Intolerance debate has been occupying too much of political and media space these days. I don’t wish to join the ongoing discourse for or against any line of argument. What is, however, more worrying is that intolerance seems to have overtaken individual mind-space, whereby the sense of accommodation, vital to familial harmony and stability, seems to have taken backseat. Consequently, either one fails to raise a family in time, or that if one has somehow made it, has been breaking fast. That calls for a serious look into why we’re becoming more intolerant day-by-dayIJ
For the right answer, two factors deserve attention. First, the impact of prevailing environmental influences on the impressionable minds of people. Second, is the way each being’s thought process is inherently framed, which defines the way one is expected to negotiate life.
So far as environmental influences are concerned, of late it has acquired global dimension, courtesy cyber connectivity. Thereafter, the whole world stands exposed at the click of a key-button – both good and bad. On one hand it has raised everybody’s aspiration level. Second, it has exposed all existent disparities, and all the scheming done by those having self-appropriated the right to be arbiters of human destiny. That has driven the whole world into a reactionary mode, setting the ground for intolerance making one wary of the other.
Here again, the speed at which massive stockpile of information can be accessed on cyber-space, has in turn, sped up mind’s working pattern too. Now habituated to speed, people are not inclined to take a pause for a reality check. For, it requires further time and space. Consequently, one keeps running to the usual flow of life. Mind’s increased speed has also hastened the societal churning process beyond usual adaptable limits. Consequently, we keep unmindfully exciting contrarian views and inviting conflicting situations, which is playing spoil sport with us, individually and collectively.
Now coming to individual mind’s working, it’s pertinent to note that every being is born unique, in terms of one’s mental dispensation, coming as it may with Karmic imprints from the past. These indwelling imprints involuntarily define individual-specific belief mechanism, which, kickstart the mind exciting specific desire trends. The desires, in turn, excite corresponding thoughts, which when gravitate further, lead to action. Evidently, the character and content of the desire defines the quality of all actions on our part — individual initiatives or responses to external stimuli — and obviously the effects thereto.
Now, if our mental dispensation is negatively oriented, it has to breed negativity. Our learned masters were aware of this human vulnerability. So, they were very particular about consecrating each mind well in time – free them from any preconditioning whatsoever, and also offer them a lesson in ‘the art of living’ in conformity with existential realities of life. The process was an essential part of the ancient education system. Also, within our families, the budding youths were imparted lessons in value system from their elders. Unfortunately for us, with the advent of modern education system, the essential need of shaping future generations has taken a backseat. Given this backdrop, the environmental influences have been driving our impressionable minds crazy.
To sum up, we’ve completely lost our moorings. Consequently, in our adrenaline rush, we often forget to invoke our most valuable empowerment tool – the faculty of discriminate intelligence. And for want of due diligence we often go wild to any external stimuli. And the result is there for all to see.
This isn’t to suggest that those who are supposed to steer us through are not conscious about our existential challenges. But so far, they have been trying to do just cosmetic surgery and that too at peripheral level. What is needed is to strike at the root of the problem before it becomes too late. All conscientious minds need to ponder in all seriousness to reverse the trend. Otherwise, the prevailing intolerance level, will lead us to disaster out of its own momentum.
See, how because of her hardened views, someone now in late forties has not been able to find a suitable match. Mars, the lagna lord, is conjunct Jupiter, and also locks horns with Neptune as well as the Sun. That points to her inflated ego, bound by self-defined beliefs and perceptions. She has had multiple relationships by now, but could not hold to any. For, none were prepared to blindly go by her fanciful dream perceptions.
The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-5, Basement, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 14
Tel: 9818037273/ 24310031 Email: pioneerqueries@bharatastro.comWebsite: www.bharatastro.com