Peace and Happiness through True Knowledge

Peace and Happiness through True Knowledge

Dr. Keshab Chandra Mandal

Ghatal, Paschim Medinipur, W.B., India 721212

Homepage/Blog: http://lafungendal.blogspot.in/

Publication: "The Thoughts of an Unknown Indian",

ISBN-13:	978-3-639-71794-5
ISBN-10:	3639717945
EAN:	9783639717945

Direct link to the book on Morebooks-Shop www.moebooks.de

Also available at – Amazon.com

Introduction

We live in a beautiful world of God. Our abode on earth consists of flowers, birds, rivers, fountains, hills, soils, wind, sky, trees, insects and above all God’s most wonderful creation - human beings. The wind gives us oxygen, birds soothe our mind, rivers help in agriculture, beauties of fountains and hills enchant our soul, and trees give us rain, keep our health well and maintain a balance in the environment. Insects and animals also help to preserve the cycle of nature.

The insects and other wild animals accept the situation as they have it. But the human beings, the most intelligent animal in the world, have the ability to change the shape, nature and condition of their environment favorably. Since time immemorial people have been trying to enhance their existing condition. The tireless and continuous research of the scientists and investigators has produced fruits in the sphere of science and technology. As a result of their research we have attained success in building space vehicles and our men have set foot on the moon. We are now making non-conventional fuels from river water, wind, sun-heat etc. Scientists have invented the instruments and gadgets for our ease and comfort – in a word life has become enjoyable, at least to a lucky few. Development in infrastructure, industry and agriculture is well known. Maternal mortality rate has decreased, longevity of people has increased, education rate has grown, and health status has improved. This is called development, though partial in nature. However, the 21^st century is the age of globalization, modernization and industrialization where every kind of facility has come within the reach of a particular section of people. Life has become so fast, so comfortable, so interesting that it was not even imagined two centuries ago. But the flip side is not so rosy. The new year – 2009 has brought with it about 100 crore unfed hungry people in the world in spite of 6 per cent increase in production of food grains (Report of FAO – 2007-08).  Hence, when one of my students wished me ‘Happy New Year’ on the New Year’s Day (2009), my voice chocked with tears to reciprocate the same.

In the last three years 11 crore poor and hungry people have been enlisted afresh in the world. On the other hand, more than one-third countries are suffering from ill health, lack of basic necessities of life like that of food, cloth, clean water and shelter. Besides, gender disparity, social and economic oppression, political deprivation, crime against humanity and especially against the women, where 1,47,678 crimes took place against women in 2002 in India alone (this rate has increased to 2,28,650 in 2011), are common phenomenon. Besides, dowry, trafficking, molestation, torture, sexual harassment, abduction, female feticide have also increased. Problems of drinking water, epidemic of HIV/AIDS (An estimated 5.1 million people in 2003 are currently living with HIV in India only), natural and climatic devastation are some issues that have attracted the attention of the social and political thinkers. The differences between haves and have-nots are widening. One burning example can be cited here. One businessman in Mumbai presents a personal luxurious helicopter to his wife on her birthday with Rs. 275 crore while in a similar occasion a poor man pledges his only bell glass and borrows Rs. 25 to buy half kilo rice and dirty remains of chickens. At the same time a lot of other people go to bed without having even a square meal.

Other than the above socio-economic problems, there are some political, military and extremist problems also. The political problems include frequent bandhs by Left-wing extremists and Trade Unions; unnecessary movements; and attacks, killings and abductions of the common people. State-sponsored terrorisms are also common. Sometimes heinous attacks are carried on most respectable and dearest family members by police; farce encounters are committed by the security forces, mainly in border and trouble-torn areas, bombing or any other attacks are also committed on civilians. When doubtful arrests take place; corruption, adulteration and unequal distribution of resources are rampant; and when government benefits do not reach at all to the real beneficiaries, unrest and dismay are sure to be found among a few sections of the people.  One small section of people – mainly the politicians and businessmen are getting richer day by day and the poor are being poorer. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening every year. In most cases our beautiful world is polluted and corrupted by a section of unholy, ignorant and parochial minded people. They may be anybody like politicians, terrorists, businessmen, traders, bureaucrats, policemen and others. As a consequence of their combine activities or faulty policies, often peace and harmony is disturbed; development is either lop-sided or hampered. Common people are the most sufferers in the hands of these unholy people.  

Further, the situation is aggravated by the lack of proper knowledge and education of a large number of people in the world. Lower level of education and knowledge makes people superstitious, narrow-minded, un-scientific, and vulnerable to poverty, ill-health, and malnutrition. This also paves the way for looting by the upper class people to the poor and unprivileged people. On the other hand, it disallows the poor to protest and bring about a positive change in their lives. Poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment, corruption, terrorism, and rising price of essential commodities have reduced the majority population to a speechless minority community, who do not have enough clothes, houses, medicines, schools, money, job etc. and so also voice. They are our voiceless, mute and dumb puppets in the hands of local politicians and businessmen. Government uses them as and when necessary, distributes them doles and gives false promises decade after decade. They fall in the trap of state machinery and it continues generation after generation.

On the other part, there is another section of people who are educated but unhappy. It can be said that majority of the people are now unhappy and suffer from one kind of anxiety, tension, poverty, and unforeseen fear. There are millions of illiterate and semi-literate people in India who do not know how to live properly, and how to keep their body, soul and mind balanced and how to remain happy and peaceful. Besides, unlimited demands and expectations have created unlimited pains among a section of people. We find that almost every person is suffering from one or more types of wrong desires or unlimited wants. When a person endeavors to achieve his desired goal, may be proper or improper, may be realistic or unrealistic, through evil means, s/he falls in the trap of ill-health, tension, worry and unhappiness. One thing should be clarified here about wrong desires. When do we call a desire as ‘wrong’? Our desires become wrong when we want more than our qualification, capability, and something unrealistic. Want emanates from the desire for the fulfillment of more than our basic needs. Most of the people are now worried about either of their own future or with the future of their children in the troubled world. To define the term ‘worry’ it can be said that, “Worry is a psychological state of consciousness in which you are a caught in feelings of helplessness and apprehension about some trouble you don’t know how to get rid of.”¹ So, what is the use of taking pain in thinking about the matters what is beyond our control? Let us know the mantras of remaining quiet and calm in the face of challenges and live peacefully and happily.