~ Global Empower Media ~ Uniting Nations in Peace: Rudyard Kipling 'IF' Wisdom is Understanding

Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay on December 30th in 1865. At the age of five he was sent to England to be educated. At 12 he attended the United Services College, Westward Ho, Bideford, where his writing flourished. In 1882 he returned to India, working for Civil and Military Gazette, and later on its sister paper the Pioneer in Allahabad. Rudyard Kipling travelled extensively and wrote poems in his spare time. He became friends with the King and declined many honors, including a knighthood. Rudyard Kipling accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for literature in 1907. (1865-1936)

Rudyard Kipling is an example of a man of depth who has lived his life in touch with his inner thoughts, experiences and observations. This gentleman was meant to share his insights and wisdom. When anyone is sharing their understanding of life and human nature, they have learned many life lessons. Wise words have meaning to the audience. It is a gift to share understanding, where other people can gain also from learning and understanding too. Rudyard Kipling has this gift.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And which is more you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Often we look at a person and do not see beyond the face - to see the person inside. We see and understand Rudyard Kipling by his works. A deep thinking, contemplative man who has left a lasting inpression on millions of people.

Throughout the ages, men have been encouraged to seek Wisdom and learning is never ending. It is when we keep an open mind and be willing to learn from people who have something valuable to share we gain positive learning. Not everyone values wisdom or wants to learn. Not everyone wants to evolve spiritually. Not everyone strives to be a more conscientious human being.

The greatest teachers in this world do not deliver information.

When people are sharing their understanding, not everyone is interested to listen. In a time when so many people are trying to be someone important - or famous, there are less people striving to be who they really are and shine their own light. We become important by what we share and give to enable other people. We are remembered by how we touch the hearts and lives of people.

It is often the artists and writers who have died, who are remembered with esteem. The most gifted people have not all lived in wealth or even luxury. Many people have lived simple lives. The gift of wisdom does not have a price.

Here are just a few illustrations found on the public domain.

Kipling, Rudyard. Just So Stories for Little Children. Illustrated by the Author. London: Macmillan, 1926.

The Cat that Walked by Himself, illustration from 'Just So Stories for Little Children' by Rudyard Kipling, pub. London, 1951

Rudyard Kipling's "How the First Letter was Written"

Rudyard Kipling's Commentary

"THIS is the story of Taffimai Metallumai carved on an old tusk a very long time ago by the Ancient Peoples. If you read my story, or have it read to you, you can see how it is all told out on the tusk. The tusk was part of an old tribal trumpet that belonged to the Tribe of Tegumai. The pictures were scratched on it with a nail or something, and then the scratches were filled up with black wax, but all the dividing lines and the five little rounds at the bottom were filled with red wax. When it was new there was a sort of network of beads and shells and precious stones at one end of it; but now that has been broken and lost — all except the little bit that you see. The letters round the tusk are magic — Runic magic, — and if you can read them you will find out something rather new. The tusk is of ivory — very yellow and scratched. It is two feet long and two feet round, and weighs eleven pounds nine ounces." [p. 124] Just So Stories for Little Children. Illustrated by the Rudyard Kipling. London: Macmillan, 1926. (Scanned image and text by George P. Landow)

In finding the swastika symbol turning in the clockwise direction, this is evidently a symbol that Rudyard Kipling felt connected to. In my research this is a symbol that is associated with India and Budhism - In essense we are given to understand this represents a spiritual meaning of oneness and pure soul consciousness.

India and the ancient eastern philosophy is with a focus to purify the mind, heart and soul with prayer, meditation and good deeds. The understanding of soul ascension is diverse in different teachings. We do not know what Rudyard Kiplings personal philosophy is other than what he has shared with people. His spiritul learning and understanding was to enable his personal progress. All we can understand is from diverse experiences and spiritual influences in both the Eastern and Western World, this may have enhanced his learning and leaving his footprint on the world for future generations to gain something positive.

As a man Rudyard Kipling may have contributed to open the minds up of people who have become closed and rigid in their teaching. If we want to learn and understand, we need to open up our heart and mind...remembering that teachers come in different guises. 'If' posted above is shared as valuable teaching. If we are not willing to learn for ourselves, there are always going to be people who have learned and shared their understanding. We undestand people by what they share.

Rudyard Kipling shared his understanding of the empire and humanity in Anglo-Indian and Indian newspapers of the 1870s and 1880s. After 1891 he wrote stories to be enjoyed by children.

Shere Khan is a fictional tiger who appears in two of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book stories. Shere translates as "tiger" in Urdu/Hindi/Punjabi, and Khan translates as "sovereign," "king", or "military leader" - does this not remind you of the Lion King that has been made a huge hit on the big screen?

Every book and movie has has the creative and practical input by the author. This might have come from real life experience and observation - or pure fanstasy to see the solutions in a problematic world, made by people who are stubborn, or blind to the problems they cause - ignorance is not bliss.

There are so many different ways to expand our awareness. This is being done by books, movies, situations, and circumstances. The television and newspapers have been influencing people for so long and yet, not everyone is selective in what they are viewing or questions what they are told is truth. We can, only experience our own reality - however if we are brainwashed to beleive something, we become subject to the influence and can be easily manipulated.

You can only be yourself. Listen to your own truth. Your truth is not someone elses. Rudyard Kipling writing allows people to think.