Yes, I'm in love. In love in almost every conventional way - enjoying my career, crazy about my family, and daydreaming about my childhood sweetheart, my soon-to-be wife. But then, I'm also quite madly in love with the feeling of love.
I think love is one of the most beautiful manifestations of karma yoga. True love is unconditional and infinite - you care for your loved ones no matter what they do or become - you regardless keep working to protect them, keep praying for their health and happiness. What is this but nishkaam karma?
God did not give us the iPhone and Xbox as part of our birth package. He gave us our family and nature for entertainment. Nature that is full of resources and variety, giving us abundant scope to learn, relax, and care. And family that will go to any extent to ensure our well-being. Somewhere along the way, he also gave us an interesting sensation that makes us (even nutjobs like Gaddafi) love these people close to us, without even having the thought of expecting returns for this love. As we grow up, we get into increasingly transactional relationships, initially dilute with friends and teachers, but clearer as we make lab partners, colleagues, suppliers, customers, etc. For many, even their marriage is an agreement with implicit terms & conditions. And yet, we get another reminder of this unconditional love - when we have kids, and when we feel no achievement, no wealth, no property in the world matters more than their health and happiness.
This instinct of true love is our innate quality as mammals. It resides deep inside us, something we may try to ignore in our worldly pursuits, but yet keeps us incomplete and dissatisfied when we do so. It is equally present in the rich and the poor, the educated and the innocent. It is immensely powerful - it can drive us to take actions beyond our own expectations of ourselves, achieve feats that seem to defy the laws of physics and biology.
It is in recognition and ultimate surrender to this spirit that we can find true joy in life. Like I have mentioned in my earlier posts, nothing gives us more pleasure than the effort to make others happy. We can always find ways to love our kids, spouse, parents, siblings, friends, etc. As we realize this joy, we will feel like expanding this circle of love, applying the karma yoga of love on everyone around us and all creations of nature. I find role models all around me - from Gandhiji and Vivekananda and Mother Teresa and Pope Francis to people close to me, like Fr. Hector and my teachers and parents.
Love empowers us to rise above our temptations and weaknesses, and experience heaven right here on earth. Love was our first gift from God, love is what he continually showers upon us directly and indirectly, every day, every moment. Offering our love to him and his creations seems the easiest and most natural route (yoga) to unite with him.
Showing posts with label Morals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morals. Show all posts
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Sustained Satyagraha
I went to watch Satyagraha today. I found it quite interesting for the most part. It got me thinking on the issue - and I guess that means that Prakash Jha has not done a bad job.
Now, the movie is a lot about idealism, popular agitation, and so on, so we can't expect it to work as well as Chennai Express or Singham. The movie did seem to inject a shot of inspiration in some part of the audience, but we all know well that this inspiration won't sustain, for it is not "practical".
So I was left to wonder, what exactly will motivate us to leave our daily humdrum and make effort towards common welfare? Or should we understand that such a "revolution" is impossible?
I can say for sure that such a revolution is not impossible. Gandhiji proved that, in a much more challenged environment, with poor communication systems, no voting rights, illiteracy, and social class discord. Egypt, Libya, and Germany proved that people can get sick of the establishment and bring about a change. So why do we not see such a revolution in India today? Is it because our problems aren't really serious? Is it because we are too selfish to look at the common cause? Or are our politicians smart enough to keep us too occupied to think of our issues?
I like to think that the problem is our stupidity or immaturity. Our immaturity prevents us from seeking action unless we are directly affected. Our immaturity makes us hypocrites - stupidly lighting candles and sharing facebook posts and participating in rallies occasionally, without any sustained or planned effort - just like we say Jay ____ (fill your "God" here), and practice Faraali or Roja or Paryushan so that God overlooks our daily nonsense.
Most seriously of all, our immaturity makes us blind to the opportunity to find pleasure in bringing a positive change. That is, we fail to see the obvious fun in working towards making the world more wonderful.
These initiatives and movements fail because we do not participate with the right mindset. Some of us participate as a reaction to negative or irritating experiences we may have faced. Some participate looking at these as ways to "contribute their share". And of course, then there are the more stupid cases that seek fame or pursue hidden agenda.
I think we need to stop looking at this as a fight of good v/s evil. We are all mixed people, with our share of compromises in character. So are our representatives and public servants - it is just hypocrisy to expect them to be ideal or perfect.
