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Perspective
Soaring High to Sublimity
by TA Ramesh
1. Life of Man
Duty
 Without
completing one’s duty there is no chance of getting peace of mind in
life. It is worthless to hesitate in the middle of a duty, fearing about
the outcome of one’s efforts. If one is in such a state, it is like
Arjuna’s case; after going to the war field, what is the use of
hesitating to start and finish one’s job there? If one is clear in
thoughts, words and deeds, one will feel free and get peace of mind at
the end. It happens so to all one time or other in life. There
Bhagavad-Gita helps one how to overcome one’s sluggishness in life.
After a long, long travel and travail if one does not see even an oasis
in the desert, naturally one thinks about the nature of life in the
world. Hunger, old age, disease and death do not leave anyone untouched
one day or other. Thoughts of this nature affected once Buddha also and
he found out a doctrine for safe life in the world after a long
meditation, which is nothing but contention of heart but not competition
triggered by desire or ambition.
Nature of Life
One time or other like Arjuna and Buddha everyone thinks about human
life to have a conclusive view so that life can be lived with
confidence, courage and perseverance facing all problems without fear in
order to fulfill successfully the destiny of one’s life. Indian religion
says that human life constitutes Existence, Knowledge, Bliss and
Absolute in toto. This is the decisive, total view of human life and is
accepted by great philosophers of the world like Max Mueller, Emerson,
Voltaire, etc. Despite these opinions, it is essential for everyone to
know what life is and how life has to be lived in the world.
Soaring High to Sublimity
We should not be indecisive like Hamlet but determined and casual to
achieve things ahead of time like Prince Hal (Richard III) or Lord
Krishna. Our thoughts, words and deeds should be appreciated by others
and praised by the nation and the world. This is how honor can be
obtained by one and if one has a good heart by nature, one will get
special respect from everyone and special treatment everywhere in the
world. To achieve such a status one should realize what is one’s Self,
the World, Nature and God, and live according to natural justice or
eternal order in the world. To such a person, whether the status in the
society is high or low, one needs not be a slave to anyone and can lead
a straight forward and bold life in the world. Soaring high to sublimity
can be possible only by persons of this type in the world. But others
also, by realizing the nature of life in the world and the Self, can
soar high to sublimity whenever possible to redeem themselves and
rejuvenate their inner spirits.
Development of Society
It is not enough a few individuals are enlightened in the world;
everyone in the society should become enlightened. The expositions of
great seers and mystics enlighten the minds and elevate the spirits of
all making the whole being soar high to sublimity; and which is the
purpose of the message, they have left behind for the whole of mankind
to recognize and realize themselves in life in order to enjoy bliss in
the world.
Competitive World
Soaring high to sublimity, everybody wants to enjoy spiritual bliss in
spite of trials and tribulations in life. In this specialized,
compartmentalized and modernized world, life has become much aimed
routine life everybody has to live in competition with time whether one
likes or not. There is no chance for human sense, human sentiments and
humanistic approach to problems faced by men here. For everything man is
constrained of time. When this is so, how is it possible for human
expression in nature according to his wish, desire, dream and liking as
the birds and animals freely do around him?
2. World of Man
Unfortunately the whole world of man and his activities are confined, in
one kind, to a circle of currency called Money. Money can buy everything
except the departed soul in the world. Without money, man cannot wield
power over the affairs of others. The whole of his life man works for
money to live a life comfortable, convenient and honourable to him. He
faces a lot of hardships and difficulties in the world because of money
and dies also for want of money. He loses his peace of mind and thoughts
in higher things of life because of his pursuits of money in the world.
Sound economic condition develops social status that helps man finally
to develop himself spiritually. Otherwise, man has to relinquish
everything in the world and lead the life of a hermit in isolation,
which perhaps gives him peace, freedom and bliss he cherishes most and
longs for in the world.
Life of the World
In this way caught by the web of life, man struggles to come out and
longs for peace, freedom and joy, which all remain only as things of
dream that come true perhaps only after death! So, in his materialistic
pursuits man works as a machine and lives like an animal but not as a
human being in the world. This is the usual plight of ordinary men.
Some, who wish to have a change, seek the advises of philosophers,
religious leaders, or asylum in some association or religion only in
vain because they all prove to be useless or not permanent solutions for
their problems as they cannot change their ways of life, habits and
customs. Hence the life of the world is a kind of punishment rather than
a pleasure to know, enjoy and live here. But, for many, politics becomes
the last resort to survive as they wish in the world, not knowing that
it is a one way ticket; following the political ideologies, they become
inhuman creatures, do more harm to the society and themselves and die a
horrible death unaware of and uncared for in the world.
Materialism, Mechanisation and Fear of the Future
It seems science and technologies have developed, are developing and
will develop all fields of human endeavours in the modern world. So,
without machines and technological aids, it is impossible for man to do
anything, go forward, detect and solve all problems in the world.
Technological developments, invention of computers and computerisations
in all walks of human life have turned man into a slave of technology to
such an extent that man feels that machine is power, money, wife and
life in the world.
His dependence of electricity, computers, motor cars, aeroplanes, TV,
Cell phone, etc. makes man feel that without them living life is
impossible in the world today! Is it really so? Is this what man calls
development of mankind? All these and many other questions man has to
think about, realise where he is now, what he has to do, what he is
doing and how he has to change himself for the better for the survival
of himself and the world in the future, before he is caught by the fear
of the future sooner or later.
Measure of Human Value
Divine value is infinitely superior to human value. Human value is far
higher than animal value. Animal value is better than material value.
