All that glitters is not gold.

What's wrong with me, please? I am sending this third time.

Lately, I received a letter from a young lady, well-educated, flexible and having broad outlook. She is faced with a problem and needs my help.

“I want to narrate one incident; at the same time ask you a question. Today morning I was showing them (her parents) a clip from an English film. It was showing that in one college in USA, the Principal is organizing "A Naked Mile”, students (both male and female) were made to run naked throughout the college campus. The purpose of this is that don’t be ashamed of some private parts of your body as you grow up. It’s an indigestible scene to see hundred of students running naked in a college. My ma (mother) laughed away with shame and babi (father) after a serious thoughtful face threw me a question---Can any epic work of literature be created in future after so much openness of body and thought?”

I seek your viewpoint in this.—thus she could conclude."

Immediately, I gave her an answer and badly needed comments on this conversation.

The Principal’s view can not be supported. One may say, let us resort to the Bible. Adam and Eve went necked when Satan played a role. We know little about Eve and the Tree of Knowledge. Eve was shown a fruit of knowledge-tree, she ate and felt ashamed. They fell from the heaven. You might have heard this story. There are lots of questions on this point that need to get clarified. Leave them aside for the time being. Just take a note of the word ‘knowledge’, which has perhaps nothing to do with the people on earth.

Now look at the people of the barbaric period. They went all naked; afterwards used to wear buckle of trees. They lived in groups where there was no bar to leading life with selected partners. Later came into being the idea of family. Married couples were living in a joint family felt well-secured. Thereafter human being in every country sensed comfortable living independently. Disintegration of joint family was obvious for many reasons. Society changes as people get modernized.

Your father is apparently correct saying “Can any epic work of literature be created in future after so much openness of body and thought?” There is controversy in our epic ‘Mahabharata’, where so far I know, wine and woman were haphazardly used. So is the case with Homer’s epic.

In brief, pornography, not to speak of epic, can never be a good piece of literature. Had I been in an office as a boss, I would have advised my lady-typist saying on way of discussion on human civilization: “Don’t allow your bra look elegant.” My child this is possibly a line that could be added to literature to expound what is culture. Would you meditate on this line once?

Give up all that has been done and said. What we understand personally in the light of broad thinking? Although society is changing rapidly, we can not submit, of late, to every situation that arises. After all, as I said earlier on an occasion, we are flexible but that doesn’t mean, should discard out right ancient culture. There were plenty of good things in the past to accept. Rapid changes in societies all over the world are to be considered attentively.

In this connection you can remember a scene; you came across that day, in Park Street, Kolkata. A young girl in broad day light just hugs her boy-friend and takes her seat in the bike to go together. In the west kissing in open space is no problem at all. In India there is vigilance to observe young couples in the park sitting close to each other. Presently, in the age of computer societies get intermingled at every step; exchange of thoughts and ideas, design and fashion are quite obvious. So it is to infer, none knows what’s there in the womb of future. Finally, since literature is the reflection of our society, one can not boldly say what would happen, and the other would, never.

Now you are at liberty to discuss with your father without quoting me. I am always with you, not with them—especially, those who always teaches, seldom learns.

Immediately the young lady referred to gave her reply.
“I want to praise your strong memory that you remember every bit of story I narrated. I fully agree with your answer that nothing can be said with certainty what would be created or destroyed in the times to come. So why not epic! As lines between relationship get blurred, as perception changes with age, as new realization dawns with every new experience so also new thought will emerge after wilderness, settlement after madness and epic after emptiness.”

History holds its evidence. Just after the end of Second World War the new generation is called baby boomers. They were showered with wealth, employment, good standard of living and all other positive things. So I believe there will be many new things to know in the days to come--only have the attitude to learn.”

I couldn’t but reply without a little delay. It’s all my humble presentation. Just try to follow.

Yes, we should ‘have the attitude to learn’. True indeed! The more you learn the more you burn within. Ultimately, nothing remains but knowledge. It’s a constant process and involves little risk as you run around. In fact, life is ever rewarding amid right and wrong; our experience is our inspiration.

However, the main problem is this. We, the senior, should think in this light: Teachers are to be taught. Then the junior--students will automatically be modest and learn to be truly educated. Look here my child, whatever is the change in the outer world, the values of life should be respected. Desires need to be satisfied, but there is no end to satisfaction.

As per Ma-Mahajnan, moderate living is to be cultivated right from the very beginning of our life. Great Mother was very specific in all her actions at every moment. I had the rare privilege to see her at close quarters for long forty-eight years. It makes a great difference with others. Still I think twice before taking any action. At the same time I never remain quiet sitting idle.

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