The Glass is Half - Full; - Life is a Game

[Guest guest]

The Glass is Half-Full;Life is a Game

 

I was lucky to have some free time last weekend when my son came up

and asked to watch the movie `Life is Beautiful'. Little did I know

it was going to be one of the best movies I'd ever seen. I know most

of you are thinking `Hello??? I thought this site was about God, not

movies!'. But to me, God isn't only what is in the scriptures. It is

the message of Truth.

 

In Swami Rama Tirtha's words, " Vedanta " " knowledge of God " brings you

a religion which is found in the streets, which is written upon the

leaves, which is murmured in the brooks, which is whispered in the

winds, which is throbbing in your veins and arteries, a religion

which concerns your business and bosom, a religion which you have not

to practise by going to a particular church, mosque, gurudwara or temple only, a

religion which you have to practise and live in your everyday life about your

hearth, in your dining room… " So the movie is really a lesson in Vedanta. It

teaches us about the power of looking at the bright side and seeing the same

situation from a fresh perspective. A lesson that is important in the Vedantic

context.

 

The story revolves around a father and son who have been taken as

prisoners to a concentration camp during World War II. The father had

promised the little boy a battle tank as a gift for his fourth

birthday. However, they were arrested and taken to a concentration

camp as they were preparing for the birthday party.

 

In order to protect his son from the hardships of the concentration

camp, the father tells him that the entire experience is a game and

that he will accumulate points by following the rules of the game,

the rules at the concentration camp. He tells his son that if he is

able to collect 1000 points he will get the tank! Every time the

child complains of bad food or some inconvenience the father reminds

him of the `game'. This enables the child to take the situation in

his stride. Finally, when the Allied Forces liberate them, the little

boy comes out of hiding. He sees a massive battle tank and thinks he

has got the reward for earning 1000 points! In the end it is his

father's positive outlook that helps him emerge from the experience

unscathed.

 

The same is true with our lives. We all have our moments of hardship.

Moments when we feel like there is no hope, when there seems no sense

in going on. A difficult relationship, an uninspiring job or just

plain bad luck. Yet there is something in us that has the ability to

see the good in everything. The capacity to turn the situation on its

head, and see the same challenge in a new light. Because the human

spirit is indomitable. We will get knocked down many times over in

life, but the best amongst us are those who will get back up and

continue on the path they have chosen to tread.

 

Although the story is simple, there is a lesson in it for all of us.

There is a silver lining to every cloud. Thinking negatively about

our circumstances only takes the wind out of our sails. It hurts us

the most. Not the people or the obstacles we perceive to be the

source of our problems. The key is to re-assess the situation, try

and see the good that can come out of it and above all, have faith

that we can make everything happen for the best. Remember, the glass

is always half-full.

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace to all