and miseries of these people is selecting the first path. Deciding to work for them, committing our time, money and resources is the second path, the path less travelled upon. I, as at a very late age in my life decided to take the second path, and regret not having taken it earlier.
When I see the sufferings of my fellow beings, my heart bleeds. I do see around me several people who are well to do, but who are not doing anything to help the poor and needy. A question arises that though we are all good people, why do we not help? Why do we hesitate to take the second path? Those who hesitate can be divided in three different categories.
(1) The first set is of people are completely in oblivion of the plight of others. They are like Prince Siddharth before he became Gautam Buddha! They need to be awakened and made aware of the sufferings of the others.
(2) There are others who are vaguely aware of the situation but are not moved to help. Sufficient empathy has not arisen in their hearts for the suffering lot.
(3) The last class of people who are aware of the problem, who want to do something, but just do not know what to do? How to do? Where to start? They are helpless. They feel helpless.
For the first type of persons who are just unaware of the sufferings we have to make them see the sufferings of the poor. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But a visit to any of these places where our poor and needy stay is worth a thousand pictures. If we can expose these people, particularly of the younger generation, to the sufferings of the poor, some of them are bound to be touched by what they see.
This applies equally to the second category of persons who lack empathy. Maybe a stronger dose of the same medicine will put them on the right path.
The third category of people is of persons who want to do, but do not know how. They have to be shown the work done with dedication without seeking rewards by our silent workers, our unsung heroes. This will give them direction and motivate them to start treading the path less travelled.
Friends, we are at a time in history when our country needs us. Quoting President Kennedy, “We have not to ask what our country would do for us, but ask ourselves what we can do for our country”. It is for us, the educated, the well to do, to make a difference in the lives of our poor and needy brethren. Let us leave our foot prints on the sands of time. Moreover, each one of us seeks happiness – nay – eternal happiness. This comes from serving the poor. Friends, let us take this path, though difficult, to live in happiness. To serve the poor is the highest form of spirituality – something which illuminates the human mind. But it is difficult. I would conclude by quoting from Kathopanishad:
“Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, difficult to cross and hard to tread”
