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Let us Guide our Imagination

Venkataraman K S

Imagination is not just allowing all sorts of thoughts to rise without any discipline. It is greatly harmful to generate streams of thought whimsically. This habit would pave the way for the creation of negative ideas of fear, worry, etc., and cause problems for ourselves and our well-wishers. We should develop our talent of imagination without losing mindfulness and regularity, and proceed with a clear goal. 

கற்பனையை வழி நடத்துவோம்

கற்பனை என்பது கட்டுப்பாடில்லாமல் எண்ணக்குவியல்களை எழும்ப விடுவதல்ல. சோம்பேறித்தனமாக, மனம்போன போக்கில் எண்ணங்களை ஓடவிடுவது பெருந்தீமை பயக்கும். தேவையற்ற பயம், கவலை, மற்றும் எதிர்மறைக் கருத்துக்களை வளர்த்துக்கொண்டு, தனக்கும், தன்னைச் சேர்ந்தவர்களுக்கும், பிரச்னைகளைத் தோற்றுவிக்க இது வழிவகுக்கும். ஒரு தெளிவான இலட்சியத்துடன், ஒழுங்குணர்ச்சியையும், சுய உணர்வையும் இழக்காமல், கற்பனத்திறனை வளர்த்துக் கொள்ளவேண்டும்.

LIFE IS ON THE JOB EXPERIENCE

Life is a combination of time and energy. This combination finds expression first through desires, then by action, and then by knowledge gained. Desire spurs us to act, which makes us experience the result of the action; that experience teaches us something, which restructures our desires. This spiral activity evolves all living beings. 

Desires spring up from our instincts. We act spurred by desires. Actions lead us to experiences. Wisdom is the effect of experience. That wisdom elevates our desires. The improved desire makes us perform better. This spiral of progress is the reward of life. 

Sometimes, their desires are fulfilled through sensory perceptions. Sometimes, they fail in their attempts and experience anger, frustration, depression, and so on.

Though these physical or mental experiences end, they leave a subtle trace of the experiences, called vAsanas. For, e.g., we drink a cup of delicious bAdAmghIr. The sweet experience enjoyed through the tongue may be over, but the taste lingers in mind as a vAsana. On the next favorable occasion, the memory of bAdAmghIr surfaces and stimulates a desire to drink it again. The vAsanas of pleasant and unpleasant experiences promote, in due course, likes or dislikes, leading to actions for or against the relevant things.

The experiences of life educate us most effectively. The knowledge gained from our experiences is known as firsthand knowledge because it is internalized by us and becomes part of our mental energy.

Desires are the expression of ichchA shakti (power of aspiration) and actions caused by them are the expression of kriyA shakti (the ability of activity). The knowledge we gain through experiences is the expression of gnAna shakti (power of wisdom).

Good desires cause good actions, which in turn elevate our knowledge. From this higher state of knowledge, better desires arise in our minds, leading us to better efforts, and further improving our understanding. Thus, we become wiser and wiser. This spiral action evolves the living beings to noble and enlightened spiritual states in the long run.

On the other hand, if we allow evil desires to activate us, they would lead us to nefarious activities, which would lower our level of wisdom and develop baser instincts. We would become involved in unworthy deeds and become criminals.

If we are intelligent enough, we can also learn suitable lessons from bad experiences. But this is like swimming against the current. It happens very rarely. Sometimes, a true friend or teacher may interfere and lift us up from the effects of bad experiences. We cannot, however, count on these chances.

We should always cultivate good thoughts and noble desires and work for uplifting experiences. The essential components of life are time and energy. It is always moving forward. Moving further, we continue to learn simultaneously through experiences. We should always ensure that our desires, efforts, and lessons harmoniously move in the right direction. Thus, we may ward off all the negative influences of the world and achieve progress in life's physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual layers.    

Desires spring up from our instincts. We act spurred by desires. Actions lead us to experiences. Wisdom is the effect of experience. That wisdom elevates our desires. The improved desire makes us perform better. This spiral of progress is the reward of life. 

Peace and Conflict

Peace and Conflict

K S Venkataraman

 

The peaceful atmosphere needs a truthful foundation. It cannot prevail on falsity.

