safety an illusion

‘Safety first’ are two very important words that we grow up with but, the safety that we all crave for is an illusion. Close-in fielders are supposed to be athletes par excellence who are expected to latch on to the most difficult of chances, when the safe hands of such reliable close-in fielders puts down a sitter, the team feels let down, accusing fingers are raised.

There are safety pins, safety razors, safety matches. The engineering industry builds a factor of safety into its goods. In flight it is mandatory to keep your safety belts in position during take off and landing. In automobiles it is necessary to keep your safety belts fastened, at least on roads and junctions where the hawk-like eyes of the Law scour the traffic and wait eagerly to pounce on the offender to extract their pound of flesh. Safety helmets keep cropping up in the news – while some accept its necessity, others find flaws with the elaborate headgear. Screen heroes could be roped in to spread the message and start an awareness campaign – they could do it as a social service activity or, better still, make the helmet manufacturers sponsor the footages. It is quite surprising that a product like this does not attract attention – we have several products to take of dandruff, of white hair, of dry, oily or brittle hair but no one spares a thought for the head on which the hair has to grow. If there is no head, where, pray, will the products for the maintenance of hair go? Therefore, it is in the interest of all concerned that the head be brought into focus.

We have the police to safeguard interests in our day to day lives; we have the armed forces to safeguard the interests of our country. We keep adding sophisticated weapons to our arsenal to discourage opportunists; we maintain special security groups to ensure safety of our leaders. In spite of all these, crime is not contained, adventurism on the borders does not stop, militancy continues. The worst part is that the moment safety is breached, people bay for each other’s blood. Those who are actually responsible for the breach, go scot-free!

When we build a house, we take the utmost care to install alarms, interlocks, safety latches. Those who occupy ground floors take extra care to barricade windows. We have telephones in our houses to summon aid in case of emergencies. But, when the bad elements strike, we discover that all our safety measures are to no avail, they cannot prevent dacoities or robberies– the criminals resort to brute force to enter the premises. Some of them use trickery, especially in housing complexes in large metros where they identify themselves as the boy from the electrical, telephone or the plumbing department or even door-to-door salesmen!

Therefore a question arises – how safe are we? Once we step out of the house, we may meet with a road accident or get run over by a train or be a victim of bombing or shootout. We may meet our maker while trying to help the needy. Under the circumstances, why shout ourselves hoarse over situations that are beyond our control. Is it not wise to accept the fact that, no matter how powerful we are, we are helpless in the hands of destiny?

This is so true sadhuji, do we even know that we shall finish reading this line before our moment for departure is initiated. We live very much in an illusion, not only from what we see and experience but also what we think and believe, it is all an illusion. While we create a fortress about us, our mind, the dacoit of all dacoits robs us of any true reality. We become concerned about blaming others for our foolishness when our brains are laying exposed on the footpath as we were to vain to wear a helmet.

As the wise say, tie the camels leg at night to a strong post and then pray to Allah for the camel to still be there in the morning.

wonderfully said mira4bai4.

Wonderfully said by mira4bai4 and emphasised by sadhuji
Life, we have to admit is the continuation of illusions of sorts.So called Safety and security come in the forefront with many others appearing like that.The feeling of happiness and unhappiness also is an illusion on many occasions, we have to admit.We expect us to be happy or unhappy by something and feel happy or unhappy. So "mind in its own place makes a heaven a hell,and a hell a heaven" Somebody said.No?

Follow your 'dharma'. The rest is an illusion.

Brilliant!

To those who don't wear protective clothing on motorbikes, beauty may only be skin deep, but without the skin, how gorgeous would you be? I have a friend who ended up with gravel rash (ie no skin) all up her thigh after coming off a bike wearing a pair of shorts. It was not bad enough for skin grafts and so even now, after 25 years, it is still pretty ugly.

What a great saying, and I absolutely agree.

As we say here "God helps them as helps themselves"

Let go the camels, if Allah wants, they would still be there in the morning.

Definately an illusion, actually we are fooling ourselves in order to feel secure and supporting the ego strategy in its motive of feeling invincible, another segment of maya.

Indian safety is definitely an illusion!

We should teach Indian kids to not be afraid of uninsulated wires, hand knives from the sharp end to others and put oils on stairs. It's all an illusion after all.

Not sure if any armed forces will be happy reading our comments ... If safety is an illusion then they are giving up their souls for that illusion

if you dont travel by plane you will not die in a plane crash.
then if a plane crashes on you?the possibility is there but the probability is remote.
so take precautions and get on with life.

i have read as follows:
trust in allah but tie your camel securely

My reply was in the context of how human mind works.

Even with all that, illusion. That is 'Vyavaharika' (pragmatic reality), the first one is 'Parmarthika' (absolute reality).