It was April 2009. I was returning from Delhi by flight with a monk of the RamaKrishna Mission sitting next to me and a journalist from the US sitting on the third seat . The journalist started
interviewing the monk as planned earlier.
Journalist - Sir , in your last lecture, you told us about Jogajog ( contact ) & Sanjog (connection ). It's really confusing. Can you explain ?
The Monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist:Are you from New York?
Journalist - Yeh...
Monk - Who are there at home ?
The Journalist felt that the Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the journalist said: "Mother has expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married..."
The Monk, with a smile on his face, asked again: - "Do you talk to your father?"
The journalist looked visibly annoyed...
The Monk - "When did you talk to him last?"
The journalist, supressing his annoyance said: "May be a month ago."
The Monk: "Do you brothers and sisters meet often ? When did you meet last as a family gathering?"
At this point, I saw sweat on the forehead ok the journalist. I wondered who was conducting the interview, the Monk or the Journalist. It seemed that the Monk was interviewing the Journalist.
With a sigh , the Journalist said: "We met last at Christmas two years ago."
The Monk: " How many days did you all stay together ?"
The Journalist ( wiping the sweat on his brow) said : "Three days..."
Monk: "How much time did you spend with your Father, sitting right beside him ?"
I saw the journalist looking perplexed and embarassed and scribbling something on a paper...
The Monk: "Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together ? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death ?"
I saw drops of tears coming out from the eyes of the journalist.
The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: "Don't be embrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly...
But this is basically the answer to your question about "contact and connection ( jogajog and Sanjog)". You have 'contact' with your father but you don't have 'connection' with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart... sitting together , sharing meals and caring for each other ; touching , shaking hands, having eye contact, spending some time together...You brothers and sisters have 'contact' but you have no 'connection' with each other...."
The journalist wiped his eyes and said : "Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson"
This is the reality today.
Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of contacts but there is no connection. No communication... . Everybody is in his or her own world.
Let us not maintain just "contacts" but let us remain "connected" ; caring , sharing and spending time with all our dear ones.
- Unknown
interviewing the monk as planned earlier.
Journalist - Sir , in your last lecture, you told us about Jogajog ( contact ) & Sanjog (connection ). It's really confusing. Can you explain ?
The Monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist:Are you from New York?
Journalist - Yeh...
Monk - Who are there at home ?
The Journalist felt that the Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the journalist said: "Mother has expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married..."
The Monk, with a smile on his face, asked again: - "Do you talk to your father?"
The journalist looked visibly annoyed...
The Monk - "When did you talk to him last?"
The journalist, supressing his annoyance said: "May be a month ago."
The Monk: "Do you brothers and sisters meet often ? When did you meet last as a family gathering?"
At this point, I saw sweat on the forehead ok the journalist. I wondered who was conducting the interview, the Monk or the Journalist. It seemed that the Monk was interviewing the Journalist.
With a sigh , the Journalist said: "We met last at Christmas two years ago."
The Monk: " How many days did you all stay together ?"
The Journalist ( wiping the sweat on his brow) said : "Three days..."
Monk: "How much time did you spend with your Father, sitting right beside him ?"
I saw the journalist looking perplexed and embarassed and scribbling something on a paper...
The Monk: "Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together ? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death ?"
I saw drops of tears coming out from the eyes of the journalist.
The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: "Don't be embrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly...
But this is basically the answer to your question about "contact and connection ( jogajog and Sanjog)". You have 'contact' with your father but you don't have 'connection' with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart... sitting together , sharing meals and caring for each other ; touching , shaking hands, having eye contact, spending some time together...You brothers and sisters have 'contact' but you have no 'connection' with each other...."
The journalist wiped his eyes and said : "Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson"
This is the reality today.
Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of contacts but there is no connection. No communication... . Everybody is in his or her own world.
Let us not maintain just "contacts" but let us remain "connected" ; caring , sharing and spending time with all our dear ones.
- Unknown
