We are all part of a huge family and concentrating on our selfish needs doesn’t bring about any real progress, explains AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
Yes, life on the planet earth is an integrated design. We must help others and others must help us. The planet earth is a large body and all of us are its parts. And we need to cooperate with others so that everyone gains. There is a specific verse in the Bhagavad Gita, which gives the following message. In the beginning, lord Brahma after creating human beings along with the provision for sacrifices they should do, spoke to them, “By this, prosper; this may fulfill all your desires.” (3.10) Sacrifice essentially means sharing and helping others.
Why do we become self-centred and try to deny the rights of othersIJ Why do we want one set of rules for ourselves and another, which is inferior, for othersIJ It has been seen that when there are large disparities in any society, there is unease, and peaceful enjoyment is not possible.
Exploitation of fellow beings destroys consciousness and real progress is not possible. The whole world is a large family — God’s family and we are expected to treat others accordingly. Our narrow selfishness and divisiveness has brought about a situation when single member families are beginning to mushroom, with their problems of loneliness and many times helplessness/hopelessness.
Why have so many nations of Europe come together and formed European Union if it was not advantageousIJ Why do most constitution’s guarantee equal rights to all citizensIJ Equal, of course, does not literally mean equal like a child cannot be equal to an adult. Equality means equal opportunities for all and the fruits shared on the basis of efforts, quality of work and its standard.
All must exist and all must gain also. Each person must be encouraged, guided and helped such that every person can reach his or her potential. This is how humanity is understood, ie all human beings are a group. Peace and happiness are possible only this way.
If we don’t cooperate, then, consequences are dire. We will economically become vulnerable. We need others to give us a job or employment. We need help from many to set up a business. Physically, we are incapable of doing many tasks by ourselves such as building a bridge across a river; we will be unable to accomplish what we desire. We may even become mentally fragile because we need others to share our feelings; console us in bad times and encourage us when we are down. We will meet many failures, because success is generally a result of many coming together to achieve one goal as in an office. Real happiness will elude because being social animals we need others. And we will become narrow-minded if we try to be autonomous.
But if we help and get helped, we derive countless benefits. I have listed a few general ones. We will get help when we are in trouble like when we are sick. We will have a strong support base for whatever we wish to do like building a home for ourselves. We will not become isolated. We will avoid insecurity; lonely persons mostly feel insecure. We will have many friends, who will be there with us in happiness and misery. Good advice will be available, which will help us in avoiding subjective decisions. The habit of sharing is a primary duty, and those who do so go forward in life. Finally, it is the duty of everyone to help others to complete the cycle.
The word autonomous is defined as being able to do things without help from anyone else. How many tasks can we do in a day without help from othersIJ Some assessments have been made and there are plenty from whom we need help every day. Therefore, let us help others and get helped too. Then only will we exist properly.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com