I volunteer with an NGO and today I had to volunteer for an event in which the donors had to meet the children whose education they were sponsoring. This, no doubt, is a very noble effort by itself as it is very hard for anyone, even people with tons of money, to develop an altruistic attitude in the first place. But what disappointed me the most is that many of the donors, in fact more than 80% of them never turned up. But why is that so? Today was a Sunday, a day on which most people are relatively free from work commitments. So what exactly was holding them back?
Was it an attitude that money is the beginning and end of all means? That, if they contribute to a child's education, it is enough? They never even want to meet the child and actually understand the impact of their contributions. This mainly occurs due to the superficiality of human nature. And that, indirectly is a result of upbringing. Being a keen observer of human nature, I have noted that most of my counterparts(I am 16 years old, so you get an idea) are not at all interested in what goes on in the world. At an age where they are at the brink of adulthood, they refuse to take on the issues concerning their own welfare and the welfare of the community as a whole. Instead, they choose to remain ensconced in their own little world, conversing about each other's infatuations, talking about the latest fashion trends, discussing which movie star is hotter and so on.
At that stage, all this would seem extremely normal and most parents and educationists would brush it off as a passing phase. However, I firmly believe it is not so. A person can change over time, but the essence of a person will always remain the same. If children are not taught to continually search for the meaning of life at every stage, they will just "go with the flow" and never learn something substantial in the process. I have seen that many of my peers are not even sure about what they want to do with their lives, some go on to say that they don't mind anything as long as they have fun. But is that what life is all about? Need there not be a purpose in life? How long can one go on living like a zombie, just doing things because they have to be done?
I saw a great connection between the situation I faced today and what I see in my peers. I cannot fathom the sea of disappointed faces of the children and their parents when I said that their respective donors had not come. Those eager faces, those twinkling eyes had come so far in hope that they could meet and thank the guiding light, but all they met was with darkness. The worst thing is that I could do nothing about it. I could call up the donors and schedule another meeting perhaps, but if they were not willing what could I do? At that time, I even went to the extent of thinking that, probably they donated just for the sake of income tax exemption. (It is possible, you know) Ultimately, I can only come to the conclusion that humanity is still not open to the idea of giving from the heart. Superficiality still prevails. And there's nothing I can do about it until people are ready to listen.
This can happen only if the initiative comes from the inside. And there's the feeling of purpose too. Of course, the sense of direction and focus must be added to this broth to make it complete. If we have to evolve as a whole, the desire to go up the ladder(spiritually, not in a materialistic manner) must come from each and every individual. Only then, can I see some hope in the looming darkness around me.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Musings on Materialism
"Materialism leads to a decline in civilization and human values”. I agree with this statement completely.
The above statement holds much truth in this period of time. However, glimpses of where this statement has held good can be seen throughout history. It becomes necessary to understand what materialism is in order to truly grasp its effects.
Materialism refers to the act of accumulating material things, irrespective of whether it is really required or not. It refers to wanting things which are not essentially needed. Food, shelter and clothing are things which a human being needs; gadgets, expensive cars and branded clothes are what a human being wants or desires in the course of its life just because he saw someone else possessing it.
Materialism stems from the belief that one needs to possess a certain things to enjoy its benefits. This belief arises because everyone is caught in the rat race of owning more than the other person. A capitalist frame of mind, in fact, encourages materialism.
The manner in which materialism leads to decline in human civilization and human values can be seen on two levels. The first one is seen in the stages of a human being. These days, even a small child seems to be bound by the shackles of materialism. For example, it may see a toy being possessed by one of its playmates and the demand a similar, if not superior toy from its parents. If not obliged, it may throw tantrums due to which the parents are forced to comply. Thus, the values taught to the child do not seem to work in this case. This is the start of materialism in a human's life.