The general advice, one is likely to receive on most of the occasions is to avoid conflicts. The conflicts may grow into serious fights and undesirable consequences. Therefore, it is better to avoid them at any cost. Thus runs the arguments of peace lovers. We should admit that they are not off the mark. However, there are exceptions, which, if ignored, would cost us dearly.

Sometimes, remedies can be worse than the diseases they are supposed to cure! In the ancient Indian epic the Mahabharata, the Dharmaputra decided not to reject any invitation or request, in order to avoid war. His idea was not to offend anybody, so that his behavior would not lead to any conflict. That was why, he agreed to participate in the game of dice, proposed by Duryodana. Finally, the game led to a great war!

We cannot always be milk, sugar and honey towards all. We cannot see eye to eye with others on all matters. When we are not directly involved or duty-bound, we may keep a diplomatic silence and look the other way. If such an option is not available, it is better to be frank and express our opinion politely, with our reasons; rather than suppressing our opinion and nodding our head unwillingly.

It is true that truthful statements often give rise to unpleasant arguments; but chances are that in due course they would be accepted and facilitate smooth sailing. If we hide our disagreement in the beginning, we could not participate in the implementation of the project wholeheartedly; our real stand would hamper our work and at times may even obstruct the work of others.

While explaining the principles of conflict resolution, R.J. Rummel observes, "… Doubtlessly, some conflicts are unnecessary, some needlessly intense and long lasting. But some also are a real and unavoidable clash, the only means through which one, as a partisan, can protect or further vital interests and achieve a more satisfactory and harmonious just peace. …" (https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/TJP.CHAP10.HTM)

The peaceful atmosphere needs a truthful foundation. It cannot prevail on falsity. This is applicable to all the situations, threatened by small or big conflicts, from family to international levels.

There is no point in buying a worse inner conflict while attempting to avoid an outer conflict. 

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Punishment is an Effective Tool for Crime Control

The ancient Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar has said, “The action of the King in severely punishing the criminals, who have committed heinous crimes like murder, is like a farmer removes the weeds for protecting the food crops.” (Thirukkural 550) 

Are Punishments Necessary?

Crimes are reprehensible because they work against the fundamental principles of human co-existence. They weaken and even threaten to demolish the social structure. They repudiate the individual’s normal rights of peaceful living and cause undue suffering or even death. They become all the more repulsive when they are perpetrated deliberately in organized manner. Still worse is when the criminals are directly or indirectly supported by the very same persons who are duty bound to prevent them. It becomes exasperating beyond limits when the victims are made to suffer and the criminals go scot-free. In India, the situation has become exasperating; and is going terribly and irremediably awry.

Reforms are needed in all the areas relevant to criminal justice. While urgent, serious and sincere action is needed to improve the system, it has become a fashion to talk about softening towards the criminals in general, and doing away with death penalty in particular.

There cannot be two opinions about the need for proper investigation. The accused should not be humiliated or presumed to be guilty till their guilt is proved. The sadistic treatment of any person is not correct. Extenuating circumstances if any should be properly considered. While I concede all these, award of punishments play a vital role in ensuring good behavior in the society and preventing trouble.

In the administration of criminal justice, punishments are imposed not as a matter of revenge. It has nothing to do with the principle of ‘eye for an eye’.

Gandhi is quoted often, irrelevantly of course, that if the principle of eye for an eye is followed the entire world would become blind. Maybe it is true. But what has prevented the entire world from becoming blind is the fear and possibility that the principle of eye for an eye might be followed. In the absence of that fear, the world will have two sets of people; those, who enjoy gouging the others’ eyes out; and those who were blinded by them.

If a court imposes a punishment, including the death penalty, on a convict, it is not at all revenge; it is a professional, judicial, impartial, administrative measure taken in the larger interests of the society and to deter others from committing crimes.

The ancient Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar has said, “The action of the King in severely punishing the criminals, who have committed heinous crimes like murder, is like a farmer removes the weeds for protecting the food crops.” (Thirukkural 550)

Can We Afford to be Criminal friendly Beyond a Point?

A good government should take care of its law-abiding citizens first. For this, the criminals should be sternly dealt with.

The existing situation in India is just the contrary. Here the law-abiding citizens have to be on the back foot, while criminals usually have nothing to fear about.

Crimes are always increasing. Their number goes up everywhere; they are becoming more and more cruel and well-planned; the perpetrators are becoming richer and bolder; their roles are growing significant in all walks of life, mainly in politics and business. Any effort to reduce the criminals’ influence is met with stiff opposition by united political class. They don’t normally unite for any national cause with such spontaneity.

