Do not Compare (needlessly)

“Compare and contrast” questions used to fetch me better marks in my school days. Somehow, I was good at adding 'mirch-masala' (like that salt 'n' pepper), while comparing.

But, during adulthood, the same 'skill' did not seem to work always, to yield any appreciation (marks), or even 'some acceptance' in the people around me.

True, I did keep looking at the concept of 'comparison' frequently, to fine-tune it....

I even wrote something about it, sometime earlier ( http://selfseekers.blogspot.com/2010/06/knotty-naughty-comparison.html )...

Now I try to look at it, trying, reducing only 'just the problematic area'.

So I share the thought process here...

1)compear ( to appear in court)... just the witnessing aspect, no politics.

2)Compeer (comparison, an equal, associate).... better.... involved with equal stake...

3)Compere (“one who introduces and interlinks items of an entertainment...).... wonderful... seems to be the best choice.

4)Compare (to set together so as to ascertain how far things agree or disagree)! ... so that is the vulnerability-area.... we end up 'judging'.... and still worse... we end up taking positions....

That reminds me.... do journalists ever take up “positions”?

Please see, we witnessed a hectic reporting, during the anti-corruption campaign by Shri Anna Hazare.... The journalists took great care , not to take any position, but just report!

That is what we( the Aam aadmi ) think.......

But the politicians are seriously annoyed... They “know”, how the media has so subtly, so unanimously, taken a position, by deciding to report 'non-stop' .... !!! Their whole grouse is that “we have been the 'feed-burner-dot-com' for you the journalists, all along, and now .....all of a sudden you have made our very survival so precarious?”..... (quite a number of Our 'aam aadmi' tried 'Gandhi-Giri', but often failed, simply because it lacked that 'media' effect.... In that film, Lage Raho Munnabhai... media effect is common in all the examples of Gandhigiri!).

But, not all journalists are really 'aware' of the great hidden talent they have.... Maybe, it is because, they use the “art” of reporting as a “skill” ....... a mere professional skill.. .. True, it fetches good money, but a conscious practice of art also goes to uplift an individual, that is where spirituality helps... Please look at the 'role' of Krishna in the whole of the story of Mahabharata... he really never took positions .... the extreme position that he took is also a mild one, that of a mere charioteer! But, when story tellers try to 'report' about Krishna, they face maximum trouble/questions/problems! Story telling about Rama is not so much of a problem!

The clue is, perhaps, not to carry the 'residue' whether we choose to report, compare, compere or whatever. The song 'Kolaveri' became a hit, due to many reasons. But a significant reason might be the 'residue' about which it reminds us of.... the script is simply clear...... moon-white, background, dark-night,..... girl-colour-white, heart-black.... etc.... Most of the 'remixes' uses that compare-contrast-residues, which is in the minds of masses! As a contrast example, that movie “Aarakshan” only 'appears' to take a position .... but in the whole movie, no where is a 'position' taken. In fact, the central theme has very little to do with 'reservation-policy' , but has a LOT to do about teaching CONCEPTS in education, transforming the education system, as a contrast to those 'marks-fetching-coaching-centres'....

It needs a lot of skill to try that 'reporting' attitude.... just place both the aspects, leave the judgement to others.... It reminds me of a few elderly ladies, in the neighbourhood, when I was a kid.... they never tasted Non-Veg items (their personal preference though the family traditons permitted it...), but they were excellent cooks, to prepare the most tasty non-veg-dishes!

The benefit of trying out that 'reporting attitude'(instead of 'judgemental-comparison), is easier if we try it out at home.... we enjoy better trust, no commercial loss involved.... etc..

Best benefit: Over a period of time, we become a bit free/r from our own 'judgemental' mind.... (every thought, is almost a conclusion or a judgement, in some form or other....)

Now, your judgement please .... (I await... :) ...!!!)

regards.,

psn(9^th January, 2012)