Dear Editor:
Pastor beats wife; attempts to throw her off veranda. Mulvi imprisons young girl. Pandit makes amorous moves on female devotee.
Son beats mother. Stepfather fondles stepchild. Man hacks child mother to death. Men of God, the educated and the dullards, none are immune from the madness that propels them to commit these dehumanizing acts.
Not that they have set out to deliberately make themselves less than human. These are rational, family loving, God fearing members of society.
In one moment of insanity however, when the beast is released from behind the slender bars of self control, it runs amok, destroying in a split second a lifetime of love, sacrifice and achievement.
See how many times you have been a victim of this inner beast and look at the emotional scars and trauma you have been left with.
Common in these insane acts are Anger, Greed, Lust, Pride and Arrogance — all born out of unbridled desires! We say ‘Crimes of passion”, which is actually a misnomer. It is the unfulfilled desire which ignites the passion, hence the crime.
So you see, we are all guilty of harbouring that cloven hoofed, half man, half goat inside; a very profound and symbolic expression. What it expresses is the dual nature of man and the choice he makes — to be uplifted by our spirituality or to be chained to our bestial tendencies!
A few things become very clear. Firstly, not all who cry “God, God” shall enter into the ‘Kingdom of God’.
Secondly, we may have ‘social standing’ but we still wallow in our individual emotional pig pens. And thirdly, we have to liberate ourselves from the notion of an external Devil. We are responsible for our actions and inactions, successes or failures. No one else!
Of course, this is not for the weak or faint hearted. The greatest demon we can come face to face with is ourselves. When it comes to confronting change and taking responsibility for our actions and inactions it is always easier to blame the other person, thing or occasion; to find a scapegoat or a fall guy. Isn’t it?
But does this mean you are weak or faint hearted? No! You are only weak and faint hearted because you think you are. Wake up! Discover the slumbering giant within. Break the shackles of mental dependence and laziness. Get out of that comfort zone inimical to your long term growth and development.
When you make that shift in consciousness from blaming others or “them” to accepting responsibility for your actions, affirming that, “I am the cause of whatever is happening in my life,” you have become a king among men.
You have empowered yourself by dropping your lifelong mental baggage of guilt, frustration, sorrows, hurt, anger, etc.
Remember the story of the two monks? As they were approaching a river, they saw an old woman attempting to cross. She struggled with the strong current. Unable to cross however, she sat on the river bank crying.
The elderly monk walked passed her. The younger monk, although knowing it was against their sacred customs to touch a woman, promptly scooped her up and gently placed her on the other side.
The elderly monk was blue with anger but held his peace. After a few hours, he could not have contained it any longer.
He stopped, glared at his younger companion and bellowed, “You know it is sacrilegious to touch a woman, yet you took that old fool across the river!” The young monk retorted innocently “I dropped that poor woman by the river bank two hours ago. But you have been fetching her in this hot sun two hours and 10 miles since! What a burden!”
Unlike the young monk, some of you have burdened yourselves with the mistaken notions that you are not liked by some supervisors; have been overlooked for promotion or not being given due recognition.
Let me share a personal secret with you. You are not alone. The more I think that way however, the more my mind finds justification.
Then I realise, the more I do so, the more I imprison myself by giving people the remote control to my emotional well being. But they are not the ones pressing the buttons you see! Those whom I have been fetching are so caught up in their own issues they are not even aware of my existence! Who then is pressing my buttons? Myself! All my pains have been self inflicted. Herein is the key to our liberation or continued enslavement! As you think, so will you act. Negative inside; negative outside; positive inside; positive outside!
Disabuse yourself of any limitations that bring dependence on others and imprison you.
Restriction leads to dependence and ultimately lack of control. Rejoice in the abundance of your true self which brings choice….and with it, freedom.
I was not kicked in the stomach by a horse or something and gained overnight insight into life. Neither do I speak from a position brought about by any dry intellectual analysis of some books which I am regurgitating like a programmed robot. No! I never was and will never be. I am a free soul. I speak from what I have experienced.
Like you I had to face my demons. And like you, I am also a work in progress with as many kinks, bumps and rough edges.
Many of you did the Art of Living Basic Course. You have been given the key to empowerment in the knowledge and techniques taught to you.
Delve deeper. Discover and experience what millions around the world are discovering and experiencing — the breath, mind, body connection to the highway of mental and physical health and happiness.
Reclaim your smile. The magic to retaking control of your lives is of your making. The choice is yours.
Rohan Singh, via email
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