Sarabaites, Landlopers and Gyrovagues

 This evening for our reading we were reflecting on an article by Mahimai Dass on sheep becoming shepherds, in the context of the Salesian history.  Boys who grew up at the Oratory of Don Bosco went on to become the cornerstones of the Salesian congregation.  It did not happen by chance.  This was something Don Bosco made happen.  Rather than look for people from outside to assist his work, he built up his followers from within his boys.  But interestingly Don Bosco was very VERY clear about the purpose of the congregation: NOT to carry further his works, but the salvation of one's own soul!! 

Don Bosco was very clever and astute. He was well aware and deeply conscious that he did not initiate his activities in response to a need, but to a call!  He was only responding to a divine invitation directed towards the poor young.  Without that divine dimension, he would have done some good, but not the great wonders he achieved - some of which still continue to unfold!  

However, what struck me most was the concluding part of the article: Some Salesians have nothing of the Salesian spirit!!! The whole point of being eager to ensure that our names are recorded not just in the Province directory, not even in the necrology, but in heaven!!  In this context and in the light of some confreres getting on my nerves in the last couple of days (purely because of their lethargy and absolute laziness - and 'acting' sick), I couldn't agree more with that statement of some Salesians have absolutely no Salesian spirit.  Leave alone Salesian spirit, they have neither the religious spirit nor do they make the least effort at acquiring the human spirit!  

Interestingly St Benedict too was plagued by some such characters, whom he called Sarabaites and Landlopers and Gyrovagues. The Sarabaites were those monks who followed no Rule.  They lived in their own world, and believed that what they lived by as the values. The gratification of their desires was law unto them.  Whatever they chose, they called holy. The Gyrovagues were the wanderers.  Never settling down. Always on the move.  Whom Fr Albert Johnson, during his recent retreat talk, referred to as 'mayors' (a spin off on the Tamil word for 'grazers'). Never for any in depth or substantial effort.  Merely skimming the surface.  

Dry humour

 I was reminded of a word which I haven't used in my conversations or writings for a long long time... although, those who know me will confirm that this is what I engage in often: dry humour! 

Those who get it right, it makes a big impression.  To those who don't really get it, the expression appears as if the speaker has made a vague statement - totally inconsequential and bland. In short, it is an art! 

The lethargic!

 What to do if a member of the province or the community is living off on the sweat and blood of the benefactors and others in the community, contributing not an iota but sapping all energy and resources, and still feeling that others should be more sensitive to him?  

My simple and direct answer: Set his arse on fire! Time and again! 

The womb and the tomb

 Today as we commemorate all the deceased, we thank God for their presence and influence in our lives. 

 Last night I read a rather interesting analogy to the whole notion of death, as viewed from the Christian perspective.  Death is viewed as the parting of the twins in the womb.  For the one still in the womb, watching his/her twin leave the womb is a sad moment of separation.  The one left behind feels lonely, abandoned, especially after spending months together, in such proximity.  However, what he/she does not know is that there is a whole new life awaiting his/her twin outside.  Moreover, he/she will soon be united with the sibling. Life is not ended, but there is only a change of mode. 

Our whole life does not end here on earth, but through death and resurrection, continues to be in a different realm and mode.  

That's one analogy people can relate to and understand! 

Sanctity

The feast of all Saints reminds us of all those who have been canonised AND all those who have made valiant efforts, but not yet recognised or forgotten.  Without the latter, the commemoration loses its essence.  Not often does every act of kindness or every deed towards goodness gets recognised.  That does not negate its occurrence or existence! 

Most genuine acts of virtue often go unnoticed or unheard of.  All those behind those repeated acts of virtue are indeed saints, even if no one notices or writes or speaks about them.  

Then, of course, there is the actual challenge of this feast...

Learning of the day: PS/2 devices

 Learning of the day: 

On a rather old computer/desktop, if you are connecting a PS/2 device, the BIOS will recognise it only at the time of boot.  So if you connect the device after the system has booted, the system will not recognise the device. Unlike USB devices which are detected immediately after insertion, the PS/2 devices are recognised only at the boot/reboot. 

So if you are testing a PS/2 device (keyboard or mouse) make sure it is already connected before you push the power button. 

