Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
16th August 2017
Walking
“Walk”
Every human being takes walking for granted, because he believes that he can walk. Every human being further believes that his parents have taught him how to walk.
There are, however, deeper aspects of walking that need to be deeply understood. The first point to understand deeply is that it is obvious that no one could possibly have taught the first parents on earth to walk, nor the first child on earth how to walk.
The first child on earth nevertheless walked. It walked without being taught by its parents to walk, because it is impossible to find the first parents for the first child on earth.
Parents do believe that they teach their children how to walk, but could this be true needs to be questioned deeply. Deep understanding of life reveals quite the contrary.
Firstly, parents do not teach the new born child how to move its limbs. The new born child nevertheless moves its limbs. The moment the child moves its limbs cannot be taught by the parents or known by the parents.
Secondly, parents do not teach the new born child how to turn over on its stomach. The new born child nevertheless begins to turn over on its stomach. The moment the child begins to turn over cannot be taught by the parents or known by the parents.
Thirdly, parents do not teach the new born child how to crawl. The new born child nevertheless begins to crawl. The moment the child begins to crawl cannot be taught by the parents or known by the parents.
Fourthly, parents do not teach the new born child how to stand up. The new born child nevertheless begins to stand up by holding on to objects. The moment the child begins to stand up cannot be taught by the parents or known by the parents.
Fifthly, parents do not teach the new born child how to walk. The new born child nevertheless begins to walk by holding on to objects or the parent’s finger. The moment the child begins to walk cannot be taught by the parents or known by the parents.
Lastly, to be able to walk, gravity needs to be overcome. The mind cannot overcome gravity or teach how to overcome gravity.
Life evolves animals to walk and its parents do not teach their children to walk. Life evolves animals to overcome gravity that enables walking and various forms of moving.
Similarly, life evolves children to overcome gravity and also every movement of the child. The movement of the child evolves as moving limbs, turning over, crawling, standing, various forms of walking and various forms of moving by humans.
The intelligence of life is taken for granted by humans because they believe that they walk, while walking happens to them and they do not make walking happen.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2017
Editor’s Note:
The disposition of life, as revealed in this article, to commit its intelligence to providing for man in every detail of his or her existence is quite breath-taking.
Quiet reflection on this commitment shows the generosity of life and opens the way for the growth of trust in life. Every man’s assumed, even declared, dependence on his own resources holds no ground as the light of understanding grows stronger in him.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
Walking is really the most taken for granted aspect of daily life, until it does not happen to man any more due to illness or old age. That it is taken for granted and at the same time man takes credit for it that he has learned it by teaching of the parents, should be a surprise when deeply reflected upon. However, the mind is contradictory in every aspect of life. These contradictions become obvious by reading the articles of the wise, and this opens the way for a deeper understanding of walking and every other aspect of daily life.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.