We need to look at this as a long-term effort for self-improvement. We need to seek perfection in our character. We need to learn how to take principle-centric decisions even when they are inconvenient; we need to maintain loyalty for our conscience; we need to learn to ignore irritations (of negative experiences) and avoid reactions.
We need to acquire the patience to understand the people we conveniently declare as villains - see their good side, love them, befriend them by being their true well-wishers, and motivate them to change (primarily in their own interest). We will do this naturally when we develop a strong, genuine character.
This effort for self-improvement is not so hard - in fact, it is fun. We all enjoy upgrading our homes, our offices, our cars - we will find nothing as enjoyable and sustainable as upgrading our character.
The revolutions in Egypt and Libya seem unlikely to succeed. The one in Germany did. As did Gandhiji. He succeeded because he sought to love everyone (as he enjoyed doing so), not discount anyone as an antagonist, understand and learn what "the right" might be, pursue that, seek improvement, and enlighten others to do the same. His autobiography speaks not of his achievement of "kicking the British out", but of his efforts to strengthen his character, his efforts to define and pursue "the right".
The great thing about this attitude is that it is sure to deliver sustained happiness. One pursuing environmental improvement through self-improvement need never worry about chances of his/her success. Because speed and success in self-improvement is always in our hand, and we can get started with that "revolution" anytime, from any situation, including now.
Now, the movie is a lot about idealism, popular agitation, and so on, so we can't expect it to work as well as Chennai Express or Singham. The movie did seem to inject a shot of inspiration in some part of the audience, but we all know well that this inspiration won't sustain, for it is not "practical".
So I was left to wonder, what exactly will motivate us to leave our daily humdrum and make effort towards common welfare? Or should we understand that such a "revolution" is impossible?
I can say for sure that such a revolution is not impossible. Gandhiji proved that, in a much more challenged environment, with poor communication systems, no voting rights, illiteracy, and social class discord. Egypt, Libya, and Germany proved that people can get sick of the establishment and bring about a change. So why do we not see such a revolution in India today? Is it because our problems aren't really serious? Is it because we are too selfish to look at the common cause? Or are our politicians smart enough to keep us too occupied to think of our issues?
I like to think that the problem is our stupidity or immaturity. Our immaturity prevents us from seeking action unless we are directly affected. Our immaturity makes us hypocrites - stupidly lighting candles and sharing facebook posts and participating in rallies occasionally, without any sustained or planned effort - just like we say Jay ____ (fill your "God" here), and practice Faraali or Roja or Paryushan so that God overlooks our daily nonsense.
Most seriously of all, our immaturity makes us blind to the opportunity to find pleasure in bringing a positive change. That is, we fail to see the obvious fun in working towards making the world more wonderful.
These initiatives and movements fail because we do not participate with the right mindset. Some of us participate as a reaction to negative or irritating experiences we may have faced. Some participate looking at these as ways to "contribute their share". And of course, then there are the more stupid cases that seek fame or pursue hidden agenda.
I think we need to stop looking at this as a fight of good v/s evil. We are all mixed people, with our share of compromises in character. So are our representatives and public servants - it is just hypocrisy to expect them to be ideal or perfect.
We need to look at this as a long-term effort for self-improvement. We need to seek perfection in our character. We need to learn how to take principle-centric decisions even when they are inconvenient; we need to maintain loyalty for our conscience; we need to learn to ignore irritations (of negative experiences) and avoid reactions.
We need to acquire the patience to understand the people we conveniently declare as villains - see their good side, love them, befriend them by being their true well-wishers, and motivate them to change (primarily in their own interest). We will do this naturally when we develop a strong, genuine character.
This effort for self-improvement is not so hard - in fact, it is fun. We all enjoy upgrading our homes, our offices, our cars - we will find nothing as enjoyable and sustainable as upgrading our character.
The revolutions in Egypt and Libya seem unlikely to succeed. The one in Germany did. As did Gandhiji. He succeeded because he sought to love everyone (as he enjoyed doing so), not discount anyone as an antagonist, understand and learn what "the right" might be, pursue that, seek improvement, and enlighten others to do the same. His autobiography speaks not of his achievement of "kicking the British out", but of his efforts to strengthen his character, his efforts to define and pursue "the right".
The great thing about this attitude is that it is sure to deliver sustained happiness. One pursuing environmental improvement through self-improvement need never worry about chances of his/her success. Because speed and success in self-improvement is always in our hand, and we can get started with that "revolution" anytime, from any situation, including now.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Some Simple Principles
What is religion, but a collection of principles that help us navigate happily through life? I am trying to figure my own such principles, and am considering settling with these:
(1) Believe in God (wholeheartedly). Trust his plans, abilities, informality, and intelligence.
