By Kamal Thacker
I was in a taxi traveling to a doctor in South Kolkata. The taxi driver was known to me and we have often had long conversations on ‘adhyatmik’ matters in Hindi. That day during my journey with him, he raised an important issue. He said “you often mention how seers have suggested that we should shun identification. You also mentioned how identification creates ahankar (the self or ego)”.
I listened with interest. He spoke with a lot of intensity. “And once you mentioned how Krishnamurti ji had talked about letting go of the self completely and perhaps then one might come upon that which we call God.” I said yes, we did discuss all this once. Hewas animated. “Sir ji, I want to share my understanding through an example.” I urged him to go on. He said: “You must have seen those trapeze artists in the circus. They have to leave their own rope high above to catch the other rope. Sirji, would that be possible if the trapeze artist just refuses to let go?”.
I asked him to elaborate. He went on: “We are unwilling to let go and so we can never come upon God.” Reminded me of the story of the salt doll who stood on the shores of the mighty ocean and asked “What are you?” The mighty ocean replied “jump in and you will find out”. The salt doll jumped in, it let go and soon began to dissolve. As it dissolved, it exclaimed in ecstasy “how beautiful! I am the ocean!”
My destination arrived and as I left, I thanked the taxi driver for a lovely conversation. He had said something quite profound in a simple way. A lot to ponder, I thought. There is a short video that came to mind where J Krishnamurti talks about letting go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igKl7NXYJA
Can we let go?
