Truth is that each of us need support. Support is the monkey business that gives life a semblance of logic. There are a few conclusions about support that are paramount:
1. There is no one who only supports. We are all seekers.
2. Support can be mutual or the giver can be be a receiver elsewhere.
3. Both the mortals and the immortals thrive on support.
4. Tangibles and intangibles thrive on support.
5. Living and non-living exist because of support.
“I take the Support of the Lord’s Lotus Feet; there is no other place of rest for me. I lean upon You as my Support, O Supreme Lord God. I exist only by Your Power.” (Guru Granth Sahib) Again, the paradox here is that even the Supreme Lord will cease to exist if mortal support ceases. The annihilation of civilizations and dissolution of Gods is ample proof of this. But nevertheless, support systems have continued…newer Gods have evolved.
it must be understood here that we deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more. What will Governments be without support of the hoi-polloi? What will the masses be if the Government ceases or even reduces its support?
In fact even mother mokeys need support just as much as the child-monkey needs it. There are of-course other angles to the word ‘support’. Some say that programming is like sex: one mistake and you have to support it for the rest of your life. Jokes apart, the truth is very much evident in this pithy phrase.
Lets discuss a few other vital support systems. Books support us in our solitude and keep us from being a burden to ourselves. This is the same as the kind of buying-support that books may need from avid-readers. readers need the support of writers to keep churning newer forms of writings and the writers need the support of publishers and discerning readers. The line goes on and on and on…
As Buddha said: “Thirst for existence, O monks, has a specific condition, it is nourished by something, it also does not go without support. And what is that nourishment? It is ignorance.”
Need I say more?
[Arvind Passey]
[2006]
