Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana, Section B

Hello World!!

As I continue to read the "Ramayana," it begins to get a little difficult to keep track of everything. It seems that the story is beginning to slow down. It's becoming a bit boring, but since I am still interested in figuring out what happens I am chugging through! One of the best parts so far for me personally, has been where Shurpanakha attempts to marry Lakshmana. I feel like that is something I would do my sibling just out of curiosity. "Well, I am taken, but she's single!" I would be interested in seeing what happened next. I would love to find out what would happen next. Also, I would probably try to get the whole thing on video, since it would serve a lifelong memory!

I do wonder, however, what would've happened if Lakshmana had ended up marrying her? Would he have liked her at all? I am sure that at this point she surely would have done a decent amount of damage to the entire family if not just Lakshmana and Rama. I wonder if she would have still tried  killing Sita? I feel as though she would have at least tried because Rama seemed to be the one she was smitten for. I am sure that the "Ramayana" story would have been pretty different had this occurred. I think this small detail could have changed not just the pace, but the entire concept of the story. If Ravana's sister had been married to Lakshmana would Ravana still have even tried to have kidnapped Sita? There is so much contrast provided by this one story. It seems as though this event is very important to the entire story. It's incredible how one simple change can bring about an entirely different angle to an old classic!

The Cutting of Surpanakha's Nose, Source: hindutva.info

All information has come from Narayan's Ramayana, (link to Reading Guide A).

Project Feedback Thoughts!

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When done correctly, given feedback can be incredibly useful to a person. It can help people to better their writing and correct their mistakes. I think that it is incredibly important to be tactful when giving criticism to others. You have to be very careful to not offend the other person, because creating tension among each other can be problematic. It can be extremely troubling if you are in the same workplace. The last thing you want is a band of angry co-workers conspiring against you! 

My favorite thing that I read from the given articles is the statement "Be a Mirror." This article mentioned that it was important to be a mirror when giving feedback. Be honest when telling people of their errors, but don't be rude!  If you are rude, you immediately become offensive without even trying. 

The Criticism Sandwich, Source: oldhatcreative.com

My favorite tactic to take criticism head on is the Criticism Sandwich tactic. It shows you exactly how to phrase criticism in a way that won't be rude or hurtful. When criticism is cushioned between two compliments, or even a few compliments, it makes it much easier to be able to take the criticism. This is the best way for the criticism to be taken as something that is helpful rather than something that is offensive. It allows for the criticism to be meshed into an overall positive comment so that it is tricked into not being negative at all! If you haven't given this method a try I highly recommend that you do! I am sure you won't regret it! Good luck to all those giving and receiving criticism! Remember criticism is almost always helpful when taken in a positive manner! 

The Act of Giving and Receiving, Source: www.pinterest.com

 

The New Story of Thatarka

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We had all heard of Thataka's story. We all knew not to cross into the region where she lived, but ever since I had been a little boy I had wanted to do nothing else. Something inside of me pulled me towards her. Something unknown. I had grown up in the world without any family, but was thankful to Saint Agasthya for taking me in when no one else would. He had taught me many valuable lessons of kindness, hope, and faith. Most importantly, however, he had taught me to listen to my heart, and my heart was telling me that I needed to go see Thataka.

I thought back to the dreams I had been having since I was little. The one with the three men who went about destroying things. One of the men looked older than the other two. Perhaps they were related to each other? Family? Who were these people? Why were they destroying everything in their path? I remember the shock on Saint Agasthya's face when I had asked him. I remember telling him I felt like I knew them. The man in particular. Every time it was the same thing, "It is all in your mind Aditya," he always said to me. I knew that it wasn't, and I needed answers, and something kept telling me that Thataka is the only way I would get them. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The older man appeared in front of me. There was a woman with him. She was crying. She held out her hand to the old man.  My eyes snapped open immediately. The woman. She was in pain. I needed to help her. Maybe then I would be able to find my own answers. I needed to find her.  I sprinted to the Saint's room to seek his permission. 

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I was incredibly surprised that all Saint Agasthya had asked was if he could come with me. It was almost as if he knew something I didn't. I was surprised by the desert around me. I had expected it to look as it did in my dreams. The beautiful flowers and trees, but things were the exact opposite here. Everything encompassing us was dried up and dying. It was unbelievable. I had assumed these were just stories. I thought I wouldn't have found anything. I pulled out the bag of seeds I had brought with me and began to plant them in various places around me. "Child, what are you doing?" asked the Saint. 

"Trying to right was has been wronged," I explained. I walked over to a dead log which looked as though it had been uprooted.  I walked over to it and placed my hand on it. Suddenly I froze. It all came back to me. It was me. That man was me. Those sons were mine, and Thataka... tears began to pour out from my eyes as I dropped to the ground. I sat there on my knees hugging what was left of the log when I felt Saint Agasthya's hand on my head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was wrong. So wrong." I wept as he smiled down at me. "I always knew it was you, Sunda. I simply wanted you to learn the error of your ways," he explained. "I can only pray that it isn't too late for Thataka." We both stopped as we heard the stomping of feet. "I wish you the best," he said as he turned to walk away. 

