374. Water Supply

All-out efforts are made to meet the water scarcity in the coming summer months. It is commendable that forethought is evinced instead of waking up late in the day. It is likely that these serious efforts are rewarded by the skies in a subsequent season. The Divine begins where Man ends is the rule. But the Divine has the very bad habit of waiting for Man to exhaust the very last drop of energy and effort. While there is maximum effort on securing water physically to the city, there seems to be a complacency in another way. Faith is reposed in physical effort. It is good, but there is more. What is the reason for water shortage? One may say the poor monsoon. Or more population is exploiting depleting water resources. Both are true. There is a greater truth. Water spiritually represents emotion, especially spiritual emotion - gratitude.

The very first thing man does when he is educated or becomes prosperous is to move away from God. Education should take man away from superstition, not God. Prosperity makes man forget God. Wealth is accompanied by problems. When problems rear their head, the wealthy man tries to solve it by money. A time comes when Life presents him problems that cannot be solved by money. Still he struggles. A greater moment arrives when his wealth is itself a problem and he sees he may lose all his wealth acquired over decades or centuries in one day. Then he rushes to God and often evokes no response. But he sees the crisis blows over. Now crises have become permanent in his life. His prayers are rarely answered. He resorts to all kinds of rituals, and develops sophisticated superstitions. No devotion wells up from inside.

Water is not scarce in Tamil Nadu or India or even in Madras. Our rainfall is 40"-60". Even when the monsoon fails, we get over 20" or 25". Countries with 11" of rainfall do not speak of water scarcity. Our use of water is casual, not one of discrimination. One who takes up that thread can physically solve the water crisis. Our cities are more prosperous than thirty years ago. The first development is the drying up of emotions. At home money becomes of greater value than human affection. In his inner psychological makeup, man shifts from God to himself. The spiritual emotion of GRATITUDE to GOD dries up. Religious rituals cannot raise that emotion. Devotion, piety, truth and sincerity can regenerate Gratitude. There lies a permanent solution to the water scarcity.