1.👇
The frenzy around Olympic medals can teach a lot about where we are at as a society. Especially my country. Whoever’s won it deserves every bit of the praise and everything coming his/her way. But, our reaction towards it is a great indicator of our psyche. It feels like we are starving of global acclamation. We are desperate to be noticed. And, perhaps this is exactly why it becomes so difficult for our athletes or any other professional to go and express themselves freely in a global event. It is not just a test of their professional ability, it feels like a life and death situation. Now, this is not to criticize us as a nation. This is to say that we still need to evolve more as a society wherein we need to embrace each other more as human beings and not as somebody based on our social identity. On individual part, our constant urge to express ourselves as a revered social entity also needs to be restrained. Only then, the freedom to express oneself in his/her purest essence will increase. Only then can we truly witness extraordinary feats on a consistent basis. Well, truth be told, it is a mammoth task, it’ll require economic, social, psychological reforms at a grand scale. It will take time for sure but then now is the time to be conscious about it. One step at a time towards it.
2.👇
Many of the western philosophers having nihilistic viewpoints have said things which to a common man would sound gravely depressing. Well, what they say is not totally wrong but such kind of a pessimistic outlook is very damaging. Nihilism as in ‘life is meaningless, purposeless’, if believed by somebody deeply, in today’s day and world would most probably give suicidal thoughts. There would be no reason for a normal guy to carry on then. And, that is where the Vedas come into picture. The philosophy of Vedas guides you towards a Fixed Point which is free from this purposeless cycles. It directs you to work towards it, in and through these cycles so that you finally come to realise that what you seek is just You and that freedom is Your very nature. In fact you and freedom are One. Vedas give people a purpose, a reason to carry on. I personally don’t believe in nihilism, rather don’t want to believe in it because the first question that comes across my mind against nihilism is, ‘why this relentless pursuit of pleasure then?’ This pursuit itself shows there’s a journey. But then of course, you can’t throw away nihilism because that is also kind of true. The sum total remains the same, so in broader sense nothing changes. But, Vedas tell us that in and through this journey we realise that since the sum total remains same then it means everything must be One. And if everything is One, then we all must be ever Free, beyond cycles. It gives a positive outlook towards the same outcome. It keeps you hopeful. What is life without hope? Nothing.
3.👇
The humanitarian crises are rising tremendously across the globe. So is the climate crisis which is more like a silent killer. And, all these are happening right when we as a species are making unimaginable progress. Think of the last 20 years and see the progress that we’ve made. Also think about the increased frequency of crises that we’ve had to face in that same period of time. And, that is what is the paradox of life. We make progress to be pursued by more problems/challenges. A selfless intention without the care for its consequence is all that matters. Because there is no way to stop this good/bad cycle. There is also no way to stop as stagnation is not the way of nature.
Om Shanti.. 🙏