But the achievements of man are measured by material value, which is
calculated by money. Divine and animal beings do not bother about
material things. But, after all sorts of developments man’s mind is
confined only to material things in the world at all the times. It is
quite strange why man is struck up with material things only like
children with the play things forever!
Human Nature not changed
Like the child that enjoys coarser or animal pleasure in an aggressive
manner with his toys in the homes, with the plants and flowers in the
gardens or with his other boys on the sand in the play grounds, men
enjoy going in the newly produced cars, on the motor bikes, in the
helicopters, or playing video games, etc. in the public. So, many are
physically grown up and mentally not developed leave alone the
development of their spirits. When they are in the best of moods, they
use the gadgets well. But, when they are in the worst of moods, they
indulge in violence and crimes that stir and shake up the peace of the
world and destroy lives and properties everywhere. Therefore undoubtedly
human nature of the past has not changed in the present and will perhaps
hardly change in the future too!
Love is All
By force and power, man believes that he can dominate other people in
order to satisfy his ego instead of conquering the hearts and ruling the
minds by love and care. By love many things are achieved. By force
noting has been achieved in the history of mankind. This fact man has to
take into consideration and do social service by love for the well being
of the world. Love is developed by the appreciation of beauty and truth
in art, music, poetry, etc. Aesthetic pleasure satisfies man much better
than animal pleasure. So, more than politics, man should pay attention
to literature, history, sociology and culture in order to live a
beautiful life in the world.
Knowledge, Experience and Wisdom
Philosophic truth of life is interesting to know; laws of nature are
fascinating; and intellectual thinking brightens the mind enabling man
to live life with purpose, confidence and meaningfully in the world.
Analysing over the experiences of the past, man gains new knowledge and
wisdom as time passes on to live better, enjoy intellectual pleasure in
the world, which is challenging and charming at the same time.
Remembering the history of the past we are able to correct our mistakes
and live creatively, enjoying the beauty and love welcoming us
everywhere, if we are aware of the truth behind the things and pure in
heart with a wonder to appreciate the grandeur of creations around us.
Materialism and Terrorism destroying Art, Nature and
Culture towards War
Actually everyone is for materialism but not for humanism or
spiritualism in the real sense because of world modernisation by science
and technology. So, because of our exploitation of natural resources for
energy, raw materials, etc. the world itself is driven to the brink of
destruction by environmental pollution and global warming.
Industrialisation everywhere and destruction of forests are destroying
not only art and culture but also Nature, which are dangerous and
threatening the very existence of humankind in the world, which is the
only living planet in our Solar system in the whole of the Universe as
far as man is aware of so far! Besides these, extremism of race,
religion, etc. and terrorism as a result of which are constantly keeping
the world on the hot bed and preparing men ready for war ever, which is
not good for human relationships and relationship with Nature in the
world.
3. Solution
Reforms for One World through Non-Violence
Reforms are needed to avert bad incidents occurring in the world.
Reforms should start from education; ideas of reforms should be
implemented in the social and legal systems of the nations of the world
to bring about social harmony, religious harmony and harmonious
relationship with Nature leading to the formation of One Human World.
That too, weapon less, non-violent, free world union is what every great
intellectual including Einstein expects to see in the future by the
united efforts of the nations following the principles of M.K. Gandhi
such as non-violence, non-cooperation for evil things, etc., by which he
successfully used to achieve his goals and earned the name Mahatma
Gandhi and is the dream of all of the future world.
Transition of world by Democracy
Clearly the world is in the stage of transition now. Modernisation
everywhere is leading the world towards the formation of an
industrialised world state controlled by the Nuclear Power nations of
the world. But the threats of terrorism, militarization, exploitation
and pollution cause concern to the world people regarding the safety,
security, peace and very existence of the world in the future. So, with
an eye over these aspects, the formation of an industrialised modern
world state allowing harmonious human development in a democratic system
is what everybody likes to see in the future.
Preservation of Nature
For that, the safety of the world is the responsibility of everyone and
that depends upon the preservation of Nature in the world, because man
is born out of, the part of Nature and not treated as a separate species
independent of Nature. Therefore harmonious human relationship with
Nature is necessary more than just the preservation of Nature. Even
Aldous Huxley in his analytical book on Human Situation has
advocated that expressions of ideas about Nature in Art such as
painting, poetry, etc. cannot be altered or stopped yesterday, today and
forever, because Nature is the body of the All Pervading Spirit; and man
in mystical communion with Nature can soar high to sublimity to enjoy
spiritual pleasure, real bliss in the world.
August
27, 2006
Image under
license with Gettyimages.com
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Perspective
The Week of August 27, 2006
Blind Men of Hindustan by Rajinder Puri
Japan: A Great & Unique Nation by Dr.
Subhash Kapila
India, The West & Muslim Minorities by Gaurang
Bhatt, MD
To Reject Vande Mataram is No Treason
by V. Sundaram
Empires and Dust: Travels in Modern India - 1
by Ashish Nangia
Disaster Ready India? A Distant Dream by Col
Rahul K. Bhonsle
Soaring High to Sublimity by TA Ramesh
Wise Old Man Under the Banyan Tree by Dr.
Vidur Jyoti
Education for Character Building by Pradip
Bhattacharya
Reflected Glory by J. Ajithkumar
Terrible Temblors by VK Joshi
Heavy Metals in Ayurveda by Dr. Dheeraj
Malhotra, MD
Cord Blood: Biological Insurance? by Usha Raman
Tales Child Brides Tell by Nilanjana Bhowmick
Back to Farming Basics by Neeta Lal
Youth Leaders Want a Place at the Table by
Nitin Jugran Bahuguna
The Indian Legacy by Arvind Pandey
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