Chetan Bhagat Speech @ Symbiosis Pune

Good Morning everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates - there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.


Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.

I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?

Imagine the spark to be a lamp's flame. The first aspect is nurturing - to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.

To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn't any external measure - a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.

Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement. But it isn't the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr. Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won't be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday? They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive. Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.

Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature's design. Are you? Goals will help you do that. I must add, don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

You must have read some quotes - Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school, where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One last thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don't be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.

I've told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.

Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don't go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you. But it's life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that's where you want to be.

Disappointment' s cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don't know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release. Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts, having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.

Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you. In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty damm lucky by Indian standards. Let's be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don't. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don't get literary praise. It's ok. I don't look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It's ok. Don't let unfairness kill your spark.

Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.

There you go. I've told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, your eyes will shine the same way as they do today. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.

Thank You.
Chetan Bhagat

My Favourite Lyrics

ruth na jana tum se kahu to
mein in ankho me jo rahu to. (2)

tum ye jano ya na jano tum ye mano ya na mano
mere jaisa diwana tum paoge nahi.

yad karogo me jo na hu to..
ruth na jana..

meri ye diwangi kabhi na hogi kam.
jitne bhi chahe tum kar lo sitam... (2)
mujse bolo ya na bolo. mujko dekho ya na dekho..

ye bhi mana mujse milne aaoge nahi.

sare sitam haske jo sahu to..
ruth na jana...

prem k dariya me lahre hajar.
lahero me jo bhi duba hua vo hi par..(2)

unchi nichi nichi unchi (2) pairo me tum dekho kese aaoge nahi.

me in lahero me jo bahu to.

ruth ..
tum ye jano..

ruth..

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tune o rangeele keisa jadu kiya... (2)
piya piya bole matvala jiya

tune o rangeele keisa jadu kiya...
piya piya bole matvala jiya

banho me chupake ye kya kiya ... ore piya... hooo

tune o rangeele keisa jadu kiya...
piya piya bole matvala jiya

pas bulake, gale se laga ke tune to badal dali duniya.
naye hai nazare, naye hai ishare, rahi na vo kal vali duniya..(2)

sapne dikha ke ye kya kiya..ore piya..hooo

tune o rangeele keisa jadu kiya...
piya piya bole matvala jiya

o mere sajan kaisi ye dhadkan shor machane lagi man me.
jaise laheraye nadiya ka pani laher uthe re mere tan me..(2)

mujame samake ye kya kiya .. ore piya..hooo

tune o rangeele keisa jadu kiya...
piya piya bole matvala jiya

banho me chupake ye kya kiya ... ore piya.

tune o...

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Ga Ga Re, Ga Ga Re, Ga Re Ga Ma Ga Re
Re Re Sa, Re Re Sa, Ni Sa Ni
Ghunji Si Hai Sari Fiza Jaise Bajti Ho Shehnaiyaan
Leherati Hai Mehki Hawa Gungunati Hain Tanhaiyaan
Sab Gaate Hain Sab Hi Madhosh Hain
Hum Tum Kyun Khamosh Hain
Saaz - E- Dil Chedo Na
Chup Ho Kyun Gaavon Na
Aao Na.. Ao Na... Aao Na... Aao Na...

Tan Man Mein Kyun Aise Behti Huyi
Thandi Si Ik Aag Hai
Saason Mein Hai Kaisi Yeh Ragini
Dhadkan Mein Kya Raag Hai

Yeh Hua Kya Humein Hum Ko Samjhaoo Na...(2)
Sab Gaate Hain ...Khamosh Hain
Dil Mein Jo Baatein Hai
Hdton Pe Laoo Na
Aao Na... Aao Na...

Ab Koi Duri Na Uljan Koi
Bas Ek Ikrar Hai
Ab Na Kahin Hum Na Tum Hd Kahin
Bas Pyaar Hi Pyaar Hai

Sun Sako Dhadkane Itne Paas Aao Na...(2)

Sab Gaatein ...Khamosh Hain
Ab Mere Sapno Pe Tum Hi Tum Chahoo Na
Aao Na... Aao Na... Aao Na....

