Through millennia, India has been a magnet for many people across the globe in pursuit of mysticism, people who risked life and limb, crossed oceans and mountains to come and sit at the feet of enlightened masters. While meditation and yoga are two of the many paths to high consciousness, and while Hyderabad roads have the power to drive you over edge literally.
For starters, you should be convinced that there has to be a higher force in the universe. No physical or natural law can explain why in a city with four million motor vehicles, with road users utterly lacking the self preservation instinct, or any respect for others' life or property, only four or five souls wander from the streets every day. Even the most die-hard atheist is likely to start believing there is some divine interpolation.
Theoretically only human beings can have driving licenses. However, in Hyderabad, I wonder if that is true. Are bus drivers’ androids or terrorists or a unique species? Painted on the outside of each bus is the legend: “Propelled by Clean Fuel”. What is not painted is: “Driven by demonic fury”. The battered condition of these buses would convince even a dodo that they cannot be controlled mechanically. They must be controlled through psycho kinesis.. Their daily prayer seems to be: “Oh Lord, give me this day my daily victim, but deliver me from prosecution!” From a spiritual perspective, this teaches you about paradoxes. Life is full of them. Probably the most recognized is the paradox of good and evil. Some human beings are good, some are evil. Most of us are somewhere in between. This is the basic stuff of life.
Some schools of spirituality believe that if you are not always stretching yourselves to the limit, then you are not evolving as human beings. Motorcyclists are hardcore adherents of this school. Like moths, who hurl themselves into flames, they hurl themselves before cars, buses and trucks. Bikers are automatically enrolled in a secret society the objectives of which include running through red lights, cutting across several lanes in front of hurtling traffic, and tempting death as frequently as possible. Like trapeze artists, their aim is to tempt fate but not let the soul separate from the body. But the eternal wheel of life necessitates that some will. Darting through traffic, hitting wing mirrors of as many cars as possible, fatalists one and all, they risk anything to gain that split second advantage. Proving the primacy of mind over matter is important for spiritual development.
Inculcating humility is essential to spiritual growth. However, if one didn't encounter arrogance how would one recognize humility? To teach us humility we have the call centre cab drivers. They are easily recognizable by their battered white Qualises, Taveras and indicas with yellow plates, usually bearing AP and TR numbers. Most of them also fashion their looks after Bollywood villains. Unmindful of minor irritants like traffic rules, they go haring around the city scraping cars and anything else that comes in their way. They are true spiritual masters because they put the fear of God into people.
Spiritual teaching is also imparted by three-wheeler drivers. Their chariots are painted yellow. But their friendliness is limited to their color. They also have a secret society with some immutable rules. One, you must not drive in one lane, always straddle two. Second, you must not allow anybody to overtake you. Three, you must turn around suddenly, and frequently, in the middle of the busiest road without first looking to see if there is any traffic behind you. Four, you must drive with only one hand (the one on the accelerator) and one foot, the other one is usually tucked under your bum (a new asana?). Five, you must overcharge. Six, thou shall resist going to the destination of the passenger. Seven, you must park three or four abreast on busy roads.
Their rear view mirrors are pointed inwards towards themselves: “Know you”, our scriptures remind us! Their ear-shattering engines, and blaring Bollywood music, drown out all other road sounds including the warning horns of other road users. Oblivious of everything except potential passengers, they believe that what they don't see does not exist. Woe betides anybody who comes in their way. They teach us serenity. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Have you learnt anything more..??? Do share it across to me-)
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