Life in 3 words

I had long back heard from Swami Tejomayananda that our life could be summarised in 3 words. The placement of these 3 words varied according to our age. As a child, we are naturally in the state of enquiry and wonder. We say often then, “Tell me, Why?” The child is always keen to know ‘why’ of everything he observes. This is the stage of innocence. 

As the child grows into a teenager, he starts feeling that now he knows what life is about what he needs to do, to aspire, to get, to enjoy. This is fine, but along with this he also develops a sense of arrogance (exceptions apart) depending on many factors. He wants to be with his friends more than his parents/grandparents. He normally tends to disassociate himself from the happenings of the family in his family, and if his mother or relative tries to tell him (share) about what is happening in the family, neighbours, relatives, society, at times he ignores or says the 3 words within, “Why tell me” meaning why are you bothering me about this. Till he gets married, he is quite interested in listening to the stories of what is happening in the life of his girlfriend, her family. But after a few years into the marriage, he tells her also “why tell me,” when she complains about what his parents said to her, as he gets busy with his professional life. 

Finally, as he grows into the evening phase of his life, he has gone through the ups and downs of life, varied experiences of betrayal in personal, social and occupational life. He sees that he is not needed as much as before. He faces intolerance and impatience from the ones who he groomed with a lot of care. He needs more but is needed less. His movements have slowed down both physically and mentally. His sense (eyes, ears, legs, etc.) let him down more than often. This happens more intensively in the life of those who have had no exposure to any spiritual insights, making them quite dependent on the external world (family, friends, clubs, movies, holidays, business, office, society, sports, memories) for all their joys, support, stability, consolation. They went everywhere, except within themselves. They told themselves, “of course, we will go to Satsangh, but later. Now let me enjoy.” They failed to realise that the ‘outside’ can be enjoyed more only when we are centred ‘inside’. This life is meant to be lived inside out, not outside in. He too, finally goes to the same 3 words now differently placed – “Tell, Why Me?”

Summary:

Child says... Tell me Why

Teenager says... Why tell me

Elder say... Tell, why me