It is difficult to be different. My difficulty was getting transformed into dangerous signs. I was so much confused and disturbed. I was under the shadow of despair. The silent chaos was killing me. I was about to eradicate my individuality. As I said earlier “we are part of plan” somebody was planning something and as a result of that I suddenly met him…..
And once again I started breathing… He pulled me out of depression and negativity of my surrounding. He changed my life. He gave me tremendous mental support. I gained my confidence. My negativity was perished. Joker gradually lost his control and Wayne came back. But who was that magical mentor???
He was…. He was “Gandhi: On Personal Leadership by Anand Kumarsamy”. (Ya of course it was a book, Shikhs follow Guru Granth Saheb…!!! ) It is an amazing book. Language is very simple and lucid. Lessons on personal leadership are categorized by author which is inspired by (or say derived from) Gandhi’s Life. It is not Gandhi – the tag, which creates an enormous impact but its Gandhi – the ideology which trembles your mind. We realize that uniqueness is nothing but a rare pattern or conundrum which is neglected if not understood, praised if (they get) facilitated, killed if taken as burden and the way to enlightenment if grabbed as a gift !!! (My Precious… Miss you Gollum…!!!)
After reading this book I felt what Gandhi felt after reading Unto This Last, Vivekanada felt after meeting Ram Krishna Paramhans, Rajneesh felt after loosing his grandpa. This historical comparisons are not intended to compare myself with those big names but to express my sincere gratitude towards the book and to show how revolutionary it can be for one’s life.
Here I am giving some glimpse of his philosophy (but I recommend MEET HIM PERSONALY) :
§ A strong sense of mission is a rich source of happiness, self-esteem and self-fulfilment. [41]
§ Character, in long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike. [49]
§ Change , growth and maturity begin when the focus shifts from what we have to what we are. [49]
§ Great Characters choose to work on their character, rather than being concerned with portraying an image. [50]
§ They saw the victory, but not the struggle. [59]
§ Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. [59]
§ When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project… Your mind transcends limitations… Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far you ever dreamed yourself to be. [73]
§ We don’t have to be like rudderless boats that are at the mercy of the weather and waves. [86]
§ We come to implicitly believe that life is a “zero sum game”, [103]
§ Conscience tells us what is right and what is wrong. But is our courage that will move us to speak out and take action even if it means risking our very life. For conscience to be truly effective, courage must be present. [119]
§ Action without reflection is dangerous, and reflection without action is useless. [173]
§ Difficulties strengthen the mind as labour does the body. – Seneca [193]
§ Problems are our wake up calls. [193]
§ Those things that hurt, instruct. – Benjamin Franklin [193]
§ Great people like Gandhi, Emerson and Thoreau strike a crucial balance between these sets of poles : Doing and Being, resisting and opening, willing and accepting, fighting and surrendering, grasping and letting go.
§ “The way to do is to be.” – Lao Tzu [188]
Explore everything around you, penetrate to the furthest limits of human knowledge, and always you will come up with something inexplicable in the end. It is called life.
– Albert Schweitzer
