New Year Resolutions repeatedly appear before the close of the year and continue to be published year in year out in media. I tend to be envious of the opportunities granted to the few invited columnists who tend to share their thoughts with readers. Many now see these comments has parochial, redundant and with little effect on the lives of many. Two articles appear in the NST ( Jan 14, 2012) and are worthy of comment.
Haris Hussein eloquently traces his thoughts back to his youth and resents making resolutions as they get broken within ‘15 seconds of being made’. Emma Reynolds, yet another columnist extends the period of breaking their New Year resolutions ‘nine days after they are made’. She goes on to explain that many resolutions are often for the betterment of physical and emotional well being.
Just as we want to be better persons and live in peace resolutions are reflective in nature and makes one realize the need to review, repent and pave the way to better living. But is it appropriate to make resolutions based on one calendar year? Perhaps we need to look long term as behavioral changes do not occur overnight!
Even if one believes that resolutions are integral to life, it appears futile that in our earnest desire to set new goals to improve ourselves and the lives of others, we don’t sustain them, as commented by both the above columnists. It is then fundmanetal that we set should goals for life rather than for each calendar year. There needs to be a purpose in life and setting goals paves the path to a direction.
Even if one believes that resolutions are integral to life, it appears futile that in our earnest desire to set new goals to improve ourselves and the lives of others, we don’t sustain them, as commented by both the above columnists. It is then fundmanetal that we set should goals for life rather than for each calendar year. There needs to be a purpose in life and setting goals paves the path to a direction.
Some of us resort to mentors, gurus and teachers who would facilitate achieving the goals we set. Motivational speakers are aplenty and continue to attract huge audiences wanting to listen to their clouded comments and pragmatic solutions using analogies that appeal to logic. They captivate many. However, how much they impact on the lives varies a great deal. When the discourse invites a fee, often I fail to see the honest intention!
Exposure to the media permits us a window to the world. Newspapers tend to sensationalise the plight of a few and report events that often relate to catastrophes and bad intentions of humans. The message is clear that many humans are in need of food, money, education and medications. Transport and poor infrastructure and illiteracy are the cause of lack of access for healthcare and education. Lack of political committment and abuse of power by leaders for personal gain contributes to the plight of the world’s citizens. The few NGOs and well wishers continue to uphold that principle of sharing and wanting to give to those in plight.
Many want to give but can’t or don’t know how to. ‘Teach them how to fish, don’t give them fish’ a common saying that promotes the idea of facilitating the under privileged to learn new methods to fend for themselves is such a noble notion. Could we organise a voluntary group to salvage the old bicycles and furniture that many discard , to be repaired and refurbished, to be sent to those in need. Several projects of this nature have contributed to the improvement of many who find transport and access to schools near to be impossible.
Deepak Chopra, a well known inspirational and motivational speaker and author of numerous books on similar topics prides in his interpretation of life and organization of the world through his views, which I think has a strong basis on the philosophy of life derived from ancient India. He speaks with little uncertainty that the world economic crisis is due to cronyism, corruption and power mongering of the ‘bankster’, gangsters in the financial industry. A subject well articulated in the NST (Jan 14, 2012) entitled “The Soul of Consciousness’’ explores Deepak’s deep thoughts on a variety of topics relevant to the social and economic climate today. He says that it is not acceptable that 50% of the population live on less than $1/= US a day and 20%, on less than $2/= a day. There is a Jain saying that there is ‘there should be doubt in any certainties’.
Those who mean well are not comfortable with the leaders of the world who bleed their citizens under the pretext of governing. Henry D Thoreau, the moral philosopher, said that ‘the government is best that which governs least!’ Will this argument find responsive ears? He first promoted the term ‘civil disobedience’ which became the hallmark of the black movement of US under Martin Luther King who drew meaning from a freedom fighter, Gandhi. Mahatma (the Great SOUL) Gandhi fought for independence in India largely based on non-violence and civil disobedience. He writesthat his earliest period of his life was one of ‘storm and stress’ just like what many adolescents go through, as he was experimenting with life. When he was studying at the Inns in London he was a ‘volatary of violence’ and often repeats for the need to practice the ‘silence of a monastery’ when there is a clash between violence and forgiveness, seeking out the latter most times. Even when one does not agree with another Gandhi professed that one should focus the anger on the ‘arrogance rather than the person’.
Those who mean well are not comfortable with the leaders of the world who bleed their citizens under the pretext of governing. Henry D Thoreau, the moral philosopher, said that ‘the government is best that which governs least!’ Will this argument find responsive ears? He first promoted the term ‘civil disobedience’ which became the hallmark of the black movement of US under Martin Luther King who drew meaning from a freedom fighter, Gandhi. Mahatma (the Great SOUL) Gandhi fought for independence in India largely based on non-violence and civil disobedience. He writesthat his earliest period of his life was one of ‘storm and stress’ just like what many adolescents go through, as he was experimenting with life. When he was studying at the Inns in London he was a ‘volatary of violence’ and often repeats for the need to practice the ‘silence of a monastery’ when there is a clash between violence and forgiveness, seeking out the latter most times. Even when one does not agree with another Gandhi professed that one should focus the anger on the ‘arrogance rather than the person’.
The world has reached the ultimate and the balance is tipping to further erosion of values and destruction of the environment. Deepak Chopra calls for collective conversation to meet the economic disparities and gross social injustice, call off terrorism and stop the devastative acts that is destroying the eco-system.
He is averse to positive thinking, a term that often appears to melt down argument. The world class tennis player, Nadal, recently commented that being the ‘nice kid in the block’ is not the way to make change as he laments about the punishing tennis playing circuit that would lead to early self destruction because of ‘self injury’. We have to speak out; he says and cannot keep quiet when we can’t cope!
Deepak Chopra feels talking positive in the midst of all circumstances stifles creative thinking. His comments that positive thinking are worthy of repetition. Quoting J. Krishnamurthy, he says that the highest form of intelligence is the ability to observe without judging yourself. When you are a silent witness to your own thoughts, emotions and feelings, your own behaviour and your own speech, there is a subtle but definite transformation that leads to higher consciousness. Instead of having a positive mind, how about having a quiet mind?’
The last statement clearly points to the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita and the guidance given by the many gurus, the need to move one stratum higher in self realization. The governing principles of achieving peace and wellness now appear to transcend to personal transformation and impacting this goodness to the environment. So are the annual resolutions necessary?
Sivalingam
15th Jan 2012
