Depth Not Duration

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 November 2023 “The hunger for facile wisdom is the root of all false philosophy.” George Santayana's pithy observation is indeed very thought-stirring. Wisdom must be unfathomable to produce something equally profound. Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' wrote, "Athaah Samudra Se Hoti Hain Udbhaasit Gaambheerya Ki Urmiyaan/ Jaise Chhichhle Gyaan Se Upajti Hain Saadharan Panktiyaan" (The ripples of seriousness come out of an unfathomable sea/ Just like, superficial knowledge produces substandard writings). Profound produces permanent is the mantra to excellence in all walks of life. When we hanker after mediocrity, we produce something pedestrian. That's why it's said that it's better to create just one thing in life but that should be everlasting rather than create or churn out a lot many things having very little value. Ek Hi Aansoo Ho Magar Ho Jaan-E-Hayaat/ Uss Se Kya Haasil Agar Laakh Dariya Bah Chale (There must be just one drop of tears but that should be the essence of life/ What's the use if tears flow like an insignificant river). Once an interviewer asked the great thespian Dilip Kumar that despite being more than 50 years into acting, why did he act only in 60-odd movies. Dilip Kumar smiled and quoted Pandit Brij Narayan ' Chakbast,' "Ho Jise Justajoo Maahtaab Ki, Anjum Se Dil Us Ka Bahlta Nahin/ Haath Aa Jaate Hain Sitare Haath Badhane Se, Maahtaab Lekin Haath Aata Nahin" (One who's desirous of the moon, cannot be happy with mere stars/ One can reach out to the stars rather easily but the moon remains elusive). Dilip Kumar drove home the point that in life, it was not quantity but the quality that mattered. Depth is far more important than duration. Zindagi Gahari Ho, Lambi Na Sahi (Life should be deep even if it's not long). The great Persian poet Firdausi wrote just one book Shahnama that had 60 thousand sublime couplets, but his name is on top in the pantheon of Persian literature, nay, world literature. By the way, his 'Shahnama' is considered to be one of the ten greatest creations in world literature alongside Rumi's Masnavis, the Bard of Avon's ' Othello,' and Dante's 'Divine Comedy.' Likewise, only three movies immortalised Hollywood heart-throb James Dean who died painfully young at the age of 24. Remember the old Scottish proverb that depth begets further depths, each profounder than the rest. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/depth-duration/d/131223 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism