Common
code of goodness
Deriving
a common code of goodness is not terribly complex. We have all the data needed
to derive such a code but we need constant and blunt reminders about goodness. Scriptures
have thoughtfully categorized these for different times, different stages of
life and pursuit of different goals. For example a student needs a code
different from that of a householder; a minister needs a code different from
that of an industrialist or a soldier. Let us now design a list of “secular”
virtues that could apply universally. The following list is necessary but not
sufficient. It is a generic list and needs to be supplemented with personal
items depending on one’s family, society, geography, period of time and other
factors. The list is a broad spectrum
antibiotic and needs to be taken along with other medicines based on the
particular patient’s conditions. Validity of the list can be had from several
anecdotes found in history, literature, folklore and poetry. I request each
reader to come up with his/her own anecdotes/ stories/personal experiences to
validate the list. I also welcome arguments against the presence of any of the
items in the list.
I am
not describing the process of deriving this list from the scriptures mentioned
in Part 2. The exercise took me several months. I jotted down some notes which
ran to 80 pages and I do not intend loading the blog with those. Trust me that
the list was derived using several scientific and even mathematical techniques
such as generalizing from specifics and vice versa, concretizing from abstract
and vice versa, recognizing isomorphic scenarios (scenarios that look different
externally but are the same when viewed at a deep structural level), induction
logic for drawing inferences, deductive logic, analogical learning, creating
world models and answering several “what-if” questions.
1. Ahimsa
Non-violence
is a poor translation of the term Ahimsa. The word Himsa does not limit itself
to causing physical injury such as spraying pepper or hurling a bomb. You
commit Himsa even when you wound someone with words, with evil thoughts and
when you do not let others make their own choices. Open mindedness is a
hallmark of our culture. Imposing one’s dogmas on others forcibly or ridiculing
others’ opinions without due consideration constitute himsa. Much of the
terrorism in today’s world stems from the fact that some people deny others the
freedom of thought. In a lighter vein we can say that proprietary software that
functions like a black box is also an instance of committing himsa. So are
appliances with non-intuitive modes of operation. Acts of spoiling the
environment through pollution and deforestation definitely qualify for being
labeled as himsa. A closely related trait to ahimsa is forgiveness which refers to the recognition that living
with others is not possible without excusing genuine and unintended acts of
harm done by others.
2.Empathy
Empathy refers to the capacity to connect imaginatively with the sufferings and unique experiences of another person. It demands courage to become someone else and look back at oneself with honesty. It connotes the capacity to be in someone else’s shoes especially when that person is on a “low”. The custom of calling on someone who has suffered bereavement and saying kind words is a manifestation of empathy.
Empathy refers to the capacity to connect imaginatively with the sufferings and unique experiences of another person. It demands courage to become someone else and look back at oneself with honesty. It connotes the capacity to be in someone else’s shoes especially when that person is on a “low”. The custom of calling on someone who has suffered bereavement and saying kind words is a manifestation of empathy.
3.Patience
We get angry because we believe that things should be perfect. Intellectually we have grown so good as to travel to Mars, but we can not stand mundane things that have a tendency to go wrong - traffic, slow moving government transactions, and eccentricities of other people. We should grow calmer and more forgiving by getting more realistic about how things actually tend to go. Impatience leads to unacceptable behavior that may inflict harm on others. We have no business to vandalize public property when a train expected to arrive at 8.25 AM is delayed until 8.45 AM. Fortunately we are powerless against ambiguities in Nature. What can we possibly do when the monsoon that was predicted to set in on Jun 1 does not show up until Jun 12?
We get angry because we believe that things should be perfect. Intellectually we have grown so good as to travel to Mars, but we can not stand mundane things that have a tendency to go wrong - traffic, slow moving government transactions, and eccentricities of other people. We should grow calmer and more forgiving by getting more realistic about how things actually tend to go. Impatience leads to unacceptable behavior that may inflict harm on others. We have no business to vandalize public property when a train expected to arrive at 8.25 AM is delayed until 8.45 AM. Fortunately we are powerless against ambiguities in Nature. What can we possibly do when the monsoon that was predicted to set in on Jun 1 does not show up until Jun 12?
4.Sacrifice
We are hardwired to manipulate things to our own advantage. We forget that we also have a miraculous ability, to forego our own satisfactions for the sake of someone else. We won’t ever manage to nurture a family, run an organization or save the planet if we don’t keep up with the art of sacrifice. Please note that “sacrifice” implicitly assumes that we have “something” to forego. We can not sacrifice nothingness. Hence ambition to create wealth is indeed a prerequisite for the purpose of sacrifice.
We are hardwired to manipulate things to our own advantage. We forget that we also have a miraculous ability, to forego our own satisfactions for the sake of someone else. We won’t ever manage to nurture a family, run an organization or save the planet if we don’t keep up with the art of sacrifice. Please note that “sacrifice” implicitly assumes that we have “something” to forego. We can not sacrifice nothingness. Hence ambition to create wealth is indeed a prerequisite for the purpose of sacrifice.
