Soar Higher

Being part of a culture where parents are supposed to be treated like God, I have wondered and more often than not resisted the sheer thought of comparing a human being to a Supreme Power, someone who has created this world.

?Quite recently, I got into this argument again within myself. On a bright winter morning in Delhi, after a short tiff with my teenage daughter (call it Ego clash!) I drove to another part of the city. Solo driving is what makes me reflect well. In the silence of the car, early morning, no music, 'mind and heart' both doing what they are best at - arguments on this topic. It could not have been a more appropriate time as I had to drop my daughter at the hostel the following week. Was it my resistance to empty nesting?

Let me put forth my thoughts on that day on a few similarities between the Two:

?1)???Creator: God created the entire universe or maybe multiverses, He created us: Same for parents, they are our creators.

?2)???Provider: He provided us, based on his choice with senses, survival instinct, gives us birth in a family, social circle based on our past Karma (if one believes in it). Nevertheless, we don't have a choice to choose our parents: Same for parents, they provide us with what they think based on best of their ability and thinking. At least, in early days, we don't have a choice.

?3)???Protector: In times of pain or distress, we look up to Him to help us, and He helps though at times we can't see it immediately: Same for parents, though at times, their methods of protecting and caring for us is beyond our comprehension.

?4)???Pampering: We pray and ask for 'gifts' from Him, whether we have worked hard or not for it. We ask as if it is our right: Same for parents, we ask for many things from them because it's our right. Now, eventually, both of them giving it to us or not is their prerogative, but we expect both to pamper us!

?5)???'Why me' questioning: We fight and complain to Him when things don't go our way, God, why me?: Same for parents, we fight and complain to them "why me" compared to other siblings or relatives, etc.

?6)???Teacher: God teaches us the lessons of cause and effect of our actions through 'karma' theory, 'we reap what we sow': Same for parents, they teach us from essential learnings and values required for life. Formal or academic education is often left to the professionals in both cases.

?7)???'Taken for granted': We usually take Him for granted many times, we don't pray and thank Him at every moment of life, but He still takes care of us and does not give us pain more than we can handle. Now, one might say we do these rituals every day, that's not a prayer: Same for parents, we take them for granted many times, don't we?

?And the list is a long one, the answer to the question of all our parents equal to God is dwindling to one side??

?As these interesting thoughts were going on, I saw a lovely tea cafe that broke the chain of my thoughts and I was tempted to go and have a cup of hot tea with my favorite cookie in the winter morning to continue this exciting self-discussion.

?2nd part:

?Indeed, parents are a version of God, be it for any living being, as they help us come to this world and help us in life stages where we don't have any senses.

?But there is a difference that God, since He is the creator, kept with Himself as against parents. He created 'Moh' or attachment in the hearts of parents, which is the cause of many happiness, many attachments, ego and hence many sufferings as well. God is above 'Moh and Maya ' (attachment and delusion) as He knows this is all ephemeral and will go away. Parents themselves are human so they normally get attached to their children, and it's challenging to let the child fall and make mistakes and relearn. As parents, letting go of attachment is not easy for most of us.

?But as God is our Parents' parent too, he knows this is all temporary, and he lets His creation learn and hence, is not attached to His own creation. Indeed as they say in Bollywood, God proves it, ?? ???????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ????(I am your father's father and hence I have the upper hand!)

?Because in essence, what is God? - The one who creates, who protects, who provides, who teaches, who guides, who is there in good and bad times, with whom we can fight and love, yet who will let go of the attachment so you can be a free person to act and bear the result on your own because that is Karma.

Only a few parents understand this and can detach themselves and see their children, their creation, unfurl their wings at its own pace in their zone.

?So, as I take the last sip of my tea and end such a nice reflective time, I move out of the cafe with a smile and take my car towards my destination for the day. I mentally got ready to let my teenage birdie expand her wings, soar higher to follow her own Karmic journey. This is not to become God myself at all, but to take the next step in my journey too!

?May we all Soar Higher.

?PS : This one is dedicated to my parents and my daughter and above all Him!