The Great Tragedy of Speed
रफ़्तार की महान त्रासदी-डेविड वाइट (२४ अप्रैल, २०१३)
काम में रफ़्तार होने से हमारा कुछ फायदा हो सकता है। रफ़्तार पर ध्यान दिया जाता है। लोग आपकी तेज़ी की तारीफ़ करते हैं। रफ़्तार अपने आप में महत्त्वपूर्ण है। रफ़्तार हमें काम से छुटकारा दिलाने में मदद करती है। रफ़्तार का मतलब यह है कि हम जिस ख़ास चीज़ या व्यक्ति के पास हैं, हम उससे वास्तव में कोई संबंध नहीं रखते, और इसलिए रफ़्तार हमें ऐसा महसूस कराती है जैसे हम अपनी कार्यक्षेत्र के दर्जे से कहीं ऊपर हैं।
जब हम अपने काम में लीन हो जाते हैं, रफ़्तार ही हमारी सबसे बड़ी रक्षक बन जाती है, रुककर चीज़ों पर ध्यान देने की क्षमता से बिलकुल हटकर। अगर हम वास्तव में देख पाएं कि हम क्या कर रहे हैं और हम क्या बन गये हैं, तो हमें मालूम होगा कि शायद हम उस ठहराव और उसके साथ आने वाले आत्म-मूल्यांकन को झेल ही नहीं पाएँगे। इसलिए हम रुकते ही नहीं, और जितना तेज़ हम चलते हैं, उतना ही रुकना मुश्किल हो जाता है। जब किसी भी तरह की जिम्मेवारी सामने आती है तो हम बस चलते रहते है।
रफ़्तार एक चेतावनी भी है, एक ऐसा धड़कता हठी संदेश कि जैसे हम किसी चट्टान के सिरे पर खड़े हैं, एक निश्चित चेतावनी भी कि मानो हम किसी और की ज़िंदगी जी रहे हैं और किसी और का काम कर रहे हैं। लेकिन रफ़्तार हमें रुकने से होने वाली तकलीफ से बचाती है; रफ़्तार एक ऐसी मरहम बन जाती है, एक देन, हमें अनजाने अपने आप को बताने का तरीका कि हम असल में अपनी ज़िन्दगी में हिस्सा नहीं ले रहे हैं।
"अस्तित्व की जटिलताओं और जिम्मेदारियों के जवाब में इस्तेमाल की जा रही गति की सबसे बड़ी त्रासदी यह है कि बहुत जल्द ही हम ऐसी किसी वस्तु या ऐसे किसी व्यक्ति को जो हमार्री गति से नहीं चल रहे हैं, पहचान भी नहीं सकते हैं। हम केवल उन्हीं को देख सकते हैं जो हमारी ही रफ़्तार से इस दुनिया के चक्कर में घूम रहे हैं और सिर्फ उन्हीं को जो ठीक हमारी तरह बहुत जल्दी में हैं। इस रफ़्तार की वजह से हमें सब धुंधला दिखाई देने लगता है, और जल्द ही हम एक ऐसी बेहोशी का शिकार हो जाते हैं जिसमें जो लोग आमतौर पर हमारी इंसानियत के भागीदार होने चाहिएं, वो भी एक-एक कर के हमारे मन से दूर हो जाते हैं। हम अपने साथ काम करने वाले उन लोगों पर ध्यान देना बंद कर देते हैं जो हमसे कम रफ़्तार पर चल रहे हैं, और हम अपने काम के पीछे चल रहे महान पर धीमे चलते लक्ष्य को भूलने लगते हैं। विशेष रूप से हम अपने जीवन के बीच बनती उन खुलासा लहरों को भुला देते हैं जो हमारे मूल चरित्र का सूचक है।
हमारी व्यक्तिगत ज़िंदगी में, रफ़्तार का गुलाम बन जाने की वजह से हमें वो सब लोग दिखाई देनी बंद हो जाते हैं, जैसे परिवारजन, खासतौर पर हमारे बच्चे, या जो बीमार या कमज़ोर हैं, जो हमारी रफ़्तार से इस दुनिया में दौड़ नहीं रहे हैं, और जिनका संकल्प हमारी तरह पक्का नहीं है। उसी निश्चय से हम अपने खुद के उन हिस्सों को भी भुला देते हैं जो कुछ कमज़ोर हैं, हमारी उन खामियों को जो असल में हमारे अस्तित्व को जान देती हैं। हम भूल जाते हैं कि हमारे मन की शान्ति उन धीमी और धैर्य से चलने वाली चीज़ों से होने वाले हमारे सम्बन्ध पर निर्भर है जो कि हमारे काम की ज़रूरतों और पागलपन से कहीं ज्यादा महत्त्वपूर्ण हैं।
इस सप्ताह के कुछ मूल प्रश्न : "आपका ज़िन्दगी की रफ़्तार से कैसा सम्बन्ध है? यह विश्वास करने के लिए कि हमारे पास बहुत समय है, हमें क्या करना होगा? क्या आप कोई व्यक्तिगत कहानी बताना चाहेंगे जो आपके किसी ऐसे अनुभव से आई हो जब आपने ऐसा माना हो कि,"मेरे पास बहुत समय है?"
