One human being killing another just because he belongs to a different faith
is an indicator of the hollowness within the perpetrator of violence. We all
know that no religion would justify such an action. Why then does it
happen? When we are ourselves incomplete, we look for excuses outside.
Anger directed at someone else, if examined closely, is actually anger at
one’s own inadequacies.
If we were equanimous, negative thoughts and actions would not even arise.
How does one reach such a state? It is through the practice of meditation.
Intrinsically, it results in the control of the mind and at the subtle level, peace,
and tranquility within. When the body is not exercised, it becomes weak and
unhealthy. Similarly, if the mind and spirit are not serviced regularly, they
decay and a rot sets in, inside.
‘Modern life,’ with all its pressures, allows us time only to watch television
and that too only of the purely entertainment variety. Consequently, great
contributions of our ancestors in developing methods for nurturing our souls
hardly reach us. So many different meditative techniques developed to suit
varied individual temperaments have been or are in process of getting lost.
Mostly we are not even aware of the value of what we are losing. It follows
that grossness in the society is rising.
Increasing levels of insensitivity towards our fellowmen were refl ected in the
recent happenings in Gujarat when even well to do people looted stores in
Ahmedabad while their brethren were being killed. Considering that these
are troubled times and there is a need of peace, please do spend some time
every morning meditating on any ideal of your choice and you will notice
that gradually you yourself will start becoming like that ideal. If everyone
did this, the chances of another tragedy occurring like the one in Gujarat
would considerably diminish.