Just the other day I was talking about the negative effects of our news, the Mass media. And I said, "The important news will eventually find you, if that is really important, that you can avoid the negative crap until then." Surprisingly enough I just found that this is true. As the time of the writing above article, it was continuously pouring in this part of the country, as the Bengal Bay is having its own pre-hurricane depression, maybe a butterfly did flap its wings in the Land of creativity and Dreams. (Chaos theory) I took a drive outside and There was a Flood! And the news came to me just as an Experience and not from mass media. That is my first experience on a real flood, which affected me. And I drove carefully and luckily car did not stop middle of the road. But today, the water level had risen more, and the lagoon had reached the park where I used to sit and watch the jelly fish swim. Maybe after all they did want to meet me personally! And this part of the country is isolated from the rest of the country and I am stuck.
Crows for a snack
Like everyone else, I took opportunity to visit the "Flood". As I could see, some houses by the road were flooded too. For the people in these houses, it is a disaster. Everything is in chaos. Form their work, to their Everyday activates, and it will take some time even after the flood subsides, until they come back to normal. Whoever who has lost their loved ones, and their homes, this would be an irreversible change. But for the crows, it is time for opportunity. They were gathered by dozens on the grass fields. As the flood water created little insects to float from their hiding places. A little snack for the crows. And I can see many more, who benefit from the flood, just the other side of the equation. Like news channels, and maybe I am too as I am writing this article. That is the meaning of Rowing boats in the flood. Which is not bad at all as long as you do not fall in the water.
As humans, we have remarkable ability to adapt to the situation, resilience. Which is good, as we should really learn to see the silver lining in the dark sky. I cannot see any situation we cannot make to our advantage, except maybe for the death. As death, does cancel the meaning to any life. Hence philosophy is inherently dark cloud. Philosophy is the attempt of humankind from the dark cloud of death. I do not laugh at people who row the boats, in the flood. Looking for some laughter, to save their valuables or any other reason. At least we should be thankful that we have this kind of boat, when it is our time to face the flood of diseases, and death.
Rowing boats in the Flood.
Bucket of water, Bucket of milk
I have seen many times we did row our boats in the flood. Take an example of following famous speech of Frank Abagnale Sr. in the movie "Catch me if you can".
"Once there were two mice, fell into the bucket of milk. One did give up without a fight and drowned and died. The other mice refused to give up. He did swim and swim and swim until the milk turned into butter. And he walked away from the danger. I am the second mice."
When I think about the quote, a lot of questions arise. Taken in isolation it seems like a success story, of the second mice. But how long did the mice live until it was crossed the roads of the Cat?
What if the mice fell into a bucket of water instead?
Maybe the mice should have taken his time to think about these possibilities when it was relaxing after a meal of cheese, inside its comfort of home. Maybe if he did, the mice would have walked mindfully so that it would never fell into the bucket of water or crossed the path of the cat and live up to full potential of mice life. Then, even death could have been a happy ending, if the mice was mindful about that.
Landslides, tsunamis and hurricanes.
I can remember a landslide happened few years back in our district. A whole slope of few kilometers came down crashing a village hundreds of meters below. The total village was destroyed, and more than hundred people were buried under the rocks debris and mud. People from all around the other areas came to "visit" not only to help mostly to be amazed. Just like when it was on Boxing Day tsunami. And why did this happen? Why we are curious inherently about these events?
I can see it is due to the negative value we give to these situations. Associated with negativity bias, sometimes they are more remembered than the positive aspects. To understand you need to learn about mental objects and how we give values to these mental objects. Remember when you walked by a stinking fish market last time? Without even knowing, you may have taken a deep breath, just you could not resist, registering the experience in the brain. Which is not in our control. But only with mindfulness we can see that this is happening. Everything in our mind has a value. Just like a flood, a stinking fish market or even a pot. But only with mindfulness we can see the valuelessness of these, and that will help us to understand the nature better. If you do not know this you would fall into someone's agenda, even your "self". And I think that is the lesson we can learn by watching rowing boats in the Flood.
Rowing boats in the flood - Mill on the floss.
Following is an AI generated plot summary of novel "Mill on the Floss"
The Mill on the Floss is a novel by George Eliot that follows the lives of Maggie and Tom Tulliver, two siblings growing up in rural England. Maggie, the intelligent and spirited younger sister, constantly clashes with the expectations of her family and society. Tom, the dutiful and conventional older brother, struggles with his own sense of responsibility and ambition.
As they grow older, Maggie falls in love with Philip Wakem, the son of their family's enemy. Their love is forbidden, and Maggie faces the consequences of her defiance. Meanwhile, Tom becomes increasingly consumed by his desire to avenge their family's misfortune and rebuild their social status.
The novel culminates in a devastating flood that sweeps through the region. Maggie, driven by her love for her brother Tom, braves the treacherous waters to rescue him from their flooded family home, Dorlcote Mill. Together, they navigate the raging river in a small boat, their bond deepening amidst the chaos.
However, their escape is cut short as the boat capsizes, and both Maggie and Tom are tragically drowned. Their deaths, intertwined in the relentless force of nature, symbolize the power of fate and the fragility of human life. The flood serves as a powerful metaphor for the tumultuous forces that shape individual destinies, ultimately leading to their untimely demise.
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