What is Truly ours?

Someone else gave us birth.

Our name was given by others.

We were raised and nurtured by others.

Our education was provided by someone else.

Work or employment also came from others.

Our knowledge came from others.

The recognition, titles, and honors were all given by others.

Respect and fame were granted by others.

Our first and final bath—both are performed by others.

And in the end, others will carry us to the cremation ground.

After death, our property will be divided by others.

Then what exactly are we so proud of?

“I do everything, I did all…

It’s all mine... Everything happens because of me.” 

Why are we always stuck in this endless loop of I, me, and mine?

                “Ka tay kaanta kaste putrah – Sansaaroyamateeva Vichitrah

                  Kasya Tvam va kut aayaatah – Tattvam chintaya tad iha bhraatah”

                                 (Adi Shankaracharya - Bhaja Govindam, Verse 8)

Meaning:

This world indeed is strange — Whose wife? Whose son? 

Who is the wife? Who is the son? 

O brother! Before all this, pause and think:

 'Who are you — and where have you come from?'

But rarely do we ask these questions.

Caught in the false pride of “I” and “mine,” We forget to look within.

We fail to see ourselves clearly and miss the chance to know our True Self - 

To know who we truly are.

                                      " Rajan Sachdeva "