picture source https://www.kiraninc.org/healthy-vs-unhealthy-relationships/
It was April 2012.I was returning from delhi by flight with a monk of the ramakrishna mission sitting next to me and journalist from the US sitting on the third seat.The journalist started interviewing the monk as planned earlier.
Journalist :- Sir,in your last lecture,you had told us about contact and connection it's really confusing.can you explain ?
The monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist .,Are you from new york ?
Journalist - Yeah...,
Monk - Who are there,at home ?
The journalist felt that the monk was trying to avoid answering his question,since this was a very personal and unwarranted question.Yet the journalist said -"Mother has expired.Father is there.Three brothers and one sister.All married.."
The monk,with smile on his face,asked again-Do you talk to your father ?
The journalist looked visibly annoyed...
The monk -"When did you talk to him last ?
The journalist,suppressing his annoyance said -"May be a month ago."
The monk - "Do you meet your brother and sister often ?When did you meet last as a family gathering ?"
At this point,I saw sweat on the forehead of the journalist.I wondered who was conducting the interview,the monk or the journalist.
With a sigh,the journalist said -"we met last at christmas two year ago"
The monk -"how many days did you all stay together ?"
The journalist (wiping the sweat on his brow) said -"three days..."
Monk -"how much time did you spend with your father,sitting right beside him ?"
I saw the journalist looking perplexed and embarrassed and scribbling something on a paper...
The monk -"did you have breakfast,lunch or dinner together ? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death ?"
I saw drops of tears coming out from the eyes of the journalist...
The monk held the hand of the journalist and said -"Don't be so embarrassed,upset or sad.I am sorry if i have hurt you unknowingly...
But this is basically the answer to your question about "Contact and Connection".
You have Contact with him.You are not Connected to him.Connection is between heart and heart...sitting together,sharing meals and caring for each other .,touching,shaking hands,having eye contact,spending some time together...Your brothers and sister have Contact but you no Connection with each other...
The journalist wiped his eyes and said -"Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson"
This is the reality today.Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of Contacts but there is no Connection.No communication...
Everybody are in his or her own world.
Let us not maintain just Contacts but let us remain Connected.,Caring,sharing and spending time with all our near and dear ones..,
Disclaimer
This short story told by my mother to my children and i thought to share on steemit and from where she heard this story that i don't know but it might be from Ramakrishna mission's Monk (Guruji) cuz she is a devotee of that panth