Page 32 - Masala Lite Issue 176 August 2025

32 MUSINGS OF AN AUNTY THAT TELLS US WE EACH,
ARE BEAUTIFUL, IN OUR OWN UNIQUE WAY

‘GROW FROM INSIDE OUT.’ – SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Dolly Koghar cautions against slander and criticism which erodes both the perpetrator and the victim.

kind was meant to do; be it the maggot
that feeds on dead flesh, or the current
heartthrob, Moo Deng, who, despite
being aired live 24/7, continues doing
what she does best: nothing, and that
too, without the slightest guilt!
In Suan Lum, there are trees that are
bent and some others, ram-rod straight;
he first thing I’m going to do this weekend is to a few are gnarled, while some burst
clear the bookshelf of all the self-help books, with blooming flowers. They neither
and, while I am at it, also toss out the cookbooks, feel better nor lesser about themselves
as there’s no way I can measure up to even the shadow because of how they are, nor does their
of the shadow of Martha Stewart. On top of that, multiplicity bother us. In fact, it is this
I absolutely will not pass them on to anyone nor to very diversity that makes the park walk
any institution, ‘cause there’s nothing crueller than to that much more interesting. However,
hand over something that compounds and aggravates when it comes to viewing our fellow
one’s preexisting sense of inadequacy and ineptness. In humans, we lose that equanimity
fact, what I’d do is wrap these ‘conscience irritants’ in and immediately start judging and
multiple layers of thick, brown paper, then bind them comparing: are they better, or am I?
real tight with packing tape, and then dump them into When the reality is that there’s no one better nor worse, Subsequently, if we could only see ourselves and others
a sack. Then, just to ensure they are never seen or read nor anyone smarter or dumber; neither is one person without the strapping of country, colour, religion, gender,
again, I’ll weigh down the sack with rocks, much akin superior to the other. We are each distinctively different physical limitations, or social strata, then we’d not only
to ridding a murder victim. Next, I’ll hire a boat to take and inimitably unique; there are no twos of you or me; allow the other person(s) to reach their full potential
me over the deepest part of the Chao Phaya River, and you are you, and I am me. We are who we are, dissimilar, but also free ourselves to grow, bloom and blossom into
there, in the dark of the night, I’ll discreetly release the and with no void needing to be filled by trying to be that the fullest and best versions of ourselves. The truth of
‘body’ to its final resting place, where no man will ever someone that we are not, and were never meant to be. In the matter is that the socially attached adjectives have
be able to access it. the grand scheme of things, we’ve come with exclusively blinded us to the reality that we are not separate, but
designated roles for which we’ve been endowed with share a common identity; that of being a human!
Down there, the fish, eels, turtles, and the water monitors specific strengths, and forewarned to be alert and aware
can’t read, but even if they could, neither they, nor the of our individual weaknesses. “You are an asset to the human race, an asset to your
land animals, nor the birds in the sky nor the creepy- Self, an asset to God…You are beautiful just the way you
crawlies ever question; ‘why do I look like this and not Let’s embrace our unique selves using Byron Katie’s are. Not what you think you are. Not what you appear
like that’. They have no ego hassles, nor do they grind insight; “Without what you’re thinking and believing to be. Not what the world shows you, but just the way
themselves to dust, fulfilling endless desires. Without about you, take just a moment, drop your story, look you are right now. Stand up tall.” – Robert Adams.
much ado, they blissfully go about doing whatever their in the mirror, and notice, altogether, how beautiful
you are.”