Malang

 

In Search ...

Disclaimer- The contents of the post are the outcome of the search, several readings and experiences, and majorly self-reflection.

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Becoming Malang is my ultimate aim for life…I guess. This Malangness might assist me to act with decent perfection in any tiny or huge event, gain every experience to enrich my soul, and yet help me remain unaffected by the consequence.

Malang is a Sufi word, otherwise called bairagi in Hindi. So the meaning derived for Malang is the one who lives and experiences the worldly life with every comfort (and discomfort) without getting tied to the result and hence, celebrates supreme freedom during the pilgrimage of life before reaching the absolute goal, called death.

I am yet to come together with the 'real' bairagi. And I am far (precisely Sun-from-Pluto-type far) from evolving to become the one !! But there are instances when this Malang-moment clicks before me. 

Like…The innocent smile on my mother’s face emitting the essence of Malang-ness. The twinkle in the eyes of my kids convinces me of the power of Malang-ness. The kind of peace radiated during their presence and the joy my soul feels...I guess... is just not because one gave me the birth or I gave birth to them but it is the kind of detached connection between Me & Mom and Me & Kids that provides breathing room for all feelings to bloom and evolve.

Sometimes I realize the basic step to attaining any of good traits like bravery, peace, love or success, etc. begins with giving away any odds or outcome from any situation. 

The Bhagavad Gita, which is certainly the fundamental text on the practice of detachment, is wonderfully explicit on this point.

"Krishna tells Arjuna that acting with detachment means doing the right thing for its own sake, because it needs to be done, without worrying about success or failure."

When there is no attachment, I can be the best daughter, best wife, and best employee, and best person. Without attachment, there is no heftiness of expectations. 

Detachment is only founded on core values and it furnishes the wings of freedom to live a life. 

In the words of Robin Sharma, the best selling motivational speaker of current times, to be alive means - 

"...to stand for our dreams, heart’s desires, and deepest values… no matter what stones those who do not understand may toss at you …to wake up each day radiating hope, strength, wisdom, and love, regardless of whether you're at the peak of the mountain or lost in the valley of disruption."

My thoughts radiate the same emotions. 

There are days when I feel lost...stupid...stuck, and there seems to be no headway in any field and peace-of-mind appears like a distinct word…best solution my head (and heart) suggests is to just keep moving. 

And if that walk is in Malang Mode i.e. trying to be "unattached" with any element of success or failure and just focus on doing things in most "honest" and "faithful" way- I understand, the life is lived in that instant. 

Thus, the only mantra to attain Malang-ness in my view (limited to my experience till date) is-

Just keep doing the present task HONESTLY and CONSISTENTLY which leads to a satisfying moment. Satisfied moments will compound to satisfied life.