Quote about love, Source: cathy4worldequality.wordpress.com

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 Thataka grabbed me up in her enormous hands and proceeded to lift me to her face. I stared at her in disbelief. "My dear wife, what has become of you?" I said as I bored my eyes into hers. I felt every inch of her freeze. I reached up and put my hand on her cheek. "Please, Please don't continue on like this." Her expression grew softer as she whispered, "Sunda. Is that really you? You're alive?" I nodded at her with a smile as she placed me back on the ground. Her grin grew wider and wider until suddenly it disappeared. "It is too late now. You must leave." she said with a deep pain in her eyes. "It is never too late to apologize, Thataka. You can also learn to change as I have! Just apologize with a clean and pure heart." I replied hopefully. She closed her eyes and bowed her head as she bellowed, "Please forgive me my sins and allow me to start life anew. Please give me a chance to rectify my mistakes. I vow to never hurt anyone or anything again. Just please allow me to live my life with my Sunda." Tears streamed down her face as she opened her eyes. "You are forgiven, my dear," echoed the Saint's voice. I looked over to see my beautiful Thataka once again. She hadn't aged since I last saw her! The curse had frozen the true beauty inside her. The curse that punished her husband through death, and her through pain. The pain of not having any life around. The pain of destroying everything around her as a result of the destruction her husband had once caused.  I ran to her and held her in my embrace. We looked around to see that the Thataka's tears had given water to the seeds, and the saint had enchanted them to grow big and strong. This would a be a new beginning. We would make sure that this time everything we touched was filled with life. 

Author's Note: 
I decided that it would be incredibly interesting if we could see the story from Sunda's point-of-view. I also wanted to give Thataka a chance at redemption as well as a happy ending. I have always believed that love had the power to heal as well as destroy and I wanted my story to demonstrate that. I thought that if her punishment had made her so terrifying and ruthless, then love coming back into her life would allow for her to become loving and caring unlike ever before! I do realize that my story is far from the original and not many people will agree with how there is now a happy ending, however different doesn't always have to be a bad thing! I really enjoy having hope for a new beginning and that is why this story is so close to my heart. I found that Sunda was punished very quickly, and I feel that if he had been given another beginning he would have chosen differently. It amazes me how much we ignore people telling us what we are doing wrong. Constructive criticism can be a good thing if it is taken in good spirit. Sunda had the ability to gain a second chance, but we don't have that ability. I feel that this story is a good reminder that we need to make good decisions and truly listen and be aware of what we are doing. Listen and learn!

Bibliography:
All information has come from Narayan's Ramayana, (link to Reading Guide A) 

 

Reading Notes: Narayan's Ramayana, Section A

Hello World!! 

In the Introduction of the "Ramayana" the author tells us about the importance of the text itself. He lets us know that this is an epic of grand proportions. I was incredibly amazed to learn that people still learn and live their lives from the examples found with in the "Ramayana." I was even more impressed when he went on to mention that most other cultures do not have the same value for their mythological stories as the Hinduism culture does. After reading a good amount of the "Ramayana," I am now realizing why this story is of such great importance to these people. It has so many wonderful hidden lessons. Most importantly I found that it teaches you to always have faith and hope. Despite all of the difficulties faced by Ram and Lakshmana on their journey, they continue on and handle each crisis as it comes. They never once throw in the towel or even run away fearfully. This in itself is an enormous lesson. You should never run from life's lessons! They are there to prepare you for your future, just as all of the circumstances that Ram finds on this journey are to prepare him for his memorable fight with Ravana. 

Thataka's Story:
One of the stories that I really enjoyed was the one titled "Thataka's Story" (p11) I found it to be an incredible story about a woman's suffering or even a person's suffering in general! I cannot even imagine what it would feel like if your sons had left you for any reason. I feel it was even worse for her since she had no husband and no sons. She was all alone with no love. I thoroughly enjoyed how she exemplified how if you are devoid of love within yourself you can have difficulty accepting and even have anger towards the possibility of love itself. I thought that she chose to destroy everything and everyone for fear that she would love it as much as she did her sons only to be betrayed. It was a wonderful example of how pain inside of you can destroy everything else around you. 
It reminds me of the beautiful quote by MLK Jr. "Hate cannot drive out hate; Only love can do that. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; Only love can do that. I am curious however, what would have happened if her sons hadn't left her... would she give life and love to everything instead of tormenting and killing it? Would she be beautiful instead of being so terrifying? I am curious about the opposite as well as her point of view. What was going on inside her heart? Pain? Anger? Disappointment? What would happen if her sons came back to her? So many ideas, so little time! I think that Thataka as a character is incredible, and there are so many various sides to her that explaining her logic or giving her character a foil would be an incredibly interesting story! So, what will my story be about exactly? Well, for that you will have to wait until tomorrow!! After all, what's the fun in life without surprises!

 

Thataka's fight with Ram and Lakshamana, 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tataka

 

All information has come from Narayan's Ramayana, (link to Reading Guide A)