|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ping (A Frog in Search of
a New Pond)
The central theme reels round Chinese fable based on dynamic philosophy of Taoism. It advises overcoming obstacles and making a leap of faith that hears echoing voice of heart. Ping lives life of continuous striving for achieving new pond of ever flowing stream. He is in search of eternal bliss and freedom. It lies in the primordial source (Chinese myth of Moon). In other words, it is a search for self-discovery. It is filled with inspiration for triumph over ordeals with boldness. It makes changes in the belief and imbibes trusting voice of the head that strikes chord in the heart and attunes to the vibrations of the cosmos. Inward journey takes ping to the heart, which rebounds with prompting right path to truth (new pond). One is to make one’s own efforts and mentor is only to guide. With strong willpower, the aspirant develops ‘intentional life’ of choice and courage. It is perennial universal problem of life. Man is born in the cocoon of egocentric self (‘pond’). He is to come out of it and identify himself with the cosmic Self (‘Pond’). Ping has an inner urge to realise his real self. For this purpose, he needs a mentor to guide him. Owl symbol of wisdom is introduced for mentoring him. The owl encourages Ping to undertake an inner journey that will take him to self-discovery. This is the central linchpin of the book. Apart from the Prologue and Epilogues, the book is split up into seven segments: (i) Leap of Faith, (ii) Wise Eyes, (iii) Beginner’s Mind, (iv) The Test, (v) Visionary Quest, (vi) Current Event, and (vii) The Flow. Prologue introduces adventures of Ping’s inner journey and transformations. The story starts with an inner journey of the soul. Ping represents rich heritage of dynamic life of gifted jumper who covers long distances. It thrills Ping to take flight of the souring soul. It is recounted from beginning to end. When Ping starts his pilgrimage, his vision got bigger and bigger, the pond ultimately vanishes. Fear of death that lurked in his inner mind withers away. His courage strangulates fear to death that paralyses mind. Leap of Faith awakens Ping to life of choice. Owl’s ‘wise eyes’ inspire Ping to undertake life full of struggle and strife. Without suffering and obstacles, life is passivity, which does not motivate to reach out beyond that, is purpose of human life. Strife against odds is the secret of dynamic life. Precondition of "Beginner’s Mind" is to still and empty mind of all entices of the world and silence conflicts. "Failure kindles the faith in truth and strong will defeats failures". Owl’s test for success is lies in character and courage. The owl advises to live on will. "Visionary Quest" takes flight on the wings of imagination and goes somewhere beyond. Stilled and purified vision of truth is a short-lived echo of heart. To reach it is fraught with many challenged and obstacles. For this natural talent is to be coupled with acquired skill. The sage realises it and thousand others can take clue from his life. Seventh segment ("The Flow") sums up the argument: evergreen stream of life flows with spiralling states of consciousness surging to the heavens. Wisdom lies in flowing with the flowing stream that takes Ping to the coveted goal of dynamic life.
|
THE slim book, dyed in
superb imaginative vision of secrets of dynamic life, inspires the
readers for brooding and culling subtle meanings scattered over 90
pages. The book anchors on the story of a frog (Ping) who wants to
relinquish the dried up pond where he has no freedom to jump and breathe
while other denizens of the pond are satisfied with the given situation.
Ping has inherent ‘strong desire’ to go beyond to reach out his
original source (Moon) for regaining freedom and bliss.