I was at Kumar’s Amazing Race gig, he was basically making fun of Indian people most of the time, at the white and dark Indians and their difficulty in getting jobs in racist Singapore etc. etc. About 20 min into the act while he was making fun of how north Indians always look down on south Indians, this north indian guy who was seated right beside me shouted expletives from the third floor of the theatre, he lost control for 2 seconds. The acoustics of the hall carried the shout. Every one heard it, including Kumar. But despite this inconsiderate behaviour, Kumar recovered almost instantly and carried on and all was good again. Needless to say who is at fault here, if you can’t take jokes centred on stereotypes, than don’t attend such events. His 2 seconds of rage left an indelible mark on the experiences a few hundred people. But that is not the point of this entry.
This incident reminded me of another story. I had a friend, she had a boyfriend who drove a fast car. Once the couple gave me a ride home, and during the ride he was driving fast, seemingly reckless, lots of hard braking and overtaking. During this time, I was being slightly tossed about in the back seat. I asked my friend if he always drive like this, she said that he only drives like this when he gets emotional, angry, sad, etc.
At that point, I asked myself. Which part of the human body directly causes the car to speed? I deduce that it was the ankle. When he gets emotional, he cannot even maintain full control of his one ankle. I question his ability to control his wrists and fists and the different types of indelible marks he could leave on her life.
Men are endowed by God (or nature) depending on where you stand, with generally greater strength than women. What purpose could our strengths serve, to bully, abuse or rape? I don’t think so. A sword is used to kill, but it was forged by the desire to protect.
People have absolute faith in the rising of the sun because it is dependable; nothing can stop it from keeping its promise to rise every morning. We depend on it, we count on it, and we even take it for granted. But no one have any faith in the strength and direction of the wind. It’s true that the force of the wind can be great and its direction favourable, but too many elements are allowed to interfere with the trajectory of the wind, even the flapping of the wings of the butterfly (butterfly effect). The wind, great as it is, is not its own master.
Imagine you have a friend who is brilliant, strong or good looking. But every time when you meet him, you do not know what state of mind he is in. He could be angry at packed bus, or sad from his argument with his mother that morning. How can we count of him when push comes to shove? Can we really depend on a guy whose mood is his mode? He allowed his circumstances to determine who he is.
A man can become great, fit, strong, successful or wealthy. But if he were to have a poor grasp over his emotions or an ill disciplined mind, all his strength and power will become a source of fear to those around him, an untamed dragon.
Power as they say is nothing without control. I have seen enough people in my life lose it to know that once you lost it, you can never really get it back. Control and discipline is not a single act, its a habit, a lifestyle, a way of life. You are, afterall, what you continually do. Tame your thoughts, tame your dragon.
V
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