Hidden Treasure Series-Part XV- On Discipline and Control

My Dear friends, young-and-not-so-young,

When I was in school, I used to skip classes on Saturdays( which was for Half-day) as apart from traveling 20Kms two-way, I normally found nothing useful taught Saturdays as everyone used to be in a holiday mood. At home, I used to plan that day to put to good use. Being born to be a rebel, I used to (and still) change some stupid man-made rules to suit my convenience. That practice continues even today. Also I didn’t have a set pattern of timing for anything. I just did/do what I like and I enjoyed what I did.

Shall we understand this term discipline as I find children in India being mentally and physically tortured under the name of discipline! Even my academician wife sometimes wishes that I were a little more disciplined! I often wonder what the hell is discipline?

Ravi: Welcome Shri.GRK. Today, we shall discuss the one word that has been haunting me for many years. Shall we understand what Discipline is all about? Indians, I bet, are still suffering from colonial ramifications, especially on regimented Discipline!

What is NOT Discipline?

GRK: Sure. Discipline does not mean merely a behavior pattern. It is not simply a set of ‘do’s and ‘don’ts; neither it is a code of timing, expectations, or values; nor a conformity to a set institutional functioning.

Ravi: You know am child-like, don’t conform to any institution. I seem to function spontaneously to activities and events and I tend to sleep well without alcohol. Is something wrong with me?

GRK: Hah Ha! Ravi, being child-like (Not childish) is a gift. So you don’t bother. Just continue the way you are.

Discipline is a natural and spontaneous way of functioning in LIFE

Ravi: Does discipline anything to do with social orientation, then?

GRK: Discipline implies a rhythm, a cycle, an order in life. It is a natural and spontaneous way of functioning in life. It is most informal; it does NOT have anything to do with social orientation nor with value expectations.

Ravi: Wow! Thank you. However, what about self-control? Earlier, I used to have dysfunctional anger and have lost self-control, many a time, in controlling my tongue.

GRK: I’m glad that you have gotten over that dysfunctional anger. However functional anger is very much required.

So, what is the TRUE meaning of Discipline?


Ravi: You shared what’s not discipline. Can you make me understand the true meaning of Discipline so that I shall be a better person? Still I’m succumbing to cigarettes, after a meal with no-self-control!

GRK: Ravi, Discipline means a restraint nay a control over one’s instincts and desires-biological economic, social and psychological. Thus self-discipline or self-control is the most natural and highest form of discipline. This is nothing to do with fear of any kind, of military, party or of government. Rational non-conformity and constructive dissent are inseparable and integral part of self-discipline.

The paradox today

Ravi: Awesome. But, we are witnessing a paradoxical situation in today’s world. We are living in a civilization which provokes, increases and glorifies the number of human wants which in turn ultimately leads to all types and forms of exploitation, biological, economic, social, political and psychological (ex: greed, injustice, violence, inequality, possessiveness, slavery, colonialism and imperialism).

GRK: This civilization provokes human instincts and desires in an endless way through powerful mass media, all under the name of sophisticated living and cultured existence. On the other hand, the so- called discipline, in traditional sense, prohibits fulfilling these provoked instincts and needs biological, economic, social and psychological conditioning. Could it be possible to have an instinct provoked and at the same time not satiating it. (Not fulfilling it?) This is a tremendous contradiction in our present day life.

Self-awareness and self-realisation is the key

GRK: Are we really concerned with imparting the true self-discipline to our children, not the imposed discipline? If so, we must understand, discipline as harnessing of one’s instincts by him/her and the taming of his/her ego by himself/herself. Then only, we can be truly disciplined people and nation. This discipline (not regimentation) does not curb rational non-conformity or stifle creative dissent.

Ravi: So self-awareness and self-realisation is the key and it should come from within. Thank you so much for this understanding. I guess this is what I wanted.

Folks, we are nearing the end of this Hidden Treasure series with the chapters on Senses, ‘Prayer, Meditation and Samadhi’, Science of Sex, TRUTH and LIFE still remaining. Hope to complete that in the coming weeks.

To all my Muslim friends from across the world, wishing you all in advance on the eve of Ramzan! It’s a great time of the year for the self to be tamed and time for self-introspection,self-control and self-discipline, though regimented. Look forward to delightful Biryani that you folks make!

Kind Regards

Ravi

Hidden Treasure Series Part XII- On ‘Revolution’

My dear friends,

History is replete with bloody revolutions, isn’t it? Sometimes silent revolutions do happen but that’s a rarity.  I was thinking deeply on the lives Shri. Aurobindo and Mother and I wonder if this ‘divine duo’ together have brought about a silent revolution? They have cultivated ‘Vegan’ way of living and purity in Thoughts, Words and Actions. There is lot of science as well if the wisdom(s) is/are dwelt deep. During my recent stay there I observed that from the food served to room maintenance to the ‘common tip’ could really see science meeting spirituality. What is remarkable is that even the visitors shun alcohol, which is simply a transformation, in a city, known for ‘Wine and Dine’ culture, thanks to the French.

