Can Arjun Multi-task?

Arjun’s dilemma in the modern world

Having learned the value of total focus all his life from teachers like Guru Dron and others, Arjun was pretty confident that he can always get desired results when he puts his minds to it-especially when it comes to archery. But what he did not realize was how those values were changed in the modern world filled with multi-taskers. His Guru Dronacharya had given a special test to his best students: to shoot the eye of a moving fish that was hung over the head while focusing on the mirror image of the fish. Though this was a very difficult task to perform - the task that would require his full attention - it was even harder given his cell phone nearby.  How can he keep his undivided attention on the eye of the fish moving in a circle while making sure that he is up to date with all of his text messages and tweets?

Struggling to keep his smart phone in one hand, while trying to point his arrow on the fish can be a challenge he realized so he decided to put the phone down – just for a minute – while he can focus on the fish, actually the eye of the fish. But oh God just when he saw the moving fish, the phone tweeted. Who it could be, he wondered. Now that his focus was diverted, he figured he can check the tweet. It will only take a second. So he did. As it turned out, it would have been okay if he did not because it was from Duryodhan telling him that there is no way he could aim the eye of the fish that was moving.

So back to focusing. I have a great angle now he thought. The water is still underneath, and I can gauge the speed at which the fish is moving. All I have to do is to keep an eye on the eye of the fish. But oh, oh, what was that ring? Since he had assigned this ringer to his girl-friend, he wanted to make sure that the plan for the evening – soon after the shooting – is still on. Why don't I just talk to her for a second he thought. It will only take a second and I will know if she can come to the café or not after the program.

And then I can focus. But he realized that focus was eluding him. May be I need to put my smartphone far away where I cannot hear the ring. So he walked over and left his phone far, far away. Now he can aim at the eye of the fish with his arrow. He settled back into his position and remembered his guru’s words about how to aim. Okay now I am ready, he thought. And he aimed, just right. Alas, just at that time, he heard a ring. He missed the fish altogether and when he looked around he saw that it was his Guruji Dron's phone. Guru Dron was checking his text message.