From then on, the urge to possess only increases. When the child grows up to a teenager, it will only want to own much more expensive things. The demands vary from the latest Apple iPhone to the newest gaming device in the block. The decline in civilized behaviour is much steeper than how it was during childhood. The teenager can resort to varied forms of emotional blackmail, especially if the parents are working and therefore are feeling guilty that they are not spending enough time with their child. Moreover, peer pressure can also result in teenagers borrowing money from unreliable sources and even resort to stealing money from their own family members if no one gives them what they want, when they want.
When one grows up into an adult, it can be seen that the whole world seems to be judging you by your net worth. People speak to one because he owns a dozen yachts, has millions of dollars in his bank account and has his own private turf in an exotic place. One gets invited to the crème de la crème of parties if he owns a football or baseball club. So, the onus is on him to keep the big bucks flowing in. This kind of stress usually results in people trying to acquire wealth and other materialistic things through unscrupulous means.
Tax evasions, cheating people of their money is what I mean by unscrupulous means. People no longer care how the money comes in, they only care about the fact that they are earning money and acquiring materialistic things which are virtually of no use to them except for attaining a so-called status in the society. They would have totally forgotten to think about how their lifestyle would affect others and how many others are suffering in sweatshops in some tropical country all because o their materialistic desire. Materialism results in the attitude of 'every man for himself’. The system of values seems to be defunct. No one wants to share because it might affect his rate of acquiring materialistic things. This invariably results in an inequitable distribution of wealth-making the poor poorer and the rich richer.
The other level in which materialism affects human civilization is when it extends beyond the desire to acquire smaller things. Materialism can be seen as a cause of wars too. The desire to be a superpower can incite countries to wage war against each other, conquer territories and establish that they are supreme. This kind of greed which arises from materialism is one that is most harmful. It not only is unnecessary, but also poses a threat to innocent civilians. For example, the First and Second World War were both attributed to Germany's desire to become a world power and rule the rest of the human race.
This kind of materialism resulted in the system of secret military alliances. One country did not hesitate to kill the other country's people. They betrayed each other, while trying to show who was greater than whom. It did not matter what level they went down to, it only mattered that they won. All this decline or rather absence of civilized behaviour and values in the name of materialism-the urge to acquire more land, be feared, to rule and not be ruled. The parties involved did not understand that when one side was declared victorious, it was the whole human race that actually lost.
The only way further deterioration of civilization and values can be checked is to look inside. Materialism refers to the outside domain. However, spirituality is what we need to really focus on. Instead of separating our inner and outer self, we must reconcile both and act as one. We must begin to derive happiness from the little joys of life. I do not believe in advocating a monastic way of life. One must enjoy life's pleasures; but not go to the extent of becoming a materialistic machine.
A famous philosopher Lao Tzu once said "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". So, if one wants humanity to take the journey of developing in terms of values and civility, each person must take the single and extremely important step of honing the soul or spirit which is inherent in himself or herself.
The above statement holds much truth in this period of time. However, glimpses of where this statement has held good can be seen throughout history. It becomes necessary to understand what materialism is in order to truly grasp its effects.
Materialism refers to the act of accumulating material things, irrespective of whether it is really required or not. It refers to wanting things which are not essentially needed. Food, shelter and clothing are things which a human being needs; gadgets, expensive cars and branded clothes are what a human being wants or desires in the course of its life just because he saw someone else possessing it.
Materialism stems from the belief that one needs to possess a certain things to enjoy its benefits. This belief arises because everyone is caught in the rat race of owning more than the other person. A capitalist frame of mind, in fact, encourages materialism.
The manner in which materialism leads to decline in human civilization and human values can be seen on two levels. The first one is seen in the stages of a human being. These days, even a small child seems to be bound by the shackles of materialism. For example, it may see a toy being possessed by one of its playmates and the demand a similar, if not superior toy from its parents. If not obliged, it may throw tantrums due to which the parents are forced to comply. Thus, the values taught to the child do not seem to work in this case. This is the start of materialism in a human's life.
