We are all looking for a Better Life!
I spend time thinking about the three
different philosophies that I have become interested in over the years: The
Yogic philosophy of Patanjali, the Buddhist philosophy and that of the Native
Americans.
At times, I am amazed, even though I should
not be, of the similarities between the three different branches of the same
tree. And after that, when I read Jiddu Krishnamurty, I feel that here is a man
who has managed to merge all that into a humanitarian philosophy.
All talk about the hypocrisy of the outer
world, and our eagerness to join it for morsels of happiness on an uneven basis
and pathways of sacrifice within oneself to attain a greater contentment
within. Another thread connecting all these ancient philosophies is social
characteristics, which brings happiness to individuals and countries.
We don't think of countries adopting social
attitudes that benefit humanity as a whole, starting with their own
inhabitants. Bhutan and Cuba are two countries, which have taken Compassion,
Solidarity and Relationships to a newer level over cross sections of their
societies. Gross National Happiness in Bhutan and Solidarity in Cuba are two
expressions of that national attempt at the betterment of its populations.
Buddha had explained that SUFFERING is the
result of CRAVING through three poisons
GREED
HATRED
DELUSION
If you look at the Kleishas or Structural
defects of the Mind, delineated by Patanjali
Greed corresponds to ATTACHMENT
HATRED, to AVERSION
And DELUSION to IGNORANCE.
Yoga now in the west and emerging countries
synonymous with EXERCISE, MEDITATION and RELAXATION, not to mention the entry
of the train of charlatans, such as Hot Yoga among others.
The philosophy behind YOGA is much more than
all these but as Patanjali had said: Yoga is complete control of human
personality. It is a complete control over our whole personality: the body, the
mind and more.
In search for a Better Life, we study, then
study some more, to acquire knowledge to gain employment, we migrate, reassure
ourselves of the reasons for doing so, we seek self purification through
religion and its rituals. We are after that elusive SUCCESS which would then
define ourselves in the societies we live in.
Most people in this world, alas, including
the billion or so who scrape a living have no luxury over the poor objective of
physical survivor. In this our minds are similar to the instincts of our
mammalian ancestors.
When this survival attitude survives
through the economic betterment of people’s lives as has happened in Malaysia
and Singapore, the society tends to suffer because of the ignorance about the
deep values of human existence. Greed, Hatred and Delusion are carried into the
comfort of their new homes and relationships. Ignorance prevents them to examine
the superficialities of their life.
Success is always measured in quantitative
terms of the very same things that stand in the way of self-realizations
Career and Work
Relationships, personal as well as with the
Society
And other societal forces
All the above stand in the way of success
as a human being, we celebrate just one aspect of our lives: Work and Money.
Alain de Botton, the British philosopher
talks of success in relative terms. American Indians would take a universal and
spiritual view of what they consider to be success, where collective values
supersede individual values. What you do for others is the measure of success
in that society. Botton argues that you cannot be successful in everything,
more successful in some and more unsuccessful in other areas, all measured
values.
What is missing is the Gold Standard, as
the Yanks would say or Yardstick as the Brits would say, how to measure our
“success” through life. One such yardstick has been mentioned in connection
with small tribal societies: you are successful if you do more for others.
In the absence of a yardstick or ignorance
of such, life becomes a wanton waste in search of pleasures and false concepts
which makes us go further in search of such pleasures or deep into false
concepts.
In the words of a rich Asian, spending 1000
USD for a bottle of wine while having no taste for it, eat and Drink, since
life has no meaning, you get old, get fat and die anyway. No need for
discretions, caring of your mind or body.
When I was thinking about these matters
this morning, I am once again amazed, even though I shouldn't be, at the
similarities between the Philosophy of Patanjali and that of the Buddha.
I shouldn't be, as they are both products
of similar milieu, 2500 years ago, in what is now North India. Both
philosophers stress the capacities of ones mind to save oneself, not salvation
though religion or God Figures. Buddha was never elevated to the status of a
God, as happened to Mohammed or Jesus. Patanjali was all but forgotten during
the long reign of Moslems over Northern India, followed by the British rule,
until India became an independent country in 1948. The western Interest in Yoga
has revitalized to some degree an interest in its philosophy. Westerners are
also attracted to the Buddhist philosophy, as they become disillusioned with
religious practices incompatible with greatly improved intellectual capacities,
and a stagnant and non-evolving belief system out of touch with the modern
world.
Whereas this modernity makes us search for
an answer and both Patanjali and Buddha offer us the tantalizing possibility of
a higher objective- a chance for ourselves to gauge our spiritual, physical and
mental progress through life, without extracting any mental, spiritual,
emotional cost from other human beings.
(I feel grateful for my long association with American Indians)
But most of us are happy to be attached to
the colourful imitation of a pure consciousness, which we term EGO.
This is what makes the world a place of
misery, says Patanjali. Buddha talks of the suffering in this world. The
attachment to this outer world causes pain and suffering, according to both
Patanjali and Buddha. Do not look for perfection in an imperfect outer world,
that would be an illusion, but Patanjali takes us on the path to a higher
consciousness through his Yoga Sutras, the philosophy of Yoga, more than
exercise, more than meditation, much more than relaxation.
Dalai Lama talks repeatedly about the
fallacy of thinking that the material world would bring you happiness. He
stresses, if you want to make another person happy, be compassionate; if you
want to make yourself happy, be compassionate.
Those who like Eastern Philosophers, the
name of Jiddu Krishnamurthy is familiar. Here is one quote from him, relevant
to this discussion.
Posted:
Now, what is it that makes the mind superficial? Please don't merely
listen to me, but observe, be aware of your own thinking when a question like
that is put to you. What makes the mind superficial? Why cannot the mind
experience something that is true, beyond its own projections? Is it not
primarily the gratification that each one is seeking that makes the mind
superficial? We want at any price to be gratified, to find satisfaction, so we
seek methods to achieve that end. And is there such a thing as gratification,
ever? Though we may be temporarily satisfied, and change the object of our
satisfaction depending on our age, is there satisfaction at any time? Desire is
constantly seeking to fulfill itself, so we go from one satisfaction to
another, and getting caught in each new satisfaction, with all its
complications, we again become dissatisfied and try to disentangle ourselves.
We cling to persons, pursue teachers, join groups, read books, take up one
philosophy after another, but the central desire is always the same: to be
satisfied, to be secure, to become somebody, to achieve a result, to gain an
end. Is not that whole process one of the primary causes of the mind's
superficiality? - Krishnamurti, The Collected Works "Krishnamurti" by
Pupul Jayakar
