One Cannot Make Men Good By Law

 

One Cannot Make Men Good By Law

If we are to go through all the texts/compositions/folklores of men, from the beginning of time, regardless of its origin in religion, science, myths etc., the constant dramatic portrayal and mention of good and bad is unavoidable. It is, as if the dichotomy between the good and evil was not only deemed established, but was sensed so, in the day to day living of the people. The importance of being a virtuous Samaritan had been stressed enough number of times in various forms, and its practice was rewarded as well. Duties and responsibilities were respected, expected and encouraged, unquestioningly. It is when the task of upholding them shifted from the individual to the society at large, or a specific section of it, do we see the deterioration of quality and with this came the enforcement, through decrees, regulations and laws. This passing of baton had done more harm than benefit, as it resulted on the whole, impersonal laws, which though of human origin lacked onus and mimicked humanity while assuring universality. The distant position of its creators and the uneven rigid approach had reduced its well-intended view to nothing more than a means of controlling the masses (with no trust on them) and for ascertaining superiority. Thus, resulting in a division that we fail to recognize even now. The power to hold and conduct oneself appropriately with life and its situations, has now come to be dictated by these laws which in their blindness have given us a way around them resulting in sheer mockery of goodness.

Such is the power of words, that its wielder through his craft can promise moon when it is not his to give and such is our folly, that we consider this proposition and discard all our ownership, while surrendering not only our thoughts but will to these artists. So, what is one supposed to do? How shall one lead his life? Well, the answer though simple and ever present is not an easy one to practice, and probably why most of us fail to walk on it. A great deal of transformation is required on the individual’s part, and is quite challenging (in today’s time), as it brings one out of the comfort zone and face to face with oneself. This choice (of listening to oneself) can be unsettling and uncomfortable for a lot of us, as we are made to traverse an unknown territory, with no maps while armed with only our wits. The moral compass that each one of us is endowed with is quite frankly naturally aligned towards all that is good, and is capable of discernment which has helped our race to survive ages’. Reliance on it requires a great amount of trust which due to our conditioning of recent times has become hard. Hence, the path tends to appear more and more surreal and unnecessary. Here ends our integral independence and freedom. The fact of the matter is that we’ve come to like being told what to/what not to do and, in its denial/variation, have taken a real pleasure to protesting for/against it, to assert our so-called freedom and independence. It’s very unlikely that most of us see an alternative to this, possibly because it stems from our existence, to belong to something bigger than us and to be right. But this higher something need not be external and tangible as we have been and are told insistently. This system of laws has replaced the organic arrangement inherent in us to an extent that what once was natural, appears ridiculous and crude. We are constantly seeing and ignoring the ill-effects of our projection, though historically our generation are the most privileged. Yet, in the midst of increasing comfort and security there’s so much more wrong that pervades in our society unchecked and encouraged (legally, so to speak) than ever before, and has devastating effect on humanity. Self-reliance, self-esteem and self-confidence have slowly been replaced by self-contempt, self-doubt, and self-hatred. We have consciously given away our autonomy to this system of laws for it appears to be superior, collective and more important than individual. Given this scenario, how can an individual and his life mean anything, and if it doesn’t mean anything (meaningfully, at least to oneself and later to the system), then how can any good come out of it? Everything has become expansively mechanical and the progress is concerningly blind. It holds and brings profound promises to the future and its dwellers then, but none for the ones in the present and now and is sadly at its cost.

It goes without saying that the state of affairs which connects a man to another man needs to be grounded and on the principle of humanity, but our civilizational progress has turned it into a tradecraft which are treasured, taught and disseminated from centres of excellence, through whose giant halls majority of mankind has walked, namely our beloved educational system. Despite the successful efforts to contort, twist and dilute the essence of being a man, of what is right, good and sacred and finally through its propagation, we are still far away from realizing either of it and further away from it than our ancestors were. More and more of us are in a limbo of readymade consumption (information, facts, food etc.) and senseless emulation, just so as to feel wanted, included and adored. Very little attempt is being made to provide conducive opportunities for individuals and by individuals to elevate oneself conceptually, thoughtfully and conscientiously, which seeks to raise one to one’s own potential. This sorry position of matters is not subject to any one system involving us but sadly all, which in the present times decide our life.

We are all far from being perfect, but to lead our lives meaningfully and to follow the path of goodness, one should not have to surrender one’s being, one’s autonomy, to that which though larger than one, is still a tiny speck (regardless of what is being said about its superiority), an aberration, in the large scheme of time and its continuum.

It goes without saying that which is inherent and natural will find a way to assert itself, its just a matter of time and effort. One need not be dejected and unhappy, for goodness is in our nature and we are aware of it. We just have to recognize and encourage it, rather than debate and theorize it. Because when it comes to good, there is no right and wrong, no now and later, well, it is simply good. All these variations are a result of conjectures and are fit for scholarly debate, but not to make a life and living. So, what are we waiting for, let us be good, by listening to our own conscience. Let us not rely on the crutches of these systems, which have disappeared with a change in times and civilizations. Even the strongest, the greatest and the mightiest have fallen, but the good being inherent has remained. Let us nurture and propagate it through our deeds and example.

Wishing you all only the good.