Human beings like to imagine themselves as the centre of the universe. Our religions and gods render their generous assistance in this process. For example, all the major Semitic religions imagine that God created everything for the sake of the human species. Man is the crown of the entire creation and everything in the universe, including women and the stars, is subservient to man.
Other religions do not fare
much better in this regard. Hinduism not only places men above women but also
some men above others in an elaborate and intricate hierarchy.
Such systems have led some
people to think too highly of themselves. Thinking too highly of yourself is
pride in a negative sense.
Pride can be positive too. We
should be proud of ourselves, our goodness, our integrity, our identity, and all
other good things that we have or we are. That pride helps us to be good and
also to become better day by day. Ironically, that pride is the kind of
humility that Ernest Hemingway wanted us to learn. “There is nothing noble in
being superior to your fellow man,” he said, “true nobility is being superior
to your former self.”
More often than not, our pride
is not all that positive. Often our pride is an inflated balloon filled with exhaled
carbon dioxide. Such pride is destined to walk before many a fall if we are to
believe the proverb. But the rise of many people from humble beginnings to
sparkling eminence – like from a tea-stall on a railway platform to Panchavati
on Lok Kalyan Marg – cocks a snook at the proverbial wisdom.
Probably it depends on what
kind of eminence you really want. If you are the type that is allured by power
and glory, then proverbs and platitudes are not for you. If you are on a quest
for an authentic existence, the kind of existence that thinkers and artists and
saints and a whole range of seekers discovered and continue to discover, certain
humility will definitely stand you in good stead.
The humble truth is that we
aren’t anything much in this vast universe. It is indeed a vast universe.
Vaster than you can probably imagine. Astronomer Carl Sagan calculated the number
of probable planets in the universe at about ten billion trillion. Try
imagining that number: one followed by 34 zeroes. Our earth is just one tiny
dot among all those endless zeroes. You and I are insignificant atoms on that
tiny planet. Hold your breath for a moment before imagining that there is some
great god sitting somewhere out there for whom you are so precious that he (or
she, or whatever) takes note of everything you think, say and do so that he can
take you to task on some day of retribution.
It is more likely that there
are some really intelligent and sensible species watching you from one of those
billions of planets out there. Watching you shouting mindless slogans flaunting
absurd flags placing gun barrels on the hearts of people who imagine a god
different from yours…
Take a deep breath. Hold it. Forget
the slogans and flags and gods. Forget yourself too. You are not the centre of
the universe. You are not even as much as a speck of dust in spaces that
stretch beyond a 100 billion galaxies. Release your breath slowly. Feeling the
emptiness. Savouring it. Knowing the meaning of that emptiness.
Postscript
October is the month of Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa and this is my 1st
post in the series. There are many more to come on other great virtues that can
really take your breath away for a few worthwhile moments.
The Blogchatter gives a
certain direction to blogs twice a year with this sort of endeavours. I
participated in their April’s A2Z challenge and the result was a book on 26
books. This book of mine, Great Books for Great Thoughts, is available
for free download here.
Who knows, I might inflict
upon the world yet another free e-book after Blogchatter’s October. Humbly
yours.
Hinduism has many aspects. It has many scriptures. Some exalt men and some exalt women. Not being creation of a single Messiah or Prophet many things were propagated as part of Hinduism and later on attempts were made to integrate and reform many things. The reform process is still going on. Compared to Hinduism, the structure of other religions do not have much scope in reform as these are guided by mostly a single book. The complexity of Hinduism has to be considered as a whole. If we highlight only one aspect it would be a misinterpretation.
ReplyDeleteToday there is a concerted effort to make Hinduism a monolith like the other major religions.
DeleteMoreover, the real power is still wielded by a particular elite section and hence the reforms won't work.
I loved that Ernest Hemingway's quote.
ReplyDeleteHow many can actually savor the emptiness? Thought provoking post.
Every time I read your blogs sir, there is so much to learn & I take a little pause after each read to assimilate my thoughts. Same has happened with this post as well. I agree with you when you said Pride is being used negatively whereas we can be proud of ourselves in a positive way. And we really need to understand how miniscule we are in this vast universe. However, I feel religion also gives people hope to hold onto goodness , light over darkness & helps in guiding life paths of many simple innocent souls . The concept of Karma can be an example. But yes , extremism in any religion & in any form is absolutely uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteGood post on self help
ReplyDelete