(...Continued from previous
month)
In our section "Onlife
Online", we often receive questions from aspirants, who are
not satisfied with their present lives, who are trying to find a
meaning in their lives, a deeper reason for why things happen as
they do, and who are searching for a light to guide them in their
actions.
Each month we take a
question of this nature and present an answer based on the writings
of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, with the belief that this could
be of help to a larger number of persons. We welcome further comments
on making our endeavour beneficial to all.
In our Question of the
Month in October we had spoken about the recent terrorist attacks,
the upheaval in the world and the search for a deeper and a truer
solution:
We had taken up 9 issues,
based on the questions and comments we had received:
1. What is terrorism? How is it different
from a genuine struggle of oppressed people?
2. Is a terrorist attack another type of
War?
3. How can War be eliminated from the earth?
Why have all the efforts at doing so failed upto now?
4. What are the causes of such terrible
events and conflicts? Is there some positive or some other aspects
also involved which we are unable to see behind this destruction?
5. As an individual, what should be my
attitude in the present circumstances? How can I contribute in
my own way towards a better and a happier future for all humankind.
6. Are anger, hatred, wrath,
revenge justified in the face of certain actions and provocations?
Can they ever lead to a solution?
7. When there is a war, are not both sides
in the wrong? Like individuals, don't all nations have their shortcomings,
their defects and mistakes. Then how can one take the side of
one against another?
8. Is non-violence the highest law? Should
all violence be necessarily met with non-violence? Or can there
be situations where a strong, even violent, action is not only
justified but even necessary?
9. Is there anything like fate or destiny for the individual?
Were all the persons who perished destined to die? Could they
have saved themselves? Is there a collective destiny? How and
why is it that some persons were saved as if by a miracle?
We had tried to look
for some possible answers to questions 1
to 5. We are glad that we have received a very positive and
wide response from our readers and viewers.
This month we will take
up the questions 6 to 8. We would however like to
re-emphasise once again what we mentioned last time, that no mental
analysis or understanding can be a sufficient light in such situations,
where each action or non-action can have far reacting consequences.
It is only a highly developed spiritual consciousness which can
see the forces at work in their true nature and their totality.
As we do not possess such a light and consciousness, it would be
wrong for us to make a judgement, to assign blame and to take a
definite stand and viewpoint, specially with regard to specific
responses and actions of individuals and nations.
Yet, however much we
may try, in any writing or presentation it is not easy or even possible
to leave out entirely one's personal inclinations and predilections.
Even the quotes that we choose will reflect a certain way of looking
at things. Hence our suggestion is that all that is given below
should be read with a great amount of discrimination and each reader
should decide to what extent the given quotes apply to the present
situation, and finally come to his own conclusions.
