Awakening That Every Individual Has Its Own Path May Help Humans Evolve Further
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
14 June
2024
Chale Hain Saath Jo Barson Toh Ye Khula, Sarwer
Ke Humsafar Bhi Safar Aik Sa Nahin Rakhte
Distinguished Urdu poet and critic Syed Sarwer
Javed Rizvi
(After
walking alongside beloved for years, Sarwer / I realised even co-travellers
don't embark on the same journey)
Safar Mein Donon Saath Toh Thay
Tajurbaat-E-Safar Donon Ke Alag Rahe
Sadiq Layalpuri
(Though
both were together during the journey / Our experiences were different)
"Despite travelling together towards the
same destination, every individual's journey is unique."
Robert Frost
There's no
denying the fact that every individual is alone and each one of us has a
separate path. Every individual's fate is different.
French
existentialist Albert Camus put it so succinctly, "Existentially speaking,
every individual is alone." In William C Chittick's masterful translation
of Maqaalat-e-Shams-e-Tabrizi (it's
in Persian) into English as Me &
Rumi: The Autobiography of Shams-i-Tabrizi, Shams and Rumi eventually
realised that both understood the divinity in their own respective manners
despite being together and both may have been right until Rumi's son got Shams
killed as he suspected that something fishy was brewing between the two.
This
awakening that every individual has its own path may help humans evolve
further. However close two individuals may be and however identical they may appear,
their thinking will always remain unique.
In other
words, no two individuals think alike. Once we understand this, our social and
inter-personal relations can undergo a sea-change. In one of his short stories,
famous Urdu raconteur Intizaar Hussain writes, "Do Logon Mein Jhagde Tab Hote Hain Jab Donon Zid Par Utar Aate Hain Ki
Saamne Wale Ko Bhi Meri Hi Tarah Sochna Hai; Jo Mumkin Nahin Hai. Iss Baat Ka
Ehsaas, Jise Main Irfaan Se Kam Nahin Samajhta Hoon, Ki Do Log Kabhi Ek Hi
Dhang Se Nahin Soch Sakte, Taamaam Fasaadaat Ko Jad Se Khatm Kar Sakta
Hai" (Two individuals fight when both are adamant and start insisting
that the other person must think alike; which's not possible. Once you realize,
I consider it no less than self-realization, that it's impossible for two
persons to think alike, all problems and issues can be rooted out).
All our
differences begin from our flawed thinking that we (all) think alike. We don't
and we cannot. Let every individual grow in his or her way. Never impose your
thinking, views and ideas on anyone. In a marital bond, spouses must respect
each other's individuality.
They must
never assert that my way is the only way. Parents should also not impose their
faith and unfulfilled ambitions on their offspring. Give them open ends and a
sprawling sphere to move around. Never restrict them.
A Hindu
must never raise his / her child as a Hindu. Raise your child as a human and an
independent individual. Respect every person's way of thinking. Remember Amir
Qazalbash's famous couplet, "Saath Raho,
Muhabbat Karo Lekin Ye Bhi Yaad Rakho / Tumhara Hum-Qadam Kabhi Tumhari Jaageer
Nahin Ho Sakta" (Stay together, love each other but remember/ Your
partner can never be your property or a rent-free grant).
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit
Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam.
He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/awakening-individual-path-humans-evolve/d/132505