Every piece of art or work we
create or do happens through us – not because of us. We, in fact, own nothing –
not what we create, not what we buy and not what we cling on to!
Music maestro Illayaraaja has
declared war on several audio labels and FM and TV stations for copyright
violations of his classic songs. He says that his songs from the 70s, 80s and
90s were governed by contracts that have since expired. Any usage, he demands,
of those songs must be done after entering into fresh contracts with him and
after paying him royalties. He says he will share the royalties with film producers,
lyricists and singers. In a business context Illayaraaja must be making the
right moves and he has every right to protect his intellectual property. So I
don’t really wish to comment on what he thinks is right for him and his work.
Even so, on a spiritual plane, it
is relevant to pause and reflect on whether at all we own anything. After all
we came with nothing and will go with nothing. So why this high drama over
ownership, intellectual property right and copyright? Why lose sleep over who owns
what? Yes, we must protect our interests. We must surely work on monetizing
them if we are capable and possess the acumen. But there’s no use really in
losing sleep over any of this – especially if legal loopholes have been
exploited by opportunists or if people have cheaply plagiarized your work.
I am reminded of a beautiful Zen
story. A
Zen Master lived the simplest kind of Life in a little hut at the foot of a
mountain. One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to
find that there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned early and
found the thief in his hut. “You have come a long way to visit me,” he told the
prowler, “and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a
gift.” The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes nevertheless and ran
away. The Master sat naked, watching the moon. “Poor fellow,” he thought to
himself, “I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.” In a world full of
opportunists and fly-by-night operators and plagiarists – who will go all out
to lift ideas, work and opportunities – the Zen Master’s attitude is a good one
to cultivate, especially if you value your inner peace.
And
if you find the Zen Master’s attitude too evolved and therefore removed from
your own thinking, perhaps you may just want to consider internalizing what the
Bhagavad Gita says. Here’s an extract
(maybe not the most authentic but makes sense nevertheless) from the Gita Saram – The Essence of the Bhagavad
Gita!
Whatever happened, it happened for the good.
Whatever is happening, is also happening for the good.
Whatever will happen, that too will be for the good.
What have you lost for which you cry?
What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
What did you produce, which has perished?
You did not bring anything with you when you were born.
Whatever you have taken, it is taken from here.
Whatever you have given, it is given here.
You came empty-handed and you will go the same way.
Whatever is yours today, will be somebody else's tomorrow
And it will be someone else’s another day.
This change is the law of the Universe.
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