Hypocrisy of The Self
by We are people who live in a lie. A lie of our own self righteousness, whether at an individual, tribal or national level.
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Are we all just fools living a lie? Is life an illusion that has no significance beyond survival and creativity? Are human relationships meaningless in our search for comfort from loneliness and disillusionment? Is pride in our tribal, religious or national affiliations just a delusion that keeps us from growing to that elusive higher level of existence?
Answers to such difficult questions must be found on a personal level. It is impossible to enforce ones own version of right or wrong onto the opinion of another. For opinions are just an extension of a misguided ego that adapts to circumstances and perceptions.
I have often wondered about how each and every race, tribe or nation I have encountered has always been convinced of its own righteousness. Propaganda and national interest or even love of the faith often blinds us from reality and allows for the cycle of hate and crime to burgeon.
The Germans under Nazi propaganda were by and large convinced of Aryan supremacy and the right to expand German Living Space resulting in the horrors of World War II and the holocaust. The Jews, who were victims of one of the greatest crimes against humanity, saw it as their God given right to return to Zion and displace innocent Palestinians who had nothing to do with the holocaust. The Muslim world sees itself as a victim of centuries of colonialism and eventual bifurcation of Arab states into unfounded nations thereby denying them of their rightful greatness. The Hindu’s see themselves as innocent victims of conversion by Muslim armies and Christian evangelists out to destroy their race and culture. The Christians speak much of historical crimes by the Pagans. The Chinese see themselves as a humiliated people who have every right to erase the crimes of history by the Europeans and the Japanese.
The whine list can go on and is unending.
Perhaps we humans thrive under the perception of victim hood. Being a victim enables us to unite against a perceived enemy. Being a victim allows for the endorsement of our unfounded fears. Being a victim gives us a false sense of righteousness to enforce our hegemony. Being a victim eventually allows us to make someone else a victim and thereby enhance the unending cycle of self destruction.
The Germans saw themselves as righteous victims. The Jews, the Indians, the Iranians, the Russians, the Chinese, the Pakistanis and even the United States after the horrors of 9/11, in their own eyes see themselves as the “Good Guys” just protecting themselves from evil bogeymen with no other intent but to enforce tyranny.
None should deny the realities of the crimes that were committed, but does the hypocritical mindset that accompanies victim-hood provide the necessary balm for healing the wounds?
Can the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians or any other group deny their own crimes before pointing the blame on others? Will the world continue to thrive in this meaningless muddle of confused collective egos?
Can we accept an inherent reality that we, whichever tribe we may belong to, are as guilty as anyone else?
Wise individuals who exist in realms beyond the limitations and divisions of mundane human reality perhaps know differently.
The world is as messed up as it seems because that is the way it is perhaps meant to be. The hypocrisy of the world can only be attributed to our own individual hypocrisy. The world is just an extension of how we perceive it. Conflict’s continue because we as single individuals allow them to continue as conflicts within our own self. Our spirits are as defiled as the world we live in.
If we clean up our own selves then the world will surely follow.
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Post CommentMythili Kannan
On October 2, 2009 at 6:22 am
Very nice Vikram. Lots of questions which do not have answers.
ken bultman
On October 2, 2009 at 7:08 am
Good write. Points to ponder. In the end…won’t happen.
John McDonnell
On October 2, 2009 at 8:31 am
Good article. The victim excuse has been used many times to justify horrible crimes of revenge. If we could move past that, many of the horrors of the world would end.
Fegger
On October 2, 2009 at 9:10 am
Very insightful piece, Vikram. The primary points you have presented may easily be extrapolated to some of the more remedial forms of human engagement; and it may be that this is the viable marker of intervention. I, like yourself, embrace hope as such malaise is recognized; and although it may appear so vast and insurmountable, what knots are tied may be unraveled in time and perseverance. It may take thousands of years to realize such change; but it should be noted that it took thousands of years to create such a configuration. Perhaps writers/prophets/philosophers, like yourself, may invoke, in time, a means to abandon such traits in lieu of that which was intended for all of mankind—where apathy merely fertilizes.
BullwinkleMuse
On October 2, 2009 at 11:35 am
Whenever I consider the human condition, I am always struck by Man’s propensity for finding, and focusing on, the differences between groups of us. No matter how many ways we find to divide ourselves, and regardless of the sizes of the varied groups that result, we manage to find still more ways to draw imaginary lines between us.
Perhaps this, more than any other reason, is why it falls to each of us individually to find commonality. I’m often reminded during such discussions, of an old Star Trek episode that struck me as child of 6. It was called “Let This Be Your Last Battlefield”. In it, two tribes destroyed one another to extinction because of nothing more than an inconsequential cosmetic difference between them.
This was an excellent write on a subject very dear to my heart, Vikram. Thank you for this.
Ruby Hawk
On October 2, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I agree, If we let bygones be bygones and start from today and respect all our neighbors we would have peace in the world. Humans must have a glitch in the brain that certainly needs a fix.
Butterfly Musings
On October 2, 2009 at 7:45 pm
very interesting and thought provoking!