Not a random photo, but a memory

 This morning Mummy posted a photo of the neighbouring paddy field.  The field is owned by a school and they use it to cultivate crops and this time round they cultivated paddy. Every other day one class of students are brought to the field and they get to 'get their hands dirty'! Literally.  Children get to do some sort of gardening or farming.  Of course, it is anyone's guess that they create more of a mess than any great help.  But at least it does offer them the possibility of engaging with the mud, the grass, the crops, ground water... They see for themselves and learn that rice does not grow in the supermarket.  Or that tomatoes and chillies automatically appear in the fridge.  

However, this morning when I saw the photo of that paddy field, it struck me: Mummy did not send it to me - which she usually does. Rather she posted it on the family group.  And there was a string of likes.  Out of curiosity I checked who are all those who sent in a 'like'.  I noticed that it was all her siblings and immediate cousins or in-laws.  

I know that that sight, the view of a lush paddy field floods her mind with memories.  All childhood memories.  Her love for gardening and all related matters is purely her way of staying connected with her own childhood and family.  She grew up in a farming household. She and her siblings have worked all their childhood in the fields.  They have seen their parents and elders all engage and live out of the hard work in the fields.  The sight of the paddy brings back to her all those memories.  And the same for her siblings.  Hence it is they who appreciate that field most.  They know what it means for the paddy to appear so. What it entails. The hours of toil. The days and nights of careful watching and observance.  The constant presence in the field.  The feel of the slush, of the grain stalks, of the mud, of the tools. 

The next generation of us have had none of it!  Hence her sharing that photo in her family group makes most sense than sharing it with me because that photos means a whole lifetime for them.  For me, it is just another any random photo! 

Challenges and resolutions

 Over the last couple of weeks, there is one particular confrere who has been calling me regularly expressing his difficulty and challenges in carrying out his duties, especially in the presence and due to a cranky head of the community.  This particular confrere who has been sharing his difficulties is not that exceptional, but certainly quite balanced. He has his own limitations and struggles, but this particular one isn't his making. 

Today was a breaking point for him.  He decided to walk out of the house. Prior to doing so, and not wanting to put the whole community or anyone outside the community into difficulty, he cleared all the bills of the house to-date.  So that the head could have a clean and neat experience - a first hand experience, at that - of what it means to run the house without sufficient funds.  Not that the community has no funds, but the other department is not willing to share or contribute. 

Rather than sympathise with him, I challenged him to look at this whole scenario from his own perspective. Rather than moan and view this whole situation from the perspective of the challenges or difficulties.  I asked him to think carefully and discern what could and should be his most appropriate course of action, given this context and given the set of individuals he is living with.  Abandoning post is the most easiest thing.  Challenging oneself and working out possibilities, is not easy.  While understanding his situation, I did not want him to give up.  Basically I told him to view this as an opportunity to bring out the best in himself, and rather than focus on the issue, look out for solutions, that too without arguing or fighting.  

Rejoicing in the growth of others

 One of the many great virtues of Christianity/humanity is the ability to rejoice in someone else's growth or happiness - even when we have not been part of that growth or happiness process! 

In the Gospel of the day we see the religious elders of the day, being unhappy and condescending the healing of the man suffering from dropsy.  Jesus has compassion on this man and cures him.  He does this the day he encounters him - which happens to be a day of Sabbath. Jesus could have been 'prudent' or cautious and asked the man to come and meet him the next day.  But for Jesus the man and his well being was more important than a rule which was in place for the sake of divine-human rapport. 

I'm sure not just the man who is healed, but his whole family rejoiced in his regaining health.  So would have several others who witnessed this healing.  But the religious elders were stuck with the law! Interestingly, St Paul in his letter to the Philippians (the first reading) expresses his approval and fondness for the people, purely because they were able to see the goodness the Good News brought about and embraced it whole-heartedly.  They were happy that good was being done, even though, I'm sure, not each and every one of them must have experienced a personal miracle. The people of Philippia were happy to see others happy! 

Photos: Secretariat, at night

 A couple of photos I clicked while waiting for my friend Rabbi, at the Lumbini Park. 

The Telangana State Secretariat building is well lit and is indeed a sight to behold, especially at night... 

