Yoga and meditation can help overcome aggression, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj
The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists — Martin luther King Jr. The world that we live in today is full of extremists who are out there to rule humanity. It’s so unfortunate that majority of the population today is controlled by a group of faction who adopt agitative approach for getting their social, economic, political or religious demands fulfilled. They are termed as extremists because they give up moderation and take to over-activism and, in some cases, also extreme violence.
These people or groups can go to any length in order to be heard and to have their demands met. They disturb public peace and indulge in activities that reflect over-assertiveness, rigid attitudes and lack of appreciation of the views and interests of other communities or groups. A closer view at the society we live in would reveal that at present all are extremists of some sort in some sense. Not only are science and technology rushing towards extremes but trade, commerce and commercialism have adopted a global form and are becoming multinational and over-expansive.
Inflation, threats and expansion of corporations is moving to extreme limits. Manufacture and stock piling of nuclear weapons and missiles also reflects the extremism of militaristic tendencies, anger, hatred and the spirit of revenge. Environmental issues are now proceeding towards the extreme because of the selfishness of certain people.The increasing use of computers, telecommunications, television, Internet, films and print media is also proceeding towards information explosion.
Rapid expansion of cities, air, rail and road transport are marching towards the extreme end. However, out of all, what causes serious concern is that anger, jealousy, hatred, violence, greed and lust are also moving towards their extreme end as a result of which today we see so many families splitting up. Thus, the social and cultural unity is breaking and there is lot of friction and tension around due to lack of mutual love and devotion.
Modern man’s lust for wealth and material goods is also increasing, giving rise to cases of corruption which are now rampant. Hunger for power and position also is also taking an extreme form. Consumerism, commercialism and materialism also are taking extreme shape. It is often said that when there unrighteousness reaches its extreme, then it is the time for it to end due to some social, economic or natural catastrophe. Hence under these circumstances, when self-control and moderation have banished and almost every man has become extremist of a sort, it is necessary that we learn an art that restores us to an original position of self-control, calmness and equipoise.
Experience says that yoga, combined with values is the only hope for mankind which will give back the purity it had lost and the peace for which it has a deep thirst. Meditation and inculcation of moral and spiritual values, enables a person to be busy, to be loving and yet detached — to abstain from exploitation and economic injustice and yet to have everything and not to lust for material things. Without practice of yoga, unbridled consumerism and commercialism cannot be kept under check and men cannot have purity of thought and peace of mind.
So, let us make yoga a part of our life to face all kinds of extremism within ourselves and in the world and achieve eternal bliss.