Ghunji Si Hai ...Gungunati Hain Tanhaiyaan ...
Aao Na Aao Na....

હે પરમ પ્રભુ

અમારા વિચારોને એટલા ઉદાર કરો કે

બીજાં માણસનું દ્રષ્ટિબિંદુ અમે સમજી શકીએ.

અમારી લાગણીઓને એટલી મુક્ત કરો કે

બીજાંઓ પ્રત્યે અમે તેને વહાવી શકીએ.

અમારા મનને એટલું સંવેદનશીલ કરો કે

બીજાંઓ ક્યાં ઘવાય છે તે અમે જોઈ શકીએ.

અમારા હ્રદયને એટલું ખુલ્લું કરો કે

બીજાંઓનો પ્રેમ અમે ઝીલી શકીએ.

અમારા ચિત્તને એટલું વિશાળ કરો કે

પોતાના ને પારકાના ભેદથી ઓપર ઊઠી શકીએ.

હે પરમાત્મા,

અમારી દ્રષ્ટિને એટલી ઉજ્જવળ કરો કે

જગતમાં રહેલાં તમારાં સૌંદર્યો ને સત્યો અમે નીરખી શકીએ.

અમારી ચેતનાને એટલી સૂક્ષ્મ કરો કે

તમારા તરફથી અનેકવિધ રૂપમાં આવતા સંકેતો

પારખી શકીએ અને તમારું માર્ગદર્શન પામી શકીએ.

Sudha Murthy

Appro JRD-Sudha Murthy

Today for some event at workplace, we had Mrs Sudha Murty, as guest speaker, i have heard quite good number of speeches, but today was some how really special, perhaps it was the sheer simplicity, that made me really wonder what makes such individuals. In her brief speech she talked of working for Tata, after her graduation. After some googling (searching) i found this link. Its about her experience at TATA, please find time to read.

http://www.tata.com/0_about_us/history/pioneers/appro_jrd.htm

Sudha Murty* was livid when a job advertisement posted by a Tata company at the institution where she was completing her post graduation stated that 'lady candidates need not apply'. She dashed off a 'postcard' to JRD, protesting against the discrimination. It was the beginning of an association that would change her life in more ways that one

There are two photographs that hang on my office wall. Every day when I enter my office I look at them before starting my day. They are pictures of two old people. One is of a gentleman in a blue suit and the other is a black-and-white image of a man with dreamy eyes and a white beard.

People have asked me if the people in the photographs are related to me. Some have even asked me, "Is this black-and-white photo that of a Sufi saint or a religious guru?" I smile and reply "No, nor are they related to me. These people made an impact on my life. I am grateful to them." "Who are they?" "The man in the blue suit is Bharat Ratna JRD Tata and the black-and-white photo is of Jamsetji Tata." "But why do you have them in your office?" "You can call it gratitude."

Then, invariably, I have to tell the person the following story.

It was a long time ago. I was young and bright, bold and idealistic. I was in the final year of my master's course in computer science at the Indian Institute of Science [IISc] in Bangalore, then known as the Tata Institute. Life was full of fun and joy. I did not know what helplessness or injustice meant.

It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and red gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of science. I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from universities in US. I had not thought of taking up a job in India.

One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco [now Tata Motors]. It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc.

At the bottom was a small line: "Lady candidates need not apply." I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.

Though I was not keen on taking up a job, I saw this as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful.

After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco. I thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then).

I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote. "The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives. They have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender."

I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense.

I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mates told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost — and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap! I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari. When I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.

It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city. To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways.

As directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview. There were six people on the panel and I realised then that this was serious business. "This is the girl who wrote to JRD," I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the job. That realisation abolished all fears from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.

Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, "I hope this is only a technical interview." They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude.

The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them. Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, "Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work in research laboratories."

I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place. I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties, so I answered, "But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories."

Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune. That city changed my life in many ways. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married.