The Telangana Martyrs memorial

Kids and their world

 This evening I went to Lumbini Park.  Not for sight seeing, but to meet my old friend Rabbi, who was accompanying his students from Don Bosco, Egmore.  It was great meeting him!  

While waiting for him to arrive with his boys, I was walking along the pavement just observing people.  There were a few young people clicking away photos, at various angles and unimaginable times!!  In bygone days, not even an official photographer would have clicked so many photos in an year, as many as some of these youngsters were clicking in those 25 minutes that I spent on that pavement. 

Then there were young couples, sharing a snack or two and all engrossed in one another.  There were young parents of small children, whose whole attention was to ensure that the 'mobile' kid does not come under some passing bike or wander under the vendors stall.  I know not how much of the scenery they were taking in, but their world was that being on two tiny feet!! 

My attention mostly was drawn to a small girl, perhaps 2 or 3 years old, being hand held by her grandfather.  She had one of those heart-shaped helium balloons tied to her wrist.  Her world was that floating balloon!  So she cared a damn about where she was stepping or which direction was she headed in.  Her eyes and head was totally tilted up watching the balloon bob up and down with every stride of hers.  In the meantime, her grandfather was all focused on her!! At one point he noticed me, watching the both of them in amusement, and he too smiled.  But that was only for a couple of seconds.  He could not and would not distract himself.  That little girl was his singular focus!  

True indeed, kids live in their own world;  and they are their parents/grandparents world!!

Posing for photos

 Yesterday Mummy sent me a black and white photo.  It was one taken in 1983.  It was the traditional - a tradition that is still carried on, in practically every school! - class photo of my younger brother, when he was in LKG or UKG.  

The first thing I did was to look for my brother. Of course, I have seen this photo umpteen number of times over the years. So I didn't have to 'search' for him because I really knew where he was seated. Then I noticed Fr MA Jacob, our Parish Priest.  (God rest his soul. He passed away just a couple of days ago, on 20 October 2026).

The next thing my eyes noticed is the boy on the last row, right behind (Jennifer) teacher.  He was certainly distracted at the moment of the click.  But immediately it occurred to me: those days and years, we were not used to posing for photos!! Clicking photos happened so rarely that, as children, it was practically a big exercise getting us all in line, ready and FOCUSSED!! 

Children these days, the moment they see someone taking photos, are ready with a pose.  Even babies!! They are used to the technology and the procedure.  But not too long ago, there was a time when posing for photos was a novelty!! Just look at that fellow there on the last row and you'll understand what I mean! 

Spotlight

 

Futile efforts

 For the past one week, I've literally been glued to my phone - hands, ears and eyes!  Just waiting all the time for the screen to glow, the message to ping or the call to come through.  All because of two parcels that have been causing untold havoc with my schedule and mind! 

One parcel contains a set of coin batteries that I need to return, because instead of 10 batteries that I ordered and paid for, I received only 8.  But that pick up is not happening since two weeks!! The online status of the product keeps changing more often than the clothes our movie stars change in a movie song! But none of those updates are true.  Sometimes it says I'm not available. At times, the agent couldn't reach the customer.  Other times, the pick up is being scheduled.  And most of the time it is 'on the way' - so I've no clue as to which day or time the pick up guy will actually land up!  

The other is a laptop replacement screen that I ordered from Bangalore.  This time, it is the delivery guys - the same useless, Delhivery service!  Five days ago the online status indicated that the parcel has reached the closest dispatch store, which is 11 kms from where I live.  I went in person two days ago to collect it, but it wasn't available.  The store manager even gave me the assurance that the parcel would reach me the same evening by 5 pm.  And gave me his number as well.  Neither did the parcel arrive, nor did the manager attend my calls!  For the last three days, I've been getting calls each day that the parcel is out for delivery and that 'my issue' would be resolved 'today'.  That 'today' is yet to dawn!  

For the time and peace of mind I've sacrificed for these two petty things, I could have truly achieved something great.  This morning as I sat for meditation, asking the Lord to help me sort myself out, it occurred to me that if I were to have invested the same time, energy and passion in pursuing these items and ended up getting frustrated, anxious, upset and angry, into the noble protests of the Gen-Z and CJP, it would all have been worth it.  I falsely calm myself saying that it is not about the money, but the principle of keeping up one's word, respecting deadlines, being professional that I'm challenging.  But truly not worth fretting about these things! 

