I was driving down with a gentleman for a meeting. We were waiting for the red light to turn green but suddenly a speeding car who could not apply the breaks on time hit the bumper. He got down and checked his car and the traffic police also came in expecting a brawl. That gentleman also got down in 100% defensive mode and said that there is so much road ahead, why you did not park your car little ahead. You are interfering in second car’s area. I was kind of shocked to hear this kind of defense. To my surprise, despite of having car damage, this gentleman smiled and said, next time I will be careful. No brawl happened and the traffic guy also left amused. I asked him that how do you maintain such peace. Do you think it was actually our fault?
He smiled and said, young lady, have you heard of the story of garbage truck and I said no. He said that everyone is carrying a garbage truck in their head. They all have stress due to one or other reason in life. We all keep adding to each other’s garbage. We keep passing on this garbage. Now, if I get into an argument with him, he would pass on his garbage to me. But I am not open to that and I just let him pass peacefully. Even if I would have argued, it would not have fixed my car. So what’s the point. I was impressed and asked him that how do you maintain such kind of peace?
He smiled and said that everyday I spend time with myself. I try to analyze that where I could have handled it better and next time it helps me. I can’t handle other’s darkness which we often try. We can only enlighten own heart which I keep doing. Now, where ever I go, this light helps living an aware and happier life.
