Taal Bhang Na Paaye

Have you ever observed that when you are working on something and get into a flow you can get a lot accomplished in lesser time. When that flow is broken due to lack of focus or otherwise, thus hampering the progress, it takes some time before we get back on rolling again.

I have faced this at work on numerous  occasions, when I can get a lot done during early morning or late evening hours rather than the middle of the day when distractions are more. Similarly when I am in a mood of writing a blog, I can be more creative than when I write in bits and pieces. I thrive to keep the flow unless until something more pressing comes my way - against my will or otherwise.

It is akin to driving a vehicle. You can cover a longer distance when you are cruising along without facing any roadblocks. But when encountered by stumbling blocks like speed breakers, we hit the breaks, hardly travel the distance we intend. Multitasking is similar to changing gears, acting as a stumbling block, reducing productivity and efficiency. Once the flow is broken, it takes time to get back to speed.

This is best exemplified by Newton's Law of motion - A body continues in its current state of rest or motion unless, otherwise disturbed by an external element. Same is applicable to the world of sports. It is not unusual for a batsman who on a scoring spree loses his concentration and gets out soon after a break. A bowler who is on a wicket taking spree may not replicate the same when he is taken out of the bowling attack and brought back later. A Pele or Maradona when on a dribbling mode can be unstoppable and of dangerous proposition to any opponent, who often fell victim to professional fouls to break their flow. 

It reminds me of the story of a man who renounced his material world and travelled to The Himalayas to meditate and get salvation. Years passed by and he was barely close to his goal. So he decided to go abort his mission and get back to his family and familiar life as head of the household.

On his way back home tired walking all day he stopped by the palace of a local Vassal late one night to take rest. A night long drunken revelry was going the same night at the Vassal's house. The King was throwning a party. A duo of danseur (He Dancer) and Danseuse (She dancer) were instructed to perform non stop all night to entertain the guests.

Late into the night at the wee hours most of the bacchanalian guests were sleepy. A few awake ones hardly cared about the continuing performance of the dancing duo. Noticing the laxity in the onlookers, the visibly tired lady dancer asked her male counterpart if they can take a break, as the audience was hardly awake and were in a position to judge them. It wasn't very far from dawn, but the male dancer he replied back -

BAHUT GAYI, THODI RAHI

THODI BHI AB JAYE,

NAT KAHE O NATI

TAAL BHANG NA PAAYE.

Roughly transliterated..

Mostly gone, little left

And a little more to go.

The danseur tells the danseuse,

Don't break the flow.

The mendicant got his message. Instead of going back home, he returned back to the Himalayas to continue his endeavor towards attaining salvation. He realized that the flow needs to be maintained in order to attain Salvation. Consistency is the key and patience is rewarded. Slow and steady wins the race - TAAL BHANG NA PAAYE.