We are often
confounded with our own disbeliefs, disillusionment and disappointments.
Sometimes it feels that we are losing the sense of purpose in life either
because we are not able to achieve what we want, or because we are not able to
breakeven with the circumstances. Sometimes we often lack clarity, with so many
things to do, that we end up doing none.
The situation
warrants a serious relook. In this article, I have made an attempt to have this relook on our choices and decisions, and consequences thereof. Identify our current value system behind the veil of our attitude and action. and then redefine them to realize our own vision. I prefer to use term "Dharma" often as one word substitute for all of them, Dharma, which is embedded in our consciousness and emanates from the eternity, has been discussed in detail. The article also highlights the importance of faith in fulfilling ones dharma. Finally, an attempt has been made to outline qualitative metrics of dharma and posssible distractions to it.
Our Action determine our attitudes and our attitudes
are determined by our vaules. Value is a quintessential of any society, organization
or individual at large. Therefore how do we choose value for ourselves is an
important question. Asking right
question is a virtue, like Sahadeva, who would answer only if the right
question was asked. Right questions give most relevant answers. And the right
question at this point will be certainly, what picture do we see of our future.
This picture is a vision. Vision is less objective and more qualitative. So
lets work backward and define our vision, set a broad set of principles and
rules, that help us make choices and
decision for our action, in the direction of realization of our vision.
Then the question is What do we do? Aristotle says, “choose your vocation where your talent meets the need of the world”. That’s why realizing
ones dharma is so important, it is different in the sense from the term we defined above as it encompasses all of them, the rules, principles, action (including the
intent of the action) and vision of one self. You can always question yourself, Whether what you are going to do is dharma or not? What is my dharma?. Sometimes making
decision is difficult when there is conflict between the "Principle" and the "Rules", whereas
the best thing is to comply with both the rule and intent of it is, i.e.,
principle, the conflict between the two can create “Dharma Sankat”. The rule is
to uphold the "Principle", As the Krishna did it (Analogy is drawn from the
Devadutt Pattnaiks Wiriting). Maslow’s Heirarchy of needs stops short at self actualization.
Indian thought moves even further to Self
Realisation. Whereas Actualised people have higher level of acceptance of self
and other often in pursuit of men’s highest potential, Self realized people
lose their identity, only to become one with ultimate reality of universe i.e. Brahman (beyond
the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination,
as the Bhagvad puts it). Only name
that comes to my mind when I think of a self realized person is Mahatama
Gandhi.
Great Visions and arduous dharma are taken
by the men of great faith. Some people who identify themselves as rationalist
often deny the existence of faith failing scientific scrutiny, although it’s a different
matter that even greatest scientists were men of great faith. Faith which stems
out from their inherent spirituality. Faith is the driving force of noble
pursuits.
Human being is
a function of four fold yogas of knowledge, action, love and reflection onto
oneself. Mathematically Speaking Co-ordinate of an individual can be determined
with the first three variables and its relative position w.r.t others can be
determined using the fourth variable of reflection i.e the way he/she interacts
with himself or others. The Highest Human potential can be obtained through one
of the yogas or their combination.
Whereas success
is relative term, realization of dharma helps one to set right his own
definitions of success. Important to this is, that we retain our controls.
People are being increasingly “driven” with the advent of seamless
interconnection of social networks. Rhetoric today can create euphoria,
intolerant people may rebel to change the existing system but are far less
likely to create a beautiful tomorrow. That’s Why, Daniel Goleman who coined the term “Emotional
Intelligence” later came out with the term “Social Intelligence”. Whereas
earlier It was a quest between the Logical and the Emotional Brain. Now the
Environment is much more complex as the two brain function continuously interact
with innumerable similar entities in their society or beyond the barriers of
physical boundaries of society to virtual society. Its much more dangerous now,
That why Social Scientist now talk of Spiritual Intelligence, intent is to
bring back the foci of the locus of one’s control into one’s own “Consciousness”.
We (Indian Thought) knew it long ago. Western world has now reasoned it out
working backwords.
This World, If at all, should be greatful to the men who took their societies forward, often without glorification or recognition. Individual glory should have a little place in the life of a society. It is the leaders, social workers, scientist and bravehearts (etc.) who are bedrock of great civilizations, who are contributors. Contributors come before achievers. Achievers can be significant contributors, when they realize their duty. Therefore I believe that, Individual success is a lesser form of success, and although deserves recognition, but not glorification.
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