Theresa Johnson
On October 3, 2009 at 1:53 am
wonderful,thought provoking piece
Ask Cash
On October 3, 2009 at 4:32 am
Very well expressed. Its the eternal right or wrong situation…and there are no answers yet!
Jane Jane
On October 3, 2009 at 8:33 am
this is so thought provoking. makes sense and will really make you think hardly.
nobert soloria bermosa
On October 3, 2009 at 10:54 pm
very nice,i am in full agreement with Ruby
miraj
On October 4, 2009 at 5:47 am
While reading this article,I remembered the famous saying of “Maa Sarada Devi”,divine mother,and wife of “Sri Ramakrishna”
it is:-
“Don’t see the guilt in others,but see it in yourself.”you have explored a very vital aspect of human conscience,that is the primary barrier for us to evolve into a better human being.sometimes I think, If we consider to introspect for even 1 minute regarding our purpose of existence,this world will be a much better place to live in.The constant cries of “I”, “me” is a nasty delusion that does nothing more than to fuel angst against others.so yes one must learn to recognize the guilt of his own,and if one is a victim he should carefully explore the past events and find out the rightful cause of the effect.Very insightful article Vikram(Sir).
my deepest respect and gratitude,VIkram(Sir)
LOVE IS ALL
Walk in beauty,change the world.
Melody SJAL
On October 4, 2009 at 10:41 am
A very thought-provoking and insightful piece. Great article.
LOVELYHONEY
On October 4, 2009 at 5:06 pm
ur a prolific writer i like ur comments on my works i like tick urs as i feel incompetent to comment
revivor
On October 11, 2009 at 10:46 am
this is great reading – one issue that stops the desired step to “one family” is that the unilateral gesture is seen as a victory by the other side who have no intention of halting their revenge hypothesis. This makes the unilateral gesture a non-starter and talking rarely seems to work.
KelseyOh
On October 11, 2009 at 8:41 pm
It all revolves around :
-religion
-natural resources
-power struggles
We want natural resources, we take over a country, try and help them politically, ethically, we mess up because we offend the basics of their religion or culture, then there’s the power struggle to take back over the state –
What really needs to happen is humans need to realize that THEY ARE NEVER going to exist again – yeah we may be a random combination of molecules, that react differently to everything, but that randomness is beautiful and the differences are maddening and I know personally, I want nothing more than to see these differences and experience those madnesses -
writing4angels
On October 14, 2009 at 6:30 am
Very well written. I just wonder what if a country acquires another country and expands its territory?
-Population will decrease due to war.
-Economic crisis.
……………..Many more things but…
The amount of land on Earth will be the same for the ones who will be born in future!
XXElleXX
On October 15, 2009 at 5:19 am
‘Hypocrisy is the lubricant of society’ ~ David Hull.
An extremely well-written, thought-prooking article Vikram Chhabra
Reminds me of the nuclear test by the North Korean Government..who stated that it was part of its ‘nuclear deterrent policy’. It was quickly condemned by leaders from around the world, with US President Barack Obama calling it a “blatant violation of international law”. This test was a sobering reminder of what the North Korean Government is capable of doing..but it is also a reminder of the great hypocrisies of the nuclear powers of the world. At the same time this test was completed..eight countries (The US, Russia, China, France, UK, Israel, Pakistan and India) continue to stockpile nuclear weapons..and none of these countries have any plans for disarmament.
XXElleXX
On October 15, 2009 at 5:21 am
Sorry…I mean thought provoking article Vikram Chhabra
Francois Hagnere
On October 17, 2009 at 5:57 am
These are true words of wisdom. Thank you so much for this brilliant article.
Valerie Curtiss
On October 18, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Man is a warring animal, I think, but I like your thoughtful philosophic writings. Most wars were started in the name of tribalism and religion.
Teves
On October 20, 2009 at 10:38 am
Nice one…Thanks!
lillyrose
On October 20, 2009 at 2:09 pm
A really perfectly written article, with some excellent points made.
Louie Jerome
On October 21, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Interesting article with some valid arguments.
Will Gray
On October 22, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Excellent write! I love the last line, if we clean up ourselves, then the world will surely follow. If only that could come true!
chitragopi
On October 22, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Well thought of. I read it twice.
gopallahiri
On November 11, 2009 at 3:31 am
Dig inside and I feel at home with your thoughts.
Very well done.
Gopal
Marie Antoinette
On December 2, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yes, we humans can be capable of the most vile acts or the most courageous or sublime – Sometimes I wonder why were we created?
Cynthia Cox
On March 5, 2010 at 12:08 am
Your article is of great timeless value. It is debatable content that leaves the mind and reader thinking, one never to be forgotten in theory or personal thoughts. Great works~
I agree that individuals who believe they are a victim instead of a survivor in any bad situations, will only seek out reprocussion of the wrong done to them. Until everyone takes into accountability for their own wrong and take this wrong to do right for the humanity of others, it will not change.
So to a better “we”, it really does start with what is done by “me”. Actions speak louder than words and if we shall choose blindness of humanity in our lives, we shall continue this disease of society.
everything rulzzz
On May 8, 2010 at 1:32 am
satsri akal paji ki hal hai
nice article
plz read mine on barrack obama
and tell me if u liked it