The
single trait that is common among all humans irrespective of his or her
social, economical, religious, regional, color or any other status is
hypocrisy. Dictionaries define hypocrisy as “the practice of professing
standards, beliefs, etc., contrary to one's real character or actual
behavior, esp. the pretence of virtue and piety”. In simple practical
terms it means believing (and preaching) one and practicing another. It
is said that ‘to err is human’ but a better one would be ‘to be
hypocritical is genuinely human’. All human beings are hypocritical and
it can be easily proved that it is impossible to maintain life without
being hypocritical. This would inevitably lead us to the conclusion that
all human beings ever alive or yet to be born are hypocritical. Yes, it
is a fact that all ordinary, abnormal, outstanding and even divine human
beings are indeed hypocritical. A full form of the altered saying would
be ‘to be hypocritical is genuinely human and to admit it is indeed
divine’.
To analyze our own character and realize the hypocritical traits will
not be a difficult exercise. I am sure every one can and should do it,
if we are to improve as human beings. More difficult would be to
identify the trait in others. And dangerous would be to attempt the same
in the case of our own leaders, prophets and even in God whenever and
wherever incarnated in human form. The more one preaches the more
difficult it is to live up to it. This very simple logic makes it almost
impossible for any of our leaders and preachers to live up to their
preaching. Most of them succeed in covering up their hypocrisy
(sometimes for centuries and centuries) does not relieve them from the
essential trait of mankind. And even if it is blasphemous, the rational
followers are bound to discover and question their hypocrisy sooner or
later.
Inherent Reason
It would be an interesting exercise to look for reasons as to why all
humans are invariably hypocritical. One need not waste much time in
this. It is widely believed and accepted that human beings are the only
animals that can laugh when there is grief or pain inside and vice
versa. Any tiger would attack if it is stoned but a politician or
preacher can shake hands with a terrorist who has shot him. Similarly, a
dog will defend his master against the attack of an enemy, but most
human beneficiaries of human kindness will inevitably turn against the
benefactor. Human history contains more stories about betrayal than
sacrifice for benefactors. In the contemporary world, many political
dramas in different countries and the relationships among various
countries are classic examples of hypocritical attitude of the leaders
and nations. Most international leaders are talking in different tones
at home and abroad. And eventually what they do will be totally
different.
Hypocrisy among mankind has its origins from time immemorial. Among the
first humans, those who said that they know the truth of life were the
first hypocrites. The vulnerable among the group who believed in these
words made them the leaders and preachers. Hypocrisy is always about
knowledge and the clever are always the most hypocritical. Claiming to
possess the knowledge about God has always been a favorite theme for
such people. Man’s inherent quest for the unknown always makes him easy
prey for the hypocritical preachers who are clever enough to hide their
ignorance. Most of them making up their ignorance by gimmicks and
glowing robes are common sights in the present day world. The truly
great are silent but the gimmicky always attain sainthood.
Classic Cases
Some of the well known hypocrisies of mankind are very interesting to
analyse. People who advocate ahimsa or non-violence are very same who
devour tons of meat day after day. And those who say that killing of a
particular animal is to be banned have no qualms about killing of other
kinds of animals and birds. Then they go to holy places and listen to
discourses on how killing is considered a sin and all things alive are
dear to God. And they applaud the preacher when he says that God is
nothing but life-giver and there is an element of God in everything that
is alive. The pro-life activists who can debate for days against
abortion are the very same who enjoy eggs, chicken, mutton and beef in
the nearby restaurant. Those who say alcohol is not good for health are
the very same who need at least a peg everyday in the darkness of night.
And those who publicly declare that all religions lead to the same God
are same who market their own as the only way. And those who hate
idolatry are the ones who have icons for everything and indulge in a
whole lot of symbolic activities.
Hypocrisy is there in all realms of life, but it is more in politics and
social life. Most of the politicians are arch hypocrites and it becomes
their essential trait for survival. In earlier days, though the
politicians were hypocrites, their parties had clear objectives and
agenda. Those days are gone now. All political parties have an agenda,
but they also have a hidden agenda, known only to the top few who hijack
the platform. The common men at the bottom of the political ladder are
more often mute sheep led by jacketed shepherds who are working for
unseen masters. Hypocrisy of political parties is very evident for keen
observers who are genuinely non-aligned. As an example, the anti-secular
policies of all the secular parties in India are something infamous. In
a true secular democracy, the state should discourage all attempts to
discriminate citizens on the basis of religion. But we always find the
reverse true in most of the policy decisions and activities of the
parties in power and opposition. Be it reservation for government jobs
or admissions to professional courses or disbursement of financial
doles, the underlying criterion are always based on religion rather than
merit.
In a world full of hypocrisy, it is nothing but hypocritical to expect
for victory of truth and the truthful. Those who are still interested in
experimenting with truth must device ingenious methods to deceive the
hypocrites and make them unknowingly work towards the desired goals
which are good for the society. Deceiving those who deceive others is
the only way to take humanity forward in the kali yuga. Our good
leaders must also develop their hypocrisy to achieve this. When everyone
is lying in a country, it is up to the ombudsman to correct it by lying
about the impending doom. There is no point in being a sanayasi
or saint who is silently watching the degeneration of the world. Unlike
a silent Bheeshma in Mahabharata, at least a few of our leaders
must shout and act to overcome the growing trait of hypocrisy.
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The
single trait that is common among all humans irrespective of his or her
social, economical, religious, regional, color or any other status is
hypocrisy. Dictionaries define hypocrisy as “the practice of professing
standards, beliefs, etc., contrary to one's real character or actual
behavior, esp. the pretence of virtue and piety”. In simple practical
terms it means believing (and preaching) one and practicing another. It
is said that ‘to err is human’ but a better one would be ‘to be
hypocritical is genuinely human’. All human beings are hypocritical and
it can be easily proved that it is impossible to maintain life without
being hypocritical. This would inevitably lead us to the conclusion that
all human beings ever alive or yet to be born are hypocritical. Yes, it
is a fact that all ordinary, abnormal, outstanding and even divine human
beings are indeed hypocritical. A full form of the altered saying would
be ‘to be hypocritical is genuinely human and to admit it is indeed
divine’. 