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Inspiring episodes of human life (Prerñaprada Drishtanta): Vangamaya Vol-67

Examples serve a great purpose of natural teaching….. In formal teaching of any discipline of knowledge, simple examples are constructed or derived to illustrate specific topics or points, which are otherwise difficult to explain. Learners too grasp the subject matter better with the help of examples. Examples have greater importance in real life. Learning from observation of what others are or have been doing – is a basic tendency of human mind. This seems to be the most natural mode of learning in the childhood and continues to be significant in the later ages too….
Because of human nature of following others, we often see common trends of fashion and mode of living in specific sectors of the society or among majority of people of a common locality. Even opinions on issues of general interest seem to be formed according to this tendency in most cases. Except for the impact of incisive intellect and sound reasoning, for most people, the impressions of real-life phenomena, the examples of others’ lives – especially those of direct or indirect interest or relevance with respect to one’s own circumstance of life, etc, bear deep on their psychology. What is more, even the aspirations and attitudes of some people, are driven by the instances of the lives of others, especially celebrities – their life-style, habits, conduct, behavior and reactions, etc.
Commentaries on religious scriptures, especially those written or narrated with an objective to convey and inculcate the preached thoughts and messages in the minds of the masses, are full of examples illustrated in the form of short stories and episodes. The Puranas were written for the purpose of teaching the philosophy and art of living to those people in the society of yore, who could not follow the deep knowledge hidden in the hymns of the Vedas or in the abstract deliberations of the Upnishadas and Darshanas. Acharya Sharma too had written “Pragya Puranas” (refer volume 38 of this series) in similar style of illustrative and inspiring stories and conversational episodes for the people of the modern times.
Short stories, anecdotes and episodes drawn from the limitless spectrum of human life are also found to be most effective means for mass education. The ancient tradition of teaching the children with the help of the stories of Panchantra and Hitopadesha, etc, and the elders by those of Ramayana and Bhagawat, etc, on these lines, has continued till date with obvious changes in the modes of presentations and plots of the stories…..
Realistic nature of the theme and background of the story and lucidity of the style of writing or narration are essential for making this medium of teaching more effective and attractive. Similar is true with the popularity and impact of the plays and novels too. These should also focus the interest of the readers and the audiences.
Fiction may be an excellent means of entertainment, time-pass, or diversion of mind, but, it may not always be useful for righteous conditioning of people’s mind; neither can it be consistently used for inducing courage and strength in them to fight out the adversities and design their own destiny…. This is because, it is mainly the purpose of entertainment or the rhetoric expression of the imaginations of mind…., which leads to the creation of a fiction. While writing a poem, story, play or novel, one is free to give any color to his mental impulses, imaginations and mold the circumstances and characters as per his will.
Incorporation of the ‘constraints’ of – “ideals of human life”, “positive thinking”, “righteous and realistic approach”, ….., etc, would be against the liberty of the imaginative minds of the poets and writers and this would also block the natural flow of a fiction…. Therefore, we cannot expect fictions to be always good (ideal) and realistic. The episodes and stories of a fiction might support or project, positive as well as negative tendencies of mind and might create illusive and untoward impressions in the adolescent minds; these might even pervert or deceive the minds of those who lack in reasoning and wisdom.
It is said that because of their imaginary nature, fictions generally make only short-lived effects. However, sometimes the unrealistic notions and psychological reactions projected ‘realistically’ in the stories or imaginary instances in fictions, create such deep impressions in a reader’s (listener or viewer’s) mind which might trigger the latter, even after a long span of time…, think or react in an abnormal or inhuman manner.
In view of the above limitations of hypothetical creation of examples, and noting the general non-reachability of the difficult philosophical deliberations and the similes derived from them by intellectual decipherations, Acharya Sharma had advocated the use of inspiring examples from real life in the teachings under the mass-education programs of his “Vichara Kranti”and “Yug Nirman” missions….
The present volume is an exclusive compilation of authentically reported, inspiring instances of the lives of the great many ordinary people of the ancient and the modern times. It encompasses almost all circumstances and different walks of life that are of relevance to human society today.
The adversities, challenges or difficulties faced by the people cited here, may, sometime stand before us too. In such situations, the memories of the concerned instances (read here) would offer us instant courage and solutions. How the ordinary humans, who were suffering from sever diseases, handicaps, poverty, etc, or, who had been tortured by assault, scorn and exploitation by the society or even by the near and dear ones…, etc, overcame all hindrances, agonies and pressures…., and made best use of their potentials…, and achieved success and happiness while living under the circumstances worse than ours? Live examples of these sorts are of great importance in awakening our talents and positive thinking.
We might have been taught or might keep reading or listening about the great religious principles and the importance and righteous values of the ideal qualities like – patience, endurance, modesty, honesty, integrity, courage, bravery, justice, equality, altruist attitude, creative optimism, etc. Depending upon our upbringing, education and intrinsic nature, we might have also adopted some or all of them to some extent…. We might also attempt controlling the negative tendencies related to anger, ego, erotic thinking, selfish desires, etc. However, as might be the case with most of us, we normally remain far from what we should or would like to be in ideal sense. The examples cited in this volume would inspire and encourage use proceed further with greater and greater strength and success.
Examples and episodes of the glorious lives of great personalities are presented in the volume nos. 50 and 51 of this series. The present volume is unique and might be most suitable to most of us because it deals with ordinary people. Acharya Sharma’s vivid discussions – on how and what the specific episodes convey to us…., make the teachings more perspicuous, trenchant and inspiring.
Many a times we are in a state of dilemma or confusion, and can’t foresee the consequences of our possible actions; we can’t even sometimes analyze what would be a correct decision or reaction… In such cases, we do look for some one who had experienced similar situations or who could guide us righteously with substantial moral support….. The present volume will indeed be the best friend or advisor in such critical moments too.
The all round tensions, agonies, misdeeds, desperate competitions, blind ambitions, corruption, mistrust, uncertainties, ….etc, prevailing in the world today, give a clear indication that majority of the people have not learnt the art of living a happy and righteous life….
Acharya Sharma has gifted an intimate “well-wisher” and a perfect guide to us in the form of this volume. This will help each one of us learn, from the live-examples of the ‘fellow beings’, the best mode of living a creative and successful life, bearing all its ups and downs cheerfully. The volume would also be an excellent source for guiding sincere self-analysis and refinement and development of personality, endowed with virtuous potentials, which would set examples for others to follow….....