Whispering Wednesday

Hari OM

In last week's article on the subject of books, towards the end, I used the word 'imperative' concerning the importance of feeding our mental selves positively and with material that would raise our vibrant selves, not drag us to the gutter.

As I sat awaiting the whisper for today's post, that word echoed once more, and so I pondered as to why. Bearing in mind that all these posts are an expansion of my own saadhana, they are written in the manner they are as hints and pointers - that anyone reading here might draw inspiration from them. Or at least be stimulated to think a little deeper. The first purpose of the imperative for me, then, is that I provide this outreach, as engendered by my own acharya's injunction, "don't forget to teach, amma!"

Then again, we live in times where we all need to assess our role in life and whether or not we have obligations not just to ourselves but to the community at large. Do we have a moral imperative? This could be in our political stance, or on matters of health and wellbeing - or indeed, in any sphere of sociological undertaking.

These are 'interesting times' which the old adage would say curse us. We are in a constant state of adaptation. This is part of the human condition, but most of us have become settled and complacent, considering permanency where none truly existed. There is an ambivalence that has affected the entire world, which has permitted the rise of neoliberalism and, in some cases, hints of fascism. Even when we know that change is required and that such a change can only come about by deciding and acting towards creating that change, so many of us are also in a state of fear. We become paralysed because there may be no visible or viable alternative to which we can turn. We become hung upon our own hook of indecision. Can we find in ourselves that moral fibre to drive the imperative of working towards the change we wish to see?

It is so easy to condemn spiritual pursuits as being outdated and pointless in life - but I put it to you that the very foundation of principles that drive the moral imperative - and, indeed, boost morale (to take a twist on it) - are derived from the philosophies of self-analysis and personal development. All modern reinventions which have arisen simply cannot improve upon the ancient teachings of what it is to be the best human beings we can be. That these teachings (and I talk here not just of the Vedic shruti, but also those of Judaism, Islam and Christianity...) in their turn got twisted out of shape and used erroneously is a fault of the base creature that is Mankind, ever lustful for control and power.

When we turn to the great books of any philosophy to enrich ourselves (as stated last week), our immediate imperative is to not reinterpret what we read. Not to twist it to our own ends and seek justification for staying exactly as we are, rather than making the alterations to ourselves that will build our personality higher and nobler. 

We live in a world that desperately needs those who have higher ideals and universal understanding, international interest whilst appreciating local purpose, to rise and speak out and be counted. Certainly, that can come with an element of personal risk - to our ego selves, if not our physical selves. But what revolution ever succeeded without there being a level of sacrifice?

The social revolution required in the world now is one of the basic humanitarian values and addressing of simple needs. It has always been thus - yet here we still are. Can the world shake itself and see more clearly how wrong it has been, and bring about a true and meaningful union in keeping with the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam?