1. Relationship between ‘Me & Others’ depends on whether we are totally Separate or One Integrated whole? Solving this riddle, is the purpose of both the Individual and the society and the question we’ve to ask is, to what extent should Individuals have freedom of choice. And the role of families, societies, religions and governance!

Throughout history and from the beginning of Creation all societies and each culture find and create their own ways to deal and harmonize the conflict of the freedom between Me and others. East and West have different ways and those who happen to be in power as rulers or religions can either resolve or be responsible to create conflicts!

Modern India should be an attempt to harmonize not the worst, but the best of both East and West to have both Religious & Societal Freedom to grow towards the higher and better.

2. Who are the “Others”? Let’s reflect: i) First, I am (Me) a Conscious-Existence ii) All others, i.e., the entire Universe which distracts Me from remaining stable in my own Self iii) The Cause, an unknown Creator, aka God, because of which I am Consciously existing in ‘conflict’ with all others that I think and treat as separate from me”.

3. Ancient India allowed religious freedom but curbed societal freedom. The idea and ideal was that society should propel the best of us to become the teachers, mentors, guides of society who could then guide ‘others’ God-wards. India discovered the goal and purpose of life and the ideal of Our Oneness; that there really is ‘no other’; I alone am!
Even this ‘body-mind-intellect’ that I think I am, is an integral part of the universe of matter! And purpose of life and work is to selflessly and righteously fulfil our duties, like all other beings and forces of nature do, and thru love for all ‘I will realize that there is No Other, I Alone Am!
The result was tremendous spiritual advancement focused on “Dharma-Moksha”. However, modern India has neglected growth in modern developments in the field of ‘Artha-Kama’.

4. The modern West curbed religious freedom and allowed societal freedom. The result was society advanced tremendously in science, industry, technological fields of matter. It remained focused on “Artha-Kama” but stagnated spiritually towards “Dharma-Moksha”!

5. Indian wisdom invites all to openly discuss, debate, and says, don’t just believe, but reflect, strive, and experience the truth, reality for yourself, by acquiring the necessary competencies, thru’ righteous conduct.

Of course, till I am ready to accept this idea, I have to struggle and deal with all ‘others’ in whatever way I can and in this world of ‘Space, Time, Causality’, we reap the consequences of whatever we do!

6. Necessity of daily Practice: Only by sincerely practicing our respective Religions and ways of worship and learning to work selflessly for good of all, can we gradually grow towards the realization that there is only One; but as long as we perceive with our sense organs, our mind shall project this manifold ‘others’. If we reflect on deep sleep experience, we don’t see any ‘other’!

7. Ultimately, we all shall realize that as Self, Consciousness, I alone am the knower. Even my own body and flow of thoughts in my mind or all other people and things are the “other” separated from me as I am the “One Subject” and “Conscious-Existence-knower”; and everything else, entire creation, even my body-mind, are mere objects! And Consciousness as ‘knower’ can only be singular, one conscious knower; it cannot be two!

To be able to use and apply this wisdom of Oneness in our daily lives, we need to awaken Viveka-buddhi (discrimination); we must learn how in every moment of our lives, in every thought, word, action, and intention behind them, we must be taught and learn the ability to discriminate between what is “wrong, false, self-centered”, and “right, true, selfless”.  Everything that makes for Oneness is truth.

It is only India that is Bharat that has reflected on this relationship between Me and Others and asserts that really there is no other, I alone am; and thru’ work as worship, righteousness etc. I expand my mind to actually experience “Oneness”; Love for All!

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Disclaimer

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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