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What is your relationship with speed? What can we do to start believing that we have time? Can you share a personal story of an experience that came from the belief "I have time?"
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49 Past Reflections
On Jul 16, 2024 Anne wrote :
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On Jun 8, 2022 Trissa Elkins wrote :
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On Jun 8, 2022 Karolyn Hawker wrote :
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On Jun 7, 2022 John Houghton wrote :
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On Jun 7, 2022 Georganne Ford wrote :
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On Jun 7, 2022 Kate McCaul wrote :
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On Jun 6, 2022 Gary Yeatts wrote :
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On Jan 9, 2022 S. Gopalakrishnan wrote :
I was once put into such an orbit, that you believed that there is no way out of the orbit. The faster you go the exit is blurred. It is a scary experience that you seem to have got into a whirlwind trap and is addictive.
To get of the saddle and slowdown needs courage conviction and belief in yourself. It takes time and you need to create an ambience fir the three essentials to germinate before you can slowdown and get off the saddle.
The taste if "Your tym" allows you to unwind and dictate the pace of speed and attune yourself to it!
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On Feb 24, 2021 Polli DeWalt wrote :
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On Feb 24, 2021 Susan Lord wrote :
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On Feb 21, 2021 Suparna Malhotra wrote :
What will it take for me to accept that?
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On Feb 19, 2021 Zenobia Mistri wrote :
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On Aug 27, 2020 Kathy Gannett wrote :
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On Apr 15, 2020 Sandra Ellington wrote :
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On Feb 18, 2020 Asha Sridhar wrote :
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On Feb 17, 2020 Joseph Branch wrote :
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On Feb 15, 2020 sophia Primus wrote :
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On Feb 18, 2019 Rekha Hatkanalalekar wrote :
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On Feb 16, 2019 Angelikka wrote :
Even in the corporate world, the executives we finally respect are the ones who take their time and accomplish a great deal more.
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On Nov 4, 2018 Car wrote :
Hi... great article!
I believe through the years of facing challenging and happy times in life, chasing carreer goals , etc.. having gratitude for the journey helps me stay grounded, thankful and believe there is a time for everything. Ive learnt that i cannot rush the stages in my life, because i will miss the vital lesssons along the way that were meant to equip me to face the stage in my life...
In this belief, you are more patient with yourself, and when you feel you are ready again... your gut will guide your way. the trick is to be still enough to listen to it:-)
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On Feb 9, 2015 Chris Martin wrote :
Such a fuss to get nowhere at all
Such a rush, such a rush
And it's just like you said
It's just like you said
So slow down please
Just slow down
So slow down please
Just slow down
Such a rush
Look at all the people
Going after money
Far too many people
Looking for their money
Everybody's out there
Trying to get money
Why can't you just tell me?
Trying to get money, rush
–– "Such A Rush" by Coldplay
1 reply: Adria | Post Your Reply
On Jan 27, 2015 Heidi wrote :
How often I have experienced this at work - everyone rushing forward with no time to consider long-term impact, look back at previous iterations or assess feasibility with any depth. In the mad rush to "do" or to "make our mark," often the very purpose for our work is even overlooked. I am grateful for having become more mindful at home.
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On Jan 26, 2015 Thyla wrote :
My first born is a Senior in High School this year. As we filled out college applications and it dawned on me that my baby will be going off to college in fall, my priorities underwent a sea change. "I always have time now" for whenever we are able to spend time together. She sometimes likes to just have a cup of tea with me or we watch HGTV together or cuddle on the sofa; she is finishing up homework and I am sitting at the other side of the dining table..but I am with her. This of course was not the case before; I always had the "to do" list. But once I started believing that I needed to spend time with her," I was able to have time.'
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On Jan 26, 2015 Rose O'Connor wrote :
This is the most perfect thing I needed to read at this stage in my life. I can see how I have always tried to do everything in a hurry as if that was the most important thing in the world. I was so impatient with anyone who did not rush and do things quickly like I did. Then my son was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, I lost my job and my whole world came crashing down. I suffered from depression for a long time and that helped me slow down. Reading this has just made me realize that this was my story. I am now living at a lot slower pace and starting to cherish the slowness and appreciate the slowness of others.
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On Sep 7, 2013 Vicki wrote :
This has got me really thinking about how I zoom around,loosing the experience of a moment!Days blend into each other,leaving me with the terrible thought that I miss so many precious moments 'not smelling the roses'
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On Jun 20, 2013 Maya wrote :
Wow! What a great line: "vulnerabilities...actually give us color and character." What a 180 in our society of success.
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On Apr 23, 2013 JGD wrote :
Though I can agree with some of the ill effects of speed mentioned by David White, I feel his is a far too gloomy and negative assessment of speed. There are situations were speed is essential. A more balanced assessment would have been better. Perhaps Mr. White and I define speed differently.:)
3 replies: Marcus, Someone, Aj | Post Your Reply
On Apr 23, 2013 Sis Asha wrote :
Excellent posting. When I came to the BrahmaKumaris 26 years ago, I realised then that speed was not such a great thing. I was cooking lunch one day for about 20 souls who had gathered for a workshop. Being an Obstetrician, I was always used to speed. I started cooking also with great speed. At that time,I thought the senior sister would be impressed. After about an hour, the senior sister came to me and said that I should cook with love, peace and calm. I should cook with a gentle touch with no noise. I should be an angel cooking and serving the world. She said that my hurried attitude will go in the food and the souls will not be able to digest all those hormones of hurry and speed that went into the food. I immediately slowed down. I remembered the Supreme Soul and continued my cooking in a gentle loving atmosphere. Made a lot of difference to me. I felt light, loved and embraced by God. Om Shanti !
1 reply: Maya | Post Your Reply
On Apr 23, 2013 Audrey wrote :
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On Apr 23, 2013 CBrooks wrote :
Most folks comment that my 90-year-old mother-in-law is a role model for all of us. Her calendar is full; she drives to events near and far every day. She is always busy. A younger friend of hers (a mere 75) visited for 3 weeks. She whispered to me, "She never stops to think; she's always going somewhere or doing something. She is rushing, rushing, rushing because she thinks she is always late. But she never really talks with me about important things. I need that, too." I listen and reflect on my own busyness. Time to stop and to watch the birds, the river, and the flowers and to play with the grandchildren. And to say out loud every day to each one how much I love them.
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On Apr 22, 2013 hwatt wrote :
The real tragedy of speed is the false sense of "getting somewhere." Or even, I suppose, that there is anywhere to go.
I come home at the end of the day, unable to decompress, unable to cherish my children or play with my spouse, because I'm confronted withe a to-do list only nominally different from the one I left behind. So I rush through my stories of the day; I rush through listening so that I barely hear. I rush through making dinner so that I often forget the most important ingredient: love.
I want to slow down, but there is anxiety, fear (of what, I'm not sure), that if I sit and enjoy... I might actually sit and enjoy.
2 replies: Amy, Someone | Post Your Reply
On Apr 22, 2013 gayathri wrote :
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On Apr 21, 2013 Manyam wrote :
That's very beautifully put, The odd irony is that we all do recognize the unnamed race we seem to be on at a conscious level but seem incapable of slowing down. It needs a deliberate effort to slow down, like friction stopping a moving object we need something to slow us down, may be it's finding the source of friction that we are willing to trade off against the speed is the real challenge, not the race it self.
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On Apr 21, 2013 amy wrote :
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On Apr 19, 2013 david doane wrote :
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On Apr 19, 2013 Conrad P Pritscher wrote :
Wow! Whyte's writing is fantastic. I didn't know how dumb I was until I read this. Previously I thought I was smarter by going faster. Even in conversations of various sorts I too often want to get to the heart of the matter very quickly. After reading this article I now more clearly realize that being patient is getting to the hearts of all matters. Being patient helps one be peaceful and compassionate. I don't seem to recall an experience that came from the belief: "I have time" I have been reading Awakin articles for a couple of years, and I now believe that this one will probably help me the most.. Most of my accomplishments came from doing things quickly but those were done at the expense of being impatient and non-compassionate. You have my deep gratitude for giving me the opportunity to read this and to respond. Warm and kind regards to everyone.