Of the five senses, the sense of sight
does a world of good for those fortunate to have received this gift.
We are so
lucky!
EyeSight is a wonderful gift of God.
We can ‘see’ so many of His wonders.
Indeed, the world is a wonderful
place.
But, do we really ‘see’?
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In the song ‘Frozen’, Madonna sang-
“You only see what your eyes want to see. How can life be what you want
it to be…”
Many of us have eyesight, yet we are
blind!
Take my case, for example!
When I was small, I looked and looked for
my box of crayons, but couldn’t find it in the drawer where I had kept it. I
sincerely prayed to God as this was my first reason to pray! Later, when I
looked, I found it very much there in the same drawer where I had kept it!
How
could I have missed it when I looked at it?
Yesterday, I noticed that the chairs,
placed on the footpath on the bank of the Mahanadi river, have the ‘Konark’
Wheel artistically designed on them!
I have crossed that road with the same chairs so many times and yet never noticed this before!
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| Image Courtesy |
I have crossed that road with the same chairs so many times and yet never noticed this before!
How
could I have missed it when I looked at it?
Adding to all this are the innumerable
cases in which I have tried to ‘find’ or ‘search’ for things like glasses,
pens, mobile phones, keys etc. all of which are present right in front of my
eyes, yet are invisible! I ‘see’ them when others point them out to me!
How
could I have missed it when I looked at it?
Of course, they are puzzled how I can
not see the thing(s) even though they are right in front of me!
When they do
the same (i.e. not 'see' the things in front of them!) it's my turn to point the same!
How could they have missed it when they looked at it?
How could they have missed it when they looked at it?
All these incidents prove that though
we are lucky to possess eyesight, yet we have been blind!
This reminded me of a story from Akbar
& Birbal*.
*
Akbar & Birbal- Birbal was known for his wit and was one of the nine gems
in Emperor Akbar’s Kingdom in India. There are lots of interesting stories
about Akbar & Birbal.
The following is one such story I had read and am presenting
here from my memory...
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| Image Courtesy |
When Emperor Akbar wants to know about
the number of ‘Blind’ people in his Kingdom, Birbal challenges him that the
number is far higher than the Census declares and that he would prove so!
One day, Birbal sits on the middle of
the road and is busy creating a cot. Though everyone can see exactly what
Birbal is doing (creating a cot!), still all the people stop by and ask Birbal
what he’s doing!
Birbal just keeps adding to the count (of Blind people!) When Emperor Akbar also enquires the same question to Birbal, Birbal even adds the Emperor’s name to the same list! On getting the explanation, Emperor Akbar agrees to Birbal’s logic and proof!
Indeed, the number of Blind persons far exceeds as the people with eyesight also get included to the same list!
It takes a wise Emperor like Akbar, the Great, to recognize and acknowledge this fact!
How many of us will take it kindly if we are told that we are blind?!!!
Birbal just keeps adding to the count (of Blind people!) When Emperor Akbar also enquires the same question to Birbal, Birbal even adds the Emperor’s name to the same list! On getting the explanation, Emperor Akbar agrees to Birbal’s logic and proof!
Indeed, the number of Blind persons far exceeds as the people with eyesight also get included to the same list!
It takes a wise Emperor like Akbar, the Great, to recognize and acknowledge this fact!
How many of us will take it kindly if we are told that we are blind?!!!
Have you ever been ‘blind’?
Have things in front escaped your
eyes/mind?!
I think we prefer to be blind for some reasons :) We're so self indulged :/
ReplyDeleteThis is true in some cases, Anil. :)
DeleteAt other times, it is inexplicable. How can people not see what is there or always has been there right in front of them? They make a desperate attempt to search!
Love it! Its happened to me so many times, think im blind half the time.. :D Well written Anita :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Pallavi. :)
DeleteMost of us have found ourselves in such situations. Only the truly conscious are aware!
I used to be blind, but now I have to search things for kids and hubby so can't afford to be blind any more. :) Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Indrani. :)
DeleteYes, we cannot afford to be blind as we have many things to find! :)
I believe that I often go blind too, particularly when it comes to my family.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to seek within to make sense of our outer world sometimes. A very thoughtful post ma'am!
A very thoughtful comment indeed, Bhavya! Thanks! :)
DeleteTrue! We see only what we want to see. :) And what a coincidence - I'm listening to the same Madonna song that you mentioned! Perfect timing. :)
ReplyDeleteReally a coincidence, Renuka! :)
DeleteEverything is in sync. Thanks for sharing! :)
We often see and unfortunately don't watch and observe and that makes us half blind. Nicely written Anita. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, You are right, Maniparna! Many of us wouldn't have make good detectives because of this. :)
DeleteLoved it Anita...Read it blindfoldly.!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice Read
Oh! That's so sweet Veena! Thanks. :)
DeleteSo I am not alone.... I thought I was the only one with tunnel vision... :)
ReplyDeleteI have often been quite blind to things around me. And the incidents you have narrated seems eerily familiar..:)
Nicely put..And the story reminded me of days when I used to devour Amar chitra kathas...
Proves we think and are alike, Preethi! :) Great minds think & behave alike! :)
DeleteAbsolutely! Even I am a huge ACK Fan! :)
Good post. Well written :)
ReplyDeleteAnd true! we only see what we want to see.
Thanks Subramaniam! Delighted you liked it!
DeleteThat's courtesy the lyrics of Madonna's song. But, yes, very true! :)
well written .. in my case I used to forget roads, streets turns and signboards .. no matter how many times I cross them or went there :P world is full of contradictions
ReplyDeleteThanks Bhavana! Sometimes, even when we are paying attention or at least we think we are paying attention, our mind is not really focused! :) We need to be more aware & see more :)
DeleteExcellent post...have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! Delighted that you liked it! :)
DeleteThis strikes a chord with me i am blind in the sense that i am not observant,maybe lost in my thoughts most of the time.But when it comes to mulling over a contentious fact i look at it from others' point of view too,always.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing, Indu.
DeleteNot everyone sees things from the other's point of view. Some of us don't have the time or patience to hear the other person out even! It proves that you are empathetic. Great going! :)
Anita I didn't know of this story girl ... thank you for this one will tell this story to Smera at sleep time tonight .. But coming back to the question you posed .. Yes i do sometimes to some people and things they have to say .. I find it better to live in the la-la land than to stress myself sick :D
ReplyDeleteSangeeta, Delighted that now you have another story! *Happy Dance!*
DeleteSmera will love all the cool stories of Akbar & Birbal. Do read up over the Internet or grab hold of ACK comics :)
That's a great attitude, Sangeeta! Nothing can affect our mind, if in la-la-land we unwind! :) Keep rocking!