Discovering my self

When you reject all authority, something false which you have been carrying about with you for generations, you have more energy, more capacity, more drive, greater intensity and vitality.

When you have thrown it off and have this energy in which there is no fear at all- no fear of making a mistake, no fear of doing right or wrong, when there is this energy which comes from throwing off every form of fear, that energy itself produces the radical inward revolution. To be left with yourself is the actual state for a man to be. You are no longer looking to anybody or anything for help; you are free to discover for yourself.

And when there is freedom it can never do anything wrong. There is no such thing as doing right or wrong when there is freedom. You are free and from that centre you act. And hence there is no fear. A mind that has no fear is capable of great love. And when there is love it can do what it will.

J.Krishnamurthy (Freedom from the known)

It is exactly one year since I moved to Aarogya Kudumbam. I have grown tremendously in this one year. I can honestly say I am contented and at peace with myself. I am disciplined, yet lead a care-free life. I am happy and feel alive. I appreciate and accept myself. 

Even when I go on trips I am so eager to get back home, that I make the trip as short as possible. What is so great about living here? How living here has helped me grow and evolve?

I have my space, I have my privacy.

I have only what I need and use. All the things are in their places. I can find what I want even in the dark.

I have enough people to interact with. I do not judge them by their personality, appearance, background or interest. Their varied background has made me appreciate and learn diverse cultures. I am more tolerant.

People are polite enough to say only the good things about each other. Everybody shows enough interest in me, and do their best to be friendly with me.

They do not advise me, or even if they do, they don’t get offended when I don’t follow them.

Nobody has any authority over others. Being senior citizens we all believe others are matured enough to take care of themselves and that they know what is right and wrong. This helps us to accept people the way they are. Of course they believe I know how to take care of myself and lead my life.

We all put our best foot forward. In spite of the fact that we are all old and retired everybody takes care of their personal grooming and present themselves well. That motivates me to dress-up every day.

But I don’t have to be overly cautious or shrink / blow up my personality to suit others or to impress them. I feel accepted for who I am and that boosts my self confidence.

Everybody knows when I go to sleep, when and where I go out, what I eat, which TV programme I watch, yet it is no concern of others.

Just watching others in close quarters day in and day out provides us with all the inputs needed to understand each other.

I and everything – people, situations, nature and environment - around me seems to be in perfect harmony.

I accept differences of opinions. I am able to handle and resolve easily any small friction or conflict that arises occasionally. I do not let it affect me or break the relationship.

In the common room sharing the newspaper or the remote of the TV has never been a problem. I watch whatever a person is already watching. Others voluntarily offer the remote to me.

We do things together, not everybody together. Two are three people are able to form small groups to go shopping, visit temples, play golf or discuss the happenings around the world. There is no compulsion that everybody should participate in every activity. A ‘No’ to join in is not meant or taken as a rejection.

If only everybody had this kind of comfort level living with their own family, in their own homes wouldn’t life be great?