Small Achievements, Big Glory

I have been thinking about the small things in life,

the small pains,
the small pleasures,
the small achievements,
the small failures.

I’m trying to understand the relation between the small and big

Big failures,
Big achievements,
big joys,
big pains.

I’m reminded of my travels to Florence,Italy, where I was dumbstruck by the creation of the artists, the likes of Michaelangeo & his famous creation – David.

And I always wondered what does it take to become a great artist,where does one acquire such an illutrous vision or more specifically 

        "What is the essence of greatness?"

Then came a musical phase in my life & I happen to hear the Gundeja Brothers of the Dhrupad fame (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundecha_Brothers)

If I have to list their achievements, I will fall short of words & strength.

And students of these noble musicians would dedicate their days, sometimes months, in simply perfecting the Swar(s) – “SA” “RE” “GA” “MA” “PA” “DHA” “Ni” “SA”.

Days of only singing “SA”
Days of only understanding “SA”
Days of living, breathing “SA”
Until “SA” becomes not justa musical notation but part of their DNA.

This had a deep impact on me.

Its really that simple, isn’t it.
just focus on the basics!
just get the right basics,
& everything else will follow.

Its the same with every field- Dance, painting, cooking,science.
Its the same with our culture,with the teachings of our ancestors.

किसी ने कहा है मेरे दोस्तो
बुरा मत सुनो बुरा मत देखो बुरा मत कहो
बुरी है बुराई मेरे दोस्तो

See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil.

Its like Peter Morgans famous words from his screenplay “The Crown”

“It’s in the small things that the rot starts. Do the wrong thing once, it’s easier to do it again. Do the individualistic thing once, it is easy to do it again.”

So, I leave you with the simple question

What is the essence of greatness?
What is the DNA of perfection?

Grazia & Salute,
Sonam Powar