da email

I can’t get over this. Jasmine sent me a mail from jispad@gmail.com saying that this is Jispa’s email id. Firstly I thought it sucked. I mean what a boring dam id. It should have been something weird. jispasleeps@gmail.com, jispapad, or whatever. But hell she will create her ID based on her own ID later I guess. But I could not reply something as mundane as congrats or welcome to her. It was my first email conversation with her. It had to be inspirational; it had to be something that she would look forward to. It had to be something that she could hang on her wall and sleep in the bask of its security. It had to be something that she could turn to in times of difficulty.
Allow me to tell you a lovely story on inspiration or is it – direction?
(but before you read more, may I urge you to write mails to her. She might enjoy your mails. No forwards, spam or chain mails wishing her luck please.)

When the world was still young and the newly created beings—the Divas, the Asuras and the Manusas—were groping to understand their place in the world, they all meditated for true knowledge from their creator Prajapati, who was Brahma Himself.After a long time had passed, the Divas went to Prajapati and asked for His wisdom. “Lord, please tell us what we should live by.”Prajapati looked kindly at the Divas, who were endowed with great character and who had God-like intentions, but He simply uttered a single letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, “da.”The Divas pondered over what they had heard until Prajapati gently asked them, “Divas, do you understand the meaning of what I said?”The Divas stated, “Yes, Lord, we understand. ‘Da’ stands for Damyata—control. You want us to live a life of restraint.”Prajapati said, “Yes, you have understood it. Be self-controlled.”Next, the Manusas, who were humans, went to Prajapati and reverentially asked for His wisdom. “Lord, please tell us what we should live by.”For a few minutes Prajapati observed the Manusas, who had great intellect and passion but who were weak in body and petty in their dealings with others. He again pronounced the same letter of the alphabet, “da.” Prajapati paused, allowing them time to reflect over His answer. Then he asked them, “Manusas, do you understand what I said?”The humans grasped the meaning quickly. “Yes, Lord, we fully perceive what you said. ‘Da’ symbolizes Datta—give. We should be generous. There is great joy in sharing.”Prajapati was pleased with their answer, “You have understood. Go and live accordingly.”Lastly, the Asuras went to Prajapati and asked him for His wisdom. Although the Asuras were created in darkness, they were still His children. Prajapati looked at them carefully. The Asuras were strong in body and in their determinations. They were the rivals of the Divas. But once again Prajapati stated only “da.”The Asuras mused over what they had heard until Prajapati inquired, “Asuras, do you understand what I said?”The Asuras clearly discerned the message of Prajapati. “Lord, when you said ‘da’ you meant Dayadhyam— compassion. You want us to be compassionate.”Prajapati smiled, “Yes, you have understood it. Live a life of compassion for others.”Prajapati rose up and vanished in the clouds in the midst of a loud thunder—“da,” “da,” “da.” And the three races repeated, “damyata,” “datta,” “dayadham,” and went their separate ways. The divine message is often repeated by the clouds as they thunder, “da,” “da,” “da,” as if to remind all beings of the lesson learned by the three races at the very beginning of their journey—be self-controlled, be generous, be compassionate.Prajapati did not instill wisdom, nor did He offer to show the right path. Prajapati accepted the three different interpretations of His message because the Divas, Manusas, and Asuras recognized their own frailties and interpreted His Message accordingly. One can perceive wisdom only at a level of one’s cognizance and consciousness

Hence I too wanted to send a message to her of equal status and meaning. I am sure this also serve as insipartion to you as well. Here is what I wrote to her.

Dum chik chick bum bum
What a funny bum bum
Why have you bum bum
When there is only one bum
Dum chik chick bum bum