It was only after joining Telco that I realised who JRD was: the uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show some reports to Mr Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House [the Tata headquarters] when, suddenly, JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw 'appro JRD'. Appro means 'our' in Gujarati. That was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.

I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, "Jeh (that's what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate. She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor." JRD looked at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it). Thankfully, he didn't. Instead he remarked. "It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?" "When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir," I replied. "Now I am Sudha Murty." He smiled that kindly smile and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.

After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.

One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realise JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me.

"Young lady, why are you here?" he asked. "Office time is over." I said, "Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up." JRD said, "It is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor. I'll wait with you till your husband comes." I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.

I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, "Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee."

Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, "Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again."

In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him so I stopped. He saw me and paused.

Gently, he said, "So what are you doing, Mrs Kulkarni? (That was the way he always addressed me.) "Sir, I am leaving Telco." "Where are you going?" he asked. "Pune, sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune." "Oh! And what you will do when you are successful?" "Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful." "Never start with diffidence," he advised me. "Always start with confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. I wish you all the best."

Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.

Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay office, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, "It was nice listening about Jeh from you. The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today."

I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters every day. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed her life and mindset forever.

Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

My love and respect for the House of Tatas remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model - for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and munificence.

*Sudha Murty is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is involved in a number of social development initiatives and is also a widely published writer.

Prem.....

બે વ્યકિત વરચેની દીવાલ ખસી જાય અને બેયના પ્રાણ સંયુકત થઈ જાય એનું નામ પ્રેમ. જયારે આવો અનુભવ એક વ્યકિતનો સમૂહ સાથે થાય ત્યારે એ અનુભવને હું પરમાત્મા કહું છું. વ્યકિત વ્યકિત વરચે થાય એ પ્રેમ. મારી અને અન્ય કોઈ વ્યકિત વરચે આ અનુભવ થાય, અમારી વરચેની દીવાલ ખસી જાય, અને આંતરિક સ્તરે એક થઈ જઈએ, એક સંગીત, એક ધારા, એક પ્રાણ તો આ અનુભવ છે પ્રેમ. એ જ રીતે મારી અને સમસ્તની વરચે જૉ એવો અનુભવ થાય,‘હું’ વિલીન થઈ જાય, અને ‘સમસ્ત’ અને ‘હું’ એક થઈ જઈએ તો એ અનુભવ છે પરમાત્માનો.

જયાં સુધી ‘હું’ છું ત્યાં સુધી ‘બીજા’નું અસ્તિત્વ વિલીન થઈ જાય એ કેવી રીતે બને? ‘અન્ય’ નો જન્મ થયો છે મારા ‘હું’ પણાથી. જેટલી તીવ્રતાથી પુકારું ‘હું’ એટલી તીવ્રતાથી ‘અન્ય’ પેદા થાય છે. ‘અન્ય’ ‘હું’ નો પ્રતિઘ્વનિ જ છે. અહંકાર દીવાલ બનીને ભો રહે છે દ્વારાની આગળ. અને ‘હું’ છે શું? વિચાર કર્યોછે કયારેય? તમારો હાથ, તમારો પગ, તમારું મસ્તિષ્ક, તમારું હૃદય-હું છે શું? જૉ એક ક્ષણ શાંત થઈને અંદર શોધો કે શો છે ‘હું’? તો તમે ચકિત થઈ જશો, ‘હું’ તમને મળશે નહીં. જેટલું ડે શોધશો એમ એમ તમને થશે કે અંદર એક સ્તબ્ધતા છે, ત્યાં કોઈ ‘હું’ નથી, કોઈ અહમ્ નથી કે કોઈ અહંકાર નથી.

