My Journey to becoming better human being

Journey to becoming better human being - 4 3 Should I feel guilty for having fun?   Yesterday I attended a party and it was a great fun. Thinking about it as I was cherishing the memory, a second thought peeped in. I want to do serious things in life. Was it right for me to have fun? Was it not a waste of time and deviation? Could I afford such a kind of self-indulgence? As usual, when we have perplexing question, we proposed that as a topic for our weekly meeting.   “When you pursue pleasure, you enchain yourself to suffering. But as long as you do not harm your health, enjoy without inhibition when the opportunity presents itself”   From the very style of the statement we realized that we were discussing one of the 12 Principles of Valid Actions. By now we were quite conversant with these Principles as laws of behavior. We had learnt that violation of these laws will cause suffering within us and around us.   I understood that the principle cautions...

Journey to becoming better human being - 42 Can I stay away from Politics?   We were talking about a crook of our area who entered politics, became a leader, contested and won elections and has now become a thick-skinned politician, influencing the decisions governing our lives and the country. Suddenly, we realised our own pitiable plight. Our life and the future of our children are in the hands of crooks like him and we are reduced to mere helpless spectators. We proposed this as a topic for our weekly meeting.   “When good people do not enter politics, they leave the vacuum for the crooks to occupy.” . We shared our common understanding that politics is dirty and good people keep away from it. But diving deeper we examined our beliefs. Politics is participation in common governance. Be it at the level of family and workplace or be it at the level of state and the country. Deliberating on issues of common concerns, examining diverse perspectives and getting invol...

Journey to becoming better human being - 41 Power of my thoughts   Sanjay was upset as his request for role revision was dismissed by his boss. He himself was not convinced of his proposal but thought of going ahead in any case. Was there any effect of his thoughts on the outcome? We proposed that as a topic for our weekly meeting.   “Thoughts produce and attract actions.”   I thought about making a phone call to a friend and I called him up. It is easy to understand that first there is a thought and based on that there is an action. Thought precedes action and in other words thought produce action. Clear thought will produce clear action and confused thought will produce confused action. So far so good. But what it has to do with attracting actions?   Perhaps it has to do with how my thoughts influence my verbal and non-verbal communication. If my thoughts are confused, somehow clarity is not transmitted and in turn the response is also weak.   ...

Journey to becoming better human being - 40 Respecting the freedom of thought and belief   We were discussing about the deterioration in the taste of fashion all around. Once torn clothes caused embarrassment whereas today it is a fashion. We were about to laugh it off when Rajesh turned the matter with a serious question that how do we know who is right in this situation. We realised that the point was worth reflections and a topic for our weekly meeting.   “I am always right but the one differing with me is also right.”   Each one of us have unique background – our own biography and the worldview in which we grew. That upbringing and experience has tremendous impact on our thought and beliefs. That has influenced our likes and dislikes, our value judgement about right and wrong and our opinion about life and the world.   When I grew up women-wear revealing even knees were considered shameful. I am bound to get shocked when I see even shorter trouser...

Journey to becoming better human being - 39 How to digest rejection and failure?   Observing our feelings in different situations, making a note and based on that proposing a topic for discussion in weekly meetings had become a regular practice among all of us.   We looked forward to these meetings where friends meet not to gossip but to discuss about important aspects of life. Every meeting was an enriching experience.   Rohit shared his experience. He is a student and had exams last few days. One of the days he did very well in exam. He was jubilant. The next day he did not do as well and the whole day was spoilt.   “If day and night, summer and winter are fine with you, you have overcome your contradictions. This is one of the 12 Principles of valid actions.”   We all knew well that these principles are laws of behaviour. If followed, it will help us reduce suffering.   We all experience various situations in our daily life - results ...

Journey to becoming better human being - 38 What should I do ?   We were in the middle of a major calamity in the country. We were concerned and were thinking of what to do. We were exploring if there was any way we can create something that not only sensitizes people but also show them some direction as to what they can do if they want to. We proposed it as a topic for our weekly meeting.   “There is a broad spectrum of the possible response to the catastrophes affecting other people.”   We have witnessed massive human tragedies caused by natural disasters like earthquake, flood, draught, tsunami or by manmade disasters like riots and wars. We have heard heart breaking stories of massive human suffering, loss of lives, starvation and illnesses.   On one end of the spectrum is the indifference to the suffering of others. Perhaps not feeling connected to their misery or even if feeling connected, suppressing that feelings by submerging in ‘minding my o...

Journey to becoming better human being - 37 What makes it so profound ….   A friend who had just returned from a few days’ meditation camp was gaga about his experience. He was all out to convince me about the value of his experience and wanted me to join him. This was not the first instance. Over time, I have come across many enticing systems with exceptional claims. But this time his pitch was so powerful that I was somewhat shaken. I decided to take up the point for discussion in our weekly meeting.   “In today’s time with widespread confusion and disorientation, a great number of ‘self-help’ systems have proliferated.”   How true it is. I myself have come across more than a dozen systems. There are systems referring to sub-conscious and hypnoses, meditation and prana, with modern names and esoteric Sanskrit names, offered by ostensible scholars and by self-styled gurus. There are systems related to exercises, breathing, diet and even medicines. Each system...