Thread by @Sunil_Sawhney

Just received this beautiful write up in another group. I was touched reading it and Felt it was #TooGoodNotToShare

Dr Laha -
#TheContactAndTheConnection

Year 1990. I was returning from Delhi by flight with a monk of Ram Krishna Mission.

One journalist from Chile was there with us . He was to take an interview of the monk.

Journalist - dear Sir , in your last lecture u told us about Jogajog ( contact ) & Sanjog (connection ). It's really confusing. Can u please explain the difference to me ?

Monk smiled a little, but deviating from question, he asked - are u from Chile ?
Journalist(J) - Yes
Monk (M) - who are there at home ?

Journalist thought Monk is trying to avoid his question... this is a very personal and unwarranted question.

Still J replied- Mother expired. Father is there. 3 brothers, one sister. All married

M was cool and still had a smile on his face and further asked -

Do u talk to your father ???
Now J was visibly annoyed...

M - when did u talk to him last ???

J - supressing his annoyance, said - may be a month back

M - Do u brothers and sisters meet often ? When did u last meet as a family together ?

At this point, I saw the journalist's sweat on his fore head.
Who is taking whose interview?

Seemed , the M is interviewing the J

With a sigh, the journalist said - We met last in Christmas, 2 yrs back..

M - how many days u stayed together?

J - (wiping the sweat) 3 days

M -how much time u spent with father sitting beside him?

I saw the journalist perplexed & embarrassed..scribbling something on a paper

M - did u have breakfast or lunch or dinner together? Did u ask - how is he ? Did u ask how his days are passing, after your mother's death?

I saw the journalist's eyes heavy...looking out side, at the sky...

M, still cool and with a smile on his face, placed his hand on J's hand and said:

M - don't be embrassed or upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt u unknowingly...

But,, this is basically your answer to contact and connection (Jogajog and Sanjog).

M - U have contact with father but u don't have connection with him. U are not connected to him. Connection is by heart to heart - sitting together, sharing, caring, hugging each other, touch, shake hands, eye contact, sharing food from same plate, spending little time together.

M - U all brothers and sisters have contact but there is no connection with anybody..

This is the realty in present world.

In home, society & everywhere, everybody has lots and lots of contacts but there are no connections, No communication...
Everybody is in a virtual world..

The #journalist wiped his eyes & said - thanks for teaching me a lesson

I came back to my senses

In our childhood, when we travelled in trains, bus or flight, everyone used to smile at everyone Then, talking to each other, sharing with each other, even in a short journey.

Some used to be friends. Some used to be an uncle and aunty, for life long....

And now, when I travel by train or by flight, I just enter into a cemetery. No one disturbs no one.

All are busy with a phone or a palmtop, or a laptop, or a gaming console, with some " tik tik tik tik tik sound; like it is in a cemetery with sounds of falling dry leaves...

Everyone, in this compartment are in contact with the whole world, but no one knows the co-passengers.

Its a cemetery of some 50 - 100 "living dead " persons in a short journey..

Let's not be well contacted - let's be well connected, well communicated, with caring, sharing, touch, hug, spending time together ....

#WellContactedAndNotWellConnected