Can’t you drive fast?

“Dadu, why can’t you drive faster? Those mopeds are overtaking us,” my son asked.

“Baba, you drive this time. Dadu is too slow,” he asked, looking at me when the driver whom my son was calling Dadu did not respond.

“It does not matter who is driving, Babu. It’s the vehicle, not the driver,” I responded.

“Why not? If you press the accelerator hard, it will go vroom,” he advised.

We all laughed at him, and he did not look convinced. It was a trip to Udaipur from Vadodara, and there was a long stretch of empty road. Our vehicle was an old car whose maximum speed was 70. My son, who was 7 years old at the time, was getting impatient.

Our laughter did not convince him; rather, it upset him. Then, the driver indicated for me to drive the car, and he sat in the passenger seat. My son went and sat on his lap. It did not affect the speed of the vehicle, but my son was somewhat convinced as we listened to him.

Sometimes the only thing required is a good ear and some indications that we are listening. That solves most of the problems, like it did for my son.

My son noticed that the vehicle could not go at any higher speed, and then the driver started explaining to him that no matter how skillful the driver may be, the car needs to support, and in the same manner, no matter how good the car may be, the driver must support. Without the support of each other, it cannot give enhanced results.

He said, went on explaining, “Like our body and our soul both need to support each other to have an enhanced life. You see some people angry, upset, frustrated, and at the same time you see some people happy, excited, enthusiastic, and energetic. In both cases, the soul wants to drive fast, pressing the accelerator, maneuvering through difficult terrains, but the body (Physical and mental health) is not in support. It is dis-eased, tired, or wounded; hence, it cannot go faster, causing negative emotions. But when the body is in full support, then that person is at his or her best.”

My son thought for a while and said, “Then we should not get upset with people when they are sulking or angry, but rather try to heal their bodies?” The driver replied, “Yes. If you can understand this every time you see anybody upset, angry, or sulking, and give them a healing touch, then you have learned how to live life.”

There was silence in the car for the next hour as this profound wisdom, while so easy to understand, truly captures the essence of life.

Happy Vijaya Dasami!!