By Pundit Varistha Persad
BA, MA, Pg. Dip. Ed, PhD (cand.)
Director, Swaha International
The election results of world leaders, even local ones, sometimes surprise the right-thinking individual, and undermine the position that unwavering faith and belief in morality, integrity and living according to traditional values can ensure success and push one further up the social ladder, or at least permit one to retain some level of respect in society. This unbelievable degeneration in all aspects of the human condition, associated with Kalyug, has been predicted; these predictions resemble our present state, with even worse to come as the years go by. This article isn’t another attempt at regurgitating doomsday rhetoric but it does seek to reassure the few people left in this world who are maintaining Hindu principles that you are not alone and that your tremendous sacrifice is not going unnoticed. Just as there are forces destroying and corrupting the mental faculties of people in this world, your ability to defy the odds and remain stable in your beliefs and principles is a source of strength for those amongst us who are failing.
In this age of Kaliyug, the tremendous differences in the way people think or behave, and the choices they make, are not solely based on environmental or circumstantial changes, as many would justify, for it is possible to this day to retain traditional values such as respect for elders, parents, Gurus and so on. The argument may appear simple but unless one has observed closely how quickly this simple word, “respect”, has morphed and become distorted, then it is easy to question its relevance. One prediction for Kalyug is that people will only maintain respect for those people who have acquired, whether through ill-gotten means or not, tremendous wealth as their only value for moving up the social ladder. The wealth of a man or woman is absolutely integral to his or her success in the age of Kaliyug and not character, spirituality, morality or integrity. Examples of this fact are easily identifiable in the world of politics, film, and business.
The point is that now, more than ever, for one to remain in the limelight or exist successfully in any field, he or she must portray himself or herself as wealthy, as fashionable, as in flow with the conditions of social acceptance. An example of this is how many change their attire only, and not their character or personality, in order to gain social acceptance. The successful businessman, academic, politician, job candidate and now unfortunately, even the modern pundit, dress in colourful attire and bright plumage, much like the peacock with its attractive, bright feathers and colours that are useless in providing the bird with more than a high jump or a successful flight. It should not be shocking since even in the animal kingdom, preening and displaying in such a way grants acceptance. Human beings have bypassed their ability to be critical, to discern truth from falsehood and to reject false company in their lives. Instead, they openly accept that which will give them tremendous pain in the future.
In conclusion, respect for oneself is of utmost importance, even if you do not receive it from others. Fighting the wrong battle causes the human mind to become exhausted and, as a result, depression and mental disease take over one’s life. The people around you are as temporary to you as you are to them. The real fight is outlined in the scriptures and that is the fight with your self. Lord Krishna states that your mind is your best friend and your own worst enemy. Contentment is essential in this life of little, and even in a life of plenty. Respect for oneself, parents, Guru and God must not be taken for granted. In this world, it may be the only thing left keeping our life afloat and allows for a smoother transition through all the trials and tribulations.
