Morals Resting On Our Laurels

We still live in a primitive, raw world that was once described by Darwin as only for the fittest. But each new millennium, ever since Eve bit into that forbidden apple, has invigorated our diminutive desires and prodded the birth of bigger hankerings. Because of these insatiable craves, we have become mere marionettes in this obdurate world and have relinquished to its momentum. We put all our earnings into our yearnings, loot what is not ours and have spread a thick, black blanket over our Polyphemic morals. This high-impelling chase has given rise to a conundrum question: are we corrupting the world or has the world corrupted us. Who needs whom?

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”.

Perhaps back in the 1800’s, this aphorism of Ralph Waldo Emerson may have been defensible. It was an era where ground-breaking developments were made and wars were fought and soon after people realized what humanity really is. It would be vindictive to say that only battles bring such unfathomable realizations, but as the centuries keep on adding, the human race is becoming more acquisitive on materialistic covets over the indispensable mores that we have rooted from. We no longer just want to be satisfied but we now demand to be profusely soothed. 

Morals, ethics, values have all become satirical comedies in our lives today. Our curiosity lies in what others have that we don’t, and what demonic way we can use to embezzle it. Early years in school teach us the appropriate behaviors to abide by and what ideals to nurture, but its application limits itself to the white walls of the indoors because the real world is a Rubik’s cube that plays its own rubric.

Of course humans all have a sanguinely influencing nature to begin with, but just have become enslaved in the black market of cupidity. It’s like a hydra; we try to cut one head of the evil thoughts that germinate within us and another two grow in its place. We have molded ourselves into clay statues of ruggedness, endurance and solidity that work for selfish motives. We sweat and toil and target just the physiological needs. It’s almost as if spiritual beliefs are out meditating by themselves. 

Henry David Thoreau once said “Don’t be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so” and it couldn’t be more applicative today. In a world where being emotional means being too emotional and having schmaltzy feelings is ridiculed, where all decisions, goals and paths lead to just money, there is simply no time or space or energy to be put into probing the character within us. When we are offered something out of good will, we question their integrity. When we are helped, we question their motives. In mind games, political strategies, double entendre complexities, ‘looking within us’ simply does not fall in our roster. 

Yes. In times of depression, rejection and dejection, we do double lock our doors and hide inside to contemplate what went wrong. Were we too pathetic? Too weak? Inadequate? After hours and days of profound consideration and deafening isolation we once again leave the borders of our comfort zone, only to make a more rebelling comeback. It’s become human nature. Life’s falls and denunciations are no longer meant for us to look within ourselves and pay heed to our spiritual self but to get out even more ruthless so we can face another of it’s barbarity. We are not being inconsiderate to the subsistence of humankind or insulting our existence but the ways of life have changed ever since the Big Bang.

Martin Luther had said “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity”. We cannot live by ourselves and nor do we live just for ourselves. The world around us betters us or worsens us but it nevertheless stands as a fundamental frame of reference.  We need it to be able to mature, analyze our undertakings, compare our conducts and to move forward. We rely on the outside.  

Inspirational books, solitary getaways, yoga, meditation all truly flint the flame within us and fuel it for as long as we want but they last as long as that moment. Employing them into our lives permanently is a whole another challenge. They all should be incorporated in our lifestyles from the very beginning so we realize what our true calling is. Today we seek a sanctuary in mediation after no other possible alternatives remain. Ask children what being human is and you’ll get a simple, honest answer immediately. Ask the same question to an adult and you’ll get a long pause, a raised eyebrow and a pretentious, astute reply. 

Leo Tolstoy once said “Man lives consciously for himself, but is an unconscious instrument in the attainment of the historic, universal, aims of humanity”. Humans are irrevocably tied to the rest of the world. The pursuit to happiness will always be unrelenting but life will make more sense as we embrace our soul and tread with the world, at the same time.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has righteously, in the most rudimentary manner, tried to outline his version of life’s commandment. The mistakes that we have rendered in the past and the blatant uncertainty of the future should not muddle in a labyrinth of regret. What matters most is this very moment. Nothing is more certain, real and obvious than now. The qualms of the past or the anxieties of tomorrow can wedge today, if we let it. Yesterday is now bronze and tomorrow is a haze. We must let today be golden.