From then on, the urge to possess only increases. When the child grows up to a teenager, it will only want to own much more expensive things. The demands vary from the latest Apple iPhone to the newest gaming device in the block. The decline in civilized behaviour is much steeper than how it was during childhood. The teenager can resort to varied forms of emotional blackmail, especially if the parents are working and therefore are feeling guilty that they are not spending enough time with their child. Moreover, peer pressure can also result in teenagers borrowing money from unreliable sources and even resort to stealing money from their own family members if no one gives them what they want, when they want.
When one grows up into an adult, it can be seen that the whole world seems to be judging you by your net worth. People speak to one because he owns a dozen yachts, has millions of dollars in his bank account and has his own private turf in an exotic place. One gets invited to the crème de la crème of parties if he owns a football or baseball club. So, the onus is on him to keep the big bucks flowing in. This kind of stress usually results in people trying to acquire wealth and other materialistic things through unscrupulous means.
Tax evasions, cheating people of their money is what I mean by unscrupulous means. People no longer care how the money comes in, they only care about the fact that they are earning money and acquiring materialistic things which are virtually of no use to them except for attaining a so-called status in the society. They would have totally forgotten to think about how their lifestyle would affect others and how many others are suffering in sweatshops in some tropical country all because o their materialistic desire. Materialism results in the attitude of 'every man for himself’. The system of values seems to be defunct. No one wants to share because it might affect his rate of acquiring materialistic things. This invariably results in an inequitable distribution of wealth-making the poor poorer and the rich richer.
The other level in which materialism affects human civilization is when it extends beyond the desire to acquire smaller things. Materialism can be seen as a cause of wars too. The desire to be a superpower can incite countries to wage war against each other, conquer territories and establish that they are supreme. This kind of greed which arises from materialism is one that is most harmful. It not only is unnecessary, but also poses a threat to innocent civilians. For example, the First and Second World War were both attributed to Germany's desire to become a world power and rule the rest of the human race.
This kind of materialism resulted in the system of secret military alliances. One country did not hesitate to kill the other country's people. They betrayed each other, while trying to show who was greater than whom. It did not matter what level they went down to, it only mattered that they won. All this decline or rather absence of civilized behaviour and values in the name of materialism-the urge to acquire more land, be feared, to rule and not be ruled. The parties involved did not understand that when one side was declared victorious, it was the whole human race that actually lost.
The only way further deterioration of civilization and values can be checked is to look inside. Materialism refers to the outside domain. However, spirituality is what we need to really focus on. Instead of separating our inner and outer self, we must reconcile both and act as one. We must begin to derive happiness from the little joys of life. I do not believe in advocating a monastic way of life. One must enjoy life's pleasures; but not go to the extent of becoming a materialistic machine.
A famous philosopher Lao Tzu once said "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". So, if one wants humanity to take the journey of developing in terms of values and civility, each person must take the single and extremely important step of honing the soul or spirit which is inherent in himself or herself.
Dream On..
Dreams…considered imaginary when not realized, considered unrealizable and impractical when they are on a large scale. Yet, they give us the freedom to let our minds course over uncharted territory.
What is a dream then? Is it just innocent imagination? Or is it the foundation for a larger act or ambition? It can be both, I say. Dreams take birth in the mind of man and have been taking birth since the beginning of time. Needless to say, it is these dreams which have led to the betterment of human lives. The role of dreams can be examined at every stage of history and life.
In the prehistoric era, man survived on raw roots and fruits. He suffered because of the cold weather. He lived in makeshift houses. It was then that he started dreaming. He dreamt of having tastier food to eat, of keeping himself warm and of keeping himself safe and secure. It was due to his dreams that he learnt how to cook food, learnt how to make clothes out of animal skins and learnt to make caves his home. As one can observe, dreams are the catalysts for learning and discovery. Without them, man would not have gone on to achieve the things he has done so far.
The role of dreams only got more prominent after the Neolithic age. Man now had higher dreams of making his work easier. So he went on to extract iron and made alloys, ultimately improving his standard of living. An old saying goes like this, “Necessity is the mother of invention”. But I would like to say that dreams are the main cause for invention to occur in the first place as I believe that any idea starts off as a dream. The very manifestation of a dream creates the necessity, which ultimately results in invention.
