PLAY
The man is born alone and he dies alone. In between the birth and the death he is thrown into various relationships. What is a relationship? Is it not the role-playing? An Individual plays various roles at the same time. A man is a father to his child, husband to his wife. He is also a son and a brother and a boss and a subordinate and a friend in connection with various people around. So also is a woman, daughter, a mother, a wife, a friend etc. So, each one of us is playing various roles in this drama on a very vast stage of life.

MASKS
Some times, people become so expert in this drama, that one start wearing various masks and changes the same with great expertise. If one is in front of a boss his mask is that of a subordinate. The next moment, when he is out of boss's cabin and faces subordinate, with great expertise he changes his mask and he becomes a boss. Are we not wearing all kinds in our relationships? In fact, we have become so much one with these masks, we have almost forgotten that it's a mask on our face and not the true face.

GIVE & TAKE
The trouble begins when one forgets that one is just playing his or her role in this drama and starts getting attached to one's own character or to the characters around. This emotional attachment for the people around, which develops due to the ignorance about one's own true nature plays a very significant role, in reducing our relationships to GIVE & TAKE phenomenon. For majority of us, as it is now, a relationship is a two-way transactional phenomenon, which always involves give and take in some form or the other, Hence, expectations are bound to be there from both the sides.

SELFISHNESS
Haven't you observed that in whichever relationship you have an emotional stake, you FEEL more about it and become more attached. With attachment comes expectation, which in turn enhances attachment, leading to the vicious circle. In this circle an individual becomes more and more self-centered and possessive of things and beings around. With this kind of selfishness, one starts converting beings into things and using things. When a person in the relationship becomes aware that he or she is being `used' & not loved, it is definitely the beginning of separation.

ISOLATION
More involvement in relationship brings isolation. E.g. If I start relating only to my wife and my daughter, I will be isolating myself from everybody around. Such isolation brings depression.

EXPECTATIONS
What does one expect from the relationships? If we go little deeper, one comes to the understanding that each one is expecting the gratification. It may sound little harsh but, is there anything else other than gratification - Which is the base of our relationships? Do we ever see this aspect? Have you not seen the moment a relationship is not gratifying one is no more interested in it?

CHANGE
The relationship, which was working beautifully until yesterday, works no more today, because things have gone topsy-turvy and they are not per the expectation. Hence one is not interested in it. Is it not the fact?

PRE-CONDITIONED MIND
Now who is this one expecting something in the relationships? Is it not the mind? If it is the mind, which is expecting, is it possible to know the significance of the relationships without understanding the mind and its complex nature? The relationship can help to understand the complex structure of the mind, if taken in proper perspective. In the relationship, the other can become the mirror to see one's expectation and ambitions. If that can happen, relationship can be a very revealing experience for one's self-development. But usually it does not happen. Because even though the other person is like a mirror, our own mind is the faculty which distorts the facts. This pre-occupied or pre-conditioned mind is the culprit, which does not allow us to things as they are. How can the relationship work, when the mind is already conditioned? Is there a way to free this mind from conditioning? Or, is it the very nature of the mind? If that is so, is it possible to free oneself from this mind? The spiritual significance of relationship is hidden in the answer of this question.

RELATING
To understand the spiritual significance of relationships, one has to first understand, what is the TRUE RELATIONSHIP. When the relationship is authentic and spontaneous it becomes RELATING. Relationship is like a pond of stagnant water, while relating is like a river flowing, dancing, moving to embrace the ocean. If the waters are clear the river is transparent so also when the mind is clear the relationship is transparent. There is no confusion, it becomes absolutely crystal clear phenomenon. In such a relationship there is no distortion of the fact and one sees one self into the mirror of the relationship.

MIRROR
I have seen such relationship existing between the master and the disciple. Here, the master becomes the mirror for the disciple to understand his own confusion. The master is the crystal clear mirror which does not distort, but reflects the reality which can lead the disciple towards the realization. Such a flowing and transparent relationship can become a catalyst for the tremendous spiritual growth spiral. Are we really ready for such things to happen to us? Who really bothers?

DISCIPLEHOOD (DISCIPLESHIP)
When one becomes disciple the master is already there because when one gains the attributes of discipleship one start learning from everything and from everywhere. Then one learns from the trees, the mountains, the sun & stars, the moon and the reflections thereof into the waters of the river and the ocean. One even learns from the child that absolutely pure quality called innocence. One learns humility from the blades of the green grass. The bird becomes a symbol of freedom and rose is nothing but love.

HUMILITY
Is it possible that just by getting rooted into the total surrender and the sensitivity, one becomes vulnerable for the ultimate to happen which transforms oneself and one's relationships around? Are TRUTH, BEAUTY & LOVE the natural outcome of such happening? I do not know.