(2) You are your mind alone. Life is a God-given opportunity to experience happiness. The world is here to teach you, entertain you, and provide opportunity for you to work and love.
(3) Your happiness, your love, and your efforts are entirely in your control.
(4) Enjoy loving every aspect of the world around you. Love sincerely and unconditionally. Let this love motivate your efforts to improve the world.
(5) Make no efforts except those that are aimed to improve your self and your surroundings (a.k.a. the world).
(6) Enjoy these efforts naturally, for you are working for something you believe in or people you care about. Don't bother about results and reactions, except for fine-tuning your efforts.
(7) Work very hard. More efforts => more fun.
(8) Appreciate and use every opportunity to learn and improve.
(9) Focus on improvement (of self and efforts), not perfection or achievement.
(10) Take decisions based on natural principles driven by your conscience.
A few negatives, for those who didn't get the message clearly enough:
- Save energy from religious compulsions and explicit efforts to please / attract attention of God. How can he be petty enough to need attention and pleasing, foolish enough to ignore your reality, yet powerful enough to perform miracles?
- Save energy from lying, faking feelings, acting without inspiration, or justifying wrong decisions. Enjoy integrity and innocence; win them back if you've lost any.
- Avoid distractions of money, power, fame, relative success or failure, and anesthetic entertainment. It's plainly stupid to choose the illusion of pain over the reality of a beautiful world.
(1) Believe in God (wholeheartedly). Trust his plans, abilities, informality, and intelligence.
(2) You are your mind alone. Life is a God-given opportunity to experience happiness. The world is here to teach you, entertain you, and provide opportunity for you to work and love.
(3) Your happiness, your love, and your efforts are entirely in your control.
(4) Enjoy loving every aspect of the world around you. Love sincerely and unconditionally. Let this love motivate your efforts to improve the world.
(5) Make no efforts except those that are aimed to improve your self and your surroundings (a.k.a. the world).
(6) Enjoy these efforts naturally, for you are working for something you believe in or people you care about. Don't bother about results and reactions, except for fine-tuning your efforts.
(7) Work very hard. More efforts => more fun.
(8) Appreciate and use every opportunity to learn and improve.
(9) Focus on improvement (of self and efforts), not perfection or achievement.
(10) Take decisions based on natural principles driven by your conscience.
A few negatives, for those who didn't get the message clearly enough:
- Save energy from religious compulsions and explicit efforts to please / attract attention of God. How can he be petty enough to need attention and pleasing, foolish enough to ignore your reality, yet powerful enough to perform miracles?
- Save energy from lying, faking feelings, acting without inspiration, or justifying wrong decisions. Enjoy integrity and innocence; win them back if you've lost any.
- Avoid distractions of money, power, fame, relative success or failure, and anesthetic entertainment. It's plainly stupid to choose the illusion of pain over the reality of a beautiful world.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saadhan Shuddhi - સાધન શુધ્ધિ - and IAC
This term always comes to my mind when I think of the "India against corruption" / "Jan Lokpal" movement.
I do believe in the need for a popular movement to eliminate corruption in our country. Government-driven reforms are unlikely to stop corruption, because those have an inevitable conflict of interest - the cat cannot purchase a bell for itself. The onus is on the victims of corruption - the people - to push for meaningful and sustainable reforms. In that, I firmly believe that IAC is our best hope in a long time for a popular push.
But I am also quite disenchanted by the way the leadership of IAC has been pursuing its agenda. I keep seeing that they are willing to compromise their means so long as they find their ends justified. I find their strategy of promoting Anna as the symbolic leader of the movement to be not unlike the Congress keeping the Gandhi family. It is an open secret that Anna hardly contributes to the strategy or direction of the movement - he is just a front to the less-popular-and-more-controversial leaders really driving it. I do not accept the way they slander and mock our representatives with personal insults. If we may not find the system that elected them to be fair, we should oppose the system, not the people who followed this democratic system and got elected. Slandering them, accusing them of unproven things, is fairly comparable to the lies we believe politicians say. Recently, I saw an IAC leader putting up an MP's mobile number online, so that people can bug him till he concedes. Is that a sign of decency?
