ON OPINIONS

ON OPINIONS

The other day discussion on weather continued at home. The sky was overcast and the sun was hesitating to peep out. I said that there will be rain soon. My brother said that it will not rain. My mother pointed out that the forecast has indicated slight showers. My friend who joined the conversation said that he has no belief in weather forecasts and that it may or may not rain.He said the dark clouds that have gathered are deceptive and the gale can sweep them away! It is said that three things in life are  unpredictable.The birth of a child may precede or follow the date given by the doctor! It may threaten to rain  and you come out with an umbrella but the Sun may come out mischievously mocking at you! Life itself is so uncertain that people die who want to live while those who wish to escape life’s struggle are forced to continue by destiny! Opinions and tastes differ from individual to individual. What I like you may not like. My opinion can be diametrically opposite to that of yours. My preference for sweets may be your dislike for it. “ loko bhinna ruchi” says the Sanskrit saying! Tastes differ from person to person.

What a person feels in the inner recess of his heart is always safe and good. Difficulties arise when you want to neglect your own opinion and choose to follow the opinion and direction of someone. There is an inner voice in everyone and it directs him in the right path “ atma' buddhi sukham chaiva” -own intellect leads to happiness.A man and and his son were walking along with a donkey. After some distance, a passer by questioned the man why he made his young son walk. The man was perturbed and now asked his son to ride on the donkey. As they moved along , another person felt pity for the donkey and the father asked his son to get down and walk. A third person said that both the father and son were stupid! When the donkey was available, why should these two walk and strain themselves? The father was confused and thought that the person was right. Now both the father and son started riding on the donkey! The poor lean and lanky donkey could not bear the weight of the two and collapsed on the way! It is foolish to listen to the views or opinions of everyone we come across! We must have a steady mind and stick to it.

Kaikeyi, one of the wives of king Dasaratha loved Rama more than Kausalya herself! She doted on him and was ecstatic on hearing the news of Rama’s coronation.Manthara her maid, an evil genius, poisoned her mind and suggested that her son Bharata should be crowned and not Rama! Foolish Kaikeyi fell a victim to her wiles and acted according to the dictates of Manthara. She demanded the crowning of Bharata, her son, and an exile for Rama into the forest. it ended not in the crowning of Bharata but king Dasaratha’s sudden death! One has to be wary of the opinions of others!  

Another example is that of Ravana, king of Lanka, who was doomed to destruction by the opinion of his sister Surpanakha. She happened to see Rama, Lakshmana,and Sita in the forest and fell in love with Rama! She was struck with the celestial beauty of Sita. When Rama refused her amorous advances she approached Lakshmana. He too refused her and finally her nose and ear were cut. Humiliated and infuriated at this, she went back to Ravana,and explained what had happened to her. She described to Ravana the extraordinary heavenly beauty of Sita and insisted that he should have her as his wife. She said his life shall not find fulfilment till he brings Sita and marries her.This opinion of Surpanakha turned the tide of Ravana’s life.  Notorious for abductions of heavenly damsels, Ravana abducted Sita and was Killed by Rama subsequently! One has to weigh the opinions of others before acting on them.Ravana acted blindly in spite of his greatness as the devotee of Lord Siva!

Opinions and good advice fall on deaf ears very often depending on the nature of persons! Mandodari, Ravana's wife warned him of dire consequences and counseled him not to acquire the wrath of Rama who was the embodiment of Lord Vishnu. Ravana’s brother Vibhishana advised him sincerely to give up his wicked intention but in vain. But as fate would have it, it remorselessly dragged Ravana to his humiliation, disgrace and death! The influence of the opinions of others is so powerful as to save the person or throw him down to his destruction and death. Man has to judge by his intellect which opinion is good for him and act upon it to be safe and happy!