The Twins Within Us ...

.... stubbornness & stupidity

Seated at a coffee shop waiting for my guests, couldn’t help overhearing a group of people next to my table.

One of them was talking of her parents who two days back had argued and until today are dragging it on because both are stubborn to forgive or apologies. Another in the group probably a math's teacher "arey yar some kids have all the bad luck thinking. They are so stupid repeating the same mistakes again and again. One among them suddenly announced that she resigned from her job after 6 years of service. She was mentioning her management’s poor handling of older employees; knowing their truth, seeing their truth, but still believing their lies. Everyone has the right to be stupid but they seemed to be abusing their privilege. So I decided to quit now looking for a new job and I have decided to add “extensive experience in dealing with stupid people to my resume”.

This skill in a resume surely seems marketable because presence of stubbornness & stupidity seems a popular trait and not many can manage their anger coping with others stupidity. It is said knowledge about personality traits can help teachers, educators, counsellors and parents' guide other individuals towards harmony and well-being. But who is listening or even wanting to make an effort to better himself. We need to realize the importance these trait because it is something about you that makes you “you”

Stubbornness makes us persevere. It helps us stand our ground when everyone else is trying to tell us that we are wrong. Used with discernment, stubbornness can be a strong leadership quality and a key determinant of success. So far so good being stubborn, but because human behaviour is reward seeking or pain avoiding the character of stubbornness changes. The stubbornness mostly experienced around within or with people is rigidly attached to their beliefs, ideas, and tastes refusing to change their opinion. They can’t stand anyone disagreeing with them because disagreeing with them means disagreeing with who they are. This hampers growth of a person and badly affects their relationships with people.

The twin traits within us argue I’m stubborn but not stupid. The fine line between the two; stupid people think they are right when they are wrong, stubborn people know they are wrong but won’t admit it. Your intelligence has its limits while stupidity has none.

My concerns are about our stubbornness with the Creator. Quotes from Gurbani; pursuing corrective actions for gains in this life and beyond.

“O my mind, focus your consciousness on the Guru's Feet.

As Gurmukh, you shall be awarded the treasure of the Naam. In the Court of the Lord, you shall be saved.

Through 8.4 million incarnations, people wander lost; in stubborn-mindedness, they come and go.” SGGS162

“One who dies fighting against his own stubborn mind finds God, and the desires of the mind are quieted.” SGGS353

“Stubborn-mindedness will not win the Lord to one's side, no matter how much it is tried.

The Lord is won over to your side, by offering Him your true love, O servant Nanak, and contemplating the Word of the Shabad.” SGGS787

For those who are able to win their lord, are in a state to experience the following:

“My stubbornness is gone, Ambrosial Nectar rains down, and the Word of the Guru's Shabad seems so sweet to me.

He is pervading everywhere, in the water, on the land and in the sky; Nanak beholds the all- pervading Lord". SGGS671