Perfection Is A Chimera

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 16 June 2023 A Zen master was making a painting while his chief disciple sat by his side to tell him when the painting was perfect. The disciple was worried and the master was also worried, because the disciple had never seen the master do anything that was imperfect. But that day, things started going wrong. The master tried, and the more he tried, the more it was a mess. In Japan or in China, the whole art of calligraphy is done on rice-paper, on a certain very sensitive fragile paper. For centuries it can be known where the calligrapher hesitated because more ink spreads into the rice-paper and makes it a mess. It's very difficult to deceive on rice-paper. You've to keep on flowing, you're not to hesitate. Even for a single moment, if you hesitate-what to do?-missed, already missed. and one who has a keen eye will immediately say," It's not a Zen painting at all," because a Zen painting has to be a spontaneous painting, flowing. The master tried and tried and the more he tried- he started perspiring. And the disciple was sitting there and shaking his head again and again negatively: " No, this is not perfect." And more and more mistakes were being made by the master. Then the ink was running out so the master said, " You go and prepare more ink." While the disciple was outside preparing the ink, the master did his masterpiece. When he came in, he said, " Master, this is perfect! What happened?" The master laughed; he said, " I became aware of one thing: your presence. The very idea that somebody is there to appreciate or to condemn, to say yes or no, disturbed my inner tranquility. Now I'll never be disturbed. I've come to realize that I was trying to make it perfect and that was the only reason for its not being perfect." Excerpted from A Sudden Clash of Thunder Utter let-go opens the door to perfection. Then your inner peace cannot be disturbed from the outside. Remember, perfection is a chimera. It's a Holy Grail. The more we pursue perfection, the more it eludes. It doesn't depend upon people's acceptance or rejection. Urdu poet 'Nashtar' Nishapuri puts it cogently, "Mohtaaj Nahin Main Kisi Ki Taareef-O-Tanqeed Ka / Naqqaad Hoon Main Apne Fun Ka Sab Se Bada" (I'm not dependent on appreciation and criticism of others/ I'm my own biggest critic). So long as we're dependent upon people's opinions, we can't find our own moorings. People make us conscious of our qualities, attributes and flaws and we lose our individuality. The moment we rise above the petty desire for praise and a lurking fear of failure and criticism, we're in our elements. Having been dejected by the constant criticism of his detractors that his poetry was unintelligible, a 30-yr-old Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib' wrote in a state of utter frustration, "Na Sataish Ki Tamanna, Na Sile Ki Parvaah / Na Sahi Mere Asha'ar Mein Ma'ani Na Sahi" (I'm neither desirous of praise, nor do I care for your response/ Let my couplets be destitute of meanings and coherence). It's said that after this, what he produced became immortal because he stopped caring for anyone's response; whether good or bad. He realized the futility of admiration and criticism; both being two sides to the same coin. Once that stage and state come and the clouds of self-doubts dispel, the blazing sun of individuality shines through. We're all too much bothered about the world and people: "Jab Chal Pade Safar Ko Toh Kya Mud Ke Dekhna / Duniya Ka Kya Hai Us Ne Sada Baar-Baar Dee " (Once you embark upon a journey, no need to look back / Let the world beckon you back, you march ahead). ---- 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/perfection-chimera/d/130004 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