‘Minor girl gang-raped by village youth, burnt alive in UP.’¹

‘Hyderabad techie gang-raped by cab drivers in luxury car.’²

‘Another minor girl gang-raped in moving car in Delhi.’³

Such heinous crimes occur with sickening frequency and alarming ease. They just get converted into uninteresting statistics. If at all, there would be some excitement for a few days and the men in power know very well that left to themselves they would die natural death.

At the same time, when the criminal politicians’ interests are involved, things move very efficiently and the ordinance path is taken! For how long the people of India are going to be taken for a ride by the politicians, for whom bad governance is a matter of their birth-right?

The pertinent question is why the entire system is not taken up for a serious review and reform at national level? Why remedial measures are not ushered in with the urgency the subject deserves?

Are Punishments Irrelevant?

A report on the Delhi crime begins with an observation: “Death penalty to four convicts in the December 16 gang rape case has failed to act as a deterrent as rapes continue to haunt the national capital.”

Interestingly an argument against the death penalty is that it has not been proven that death penalty can reduce the crime rate.

Don't ever say that death penalty has failed to prevent crimes. Say that the penalties are not quick enough, inclusive enough to prevent crimes.

People know that only in one out of a million cases deserving death penalty, it is actually implemented. In many cases, it takes more than a decade to finish a case; and imposing a punishment stands disconnected with the crime in the minds of the people. How can anyone evaluate its relevance and effectiveness?

If organized crimes are exponentially increasing in number, there are several reasons. Some of them are:

Bad governance

Political interference

Money power of criminals

Apathy in investigation and prosecution

 Inordinate delay in delivery of justice

 Inadequate punishments

 Flaws in prison administration

Misguided and mischievous propaganda of pseudo-human rights activists and pseudo humanitarian organizations

Cut-throat and profit-minded media, especially the visual media

Punishments duly implemented would definitely have a deterrent effect; only that can deter the people. But many people deliberately turn a blind eye to the real reasons and instead try to neutralize the system of punishment.

The legal system and criminal procedure are supportive of the criminals. Most of the human rights persons or men in power do not bother about the rights of the law-abiding persons and victims. In how many cases the criminals have come out in bail only to commit crimes?

The failure to impose reasonable punishments makes the affected people lose faith in government. In many cases they opt for settling the scores by themselves. Local gang-leaders and hired guns get good business and establish themselves with the help of dishonest politicians and officials. This leads to organized crimes in the society.

The truth is that the seriousness that should be attached to prevention of crimes in a civilized nation is not at all there in India. The people in power should be ashamed of the statistics on the subject; but they are busy with their personal agendas! Administration has become a plaything in their hands.

Aim at Zero Level

Only after umpteen filtering systems that allow criminals to escape by different routes, after becoming convinced about its justification, death penalty is imposed. After that there are so many chances to escape; and now you should find out if the criminal has any chance of getting reformed! Any hard-core criminal, who has absolutely no intention of reforming at all, can argue that he has a chance of reforming. This would virtually eliminate fear in the minds of criminals; and would also encourage them to expand their nefarious activities.

Why should you want to try the impossible task of reforming the hardened criminals, who has already seriously harmed or even killed law-abiding citizen(s), again at the cost of innocent members of the society? Who gave such a right to the men who happen to be in power?

There is a maxim that says, “Aim at the sky, if you want to shoot the bird sitting on the tree.”  Here the persons in power cheat the people by shamelessly talking things like about percentage of detection! And here a  ‘youth’ leader says that it would take 20 years to eliminate corruption in India!

The truth is that the seriousness that should be attached to prevention of crimes in a civilized nation is not at all there in India. The people in power should be ashamed of the statistics on the subject; but they are busy with their personal agendas! Administration has become a plaything in their hands.

The people are entitled to zero level crime and zero level corruption. If there is enough political will, it is not impossible.

References

1.       http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rape-gangrape-up-rape-uttar-pradesh-minor-gangraped-in-up/1/319682.html

2.      http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/drivers-rape-techie-in-hyderabad-arrested/1/319635.html

3.      http://in.news.yahoo.com/another-minor-girl-gang--raped-in-delhi-043521203.html