Who’s dynamic: Ram or Ravan?

[1]

Swami Tejomayananda [1]

The word “dynamism” is such that the moment we hear it we feel kindled within. When we see a person who is overactive or hyperactive, we feel s/he is very dynamic. When someone walks very fast, we think his/her gait is suggestive of their inherent dynamism. Or sometimes, when someone speaks with force, we say that s/he is a dynamic person.

It is said that when Ravan walked around and thundered at people, the earth trembled. Here actions are being considered as signs of dynamism. Can we say that this is true dynamism? No. Now the question arises as to what is dynamism.
A life of dynamism is one where there is a combination of great vision and action, which comes from quietude, contemplation and inspiration. All great masters in various fields have gone through a period of introspection, and history is replete which such examples. Swami Vivekananda is usually considered dynamic, but what about his guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who sat in one place — a temple of Goddess Kali. Was the student more dynamic than the teacher? No. The teacher’s dynamism was far too subtle for us mortals to see and behold.
A true life of dynamism is a life of vision and inspiration. When these two are manifested in action, it becomes a source of inspiration for millions. A wise man once said, “You are born therefore you must die, but don’t die while you are living. You must live on after you are dead”. This is not just related with the spiritual field. In all other fields, too, such as science, art, music and literature, the lives of the great masters are steeped in contemplation and introspection and that is precisely why they continue to be an inspiration to people even after death.
But what kind of life are we living today? The fact is that while living we seem to be dead and when we die, we are stone-like anyway.
When we hear of a person’s demise, we generally ask, “How did s/he die?” We never ask, “How did s/he live?” Our focus should be on whether s/he lived a life of inspiration or perspiration. There are two kinds of lives one can live. One is a life of values and the other a life of valuables. When people start giving too much importance to valuables, values are left aside. And once values are ignored, the person is devalued.
A life of dynamism need not be full of feverish activities. In nature, too, we see how silently the Sun rises; it illumines and energises us so much that when we don’t see the Sun for a few days we feel depressed. When a plant germinates from a seed, does it advertise its arrival? One fine morning we see a few green leaves, then a small flower blossoming and then the first sweet fruit; nature works silently. Do we visit the valley of flowers only on invitation? How quietly the flowers charm us, how elegantly the birds fly; how efficiently they work; we must observe nature and get inspired by its silent proficiency. Therein lies its beauty. When we show off too much or boast about our achievements, then nature show us our limitations in contrast to its power.
A great vision, therefore, emerges from silent contemplation. And when noble vision and action combine in a human being it becomes a blessing for humanity. The absence of vision spells doom and destruction, both to a single soul and the society at large. Ravan appeared very dynamic in his nature and actions, but in the end destroyed himself and his city, Lanka, too. On the contrary, Ram appeared to be meek and gentle, but his was the life of inspiration, of vision, of dynamism and was a blessing to himself and others. This is called a real life of dynamism. May God bless us all with that vision and may that vision transform our lives.

— Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller. To find out more about Chinmaya Mission and Swamiji, visit www.chinmayamission.com [2].
© Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.