THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Ibonio D’Souza
Our world today is a very conflicted place. The Coronavirus pandemic has pushed us all into one of the scariest health and economic crises that most of us will see in our lifetimes. The war-like situation is adversely affecting the world economy and is expected to impact our social, psychological and physical condition in the months and years to come. This is leading to fear and anxiety at multiple levels.
What we are experiencing right now, is a complex web of conflict. Family and commercial disputes and workplace conflicts are clogging up our legal systems. Polarisation between races and religious denominations have led to violent communal riots everywhere. Our constant violation of nature has led to climate change. This conflict spiral doesn’t seem to be in the mood to spare anyone. We need to identify the root of all conflicts, and tackle it at that level. Different spiritual texts have shaped the philosophy of many of our leaders including Gandhiji, guiding us on the various dimensions of conflict. Wisdom or Intellect enables us to see things clearly for what they are, and to differentiate between right and wrong, for self, others, and beyond. When intellect is lost or corrupted, conflict arises in various forms.
Inner conflict arises from lack of understanding of our own real needs, personal interests, and deepest fears. When these remain unresolved, the result is anger and resentment that clog our hearts and minds. Built on inner conflict, and the need to be appreciated and acknowledged for who we are, conflict with society includes disagreements with family, friends, colleagues, bosses, neighbours and the community. And this further leads to ‘trust deficit’ between people, businesses, media, NGOs and government. Caught up with inner conflict and trust deficit, people have become desensitised to nature, and have rampantly destroyed natural bodies on the planet, making our lives unsustainable. As we alienate ourselves from each other and from whom we are and distance ourselves from life-giving nature, we disconnect from the Almighty and create conflict between universal and individual souls, which is reflected in individuals and organisations, who become ‘soulless’. Deep understanding of these conflicts alone can enable us to become empathetic, work together and cultivate holistic relationships for common good.
Individual self-control, social collaboration, universal interrelatedness, and realising our Oneness are the keys to resolve the conflicts we are faced with daily. The Coronavirus is forcing us to relook at the way we have lived our lives.
We are reminded of the important significance of the anonymous people who keep our lives and economy running smoothly, of our responsibility to nature, and how it will bloom or go bust depending on how we treat it; of the fact that we have to collaborate and act as One, irrespective of who we are, in order to survive and thrive as human beings.
