Syed Mustafa Ahmad
There is a wide difference between the way things appear and the way they are in reality. An apparent thing must have concealed many secrets in itself. A glittering object should not be like as it appears. The shiny surface of a river may contain filth in the bottom. The scintillating water of a lake can deceive a person in a broad daylight. It may contain dirt in the bottom that is unpleasant in nature. A person with a charming personality, can have a wolf’s heart, while a person, having wasp in his or her voice, can have a very soft heart. A beautiful garden may have poisonous weeds while a barren land may contain the beautiful and colourful flowers in the long run. The dirt that is hated by all, can produce the most beautiful flowers while the so-called fertile lands, may produce the harmful yield. If this is the case then there should be some parameters for judging things. What are those parameters that should be kept in mind? How can a person lift the veil from things that are apparently good looking? If we delve deeper into this, there are chances that we can reach the destination that we cherish for. So, what are the parameters to be followed? This is the theme of my article. The first and the foremost parameter that matters the most is your destination. If your destination means the world after this world, you will reflect over each and every thing. You will prepare accordingly for this. Any person or thing that looks like helping your cause, may not actually be. You will judge the person’s or a thing’s reality, by taking many factors into consideration. A person’s sweet talk will have no effect up on you because you know that this sweet talk is not going to help me in any way. The person’s only motive is materialism but my way entitles me to desire for the material things in a limited manner. Materialism is for me but I am for something else. The Sun, the Moon, the mountain ranges, the beautiful landscapes, etc., are helpful for me in the sense if they help me in reaching my real destination. If not then these things are not of any use for me. I will look for darkness that can be beneficial to me and help me in achieving what I desire for. This is the first step of this process. So, one should tread upon this path very carefully. Destination matters the most. On the other hand, if my destination is this temporal world, there is no need to lift veils from things because those who want this world, have everything here to satisfy their unquenchable thirst.
The Sun, the Moon, the Earth, etc., are temporary. They shouldn’t be loved permanently. For a time period, they have been gifted to us. One day will come when there will remain nothing. All the false desires will come to an end. So, there should be early concern for this very purpose. In the above discussion, I have thrown some light over the differences between the appearance and the reality.
They are lost in this world and don’t need to differentiate between the appearance and the reality. The second parameter is that what is the real meaning of life. Is life about enjoying blindly or is it about pondering over the necessity of creation? This pages the way for understanding the God’s plan of creation. If He has created things minutely, we should also look at things minutely. The difference in living of the different communities should open the doors for deep insight. When life is to introspect, there is no chance of loving the material things. The life of this world will be lived accordingly. So, the real motive of life makes life meaningful or meaningless. Moreover, the wide chasm between the appearance and the reality is mitigated. The third parameter necessary for this is that what is the real nature of things. If things are temporary in nature, there should be no concern for their absence while the things that are permanent in nature, should always be cherished. The Sun, the Moon, the Earth, etc., are temporary. They shouldn’t be loved permanently. For a time period, they have been gifted to us. One day will come when there will remain nothing. All the false desires will come to an end. So, there should be early concern for this very purpose. In the above discussion, I have thrown some light over the differences between the appearance and the reality. It is the need of the hour to contrast between the two. The word “late” is not found in the dictionaries of those who want to progress. Are we ready to make a difference between the two?
(The author is freelancer and writes regularly for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are his own) [email protected]
