083 - Necessity becomes a ritual

A swami lived with his disciples, somewhere. Swamiji had a pet cat, which licked food off all the plates and bowls at dinner-time making it jootha. So, the swami told one of his disciples to tie the cat to a tree nearby till dinner was over.

A few years passed. The swami died. After some more years the cat died. One of the disciples remembered the old swami, and said it was auspicious to tie the cat to a tree nearby during dinner time. So they bought a new cat and tied it to the tree!

Earlier it was necessary to tie the cat to the tree. Now it was a ritual.

From necessity comes a solution,
then becomes a ritual and continues
even when necessity is not there.

In olden days people would circle their thaali with a handful of water before starting the meal. This was to wet the earth to prevent ants from wandering into the thaali. Now a days many people circle their thaali with a handful of water on a formica dining table at home!

Margaret Thatcher upon becoming Prime Minister visited a southern port of England. There was a tower. She climbed the tower, met a soldier, asked him what is his duty, and he answered, "I am here to watch for Napoleon's navy and shout when I see them approaching." Waterloo was 1815, this was 1978 ! Napoleon died, the post continued !

During the World War canons were used. These were bulky affairs - pulled by 2 horses and had 5 soldiers in attendance. One to feed the canon, one to fire, one to clean it, and two to hold the horses. When Sam Maneckshaw became Field Marshal he saw the army still employed 5 soldiers per canon (now there were no horses, but a motorized vehicle !)




source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html