Experience Taught Me Something Today… A Dialogue on Dreams, Experiences, and Masculinity

[Shahrukh Atpade]

“You will not understand this now. What worked in your time will not work anymore. We know more than you.”
Such statements are often casually made by the younger generation to the elderly. We tend to believe that the experiences of elders are outdated, irrelevant, and of little use today. However, the experiences I listened to today and the words they shared are still echoing in my mind.
Today’s dialogue focused deeply on the concept of masculinity. The elders explained the true and deeper meaning of masculinity in simple yet powerful words. As the discussion progressed, they spoke about men and their lives, the changing generation, and the mindset of today’s society.
According to them, God created human beings first and only later created women and men. Before gender identities, we were recognized as human beings. Ancient scriptures, novels, and religious texts also address people not as men or women, but as human beings. God has given us our bodies, yet humans remain dissatisfied. Even after going to the temple, people continue to ask God what more He can give.

Through the elders’ experiences, it became clear that visiting a temple is not merely a religious ritual but a process that brings inner satisfaction. Elders are able to forget daily stress, household conflicts, and life’s tensions by immersing themselves in devotion. This devotion offers them mental peace and contentment.
During the conversation, I shared that over the past few days I have been engaging with many elders, and interestingly, most of them speak about temples, devotion, and inner peace. This led to a discussion about bringing them together and forming a group where collective dialogue, sharing of experiences, and mutual support would be possible.
As a SALT facilitator, I learned new perspectives on masculinity from the elders today. I realized that religious faith and devotion are not limited to belief alone, but they significantly influence one’s thoughts, behavior, and outlook on life in a positive way. 

In the photo below, we can see that elderly individuals regularly carry small religious books with them and engage in reading. This reading is not merely a religious practice, but a source of peace, contentment, and positive energy for their minds. Such reading provides them with strong support in coping with daily stress, anxiety, and restlessness.