Devotion is human endeavor

Our world is ever changing, insecure and unsteady. Our happiness is momentary: so fleeting and elusive that we can hold it only momentarily before it dissipates. Our sense of feeling grounded and of our world being in order is nebulous and often short lived before the next crisis brings us to a precipice.

How do we see and conceive of ourselves against this ever shifting background?
It is my assertion that self concept is the shadow that changes and distorts itself as is falls upon the geography of our mental landscape. Just as the shadow of a mighty tree that falls upon even ground is straight and strong as the tree; its shadow upon uneven ground is twisted and distorted. Similarly when we think of ourselves as powerful, we stride in the radiance of positive thoughts and our shadow is full and strong as it soars out invincible from under our feet and leads the way. When we feel weak and ineffective or are suffused with shame and self loathing it cringes under our feet twisted and distorted, creeping about in a cowardly fashion behind or beneath us. In the dark oppressive void of doubt and dread it vanishes altogether fleeing into the darkness, annihilated by anguish and despair.


Thus our mind is the battlefield where the battle of opposing forces takes place. Of being lifted up by life events versus being thrown down. Life finds itself in chaos: the constant surging up and the constant slipping down. We are the flickering lamp in the wind: shining steadily only for a brief moment before the winds of destiny threaten to extinguish us. And yet the light, the concept of ‘light’ that the lamp is a part of, does not flicker. Light itself is unwavering is it not?


Human endeavor is a striving for this unwavering state of serene steadiness in the face of constant trials. Devotion is one of the paths to attain it.
It (devotion) is a way of focusing on something which is beyond the quality to so fluctuate. It is invulnerable, indestructible, impervious but not impassive. To connect with this entity is to feel held steady, held safe and to share these qualities. One can then go about ones life knowing that though the light flickers and quivers; at its core it burns strong. When we can identify with this steadily burning core, or at least connect with it, we find the strength to endure.

Piety is one way to do so. It is however not the only form of devotion that can fulfill this need.

Devotion to an Art form also keeps us steady. Art is infinite and springs from an eternal source that is beyond good and bad artists and beyond criticism. It is never less than it appears, only more. We can let ourselves down in our pursuit or mastery of it but it never lets us down. We can fail to live up to it, not comprehend it, or be simply mediocre. True immersion in Art, true immersion in its discovery, an immersion that takes us beyond the social confines, can also be the devotion that keeps us safe and steady.


For those of us who have neither piety nor art - there is Social Order. Steadiness comes from rigid fixed rules and expectations. Norms provide protection through predictability and chaos is kept at bay. An illusion of being unassailable is created. The order of things, the scheme of life, and the concept of family, patriotism, ideals and duties we pledge unwavering loyalty to: These keep us anchored. Our shadows walk strong and steady when we walk this line well.


The end goal is then the same. The world burns us. Trials throw us down. We have to pick ourselves up repeatedly and walk ourselves to the end line. And what is this end line? It is not death or about facing death. It’s about getting through life. And piety, devotion as well as obedience are only different paths to this end.