Let’s NOW continue our ‘conversation’ with Shri GRK to understand the term ‘Revolution’. We are witnessing the Arab Spring, which is leading to a bloody revolution in Middle East where the wonderful people in that part of the world crave for democracy and decades of ‘high handed-ness’ of the erstwhile rulers in Egypt and Tunisia were done to dust.

Indians are craving for a revolution!

Ravi: Great to walk-the-talk with you again. We are witnessing the Arab Spring. History is replete with ‘bloody’ revolutions. We in India, crave for one NOW, a country TO BE freed from the clutches of ‘crony capitalism’ and monstrous corruption. Do we have to take to violence to bring about THIS revolution in India? If nothing works, taking to violent ways does help, right?

WHAT is NOT a revolution?

GRK: Ravi, ‘Revolution’ does not mean simply a radical change or an abrupt change or a violent change. It need NOT be an upheaval. It also does not merely mean overthrowing of one regime or social-setup by another regime or another type of set-up.

Also, a forcible change brought out in a societal set-up in social institutions or institutional arrangements or in organizational hierarchy is NOT a total or complete revolution by itself. In fact, a revolution need NOT always be accompanied by bloodshed, destruction and violence. It also does not really indicate the substituting of one party rule by another, of one kind by another, of one type of government by another caste or religious rule.

Ravi: If Arab Spring is not a revolution, then WHAT else is? Sir, “What does TRUE revolution mean?”

What does TRUE revolution mean?

GRK: TRUE revolution means a change, nay, a radical change in oneself and one’s understanding first. This understanding is possible only through self-awareness (self-knowledge) and self-enlightenment. True revolution must mean a radical change, in our thinking; in our thought pattern, in our beliefs and style of living and way of life. This is a total and deeper and lasting revolution.

Ravi: You mean TRUE revolution starts with the self sans society?? Stunning understanding…

How to bring about the revolution in oneself?

GRK: Yes, this is possible only through the clear, objective, and deeper perception of us and our thoughts and feelings. This revolution means, in other words, liberation of oneself, from one’s subjectivity and prejudices, caste-mindedness, religious affiliation, nationality, consideration, sex orientation, status-consciousness and other limitations.

Ravi: You mean shunning our dogmas and doctorates, titles and praises that we are conditioned to?

GRK: Well said.  The revolution (true awareness) which takes place in oneself is the starting point of all other revolutions such as those changes in social setup and institutional hierarchy etc.; for these are the reflections or the results of an enlightened individual’s mind (self).

Ravi: Wow! Shall we say, thinkers and doers like Adi Sankarar, Christ, Mohammed to Karl Marx to Mahatma Gandhi brought out some kind of revolution among mankind? Why our own Anna Hazare in the recent times to weed out corruption in India? Is revolution then, some kind of Collective Consciousness?

Is revolution then some kind of ‘Collective Consciousness’?

GRK: Indeed. Ravi, a set of enlightened individuals who have awakened and revolutionized themselves can cause and create an everlasting social revolution. In fact, an awakening (revolution) in oneself and at oneself, is the only lasting revolution than any other type of revolution than any other type of revolution. The injustice, the inequality the exploitation, the hypocrisy, the violence, the wickedness the cruelty, all these and many more which we see in our societal setup and institutional structures are the reflections and actions of such a animalistic human brain. Thus and hence, starting point of revolution must be in individuals and their thought patterns, but NOT in social structures and institutions.

Ravi: Allow me to be  little greedy on this. How does one bring about such a revolution, on all parts of Mother Earth?

How does one bring about such a revolution, on all parts of Mother Earth?

GRK: This revolution is possible only through ‘holistic’ education, unfettered, liberating, universal and humanistic education but not through the “mass conditioning” or indoctrination which is taking place at present in our schools and colleges under the name of education we see in India.

Ravi: I get your anger. But allow me to share that a start has been made. Nin India, no longer the young brains today listen to their educated and ‘imprisoned’ parents. The Central Govt the leading the way in providing holistic education. So, no more marks-race for rank and crown races(Sic). It’s collaboration that’s emphasized and NOT competition.

GRK: I don’t know. You are talking only about CBSE which is miniscule. What about my children in rural India, my friend?

Ravi: Sir, I don’t know about other states of India. Kindly have a look at the state board text books in Tamil Nadu. It induces reading and learning as they are pictorial and evoking thoughts, thereby activating the brain of the learner, more so thee RIGHT one.

GRK: I am glad that the soul of Shri.J.Krishnamurthi, one such revolutionary, would be in bliss SEEING the start to the revolution, in India, education to start with, as he thought of.

Ravi: Thank you for this understanding of ‘revolution’. Shri.GRK. It need not be bloody. Let ‘activism’ in India change into ‘actionism’.

Folks, with that understanding, The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is indeed a revolution to weed out corruption, both at the individual level and at the institutional level, isn’t it? The education revolution that we are witnessing with emphasis on ‘holistic’ education for wholesome brain development is a revolution. The Education Loan Task Force to help poor students get bank loans is also a revolution. We all need to be actionists, isn’t it? What do you Say, Srini na?

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend where’s you get time for yourself!

Kind Regards

G&W Ravi