The Seeker in me WAS hibernating.

IB curriculum wants students to be seekers. We as a parent want to encourage that style only in school but not at home. There can be two reasons for this, either we don't know the answer what kid asks for or we don't have patience and time to answer the kid. 

So, humans are natural seekers because they have a mind and it works. A seeker remains confident if the mind is filled with answers and on the other hand, remains closed if the person is shut down by someone the moment he or she seeks. So,what does it take to be a lifelong seeker? How much support the people, around a seeker, should give?

I remember, my kid's school principal once in his address to parents said, "talk to your kid about the things that he never knew or never saw. This builds up his exposure and curiosity. For example, just share your day , your achievements in a day to your kid, so that he is exposed to a different world. Talk to him about our culture, history, space, which they never saw and never knew about. Let the kid ask you questions. "

Well, we tried this at home and it worked. My husband would come home and used to tell him about his work, and day, and at one point my son started sharing his own day and started asking a lot about our new things in life. We are open to share answers to his questions and he is open to listen to problems and solutions of our lives. 

In fact to become a successful person in your career, you need to be a constant learner. Otherwise you become outdated. You have to find yourself relevant in the market and invent new in your own field. If possible, you can club two fields and find a solution. We see with data analytics and technology. My husband being a strong analytical leader , suddenly wanted to shift to tech team. I asked him why, he would say, now is the time data analytics need the help of tech team and my team should be mix of both.  I felt, ya, if he wouldn't have been a seeker, he wouldn't be figuring out this, and he wouldn't consider himself to be a data scientist. 

Well, Arjuna was a seeker, curious and a perfectionist. We know him and his achievements in the Mahabharata story. So, he , being himself, when Krishna gave a wise advice to him, he couldn't stop himself asking the questions to Krishna to understand every detail.  I think Arjuna's very nature of seeker makes him an achiever. His child like enthusiasm to know more shows his purity in attitude. No doubt, Arjuna wins the hearts of many of us till date. 

What did Arjuna ask Krishna, What did Krishna tell Arjuna, .

Arjuna expresses and asks Krishna what he should do as he is confused and cannot take a decision to fight and kill his own cousins and relatives. He doesn't want to take a decision with such disturbed mind. 

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः

पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः।

यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्िचतं ब्रूहि तन्मे

शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्।।2.7।।

kārpaṇyadōṣōpahatasvabhāvaḥ

pṛcchāmi tvāṅ dharmasaṅmūḍhacētāḥ.

yacchrēyaḥ syānniśicataṅ brūhi tanmē

śiṣyastē.haṅ śādhi māṅ tvāṅ prapannam৷৷2.7৷৷

Krishna tells him quoting various examples and similes about how Arjuna should think and act at times of such low moments, for almost 43 shlokas, from shloka or verse 11 to 53. 

I wish to mention 1 shloka in this context about sense perception and the simile Krishna tells Arjuna. 

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।

आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।।2.14।।

mātrāsparśāstu kauntēya śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥ.

āgamāpāyinō.nityāstāṅstitikṣasva bhārata৷৷2.14৷৷

Translation - 

(Kounteya) Son of Kunti, like the appearance of winter and summer seasons, pain and pleasure come and go due to our senses get in contact with world around. They have a beginning and an end (Bhaarata) descendant of Bharata, you have to learn to (titiksasva) stand and bear the pain, because it is (anitya) temporary. 

However, Arjuna, after listening to all the 43 verses, he again questions Krishna. What does he question?

अर्जुन उवाच

स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव।

स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम्।।2.54।।

arjuna uvāca

sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhisthasya kēśava.

sthitadhīḥ kiṅ prabhāṣēta kimāsīta vrajēta kim৷৷2.54৷৷

Meaning - How does a (Sthitaprajna) the one who is mindful and conscious, speak, use the language, sit, walk.

WOW, Arjuna wants to know the body language of a person now, in the middle of the war. 

How did the calm and patient Krishna answer all the questions of his friend. And yes, definitely, Krishna answered at that moment. 

Hope I have a friend like Krishna when I was a seeker.  The seeker in me was hibernating during my school days. Yes, now, knowing the importance of answers while bringing up my kid, I now turn again into a seeker, knowing the real meaning of every minute thing I do and I see and I listen, in the world. 

Are you an encouraging Krishna to your team, or to your friend or to your kid? Or are you an innocent seeker Arjuna  aiming for perfection. I think I can be both. 

Now, I know, if I have to promote my team member, I should select a person who is a seeker, who's intention is pure, and who implements to become perfect. Simple, the process is easier now, no more dilemmas. I can rate them on my scale and offer promotion. I think, in this way, I can decide and set the path for good to be blossomed. A much needed move.  To do this, I should personally stay awake like Arjuna.

Lets explore Gita and learn and act now. Because, Action Completes you. Define your role and act now.