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If you feel that you belong to the
whole human race rather than a particular nation or religion or any such relatively
smaller community, you have a more evolved consciousness. Nationalists,
religious bigots and terrorists, linguistic chauvinists and such people possess
a low-level consciousness.
There is something called ‘terror
management theory’ in psychology. It says that when people are made to feel
insecure and anxious they tend to cling to narrow affiliations. Remember how
the slogan Hindu khatre mein hai captured the psyche of a whole nation a
few years back? The Hindu is in danger. What danger? In a country where the
Hindus were what is today commonly and significantly labelled as “brutal majority,"
what danger did they face from the tiny minority? It was a danger fabricated by
certain clever politicians for the sake of winning elections. They won too. They
rule the country today. And they keep the whole country at a very low level of
consciousness. For the sake of keeping their power safe. It is easy to
subjugate a people whose consciousness level is low.
The terror management theory
mentioned above says that we have an impulse to cling to labels of identity to
defend ourselves against feelings of insecurity. Create some kind of panic among
people. Like Hindu khatre mein hai. Then project nationalism as a secure
label. People will flock to that label.
Poverty and economic instability also
can lead to increased nationalism, according to the terror management theory.
We know where India stands in many rankings of poverty and hunger and so on.
Good for nationalism. But bad for the evolution of the consciousness.
The terror management theory also
says that those who experience high levels of wellbeing don’t tend to have a
narrow sense of group identity. They feel a strong sense of connection to bigger
groups like the whole world or the species itself. They see themselves as
global citizens. They see themselves as human beings rather than Hindus or
Muslims, Indians or Pakistanis.
Psychologist Steve Taylor studied
this in detail and has written much about it. In one of his studies, he found
that people who experienced some trauma like cancer or a fatal accident emerge
from the catastrophe with changed perspectives. Their perspective becomes
wider, more inclusive. Hence their lives become richer, more meaningful. More
fulfilling. They see the connectedness of the entire reality. Instead of seeing
the borders and boundaries, they see relationships and connections. Borders
disappear from their minds.
Wide minds. High level of
consciousness. When most people in the world achieve that stage, there will be
no need for passports and visas. Borders and boundaries will be only for
administrative purposes. The human race will be ONE. Oneness of a mystical
kind.
That’s just a dream, I know. Let me
dream.
PS.
Written for Indispire Edition 429: Imagine a world without
borders. No visa, no passport, no frisking... A really civilized world of
harmonious coexistence. #VasudhaivaKutumbakam
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteI grinned... I have oftentimes commented when travelling that I am a universal citizen and wished passports unnecessary! I share your dream... YAM xx
Your writings have given me ample proof of your evolved consciousness.
DeleteJohn Lennon's song Imagine there's no countries
ReplyDeleteIt isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
My favourite song!
That's a profoundly meaningful song. I love it too.
DeleteI agree to magiceye;)
ReplyDeleteA very good post . So true...
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete" Wide minds. High level of consciousness. When most people in the world achieve that stage, there will be no need for passports and visas. " This is quite deep! Loved the choice of words!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it.
Delete