The Pestiest Pest of all Pesty Pests is a Pessimist.

Today we stand in present. Present India, as Times of India rightly points to is poised. There is an air of optimism and there are chains of pessimism. In that sense, all of us at Silent Change are the optimists. We see things will change. We believe in ourselves. Our goal is to convert every pessimist into an optimist who not only hopes and dreams a beautiful future but also is eagerly working towards it.

Goswami Kriyananda writes - The Secret of failure: The Pestiest Pest of all Pesty Pests is a Pessimist. Hence, I chose this title. How very true it is? In Mahatma Gandhi’s words - “Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.” Right there in his words lay the definitions of a pessimist and an optimist. Now, I am sure you will agree that we can do with more optimists in India. The poised India should change into Advantage India.

How can pessimists be converted into optimists? I remember, in my bad times, stories and words of wisdom of great people from recent or ancient history revived hope in me. Pessimists get bound in a shell – a black hole. Wisdom and boldness can bring them out of such devouring darkness.

A Kural taken from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s Ignited Minds says - Wisdom is a weapon to ward off destruction. It is an inner fortress, which enemies cannot destroy. Goethe said – Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Great people are great because of their wisdom, boldness, or both. We should think and discuss their thoughts when we sit together. That forms satsang – good company. In such gatherings, the process of development begins. We find a common pride and identify common grievances. Ancient texts, known as Upanishads, which are considered a source of wisdom are essentially nothing more than the summary of wise people’s discussions. The Sanskrit word Upanishad means to sit together. Even if there are pessimists in such gatherings who argue and oppose, they will hear the thoughts of the great and the seeds of hope will be planted in their minds. Then, such gatherings should be repeated. Our mind is like a monkey. It wanders too much. Thus, we need to leash it up and good company of progressive minds is a great leash. In this sense, if we see carefully, Silent Change is also an Upanishad, a modern eUpanishad. We wish wisdom comes out from here and infuses our minds.

 Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya – Take me from Darkness to Light!

Silent Change, February 6, 2007

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