Monsoon Journal

But you have a vision and you are not concerned about whether it is possible or not possible. You are not concerned whether it is easy or difficult, you are not concerned whether it is attainable or nonattainable, or in other words, you are not concerned about the result in the end.

It is just that you have a vision and you give your life towards it. This is one of the easiest ways to attain the highest also. The whole Gita is just about this – to simply give yourself to what you want, not caring whether it is going to happen or not going to happen. It is a spiritual process by itself. Vision is an important way of transcending limitations within and outside ourselves. If one wants to live here without any vision, without being burdened by visions, without being burdened by will, then that person should be absolutely innocent. Absolutely. Such a person can simply live here. He need not live with a vision.

He does not need a vision. He does not have to have a will about anything, that is if he is absolutely egoless and childlike. And if it is not so, it is very important that man lives with a vision. There have been many stories, many examples in the Indian culture. Certain sages and saints, once they willed, even gods had to come down and do things for them. There are many stories like this. Lord Shiva cannot help it if a man sits here with complete will and vision that he wants Shiva to come down.

He has to come down – he has no choice about it. There are many stories like this. So all these things demonstrate to you that if what you want is very clear to you and if you are set on it, what seems to be impossible today; tomorrow becomes a normal part of your life. Without any fuss it falls at your feet. But at every moment logically if you question this and think in terms of “Is it attainable or not attainable”, then the confusion that you create in your mind, the confusions that you create in the world around you makes the world itself into a big confusion. It is time to really create a vision within ourselves as to what is it that we really care for, not just for today. If you look deep enough your vision will be the universal vision.

Really in terms of being a human being, what is the highest that you can seek and simply creating that vision. Whether everything else happens or doesn’t happen on the way is not the point. Whatever you have known as the highest – simply seeking that with undivided attention –is a simple way of knowing life here and beyond.

October 30th was the 100th birth anniversary of Mr K Pooranampillai. He was promoted to glory when he was 91 years.

He was associated with me long before he became Principal of St.John’s, Jaffna in 1967. My association with him was in the field of sports, education and religion. To be Principal of two prestigious institutions affiliated to two different Christian denominations in the North of Sri Lanka, each with a history of more than 180 years now (Hartley and St.John’s College), is unique in the annals of Sri Lankan educational circles. Johnians in various walks of life throughout the globe will acknowledge without reservations that he was a Principal Par excellence.

Mr Pooranampillai’s philosophy of priorities, convictions and values makes him stand tall in widely known and unknown circles of admirers. In my 28 years of continuous teaching at St.John’s, I worked with five Principals, but the longest was with Mr K.P. His vision and emphasis on an all round education. Many persons associated with him referred to him as KP. In the early 1970s, four of us teachers were summoned to face an interview for our Diploma in Education at the Peradeniya University.

We decided to ask KP whether he would give us half a day’s casual leave to catch the afternoon YalDevi. To our surprise he asked us to take a day’s leave because one must be fit to face a rigorous interview. What vision he had in the interest of his teachers and students. On one occasion, a boy was weak in English; but his father literally begged KP to give a statement that his son’s English was passable, so as to get employment in the Middle East. KP flatly refused but said that he would personally help the boy to improve. This KP did for a continuous period of two months. The boy dramatically improved and the statement was given. He never sacrificed his clear conscience on the altar of cheap popularity.

The Spiritual dimension that was at the heart of his character and values formed the basis of his effectiveness. This is why he introduced what is called moral science into the school curriculum. i.e. he insisted that every student who did science should learn one arts subject which permeates the student with moral values.

A noble example

Some of us who are left behind have absorbed into our system of life the richness of Mr KP’s gems of work, wisdom and values. To some he was a friend and companion, to others he was a guide and philosopher, but to all, he is a noble example. We have to thank the Almighty not only for K.P’s work and life but also for the way in which his life has influenced us in such an awesome way.

May his beloved wife Peace, his two daughters Shanti Arulanantham and Vasanthi Karunakaran, his son Jeyakumar, a host of relations, friends, old students and teachers of St.John’s thank God for the example set by Mr Pooranampillai so beautifully designed by his Maker.

By: V R Amarasingham

Former Vice Principal, St.John’s College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka