The Human Situation
Divine Life
Society Publication: Thus
Spake Swami Krishnananda by Swami Krishnananda
The main question which
engages one's attention almost everyday is of the way to tackle what may be
called the 'human situation' in the world. Man's circumstances are very much
related to what he does and what he is yet to do. And it is not easy for him to
decide what is best for him.
Most people come to grief due
to the wrong notion that they can succeed by 'asserting' themselves. The truth
is just the opposite. The false idea that self-assertion can bring success is
based on the ignorance of the fact that there are also others in this world that
can equally assert themselves and stand against the assertion from any particular
individual or center of action. No one has ever succeeded in life, who
confronted the 'others' in the world with his ego. All egoism is met with an
equally strong egoism from outside. To take always one's own standpoint,
whether in an action, an argument or even in feeling is to court 'opposition',
while the law of life is 'cooperation'. Self-assertion, thus, is contrary to
nature's laws and shall stand defeated in the end.
All egoistic action, whether
in mind, speech or body, evokes a similar action from other centers of force in
the world and to live in such a condition is aptly called Samsara, an
experience in which perpetually warring elements react against one another and
bring about restlessness and pain. The remedy against Samsara is the art of
'appreciation' of the existence and feelings of others who also demand an equal
recognition in the scheme of creation. Whenever you say or do anything, start
it from the standpoint of the other who is in front of you, listens to you or
is concerned with what you do. You are then more likely to succeed in life than
by any other means which you may think is really effective.
But what is to be done when,
for example, an enemy attacks you? Are you to assert yourself, or not? Here
again, the decision that you take should depend upon the nature of the
consequences that would follow from the step that you take. The unselfishness
of an action is judged from the extent to which it is conductive to the realization
of a higher value in life. To know whether a value is higher or otherwise, it
has to be viewed both in its quantity and quality. Quantitatively, is it
beneficial to the largest number of people possible? And qualitatively, does it
tend to the realization of the highest reality capable of being conceived as
accessible? Or, to put it concisely, how far is it spiritual?
Excerpts from:
Thus Spake Swami
Krishnananda by Swami Krishnananda
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