One Myth

Selflessness. Humility. Truthfulness. These are the three marks of an honorable man.”

Suzy Kassem

The fascinating thing about myths is that they leave a legacy for us to picture reality and ourselves. This marriage of myth and reality is contradictory in its own sense, but this is what makes it interesting.

Ramayana, an old Indian epic poem, has riveting tales and legends. I came across the story of Jatayu and Sampati, the two demigods in the shape of birds. One day they decided to fly to the home of Surya, the Sun God. As they were nearing their journey’s end, the heat of the sun started to become more intense and unbearable. Sampati realized the danger of the situation and he shielded his younger brother Jatayu from the sun’s heat. While doing so, Sampati wings got burnt and he fell to the ground while Jatayus’s wings were partially burnt, but he still could manage to fly. Sampati never recovered from the injuries he endured while saving his brother and he never flew again living the rest of his life in a forest.

This world is resting on the shoulders of Karma, so be patient and let the universe bring the bag full of happiness for you to devour.

This story teaches the essence of love, care and the ultimate sacrifice that one endures. It embarks you on the journey of selflessness in the selfish world we are living in. Sampati sacrificed his wings for his brother (he could have died while shielding Jayatu) although knowing he won’t be able to fly again, he put himself second and saved his brother.

Being in Sampati’s shoes, imagine how much suffering he would have gone through after that. This reminds me of a study that negative events may decrease your happiness but it gives a deeper meaning to your life. And as Viktor Frankl said it in his wise words, “If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.”

Make selflessness a part of your life and humility and truthfulness will soon join your nurtured circle to shine in the reflection of your beautiful life.

Life is easy to live but we have made it perplexed with our own musings of complications. A small act of selflessness might take the pleasure away from your life, but it will add so much to the other person’s reality.“There’s nothing wrong with helping someone without a cost. Especially if there’s no end return” as Solange Nicole put it. This world is resting on the shoulders of Karma, so be patient and let the universe bring the bag full of happiness for you to devour.

The myth of Sampati and Jayatu reflects beautifully on the thoughts of Suzy Kassem. For living an exemplary life and an honorable one, the act of selflessness comes first. Make selflessness a part of your life and humility and truthfulness will soon join your nurtured circle to shine in the reflection of your beautiful life.


Photo Credit: Stephen Boisvert (Flickr Creative Commons)

Comments (2)

  • Shahriyar khan

    True to the core what you tried to portray in this writing, your mentioning of Ramayana one of Hindu’s scriptures and the story of two brothers is very enticing and at the same time imbibing in a way that life is not what we always wish and think it should be. It teaches us sacrifice, humanity and loyalty. But I think these ethos are diminishing and I may not be wrong to say that if the odds of finding such souls are so dreadfully dismal and the secret of lasting loyalty is largely a matter of concession, then is it any wonder that the growing number of people choose to go solo?

  • Well, that’s the thing we have to come over I reckon. Like I said, a small act of selflessness will do wonders not only for others but also for your inner soul. And the odds of finding such souls may be dismal, but that very soul can be anyone, anywhere. What counts is the step you take towards an act of selflessness and once we take that baby step, humanity is served.

Comments are closed.

Scroll up Drag View

Melbourne, Vic
Australia
art@streetdiaries.com.au