એક ભિક્ષુ નાગસેનને સમ્રાટ મિલિન્દે પોતાના દરબારમાં આવવાનું આમંત્રણ આપ્યું. તો જે રાજદૂત નાગસેનને નિમંત્રણ આપવા ગયો હતો તેને નાગસેને કહ્યું કે જરૂર આવીશ. પણ એક વાત કહી દઉં કે અહીં કોઈ ભિક્ષુ નાગસેન છે નહીં. નાગસેન એ એક નામ માત્ર છે, કામચલાઉ. રાજદૂતે જઈને સમ્રાટને વાત કરી, ‘અજબ છે આ માણસ. કહે છે આવીશ જરૂર પણ નાગસેન જેવું કોઈ છે નહીં એ એક કામચલાઉ નામ છે.’ સમ્રાટે કહ્યું, ‘અજબ છે! પણ જયારે એણે કહ્યું છે, કે આવીશ, ત્યારે એ આવશે જરૂર.’ અને તે આવ્યો પણ ખરો- રથ પર બેસીને. સમ્રાટે દ્વાર પાસે સ્વાગત કરતાં કહ્યું કે ‘ભિક્ષુ નાગસેન, અમે આપનું સ્વાગત કરીએ છીએ.’ તે હસવા લાગ્યો. તેણે કહ્યું, ‘સ્વાગતનો સ્વીકાર કરું છું, પણ યાદ રાખો, ભિક્ષુ નાગસેન જેવું કંઈ છે જ નહીં.’ સમ્રાટે કહે, ‘આપ તો કોયડા જેવી વાત કરો છો. જૉ આપ છો નહીં,તો કોણ છે, કોણ આવ્યું છે અહીં, કોણ સ્વીકારે છે સ્વાગત, કોણ જવાબ આપે છે?’ નાગસેન પાછળ ફર્યો, રથ બતાવીને કહ્યું,‘ સમ્રાટ મિલિન્દ, હું આ રથમાં બેસીને આવ્યો, ખરું?’ સમ્રાટે હા કહી.‘આ એ જ રથ છે.’ તો ભિક્ષુ નાગસેને રથથી ઘોડાને જુદા કરીને પૂછયું, ‘આ ઘોડા રથ છે?’ સમ્રાટ કહે, ‘ઘોડા રથ કેવી રીતે હોઈ શકે?’ પછી તેણે ઘોડાને બાંધવાના દાંડા અલગ કર્યા, અને પૂછયું, ‘આ રથ છે?’ ‘આ દાંડા રથ કેવી રીતે હોઈ શકે?’

પછી ચાક જુદો કરીને પૂછયું, ‘આ રથ છે?’ સમ્રાટે કહ્યું, ‘એ તો ચાક છે, એ રથ કેવી રીતે હોઈ શકે?’ ‘એમ એક એક ભાગ જુદા કરીને તે પૂછતો ગયો અને સમ્રાટ કહેતા ગયા કે ‘ના. આ રથ નથી.’ છેવટે રહ્યું શૂન્ય. રથ કયાં? ભિક્ષુ નાગસેને પૂછયું, ‘હવે રથ કયાં?’ અને જેટલી ચીજૉ મેં કાઢી તેમાંથી કોઈ રથ નથી એમ તમે જ કહ્યું, તો રથ કયાં?’

સમ્રાટ આશ્ચર્યચકિત થઈ ગયો. રથ રહ્યો નહીં, અને જે ભાગો જુદા કર્યા તે પણ રથ નહોતો. ભિક્ષુ કહેવા લાગ્યો, ‘સમજયા આપ? રથ એક જૉડ હતી. રથ એ અમુક ચીજૉની સંયુકત રચના હતી. રથનું પોતાનું કોઈ અસ્તિત્વ નથી. તેનો કોઈ અહંકાર નથી, રથ એક જૉડ છે.’ તમે તમારા ‘હું’ ને શોધશો તો જણાશે કે તે અનંત શકિતઓનો એક સમૂહ માત્ર છે. ‘હું’ કયાંય નથી. એક એક અંગને વિભિન્ન કરીને વિચારતાં અંગો સમાપ્ત થઈ જાય છે અને શૂન્ય કેવળ રહી જાય છે. એ જ શૂન્યમાંથી પ્રેમનો જન્મ થાય છે. કારણ કે તે શૂન્ય ‘તમે’ નથી, એ શૂન્ય તો પરમાત્મા છે. ‘સંભોગથી સમાધિ તરફ’ પુસ્તકમાંથી