In this world, today, everyone has an opinion. Not only that,
everyone is convinced that they are correct. This is because there is research,
data and evidence to prove anything. There is also research, data, and evidence
to disprove what has been proven. Consciousness is separate from the body and
mind. There is evidence to prove this. There is also evidence to prove that we
are merely composed of chemicals. Another example, abortion is not wrong as
long it is done appropriately. There is evidence to prove life starts only
after certain time period. Then again, there is research to define life in a
totally different manner. My point is there is research to prove and disprove anything.
All we have to do is pick sides, gather
some information and articulate it in a way that is most convincing…there…you
have a winner!!
This phenomenon is more prevalent today because of the
advent of personal computers and internet. Anybody can go online, do some
amateur research and come to the overwhelming conclusion (rather illusion) that
they are correct. Then all they have to do is present it convincingly. At this
stage, the person with the most charisma, language command and data savvy can win
the audience. To simply put, the concept of neutral research does not exist
anymore, if anything sparingly. I have serious doubts today if indeed research/data
does lead to unbiased conclusions, perhaps in newly emerging fields with little
political ramifications.
How then to distinguish right from wrong, information from
misinformation? In the days of yore, during vedic periods, the person speaking
is scrutinized as much as the information presented. In other words, the
character of a person plays a dominant role in who should speak and who should not. Today, the character of a person is
not very important. Why…because no one has good character. Everyone is after economic
development and social enhancement. So one who is
poor wants to become rich and one who is already rich wants to become powerful to exercise his social capital.
Of course what is poor, rich and powerful is defined relatively based on time,
location and people. The bottom line – the goal is - glorification of one’s own socio-economic status relative to others. In
my view, modern day religion and politics is also within the paradigm of social
and economic status for I believe religion and politics is also used to advance
one’s own social and economic status.
So as long as one is driven by this passion to excel
socially and economically, true knowledge cannot flow through his brain and
mouth. Anything this person will say cannot be accepted regardless of how much
convincing he is or how much data he presents. Unfortunately, 99.9% of the world
population is like this. Henceforth, today we live in an age where one can do
anything and prove that he is philosophically correct. For example, on the
aspect of killing animals for food, personally I must have heard like ten
different arguments on why it is correct and when people speak to me they are
convinced they are absolutely correct. One may ask how meat eating is related
to social and economic status. Meat eating may not enhance one’s social and
economic status but one who belongs to a particular social and economic status
eats meat so in that way it is connected. In fact everything is connected in
that way.
Without rambling, my point is one should study the character
of an individual before we can accept what he speaks as knowledge. It takes lot of self
discipline and sacrifice to live a simple, austere and honest life free from duplicity,
hypocrisy, and selfishness. I am 36 and so far I can honestly say I must have
met like five people who fit that bill of good character. Therefore till we can
cultivate good character, let us follow in the footsteps of those who already
have good character free from any tinge of selfishness or selfish agenda. From such a person all
knowledge flows and we can benefit from such knowledge but not from one who is
seeking to enhance his social and economic status (gross or subtle).
Hare Krishna
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