The history of
humans seems to be moving from a 'default good' towards a 'default evil'. Good
pervaded the face of the earth in the beginning. In every movement, good was
sown and reaped. The war was between a lesser good and a greater good, moving
from good to the best. Each and every act was an act of goodness. But with dawn
of the fall, the perennial war between good and evil began. The good still had
a big say. Persons who chose good were exalted, considered as exemplary, were
looked up to. Good had a home to peacefully rest, a street to walk without
disturbance, a work place to earn a living, a common place to chit chat, a
voice to express freely and forcefully and had a place of worship to thank its
source. The important fact was that those who chose evil had a hope of
returning back to good. But I am afraid, good is no more in the vicinity.
It seems that we
are stepping into the kingdom of evil. Today it is evil that pervades the face
of the earth and it's between a lesser evil and a greater evil. The alarming
reality is the choices that are available are between evils, lesser and
greater. This can be vividly noticed in the choices that are in front of us. The
most politicians, who supposed to lead the nation, have criminal background; the
government, which supposed to serve the people, intern is served by them; teachers,
who supposed to form the students, have behavioural deviations; doctors, who
supposed to save life, trade it; lawyers, who supposed to bring justice, sell
it and the list goes on. And it has culminated in the norm 'fair is foul and
foul is fair'.
The greater
alarm is that the religious life is not exempted from this reality. Unfortunately,
the choice before them is also between lesser and greater evil. Evil has
silently made a dominant way into the religious communities. We make promises
and end up against them; the dreams that enthused to follow religious life are
shattered completely; there is a u-turn in our spiritual journey; the progress
has become a de-progress. The so-called missionaries of good, who supposed to
be the ambassadors of good, are mere spectators on the choices. Voiceless,
often times, they are satisfied with the lesser evil.
So, where do we
find good today? Behind the bars? In a rally, being violated? A community of
being has culminated in individual being, disconnected by the other, I mean
neighbours and nature. Anonymity has alienated the other of oneself. The
autonomous subject has forgotten to be hospitable to the next. The
disconnectivity, anonymity, individualism has lead us to nihilism, a belief in
nothing, which makes evil penetrate into our life easily. Where is the choice
between good and evil?
I am reminded of
a river, which was still and easy to swim around. The river had a mild current
and we happily swam across and found no difficulty in swimming against. Alas!
The current became forceful day by day and we were not cautious. Now faced with
flood, we have lost the sight of the stilled river. Still there is a ray of
hope, before a tsunami destroys us completely let us wake up. Before we perish
with omnipotent evil let us initiate a hope to good!
It is the
poverty of goodness.
Hurt me with
truth, but do not comfort me with lies!
