Israel is decimating Gaza in retaliation for a brutal attack by Hamas. Hundreds of people dead, many more injured, the death toll will only rise in the coming days and weeks. Children, forced to face unimaginable terror, deal with horrific trauma, both mental and physical, and the cycle of violence continues. I also feel terrible for the poor animals caught in this senseless violence that humans inflict on one another. My intrepid dog, Mowgli, is a quivering mess every time he hears fireworks; I hate the thought of innumerable Mowglis going through this terrible torture. Ukraine war continues, each day bringing fresh violence, death, and destruction. An earthquake in Afghanistan barely merits a mention in the various newspapers – the world seems to have given up on helping that troubled nation and oppressed people. Meanwhile, the dysfunctionality in the US government has reached an unimagined level, a failure of democracy here does not seem to be outside the realm of possibility anymore. Division between people here has reached such epic proportions, that it sometimes feel like we occupy two entirely different worlds; this gap appears unbridgeable, with breakup of the states being the only logical solution.
Collapse of society all over the world seems inevitable and imminent. With such extreme polarization, is it any wonder that a thinking person feels overwhelmed with despair? Some of us are overcome by extreme sadness, or a maddening rage at these situations and the people responsible. One longs to do something, while fully aware of the futility of such action. Is it any wonder then, that the safest way forward is to emulate the proverbial ostrich and block the world out?
For some of us, numbness only lasts so long. The intense desire to do something, to help in some way, to be the change takes over. But the knowledge that any action is unlikely to have the desired outcome is often a huge stumbling block for me. What point is there in marching and protesting against laws and people, when I have absolutely zero ability to change anything?
I’m quite dense and it takes me a while to process things, so it was only very recently that I realized that the action itself was the point. Expressing my opinion, even if no one heard, was the point. Taking a stand, even with no response, was the point. The point was doing what felt right, the point was resisting, even though that resistance did not stop the flow of events or even slow them down. The point was not allowing society and circumstances to change who I am.
Nishkaam karma, literally means desireless action – this is one of the principal teachings of the Bhagvad Geeta. Action done for the action alone, with no desire or attachment to the fruits of that action. Do what you think is right irrespective of the outcome.
One of my favourite books is “What is Man” by Mark Twain. While I don’t agree with all the points he makes, one piece that really resonates with me is his assertion that there is no such thing as an unselfish act. Humans are entirely incapable of it, everything we do, we do to please the inner master. Altruism does not exist, we do it so the inner tyrant will let us sleep in peace.
I know I am entirely unable to stop any of the atrocities that surround us today, unable to impact anything or bring about a measurable change in events. So why act? Why talk about things? Why protest and march when the spirit moves me? Because I also know that I am unable to play the ostrich for too long, the inner tyrant just won’t let me. So, I’ve decided the best course of action for me is to do whatever I can with no expectation of impacting anything. No ROI, other than the peace that comes from saying my piece.
Follow your inner master, stand up for your beliefs, let go of any illusions that you will taste the fruits of your labour. Feel the tranquility that comes from giving it your all. And in the end, isn’t that peace what everything’s about?
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