One consolation of yesterday: managed to get the SIB mirror+ app installed and activated for one particular account - an effort of 6 months!! 

Set free (3)

 

This virtue of being sensitive to the needs of others is perhaps one of the many qualities a religious should acquire.  Not all ask or even speak out.  Yet they have something to say or are in a dire need.  Noticing them, is the first stage.  Without that we would only be responding to our imagination than an actual need felt by the other. 

Set free (2)

Jesus in liberating the woman possessed by the demon for 18 long years, rebukes the other Jews who cite the law to prevent him from curing the woman, all because the day is a Sabbath day. 

So besides the demon and her own physical illness, there is also the society and the 'normal' people who are keen not to see her well and whole.  As it is, there are umpteen number of things that plague us individually.  To this when others add chains and burdens, life becomes all the more tedious and painful.  

Secondly, this woman was suffering for 18 years.  That's quite a long time. I admire her courage to be able to live with this struggle for that long and still carry on.  I'm not sure how confidently or with what amount of faith she approached Jesus.  I'm not even sure if she came wanting to be healed by Jesus.  Because, it was Jesus who noticed her - not she imposing herself on him.  But I have an inkling that even if she were not to have received that cure, and got healed, she would still carryon with life, without a grudge or giving in to greater pessimism.  

In that sense, she had already freed herself, even before Jesus set her free.  That setting oneself free was the initial step for her cherishing the greater freedom.  Because I'm sure, if she had not grown that deep, even after her complete cure by Jesus, she would have still found something still binding or crippling her, of which she would mourn - and be bent, in a different way! 

Set free (1)

 We often think and assume that it is our addictions and inordinate passions that bind and cripple us.  In fact, nothing or no one can actually bind us.  

It is we ourselves who bind ourselves. We let our habits and behaviour imprison us.  Most often unconsciously we let ourselves be led into a trap and eventually into the prison.  And just like getting in is not a one day achievement, getting out too is not a one day conquest.  

Nonetheless, no matter how much of help we seek and receive, human and divine, it is ultimately I who need to set myself free!  Because it is I who have imprisoned myself, in the first place! 

Passion-extreme

 The tamil word for 'terrorist' is 'theevaravadi'. It is a different word than the meaning in other languages.  I think telugu has the same word - could be wrong, though. But the difference between the english and the regional words is the notion of who or what one does.  

The english word stands for one who spreads terror, destruction. The regional words, on the other hand, stand for an 'extremist', or a radical.  The latter can also be interpreted as someone who is a very very passionate about an issue, passionate to the extent of bordering on fanaticism.  

That said, it is also a fact that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter (coined by Gerard Seymour in his 1975 novel Harry's Game)!  In the light of the recent protests and struggles, across the globe, and especially a closer unbiased review of each side on either struggle will reveal that no one is without reasons or valid issues fueling the struggle. No honest struggle can ever be termed wrong or bad.  

Tell me why - Declan Galbraith

 

Laity and the mission of the Church

 This morning's reflection on the laity in the church was an interesting one.   Just when I thought and was getting ready to listen to a long series of thoughts we all know, but are unwilling to practice, I was in for a surprise.  

Fr Albert Johnson, citing Christifideles Laici, reminded us that as priests and religious we DO NOT SHARE the mission of the Church with the laity.  Hell, we do not own it for ourselves in the first place!! The laity (defined as those called to holiness in their own way of life in the secular realities of the world) own the Church, as much as priests and religious.  The latter do not have the monopoly over the Church! 

As priests and religious we have a particular role and responsibility to fulfil - the religious aspect of the mission.  Similarly the laity have their role and responsibility clearly cut out by the Church - the temporal sphere or aspect of the mission.  (I guess, the clarity is in the documents and among some sensible people. Most bishops, priests, religious and even lay people themselves are not aware of neither the definition nor the mission!).  But together our collective mission, that of the whole Church is, evangelisation (the Kingdom of God).  

The clergy and religious carry out the pastoral and sacramental dimension of this mission.  The laity carry it out in the temporal or the secular sphere of the world.  The mode and the place are different, but the mission is one and the same!