OUR TEMPORARY STAY ON PLANET EARTH
Just Contemplate - Earth came into existence about 4.5 billion years ago. While our ancestors have been around for about six million years, modern humans only evolved about 200,000 years ago. Civilization as we know it is only about 6,000 years old, and industrialization started in earnest only in the 1800s.
If you look at these numbers, our average life of 75 years appears like a very tiny, almost invisible dot on a huge canvas!
Think about our life – as an individual, society or nation. The world we have created is neither pleasant nor blissful.
At this juncture, let me refer to a profound quote: "We were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us, and wealth defined us". A reality check for one and all!
The concept of RACE was floated in the 16th century and evolved in the 17th century. The basic idea was to refer to a group of people with some visible common traits, viz., skin colour, facial features, etc. The concept also extended to geographical locations, e.g., European race, Asian Race or African race.
It is so unnerving to witness the hatred and wars based on just the colour of the skin! From a system of convenience to identifying different categories of the human race, we have sunk to an outcry - "Black lives do matter!"
Let us have a very brief look at religions.
As per our data, 4000 years ago, Hinduism was the first Religion the world witnessed. Hinduism (the original term was Sanatan Dharma) showed the way of salvation, faith and enlightenment. Subsequently, we have had a plethora of religions over time – Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and many others. It is estimated that there are thousands of religions worldwide.
The need for Religion can hardly be debated. I do not want to dwell on religion's merits or demerits since that is irrelevant here. Laying down a Code of Conduct has been the prime objective of any religion. People are shown how human life should be lived – viz. ethics, empathy and more. The world would be anarchy without religious guidelines people believe in due to faith or fear.
Religion is synonymous with faith in God. Rituals, prayers, religious ceremonies etc., are taught in human beings to connect with supreme power. Religion gives us a roadmap to finding purpose in life. Religion is the prime mover of unity and stability of the society at large. It teaches us altruism to bring about positive social change.
The need and utility of Religion for civic life are beyond any debate. But what went wrong was HUMAN EGO. Every Religion is proclaimed to be superior and correct, condemning others. Not only that – the conflicts are also seen within a religion! (Catholic vs Protestant, Sunni vs Shia and others.) The fanatism for Religion has been responsible for wars, terrorism and unrest in the world. Isn't it ironic that the very Religion which teaches us empathy has become the reason for hatred and separation? Karl Marx wrote way back in the 18th century, "Religion is the opium of people". Sad reality!
Though there are so many religions in the world, everyone believes in one uniform Religion – MONEY. In the world that we all have created, wealth is the most crucial defining parameter. Somerset Maugham said: "Money is like a sixth sense. Without it, you can't make complete use of the other five".
What is the scenario in the world today? Only the money will get you the limelight, attention and importance. It does not matter at all how one earns it. Unfortunately, it is money which controls us and not the other way around. A person is more defined by the wealth one has and not by the virtues one possesses. The divide between rich and poor widens, leading to more unhappiness and frustration in the majority.
What sort of world have we created even after our ultra-short stay here? Wars, Communalism, Religious conflicts, Racial Discrimination, Ego, Selfishness, Immorality, Corruption, Lust, Vengeance, and Diseases – The world is nothing but a culmination of the attitudes and behaviour of individual humans.
The world is metamorphosing at breakneck speed - The virtual world, social media, the Internet of things, and now AI is engulfing us in their tentacles. Technology itself is never wrong – what matters is how we use it. Our emotional quotient is at its nadir. Self-centeredness, apathy for others, need-based relationships – the world is pushed into a dark abyss. Humanity is facing a stern challenge.
Is it impossible to stay a compassionate, empathetic human in the changing milieu? The answer is a firm NO. I am reminded of an insightful poem by Henry Drummond, which serves as a guiding light to all of us.
"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do or ANY kindness that I can show to ANY human being, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again".
Should we not remain aware that we all come to this world with an "expiry date"? The world culminates each inmate's behaviour, actions and attitude. Dalai Lama aptly commented: "Humanity cannot survive without Love and compassion".
The impermanence of our existence should not cause fear in our minds (as it is inevitable) but should become THE reason for doing good, behaving good and thinking good of others.
I endorse the law of KARMA. Why not accumulate good KARMA in the present life to journey towards salvation?
Everyone dies, but does everyone live?
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