The Wisdom of Selflessness
Pillars which support the Vedic way of life are founded on the unchallenged wisdom of selflessness. A penetrating scrutiny into Vedic life reveals a cosmopolitan character that exhibit extreme philanthropy and benevolence.
In support of the above assertions, the following Vedic prayer depicts the mental attitude of the Arya (Vedic follower) throughout the course of his life.
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah,
sarve santu nirāmayāh,
sarve bhadrāni pashyantu
mā kachit dukha bhāgbhavet.
This means:
May all be happy,
May all be healthy,
May all realise auspiciousness, and
May none suffer from sorrow, miseries or misfortunes.
Contrary to these Vedic thoughts, the world is presently unhealthy and faced with various miseries; probably more than ever. In spite of the visible modern progress, the psychological framework of man is dominated by tension which has ensnared him in a pool of unhappiness. This is a bitter fact which engrosses one in a throbbing wish that seeks to inquire and establish the core source of unhappiness.
Undoubtedly, unhappiness is the mutated presentation of the natural sense of satisfaction in man. This feeling of dissatisfaction may therefore be a sure trailing mark in this inquiry. An obvious question flocks up with the curiosity of why is there lack of satisfaction in life?
This question may find its answer in evaluating the modes of life and survival patterns that have been shaping the entire human society in the course of time. With a slight historical flashback, one notices that the 18th and 19th centuries were marked with the well known aspect of industrial revolution. The present 21st century on the other hand; is marked and heavily loaded with the irresistible forces of globalisation, liberalisation, information technology and heightened consumerism. These have inevitably composed a global human set-up which exhibit extreme states of individualism. On this light, all activities and endeavours seem to fit in the various well scheduled egocentric life patterns.
An open mind will surely perceive that life is involuntarily being driven by these forces, which have consequently led to sprouting up of high degrees of selfishness. This can only be noticed through the don’t care attitudes which are exhibited by the present generation. Unmistakably, everyone seems to be in one way or the other surrounded by daily encounters that give dissatisfying experiences. These can not offer happiness!
If well synthesised however, the above prayer – may (bavantu) all (sarve) be happy (sukhinah) ----- reveals a different way of thought and life from the egocentric thought patterns in our present world. It unveils the vital Vedic doctrine that men are not only innately related to each other but also related to all other forms of lives. Such an elevated understanding compels one to realize that relationship does not merely revolve on birth ties.
The Vedic scale labels those relationships which are valued by birth ties as merely extrinsic and subject to cause the evils which blossom under the negative forces of racism, tribalism, nepotism caste system etc. These forces make man narrow-minded with consequent complications in avenues of social integration. The innate nature of those who are sincerely guided by Vedic knowledge has an immeasurable affinity for all to realize the full benefit of life under happy and healthful circumstances. The Vedas and their related edicts sanction such noble men to look upon all creatures, i.e. animals and men in general with the same eye.
Few indeed are those who would spare time to reap benefit from these Vedic guidelines. It is a disappointing fact that instead of shaping our nature and qualities according to these rejuvenating Vedic precepts, our nature has, probably unconsciously, been taken up and enslaved in the selfish shapes which have evolved out of these irresistible forces which encourage the individualistic tendencies.
The nature and temperaments which shape the human life have been ascribed in the Atharva Vedas as comprising of three elements i.e.:
Tamo (the harmful and destructive nature), Rajo (the selfish, sensuous and showy nature) and Sato (the selfless, composed and generous nature.)
Our present generation and world order is abundantly ridden with disastrous features which may sufficiently be described as tamogunic and rajogunic. These are the roots of the profoundly noticeable loose and heinous character which has widely contributed to cropping of hideous tendencies and infections like HIV, etc. Moreover, disregard to other lives (animals), and thus subjecting them to death in the name of food is a major cause of the negative health repercussions which humanity is experiencing, amongst others - the terrifying threat of bird-flu.
In the face of all this, can happiness and health be realised in such a destructively, selfishly and sensuously governed world order? According to Vedic thoughts, the outright answer is yes! This is collectively founded on the pure fact that unless we adopt the satogunic temperament i.e. selflessness and benevolence the world will continuously suffer from misery, turmoil, adversity and tribulations.
The Vedic wisdom therefore ordains mankind to avoid the path of rajoguna and tamoguna to live a life free from agonies. It further counsels that if men are to live cheerfully for a long span of life, they should begin to lead pure lives and help others in this endeavour. The end result will alleviate the burdens and together we shall cross the troubles of life. We shall then realise auspiciousness (bhadrāni).
This thought concords with Manusmriti 5.46 which states: ‘one who has no desire to cause harm, confinement, death and pain to living beings but is desirous of the good of all gets extreme happiness.’
FRANCIS M. MWANIKI