The Industrial Revolution, without which the world might not be as industrialized as it is now, occurred due to the dreams of many people. They dreamt of a better life and that provided the impetus for them to start this massive revolution. Buildings have been built of dreams – a dream to make a building which would leave its mark on the pages of history and which would be remembered for centuries to come.
When dreams can produce such effective results, why don’t people dream? The one factor that comes into play here is fear – Fear that one cannot realize their dreams. This fear is not inborn but usually poured from external sources, one of which is discouragement from people around you. The first reaction from another person when one explains what one’s dream is, turns out to be, “You will never achieve it. Stop building castles in the air”.
Continuous discouragement like this will hamper a person’s ability to even try and dream again. Another factor which prevents people from dreaming is lack of ability to implement their dreams. This category of people never wants to work towards realizing their dreams; instead they jump from dreaming one dream to another.
Another peculiar observation I have made is that many people think that dreams are for the youth, not for the adults. They feel that it is possible to have wild ideas and dreams in their younger days and that it is not practical to have dreams when they grow up. They attribute this attitude to the ‘reality’. They blame that it is impractical to implement their ideas as they know all the difficulties of the world. By doing this, they are only imposing limitations on themselves. As a result, they never try to overcome the hurdles and never try to achieve what they had once dreamt of. They do not remember that:
“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.”
What is a dream then? Is it just innocent imagination? Or is it the foundation for a larger act or ambition? It can be both, I say. Dreams take birth in the mind of man and have been taking birth since the beginning of time. Needless to say, it is these dreams which have led to the betterment of human lives. The role of dreams can be examined at every stage of history and life.
In the prehistoric era, man survived on raw roots and fruits. He suffered because of the cold weather. He lived in makeshift houses. It was then that he started dreaming. He dreamt of having tastier food to eat, of keeping himself warm and of keeping himself safe and secure. It was due to his dreams that he learnt how to cook food, learnt how to make clothes out of animal skins and learnt to make caves his home. As one can observe, dreams are the catalysts for learning and discovery. Without them, man would not have gone on to achieve the things he has done so far.
The role of dreams only got more prominent after the Neolithic age. Man now had higher dreams of making his work easier. So he went on to extract iron and made alloys, ultimately improving his standard of living. An old saying goes like this, “Necessity is the mother of invention”. But I would like to say that dreams are the main cause for invention to occur in the first place as I believe that any idea starts off as a dream. The very manifestation of a dream creates the necessity, which ultimately results in invention.
The Industrial Revolution, without which the world might not be as industrialized as it is now, occurred due to the dreams of many people. They dreamt of a better life and that provided the impetus for them to start this massive revolution. Buildings have been built of dreams – a dream to make a building which would leave its mark on the pages of history and which would be remembered for centuries to come.
When dreams can produce such effective results, why don’t people dream? The one factor that comes into play here is fear – Fear that one cannot realize their dreams. This fear is not inborn but usually poured from external sources, one of which is discouragement from people around you. The first reaction from another person when one explains what one’s dream is, turns out to be, “You will never achieve it. Stop building castles in the air”.
Continuous discouragement like this will hamper a person’s ability to even try and dream again. Another factor which prevents people from dreaming is lack of ability to implement their dreams. This category of people never wants to work towards realizing their dreams; instead they jump from dreaming one dream to another.
Another peculiar observation I have made is that many people think that dreams are for the youth, not for the adults. They feel that it is possible to have wild ideas and dreams in their younger days and that it is not practical to have dreams when they grow up. They attribute this attitude to the ‘reality’. They blame that it is impractical to implement their ideas as they know all the difficulties of the world. By doing this, they are only imposing limitations on themselves. As a result, they never try to overcome the hurdles and never try to achieve what they had once dreamt of. They do not remember that:
“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.”
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