OBSERVATIONS OFF-HAND

OBSERVATIONS OFF-HAND

1) Once upon a time Arabs were mostly Christians. Now they are predominantly Muslims. How cultures change for the better or for the worse, or just, simply change as they must, for social evolution is a continuous flow !

2) Politics has ever vitiated religion and rendered the faithful unto fanatics.

3) Here in India, Himalayan retreats ; there in the Middle East, desert silence. No wonder the major religions of the world have all started in these reclusive regions.

4) Asians are humbler than Europeans, and simpler, too. Asians are, thus, closer to the inner realms of the Spirit. The European mind is largely material and disposed outward into investigating external Nature while the Asian mind probes within to seek the seal of the Divine in whatever he does and dreams of. There is a diametric difference in location and approach of these two oppositely oriented minds as they both approach the central Truth which is the harmony of all radially distinct characteristics.

5) The Jews have survived the Holocaust and emerged as a nation with no illusions about the constant threat to their racial existence everywhere. No wonder they have adopted an intelligent aggression to aid their continued survival, for a passive defensiveness over aeons had well nigh obliterated them. Their aggressive instincts today are their evolutionary way of survival against extreme odds and no amount of liberal persuasion will convince them that their enemies mean no harm to them. History, you see, teaches them otherwise and you cannot argue against such potent facts.

6) The judgement of history is delayed but does come at a distance in time with unerring precision and often with added interest to compensate the delay in justice rendered. It seems that the perpetrators revisit earth to receive retribution or reward for deeds done and there is a balance of karmic forces after all, though stretched over centuries and millenia. But history must avenge its events, resolve previous episodes in future enactments.

7) As generations keep changing and fresh hope keeps the flame of a brighter future alive, let us keep the public space open to all, accessible to everybody for the fuller nourishment of their aspirations, for a more wholesome expression of their creative energy for building a more effulgent edifice for the morrow. Our present endeavour must be to free people throughout the world with the message of peace and harmony, of self-confidence and not slavery to man or God, and to build up an environment where freedom itself can breathe freely and does not have to submit to scriptural mandate or prophetic dictate. Let democracy shine in its true character and not vitiated by commerce or politics. Let humanity be free at last.

8) For once be free of all Gods and Goddesses and in truth worship yourself.

Written by Sugata Bose