>http://www.sumedhas.org/
With all the new year wishes poring in – I renewed my respect for the sheer positive energy we have around us. We seem to be in a hurry to get over with whatever is unpleasant in life and make it as happy and cheerful as possible .
Somehow the cynic in me worries about it.. as it also worries about a very important topic that I would like some more opinions on this…
When I see the deluge of hate and violence in this world – it takes me by surprise. No matter how often it happens – it still shocks me. Like all of us – I try to see what happens in the micro-world that I inhibit – are there some seeds of the same phenomenan that creates such madness?
I see that seed . I see it everywhere. That seed is insensitivity. It is sowed in every human being and colors all our behavioural patterns by the time we are adults. In fact – we are rarely aware of how insensitive we are.
Sensitivity is the God-given compass with which all of us are born. More than written ethics and religious codes of conduct – it creates an inborn empathy that tells us to care for people around us.
However – througout our life – we try to fight sensitivity and to unlearn it. We grow up to be worldly-wise. We accept disparities around us with complete ease . It’s rarely a topic of conversations or of action.
Insensitivity goes by several names – all these names we are familiar with .We go to great lengths to teach these to our children and stamp out the naive sensitivity that they are born with.
Discipline, Professional behavior , Practicality – all have elements of insensitivity lodged into them. Discipline makes punishments legitimate, Professional behavior makes it legitimate to treat people in organizations like inanimate objects . And Practicality – the most powerful of all words – can make almost any thing sound right and legitimate.
There are a great many other names too – with the same basic root – insensitivity.
Feed insensitivity with enough rage and give it a cause – ‘rightful struggle’ by any name – and we have the recipe for violence. Insensitivity is the edge with which the sword of violence cuts into the flesh of fellow human beings.
I am of course painfully aware that behind the facade of so-called modern civilization we inhabit a world where Darwinian priciples of survival hold true. And I am aware that extreme sensitivity can make it impossible to survive. And yet – since God has gone to such lengths to endow every new-born with sensitivity I am certain it has it’s place in this world.
This year – 2009 – I resolve take whatever steps I can to strengthen my sensitivity, my vulnerability and act on it with courage. I resolve to leave my fears behind and trust my intution and values.
And I hope that throughout the world people are sensitive in small ways.. and tilt the world towards goodness and humanity.
I wish all of us a new year that brings more peace, joy and wisdom in our lives.
-Sumedha
Sarbari's Blog 