Individual and Society

| Published on:

-Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya

When we talk of totality or completeness, we have to consider wherein an individual’s excellence lies. In what does a, person’s happiness lies? It appears as if a person’s happiness lies in the satisfaction of his wants and desires…

Yesterday we gave a thought to the question of leading a life guided by the principles of unity and totality. We don’t believe in any dualism or in any conflict caused by that dualism in the society. Since we don’t accept the idea of struggle, the purpose of our action is also not to snatch from others or to fight for what is called our rights in order to nurture our sells Realising the principle of completeness, our life has to be an expression of that totality and duty has to form the basis of our life. This principle is what shall engage our thoughts today.

When we talk of totality or completeness, we have to consider wherein an individual’s excellence lies. In what does a, person’s happiness lies? It appears as if a person’s happiness lies in the satisfaction of his wants and desires.

Body

Some people consider the body and the belly alone as all important. To a full belly means everything is alright. The whole world worries only about the belly. Bread alone is what matters and if alongside other material needs are also fulfilled, one thinks all is well. But it is not true that all needs are satisfied if the need for bread is met with. But often it is that one is not happy even on a full belly. Material happiness, even as it is, has no limits. One, who lacks bread, seeks it, one who gets it, want it with butter, and then lentils and vegetables get tagged along.

“Some people consider the body and the belly alone as all important. To a full belly means everything is alright. The whole world worries only about the belly ”

Currently, a shiksha varga (training Camp) is being conducted at Nagpur too. Everyday chapati, rice, lentils and Vegetables are prepared there. In the evening only lentils are served. One Svvayamsevak said that he never eats dal at home in the evenings and that it is unfair to him that he has to do without vegetables in the evenings. The organizer of meals at the camp told him that it is likewise unfair to those who are not served vegetables at home. What should hence be done? Craving for vegetables can be accompanied by the desire for chutney to be followed by sweets. The whole thing can actually become endless. And what is the guarantee that we would be happy or satisfied even then? Nobody can claim to have achieved this.

We must have heard of Shri Jagannathrao Joshi. After his midday meal, he generally says that he will have nothing in the evening. But as the evening approaches, the digestion process brings the thoughts of food back. This process repeats itself daily in his case. Food and dishes are a daily phenomenon, but it is seen that if food is not accompanied by love and affection, we get no happiness out of it. Once I received an invitation to dinner. I requested a companion to accompany me. He declined, saying that he was not invited. Not having been invited, he did not accompany me, even though at the Sangh office, it was not possible to arrange food for him from anywhere except a hotel. Had he accompanied me, he would have got delicious home cooked food. But he didn’t. It is not just food, but food with dignity that is required. It is therefore, not right to talk of just the ‘sinner stomach’ (paapi pet).

Heart

It is not just bodily well-being that one needs but well-being of the heart. The wealthy don’t lack food; they in fact have enough to eat to the point of indigestion.
Still they are often so unhappy that they are afflicted by sleeplessness. They work day and night. Do they do it only for the belly?

Americans lack nothing, and yet live in distress. Rahim has also said: Rahim asks the belly as to why it doesn’t become one with the back when empty, it degrades, and full, it turns the head.

Having a happy heart means having Ganga in a bowl.” An unhappy heart results in Joyless eating and irritability. An unhappy child rejects the mother’s offer of milk.

A full stomach can also bring evils with it. What’s important is that a full stomach shouldn’t distort our perspective and that our heart and mind don’t degrade; that while we eat well, our heart remains in the right place. Both our heart and mind need happiness and joy. Physical and mental well-being goes together.

There is a saying:” Having a happy heart means having Ganga in a bowl.” An unhappy heart results in Joyless eating and irritability. An unhappy child rejects the mother’s offer of milk.

A sad heart causes one to reject and renounce. After all, why did Maharana Pratap refuse to dine with Maan Singh? Obviously; due to the state his heart was in. A happy heart alone likes food; even not so good food gives satisfaction. Bare bread can produce wrestlers, whereas the best and the most delicious of food can cause emaciation. Tied in a cage in front of a lion, even the best of fodder will reduce a goat to a skeleton. On death-row, fed well, someone may gain weight if of cheerful mental disposition, wherease others may lose weight. That’s why Tulsidas has said :
Neither welcome, nor respect, no affection in the eyes; Go not to such a home, even if they weigh you with gold.

Krishna didn’t go to Duryodhan’s house for a meal, but to Vidur’s. He ate even the banana peels out of the love he received there. A mother’s meal excels all delicacies, because there is love in it. However much Bheem ate, he didn’t feel satisfied without the chapati Kunti made for him. Clearly, It that needs to be fed.

Intellect

Besides the heart, the intellect also needs catering to. A mentally sick person, despite being showered with love, remains unhappy until mentally healed. It is hence obvious that intellect also needs food, and healthy food at that. Even the West now recognizes mental sickness as a reality. Both the conscious and unconscious minds can be ill. There are things a person forgets despite best efforts at remembrance. A mistake can result in acute mental distress. It is, therefore, imperative that the mind remains healthy.

Soul

Happiness of the soul is as important as that of the mind. Some say that the soul remains unaffected. How can one. therefore, talk of the happiness of the soul? But we do feel happy on seeing a peacock dance. We experience happiness on being praised for a good deed. What is it in us that experiences this happiness? Is it the heart, the mind or the soul? We feel bad on being abused, even though our body feels no pain. Why do we then experience unhappiness? Here the ‘I’ comes, into play.
There is something apart from the body and the mind, Which is termed the ‘I’ . This ‘I’ is actually what is called soul . It is the connection of the soul that forms the basis of a relationship. Without this connection, the other remains a stranger to us.

(Excerpts from the book – “Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya A Profile” edited by Sudhakar Raje.)