The society collectively needs to work towards spreading awareness on how individual behaviour can affect global development, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj Ji
One of the reasons why world leaders are unable to solve many national and international issues is man’s irrationality. He has always tried to justify his uncivilised behaviour as ‘necessary’ for the well-being of society. He has even rationalised his barbarous behaviour as natural, psychologically justified or politically beneficial.
There have been instances in the past where any woman, who gave birth to more than three children, was considered as “very fertile” and the father of those children was considered as “potent,” “manly” or “masculine”. However, if one looks closely, people only admired the couple for their sexual vigour rather than taking note that they lacked self-restraint and control. Likewise, a tyrant or an aggressive and ambitious nation responsible for slaughtering a large number of people, was applauded. In other words, people praised power without paying attention to the fact that it was achieved at the cost of being a killer and paid less attention to the virtues of forgiveness or compassion.
Moreover, they rationalised aggression as a ‘natural instinct’, an in-built psychological response or a behaviour that is politically justified. It is this rationalism that has resulted in the present state of the world. Various faults in a man’s character have acquired global implications and are now threatening the existence of society. Man even justifies his unhealthy habits of smoking, consuming alcohol or non-vegetarian food. And unless the man doesn’t realise his wrongdoings, no global issue can be solved.
As stated earlier, this tendency to favour the absurd has resulted in small problems taking global dimensions. For example, man’s lustful desires, which have been justified on biological or psychological grounds have now resulted in overpopulation, promiscuity, illegitimate children, rape, abduction and spread of AIDS. The threat caused by overpopulation is almost equal to the one caused by nuclear weapons. Yet man does not practise self-control. Instead, he tries to justify his actions to suit his desires and does what is convenient for him. He doesn’t realise how this could result in a great strain upon his stamina and moral health.
Similarly, emotions like aggression and greed not only harm the people they are inflicted upon but oneself as well. Man’s justification of his self-interest and wrong notion of security has pushed the world into a grave economic crisis and a race for war weapons. Hence, there is an urgent need to put our sense of rationalism on the right track and, thereby, to enable us to put an end to our irrational, irresponsible and injurious behaviour. And in turn, save mankind from a number of global upheavals.
Faults in human character have been looked at something that should only concern a particular individual. The society didn’t bother about an individual’s troublesome habits. It was believed that these should only concern one’s family members or friends who can directly engage with the person. However, today, the society collectively needs to work towards spreading awareness on how individual behaviour can affect global development. We should know that defects in man’s personality are of concern not only to that particular individual but to the whole society.
Smoking, for example, is not only injurious to the smoker’s health but also to others who do not smoke but are exposed to it. The whole society will have to suffer because of one man’s wrong habits. An inner transformation is the solution of all these problems. Man first needs to accept his wrongdoings and walk on the righteous path.
