From Selfishness to Selflessness
abracad, · Categories: externally authored, purposeBy Lt Col RK Langar
Selfishness is the basis of all immoral and corrupt practices that is prevalent in our society. Our worldly desires make us self centered and to fulfill them we focus on self interest and in the process we acquire selfishness. Main cause of selfishness is that we only think about our own interests and comforts. Selfishness starts getting into the background whe we think about others, there problems and what we can do to reduce them. Selfishness is the biggest impurity is us which does not permit us to look beyond our own self. Once we are rooted in selfishness we move away from truth and at the same time show very little truth respect for others and their opinions. Swami Vivekananda had once remarked that what is selfish is immoral and that which is unselfish is moral, People are selfish due to wrong understanding that if their desires are met they can be happy for ever. They fail to realize that the main end of life is not the pursuit of material happiness. It is in the pursuit of eternal happiness which has nothing to do with material happiness. It is obtained by looking inwards to realize our spiritual destiny. World is tempting and eye catching which gives instant joy to a worldly man who shall be ever busy in fulfilling his desire by activating selfishness. Mahabharta says that desires can never be satiated by gratification of desires. The more they are enjoyed the more they grow as fire by the pouring into it of butter.
Man Performs three types of actions which can be put under three heads- selfish actions, unselfish actions and self less actions. Selfish actions are those which are based on your needs and also on your greeds. These actions are performed to cater for selfish desires. Unselfish actions are those which may be based on selfish desires but there is some sort of unselfish goal like how can I contributes towards betterment of society. Then there are selfless actions which re not propelled by any desires but man considers his duty to work for the up lift of his surroundings or environment. For a selfness man every thing other than he himself is environment not only the trees, rivers or plants around him but also all living being around him. Selfness action are basically duty driven actions where man consider it as his duty to act for others and even goes out of the way to help others particularity those who are in need. Selfless work is the highest type of work and selfless people are assets to society. They are those who set example to the ordinary people. Selfless person does not expect any rewards for his actions.
The Gita defines Yoga as skill in action or efficiency in actions. Skillful actions are those where our personal interest in the work is not there and we put in our hundred percent in the task given to us. It is man's, Selfishness which results in inefficiency in work. There is corruption. There is poverty, there is crime, violence and backwardness in society, all these are caused by inefficiency in work. Efficient work is that where there is sincerity in work where there is commitment, where there is transparency and where there is rightful attitude behind the works we undertake during our day to day living.
Way out of selfishness: Selflessness is life, Selfishness is death, says Swami Vivakananda. When we act as per sense of duty we are not victim of play of our nature. To wake up to the world of spirit we have to fight selfishness. Man's aim of life is not eating for himself or working on his personal needs. Man lives in a community which can run only on exchange of commodities and service. Gita asks you to work in a spirit of Yagya or Yajna. It says all works bind except those which are done in a spirit of Yajna. This can be activated when you get yourself out of action by fixing your mind in higher ideal. Higher ideal unlocks your potential. Then your mind moves away from the idea of putting your mind on the results of action Gita admonishes those who are selfish and says that those who cook for then own sake and do not share with other are thieves. It is very appropriately said that he will never go to heaven who is content to go alone. This brings us to a very noble idea that we should share with others which is the hall mark of Indian culture. We have to bring about a change in our attitude towards, Life. We have to change from the attitude of hoarding to the attitude of sharing. Share your knowledge with others and it would increase many fold.
Giving is important to root out selfishness. Give preference to giving rather than taking from others. Joy of giving is sixteen times more than the joy of taking from others. To root out selfishness one should involve oneself with charitable acts. Another way to get out of selfishness is to replace self interest by social interest. You should undertake social work with a sense of responsibility and with a conviction to change the society for its betterment. Make selfless service to other as the basic aim of your social work. The answer to the questions why should I serve others is very simple. Man benefits himself by doing good to others. When man establishes himself in benevolence, his selfish thoughts decline and he move onto the path of enlightenment. He acquires wisdom which is higher than Intellectuality. A wise person is always selfless whereas an intellectual can be selfish. And finally when you inject duty idea into your life. You shall ever remain selfless because life is duty and at the same time life is beauty. One thing is common in all great people of the world. They were selfless workers. Selfnessness come from cessation of desires. Desire means feeling of deficiency. Desires are not to be suppressed but controlled with inner blossoming. You may draw enjoyment when associated with beautiful things but never develop attachment and craving for them.
To develop our personality we need to be a man of values. The values that make our life meaningful are referred as higher values of life. For example dharma or righteousness is a unique Indian value which saprates human beings from animals. Dharma guides a man to regulate his wealth and desire with in the parameter of righteousness and workout his liberation or salvation from the cycle of birth and death. A value less person lives with out any purpose. He does not live but just exists. One can pick up higher values of life at any point of time in one’s life irrespective of one’s age. But the best time or the ideal time to learn values of life is when we are young. When values are introduced in our education system, we shall be inclined towards personality development from young age.
The Gurukul system of educations which was followed in India was discontinued during the British rule in our country. The reasons as to why the British discontinued this system were given by Lord Macaulay in the British Parliament in Feb 1835. The extract from his speech runs as follows. “I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar,or who is a thief.. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre that I donot think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the very back bone of this nation which is her spiritual and cultural heritage. And therefore I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system her culture. If the Indians think that foreign and English is good and greater than their own they will loose their self esteem, their native self culture and they will become what we went them a truly dominated nation. Lord Maculey has conspired against us. Indian education system and what we are following in India today is the British education system which is inclined towards science and materialism. Science can not provides foundation to values. Science gradually eliminates values and metaphysical concept which are totally entrenched ancient educational system. Value education is matter of wides spared social concern. There is still a way out to revert to understand our ancient and basic education system which aims at LEARNING TO BE against the British education system LEARNING TO DO.
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