WHO AM I?
Posted by bmhegde on 1
INTRODUCTION.
The present educational system gives our young children basically an external, objective, and intellect based education-mostly information that is rarely assimilated as knowledge to be clubbed with one’s life long empirical knowledge to be eventually culled into life’s wisdom. In short, the present Maculay type of school system prepares the future generation, as was done in the past, to have just about enough skills to earn a living. In the bargain, many of us become so greedy, not realising our goal in life, and go through life mechanically, hoarding money and power to earn name and fame. These individuals are called achievers and are being respected and honoured by conventional systems in society.
Unfortunately, mankind does not seem to have realised the basic obligation that comes with life on this planet. The latter could only be assimilated if one gets, in addition to the above type of education, some inkling into oneself through internal, subjective, and intuition-based education as well. The latter requires the child to get to know himself/herself a bit more intimately. Although we are advised to socialize with our friends and relatives, rarely does one get to realize how nice it is to socialize with oneself once in a while!
This little booklet attempts to initiate the young child into the inner world of man where wisdom dwells. In fact, no one could teach anyone anything that he/she does not already know. The inner universal wisdom has to be brought to the surface to be used for one’s own good and for the good of society.
When the child gets to know that it has come from the same source from where all life has originally emanated, and at the end of the day it has to return there for recycling, the child would get to realize the need to live in harmony with others, as also with mother Nature. This, in addition, would make the child humble-humility being the core of real education.
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Child also realises that every action of man has to have some reaction necessitating man to act wisely with universal compassion. If this were not pursued vigorously, time would soon come when we would be in the same mess that the advanced west is today. American High School students settle their day to day scores with their peers and/or teachers with their elders' guns. There have been more than ten thousand such crimes committed in the last one year including homicide taking more than a dozen lives!
This small booklet is a humble attempt to reverse the trend being created by the Macaulay type of education. I am sure there would be people who would think that there is nothing wrong with the present system as all of us are the products of the same system. This line of thinking comes from a closed mind, which refuses to see reason making one a status quoits'. " Knowledge advances not by repeating known facts, but by refuting false dogmas" wrote Karl Popper, a great thinker.
Question 1.
Where have I come from?
You, like all of us, have originated in the ever active bio-plasma that makes up this universe, the bio-sphere; wherein every life originates and eventually perishes into the same elements for recycling at the end of one's sojourn here.
Question 2.
Where does everyone go from here?
Back into the same bio-plasma for recycling. Every life is carved out of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and some trace minerals. The energy for all the hectic activities in the biosphere is sustained by the all-powerful Sun. After death, the latter being the only certainty in life, everyone will eventually become carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen and trace minerals.
Question 3.
How big is this all encompassing biosphere, anyway?
The biosphere resembles a large oil slick in the sea when viewed in the backdrop of this galaxy. It is a thin strip of matter measuring 20 miles in thickness from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the atmosphere (the sky) and has a radius of roughly 4000 miles. Most of it is water and the rest land. This sustains all life on this planet, generating and destroying life with the same philosophy, in a methodical fashion.
Picture.
Question 4.
Why are we here?
Symbiosis (live together and let live) is the key word. We live together and live for one another. No one, howsoever big or powerful he/she is, can live by himself without the help of other living creatures in this world. The illusion that one is very powerful and does not need others' help is the biggest myth. The inflexible laws of Nature do not make any distinction between man and a worm even. You may be surprised to know that we have ten thousand billion germs living with us between our mouth and the anus. Without them we would be dead!
Man does not have any special status, either. He has no right over the lives of other animals, although man treats other animals as his subordinates meant to be used and abused by him. Nature makes it mandatory for man to help one another. When one helps another in life, the body's defense mechanism (immune system) gets a shot in the arm. On the contrary, when we try and harm others overtly or covertly, the same immune system suffers damage, may be, in the long run, damaging our health. Nature does not want to keep bad people in very good health to curtail the damage to society!
We, therefore, live here for others.
Question 5.
Why is man greedy, then?
Man was altruistic up until the birth of the monetary economy. Now he is heading towards his own destruction with the monsters that he has created in the name of inventions in science and technology and the political systems. The latter is the bane of society with its greed for power and parking space that threatens the entire God given resources of Nature. 90% of the world's resources are used up by 10% of the population and the remaining 90% of the population will have to make do with the paltry 10%. This big divide, the inverse care law, is enlarging by the day in all parts of the world-rich and poor. "Man-eating-man" in the name of religion, caste, creed, country, race, language and what have you, is the order of the day. Greed is born out of jealousy and altruism is the only antidote for greed.
Question 6.
Where is God?
God is within each one of us. God can not be seen, but can only be felt. Each time you try and help another person in distress, you are playing God. Man could easily elevate himself to divinity by living for others and loving all the creatures in Nature. God loves those who love their fellowmen. You must have learnt the poem "Abu Ben Adam."
Spirituality is sharing and caring. This is common to all religions in this world. One should cultivate spirituality which gives one the essence of education, humility and also the purpose and meaning for life.
Question 7.
What is Humility?
Genuine humility is the hallmark of Indian education. The latter is acquiring wisdom. Wisdom is always humble because it knows no more, but knowledge and information could be very proud because they know so much! Humility is the other word for universal love. Humble man is not jealous of others, he is not proud, arrogant, nor does he get angry. Incidentally, medical science has now realized that the above mentioned negative feelings are the one's that destroy man's health and invite illnesses.
Question 8.
Who am I?
You are love-altruistic universal compassion-to be of use to others, without ever craving for some returns from that. You must be thankful for any opportunity you get to help others, as that is your strength and happiness. That is also everyone's goal in life.