The Important Things In Life Are Not Things
All-around us we see chaos, A commotion and destruction; we hear about the loss of human values and moral degradation. Asa consequence, there is concern and worry regarding the future. Such situations are not new. In our Shastra’s. we find similar descriptions. Without knowing the context, if one were to read Devarshi Narbada’s account of life on earth, one would be convinced it is a portrayal of present times! Likewise, Socrates deplored the indiscipline and disobedience of the youth of his days. When we say human values are deteriorating, we should understand what human values are, how they are degenerating and what we can do to restore them. Many people are addressing the situation at various levels through seminars, workshops and conferences. Deep within, each one knows what to do, but when it comes to action, we hold back. Once, a journalist asked me whether i was alarmed by the present condition of the youth and was surprised when i replied in the negative. Human beings have the free will to destroy themselves; conversely, they also have the ability to rebuild the damage. This is the beauty of human nature. There is no need to be depressed; it does not help matters. One reason for the decadence is that we have given more importance to things than to values. The second is: the importantthingsin life are not things. Every person has an inherent desire to enrich his or her life. First we want security. then comfort, then more comfort and greater pleasure. Those who have material things, a higher per capita income and the ability to spend more money are labelled as 'prosperous' Enrichment has two aspects-outer and inner. To enrich our outer life, we require a lot of effort and money. However, the basic necessities of life are free. We can live without gold, silver and jewels, but not without air, water and food, which Nature gives us for free. They are not 'cheap'; they are valuable, but 'free'. The space we live in is free, but we put a price on the land and commercialise it. Space, air, solar energy and water are all free. the speaking We take Nature's gifts for granted. Using her raw materials, we turn them into different shapes and make things expensive and rare. We ascribe value to things and create the world of fierce competition. The principle of tree Live and let live ‘is replaced by 'Kill or get killed'. The beauty of air is that we all breathe at the same time and yet there is no competition. We call ourselves superior, intelligent beings, but continue to destroy the verythings (plants, trees and animals), on whiour well-being depends. The plant animal kingdoms can exist comforwithout us, but we cannot live withthem.The job of the superior is to protect the inferior; the more educmust look after the less educated; tstrong after the weak. None of these values are heed because we give undue importance money Things have become more important than values. Can we enrour lives just by possessing things outer lives can be made prosperousthe trappings of wealth and luxurywithout the virtues of love, compound honesty, there cannot be any long-term sustenance. We mutinous inner life.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Swami Tejomayananda views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Swami Tejomayananda and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Important Things In Life Are Not Things
All-around us we see chaos, A commotion and destruction; we hear about the loss of human values and moral degradation. Asa consequence, there is concern and worry regarding the future. Such situations are not new. In our Shastra’s. we find similar descriptions. Without knowing the context, if one were to read Devarshi Narbada’s account of life on earth, one would be convinced it is a portrayal of present times! Likewise, Socrates deplored the indiscipline and disobedience of the youth of his days. When we say human values are deteriorating, we should understand what human values are, how they are degenerating and what we can do to restore them. Many people are addressing the situation at various levels through seminars, workshops and conferences. Deep within, each one knows what to do, but when it comes to action, we hold back. Once, a journalist asked me whether i was alarmed by the present condition of the youth and was surprised when i replied in the negative. Human beings have the free will to destroy themselves; conversely, they also have the ability to rebuild the damage. This is the beauty of human nature. There is no need to be depressed; it does not help matters. One reason for the decadence is that we have given more importance to things than to values. The second is: the importantthingsin life are not things. Every person has an inherent desire to enrich his or her life. First we want security. then comfort, then more comfort and greater pleasure. Those who have material things, a higher per capita income and the ability to spend more money are labelled as 'prosperous' Enrichment has two aspects-outer and inner. To enrich our outer life, we require a lot of effort and money. However, the basic necessities of life are free. We can live without gold, silver and jewels, but not without air, water and food, which Nature gives us for free. They are not 'cheap'; they are valuable, but 'free'. The space we live in is free, but we put a price on the land and commercialise it. Space, air, solar energy and water are all free. the speaking We take Nature's gifts for granted. Using her raw materials, we turn them into different shapes and make things expensive and rare. We ascribe value to things and create the world of fierce competition. The principle of tree Live and let live ‘is replaced by 'Kill or get killed'. The beauty of air is that we all breathe at the same time and yet there is no competition. We call ourselves superior, intelligent beings, but continue to destroy the verythings (plants, trees and animals), on whiour well-being depends. The plant animal kingdoms can exist comforwithout us, but we cannot live withthem.The job of the superior is to protect the inferior; the more educmust look after the less educated; tstrong after the weak. None of these values are heed because we give undue importance money Things have become more important than values. Can we enrour lives just by possessing things outer lives can be made prosperousthe trappings of wealth and luxurywithout the virtues of love, compound honesty, there cannot be any long-term sustenance. We mutinous inner life.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Swami Tejomayananda views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Swami Tejomayananda and Speaking Tree,Times of India