5.Politeness
Politeness is often assumed to be about displaying artificial behavior. Mechanically falling at the feet of anyone and everyone does not constitute politeness. We need to learn ‘manners’, which are the necessary internal rules of civilization. Politeness is also closely linked to tolerance, the capacity to live alongside people whom one will never agree with, but at the same time, can’t avoid. Tact and diplomacy are closely allied cousins of politeness.
Politeness is often assumed to be about displaying artificial behavior. Mechanically falling at the feet of anyone and everyone does not constitute politeness. We need to learn ‘manners’, which are the necessary internal rules of civilization. Politeness is also closely linked to tolerance, the capacity to live alongside people whom one will never agree with, but at the same time, can’t avoid. Tact and diplomacy are closely allied cousins of politeness.
6.Humor
Seeing the funny side of situations and of oneself doesn’t sound very serious, but it is integral to wisdom, happiness and goodness. It is a sign that we are able to grasp the gap between what we wish and how life actually unfolds; what we dream of being and what we actually are, what we hope other people will be like and what they actually are. Humor may even spring from disappointment.
Seeing the funny side of situations and of oneself doesn’t sound very serious, but it is integral to wisdom, happiness and goodness. It is a sign that we are able to grasp the gap between what we wish and how life actually unfolds; what we dream of being and what we actually are, what we hope other people will be like and what they actually are. Humor may even spring from disappointment.
7.Self-Awareness
To know oneself is the same as not blaming others for one’s troubles and moods; to have a sense of what’s going on inside oneself, and what actually belongs to the world. Self awareness shields us from passing the buck and finding scapegoats for our failures. There are several tools both in scriptures (the “guna” theory for example) and Management literature (MBTI types for example) that aid us in evaluating our level of self awareness. For example some could be extroverts and some others introverts; an extrovert may do well in sales and marketing while an introvert may do well in design and research. Some may base their decisions on intuition while some others on sensing; some may be of thinking type while others could be of feeling type (also referred to as left brained and right brained). Self awareness guards against the “square peg in a round hole” syndrome and all the resultant unhappiness. For example, I was self aware that I can be an excellent employee but never an employer; hence I let go a couple of opportunities that came my way for being an entrepreneur.
To know oneself is the same as not blaming others for one’s troubles and moods; to have a sense of what’s going on inside oneself, and what actually belongs to the world. Self awareness shields us from passing the buck and finding scapegoats for our failures. There are several tools both in scriptures (the “guna” theory for example) and Management literature (MBTI types for example) that aid us in evaluating our level of self awareness. For example some could be extroverts and some others introverts; an extrovert may do well in sales and marketing while an introvert may do well in design and research. Some may base their decisions on intuition while some others on sensing; some may be of thinking type while others could be of feeling type (also referred to as left brained and right brained). Self awareness guards against the “square peg in a round hole” syndrome and all the resultant unhappiness. For example, I was self aware that I can be an excellent employee but never an employer; hence I let go a couple of opportunities that came my way for being an entrepreneur.
8.Hope
The way we see the world today is only an indicator of what it could one day be in future. Despair becomes far easier and almost automatic although we display streaks of coolness and adventurism occasionally. We should learn to cultivate shallow levels of pessimism and deep levels of optimism. A related attribute is “resilience” which means the art of keeping going even when things are looking dark; of accepting reversals as normal, of not giving up. It is said that when the going is tough the tough get going.
The way we see the world today is only an indicator of what it could one day be in future. Despair becomes far easier and almost automatic although we display streaks of coolness and adventurism occasionally. We should learn to cultivate shallow levels of pessimism and deep levels of optimism. A related attribute is “resilience” which means the art of keeping going even when things are looking dark; of accepting reversals as normal, of not giving up. It is said that when the going is tough the tough get going.
9.Confidence
The greatest projects and schemes fail to fructify because we don’t dare. It is the duty of parents, teachers and other mentors and coaches to nurture a spirit of confidence. Confidence is not arrogance; it is based on a constant awareness of how short life is and how beneficial it is to take calculated risks. The keyword in the previous sentence is “calculated” because misplaced confidence and ill-considered risk can lead to misery.
The greatest projects and schemes fail to fructify because we don’t dare. It is the duty of parents, teachers and other mentors and coaches to nurture a spirit of confidence. Confidence is not arrogance; it is based on a constant awareness of how short life is and how beneficial it is to take calculated risks. The keyword in the previous sentence is “calculated” because misplaced confidence and ill-considered risk can lead to misery.
There
may not be a consensus among everyone on how to be good. But that should not in
itself be reason to disqualify us from investigating and promoting the very notion
of goodness. Ultimately, each one of us needs to formulate our own list of specific
virtues, because each one of us has specific eccentricities and whims. Such
individual craziness is acceptable as long as it is not accompanied by
violence. Indeed the individual craziness is what gives us our unique identity. During my career I always made it a point to have one maverick in my team who would keep questioning the norms and standards of the day!
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