I also see people trying desperately to spin situations to show that IAC had contribution to election results, even when the opposite is obvious. If IAC wishes to pursue a noble aim, it must maintain honorable behavior. We should find no shame in admitting our failures. Making efforts is in our control, results are not.
But it seems that, being made of humans, IAC is prone to face moral conflicts. I strongly believe that how its leaders resolve these moral conflicts will determine the success of the movement. If they resort to cheap tactics that they claim their corrupt opponents play, they may find initial support, but that will waver over time, and we can already see that. If they choose noble and decent means, i.e. abide by saadhan shuddhi, they may find initial difficulties, but they will undoubtedly succeed in their mission.
Fortunately for us, we don't have to look far and wide for an example - we have Gandhiji to look up to. Sure some of us now find reasons to blame him, but nobody can claim that he compromised his means. We need to first seek to purify ourselves - by developing integrity and humility. I am far from claiming that I myself have attained that - and like a friend of mine said - by claiming to have these virtues, we immediately deprive ourselves of them - and so we must simply keep trying to improve on these. Next, we should learn to love everyone - even the people who oppose our missions, regardless of their sins and mistakes. Loving them further ensures that we employ only the right means to correct those aspects where we think they are wrong. And it opens the possibility that they may some day even change their stand and agree with us. And finally, we should always be open to be corrected - being humans, we are going to make mistakes - by closing our ears to criticism, we are only compromising our ability to succeed in our mission.
Saadhan shuddhi is not simply applicable to a popular movement or dissent. It is applicable in every aspect of our life. It is applicable to business management, friendships, family relations and parenting, what not. Saadhan shuddhi will make life easy for us, because we will always remain true to our conscience.
Give it a try.
I do believe in the need for a popular movement to eliminate corruption in our country. Government-driven reforms are unlikely to stop corruption, because those have an inevitable conflict of interest - the cat cannot purchase a bell for itself. The onus is on the victims of corruption - the people - to push for meaningful and sustainable reforms. In that, I firmly believe that IAC is our best hope in a long time for a popular push.
But I am also quite disenchanted by the way the leadership of IAC has been pursuing its agenda. I keep seeing that they are willing to compromise their means so long as they find their ends justified. I find their strategy of promoting Anna as the symbolic leader of the movement to be not unlike the Congress keeping the Gandhi family. It is an open secret that Anna hardly contributes to the strategy or direction of the movement - he is just a front to the less-popular-and-more-controversial leaders really driving it. I do not accept the way they slander and mock our representatives with personal insults. If we may not find the system that elected them to be fair, we should oppose the system, not the people who followed this democratic system and got elected. Slandering them, accusing them of unproven things, is fairly comparable to the lies we believe politicians say. Recently, I saw an IAC leader putting up an MP's mobile number online, so that people can bug him till he concedes. Is that a sign of decency?
I also see people trying desperately to spin situations to show that IAC had contribution to election results, even when the opposite is obvious. If IAC wishes to pursue a noble aim, it must maintain honorable behavior. We should find no shame in admitting our failures. Making efforts is in our control, results are not.
But it seems that, being made of humans, IAC is prone to face moral conflicts. I strongly believe that how its leaders resolve these moral conflicts will determine the success of the movement. If they resort to cheap tactics that they claim their corrupt opponents play, they may find initial support, but that will waver over time, and we can already see that. If they choose noble and decent means, i.e. abide by saadhan shuddhi, they may find initial difficulties, but they will undoubtedly succeed in their mission.
Fortunately for us, we don't have to look far and wide for an example - we have Gandhiji to look up to. Sure some of us now find reasons to blame him, but nobody can claim that he compromised his means. We need to first seek to purify ourselves - by developing integrity and humility. I am far from claiming that I myself have attained that - and like a friend of mine said - by claiming to have these virtues, we immediately deprive ourselves of them - and so we must simply keep trying to improve on these. Next, we should learn to love everyone - even the people who oppose our missions, regardless of their sins and mistakes. Loving them further ensures that we employ only the right means to correct those aspects where we think they are wrong. And it opens the possibility that they may some day even change their stand and agree with us. And finally, we should always be open to be corrected - being humans, we are going to make mistakes - by closing our ears to criticism, we are only compromising our ability to succeed in our mission.
Saadhan shuddhi is not simply applicable to a popular movement or dissent. It is applicable in every aspect of our life. It is applicable to business management, friendships, family relations and parenting, what not. Saadhan shuddhi will make life easy for us, because we will always remain true to our conscience.
Give it a try.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)