Relationship is something which has to be revered, adored, honestly endorsed, and more than that, celebrated with a sense of ownership and accountability, says BATURAM NAYAK
The connotation of the word ‘Relationship’ carries a deeper meaning than the surface sense of it. Relationship is not a restricted concept confined only to the domain of man and his equation with his fellow-men. On the contrary, relationship is truth in itself, intrinsic in the grand tapestry of the universe, of which man constitutes an organic part, woven into its warp and weft.
One of the greatest enigmas of nature that has captivated man with amazement and wonder is the quest for this single unifying principle, which connects and synchronises, binds and blends all things and beings together.
Spiritualists and rationalists, saints and scientists have been the most passionate ones to explore the richness and reaches of relationship, which is simply infinite! All of them carry out a sincere pursuit to articulate the secret behind reality and express it in their magical metaphors.
Eastern Mysticism defines it as, रसो वै स: ― or, “the essence, which permeates across all.” Western Science defines it as “The Theory of Everything”, or, “The one underlying principle, which keeps things clicking and binds them together, however large and small, in an unique chemistry.”
Thinkers are working full time to explore this prevailing relationship between the microcosm and the macrocosm and articulate it in a simple comprehensible language, with an adequate metaphor. And, in spite of that, the zeal to make further improvisations does not subside. That is the uncompromising character of an inquisitive mind, which works on the a priori resolution of ‘seeing whole’ and not to settle with anything less than this.
The strength of this yearning is reflected in the bold declaration of a mystic mind since the Vedic time:
“यो वै भूमा तत् सुखं, नाल्पे सुखमस्ति”
“Anything lesser cannot give highest pleasure.The highest thing can only give a lasting pleasure.”
An important thing that we can infer from man’s passionate yearning is that he is desperately in search of a relationship; he is desperate perhaps to regain and reaffirm his lost connection, without which, he feels himself to be insecure, estranged, incomplete and unhappy.
That is the compulsion of the search of a relationship…the search for a one unifying principle that connects him to everything with a sense of bliss and which alone can make a perfect resolution of his forgotten identity that connects him through the big-bang to this very flirting momentary existence, sprawling into eternity.
This paramount passion is very vividly expressed by Physicist Brian Greene, a great scholar of ‘String-Theory’ and author of the book, The Elegant Universe, in these words: “The ultimate theory should take the form that it does because it is the unique explanatory framework capable of describing the universe without running up against any internal inconsistencies or logical absurdities. Such a theory would declare that things are the way they are because they have to be that way. Any and all variations, no matter how small, lead to a theory that…sows the seeds of its own destruction.”
In this sense, man has a very significant role to play in the whole tapestry of relationship, first at the level of an understanding, and then at the level of his functioning…so that by virtue of his intervention there is no loss of the homeostasis of this relationship.
However, facts prove the contrary! Human intervention very often twists, turns and sadly enough, tears apart the bond of this tapestry as it is visible from the crumbling of interpersonal relationships as well as ecological and societal disturbance for which man only is to be blamed in tearing and ripping apart this universal tapestry.
This makes it a compelling necessity to talk about ‘relationship’, more as a point to ponder, than as a ritualistic, intellectual-exercise!
Relationship is not something which clamours to be established, because it simply exists by virtue of the strength of its own logic. It does not seek our certification to validate its own respectable validity.
It is just like the inevitability of co-existing with a family member or a neighbour, a star or a comet, whether we wish it or chose to overlook it. However, the validation of our genuine relationship with everything could only validate our own homeostasis! By overlooking and belittling it we carry for ourselves a bigger risk!
Relationship is something which has to be revered, adored, honestly endorsed, and more than that, celebrated with a sense of ownership and accountability.
For, relationship is much more than man. By overlooking it man invites his own estrangement and eventual brinkmanship ― then it is Divinity that comes to the rescue.
Baturam Nayak, a postgraduate in economics, joined the banking sector in 1983 and retired in June 2020. He is a firm believer in simplicity and minimalism. “My faith is Oneness, एकत्वम्; that’s the way I would express myself and live in harmony with everything,” he says.
Dear Baturam, I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness you’ve put into unifying Eastern Mysticism with Western Science! The Unified Field Theory – or the Theory of Everything – because the more scientists discover, the more they become mystics. (Even if they use different, secular) language. When you write, “It is Divinity that comes to the rescue,” ultimately yes, the great uniter can be none other than Divine. Deeply thought-provoking article. Pranams, friend.
Pranam Chana, feel so sorry to respond late ??
You have very succinctly said, the more scientists discover, the more they become mystics…indeed, the great uniter can be none other than Divine.