Between nations, between religions, why even between husband and wife, between parents and children, between siblings, differences in opinion and tastes lead to conflicting situations.
Newly-married couple are bound by mutual love and are quick to resolve all differences between them. As time goes by, instead of their mutual bond becoming stronger, minor shortcoming of a partner becomes a major irritant to the other. Many celebrity marriages unfortunately end up in divorce.
In the corporate world too, competition has become intense and quite often business ethics are sacrificed to advance the business interests of one company at the cost of many others in the same line.
Political Escalation of Problem
Many politicians belonging to diverse parties in almost every country are concerned with their own parties, groups or themselves rather than trying to resolve the problems confronting their countries. Arrogance and hypocrisy of political leaders lead to escalation of social and political conflicts. Disruption of normal life and destruction of public property by miscreants belonging to political parties, or enjoying their protection, have become normal occurrences in most countries nowadays.
Religious Fanaticism
An all-too-insignificant number of the world's population, belonging to diverse religious faiths, have, due to their total ignorance, become victims of fanaticism and intolerance. This microscopic minority in every faith is able to spread terror, insecurity, mutual distrust, fear and unhappiness all over the world. Their mindless destruction of human life and property is beyond the imagination of any sane person.
Revenge Not the Solution:
Violence will beget violence and hatred will breed more hatred. What is required is a change of heart. Hatred should be replaced by love. Fear should be overcome by trust and confidence. In the words of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is considered a Divine incarnation of the present time by millions across the world: "Today love is only limited to the speech of man; it has disappeared from his heart. People only pretend to love but they do not really understand what love means. You will have no fear, no anger and no hatred when you have love.... Because people lack love, they start doubting even God. When they develop true love, they will have no doubts."-"Sanathana Sarathi"Vol.53-Issue No.5,May,2010.
Love is the Solution - Jesus
The instructions by Jesus on this subject is relevant and valid for all time:
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also..... ... Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he marketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? ......... ..
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
(Quoted from "The Beatitudes in The Holy Bible".)
Conclusion:
No religious leaders or reformers ever preached or propagated hatred, anger or selfishness. Jesus, Buddha, Prophet Mohammed, Guru Nanak, Sri Krishna - each one of them taught only tolerance, compassion, love and sacrifice. It is the followers of these great personages who diluted and distorted the teachings of the Masters.
To conclude, in the words of Sathya Sai Baba: "First of all, man should become good. Then, the whole world will become good. Therefore, first and foremost, man should conduct himself in a manner worthy of a human being and should lead a life befitting his status as a human being. This itself will transform the human into divine." - "Sanathana Sarathi"-Vol.53-Issue No.2,February2010.
Balakrishnan Valanath - Balakrishnan Valanath is an India-based writer from Kerala, the "God's Own Country". After graduating in Economics and Law, he spent many ...
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