The World As It Goes!

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Most of us, in early youth dash towards the world with reformist zeal, suffer retaliation from the inertia & ignorance (or is that ours?), and get back to daily routine of minding one’s own business. Some self-important youth would rebel at this, and may turn pessimistic for the world is not adequately prepared to recognize his “greatness”, but most others reconcile to the fate and few better still accept it harmoniously while continuing their work despite all costs involved.

Surprisingly, of all things, commonsense believed to be the most commonly distributed: everyone thinks he is so well equipped with it that even those who are the hardest to satisfy in every other respect never desire more of it than they already have. It takes some time to learn that world would continue to be as foolish and ignorant as we have found it despite all gyan we hurl towards it.

Recently while involved in some discussion with a friend on the topic of romantic love, I contended that it’s not as much important as it’s usually considered, while he considered that it’s the reason for existence i.e. searching for a soul-mate blah blah blah…. Apparently, I had the upperhand (needless to say! Isn’t it? Haha) & for a while he was himself partly unsure of his philosophy. (I shall soon elaborate my arguments in another entry)

I was delighted at my ability to influence him (or so I was deceived), when one fine day all of a sudden he announced much to my astonishment that he was party to a relationship with a girl which had presently blossomed into love. I was heartily laughing at myself! (A commendable substitute while facing the inevitable!!)

The point here is not whether I’m right or not. That only time can decide. What I want to emphasize is that despite seeing some logic in my argument, my friend found it apt to dismiss it under the weight of his own prejudice. (Most men invariably do the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative! Disclaimer: Inapplicable to author)

Why? Man has no ears for what experience hasn’t taught him. If he agrees, then he already knows it. We must have in us the roots, atleast, of that which flowers out in others in order to be able to agree with them. In absence of those roots, all the voluminous books of the world & all the preaching by others fall on deaf ears and insulated mind.

A wise man’s kingdom ought to be within himself, or if he does look beyond, it should be extended only to a select few who’re free from prejudices, are open to change & possess the capability to analyse our work. Indeed, nothing can indicate the stronger possibility of falsehood than universal appreciation. J (that’s probably the reason why your friends are more popular than you….Ha ha ! )

Finally, it should be noted that there’s no altruism among individuals. Hence, it’s quite absurd to condemn others for not receiving us generously when we ourselves never do the same generally. Most of our relationships are guided and sustained by mutual needs & requirements rather than altruistic love & affection.

My point that is the only real choice we retain ever in life, is concerning ourselves. Others don’t owe us even decent behaviour (leave alone appreciation). Hence, one can turn inwards and resent the world, or one can take a decision to do their work regardless of the reactions of world. Either way, one must learn without much fuss to accept The World As It Goes.

PS: As you would already observed the essay could easily suffer from unreliable narrator! And that’s my whole point! Every person says that the others are wrong, and in this all are very much right!!

Tailpiece: It is interesting to see what Nietzsche says “What we see is not the long sought truth, but the reflection of our own desires”.