The crime, the corruption, the unrest, the disturbance, and distraction, and despair that we find in our society is the result of this dangling equilibrium of the society
Equilibrium and balance are the characteristics which relate to the internal balance which keeps something afloat. What happens when a running bus loses its balance? Similar is the fate of man when his equilibrium is disturbed and he loses his balance. In fact, if we are floating, it is simply because our balance is intact, and our equilibrium is not affected. Both these words depict a state of mind which shows the absence of mental disorder and psychic disruption which disrupt the even flow of thought.
Whenever there is an earthquake, the earth shakes, causing damage and destruction here and there, but soon, it regains its balance. Winds flow for some time, often causing tempests, but after some time, they return to normal. It is often said nothing is permanent. Things are in a flow, and they know how to keep themselves in balance. The point at which the negatives and positives compromise, is the point of balance, which ensures life of a system.
Now, the question is how this idea of balance or equilibrium influences our life. If you want men to stay in a happy mood, and do their work to the maximum of their abilities, they need to remain in a state of mental and physical balance. Physical imbalance affects the mental balance, and mental imbalance affects the physical balance of a person. In other words, if the conditions outside are not good, how can a man remain happy? And if the man is not happy, will he let the things around him stay in harmony?
THE CHEMICAL BALANCE
Men depend on the chemical balance in their bodies, which keeps them in an even state of mind. If you disturb it, they will fall ill, and need remedies [read medicines], which will restore their balance, and declare them healthy. How much is it in your hands to keep the chemical balance intact? Eternal vigilance is the price of this happy mental state, in which we often falter.
How we attain this balance is the central issue of this article. One important thing is: sometimes we feel like having tea. Sometimes, we feel a strong wish to have coffee. There are people who find themselves in dire need of a cigarette. Sometimes, you feel like going for a walk. What about your desire to talk to a particular friend. There are moments when you want to have sugarcane juice. Sometimes, you feel like having grapes.
Men depend on the chemical balance in their bodies, which keeps them in an even state of mind. If you disturb it, they will fall ill, and need remedies
What happens when you have what you have desired? It restores your balance which was disturbed as a result of which, the impulse to have this item cropped up in your blood.
THE NERVOUS UNREST
We wish to have sugarcane juice, only when our blood stream sends a message to our mind, that something is missing or some chemical change is taking place, and to supply the deficiency, the juice is needed. It is never said in so many words. Only you start feeling its need. If you don’t take sugarcane juice, and instead, go for tea, it can only distract your blood stream, it will not satisfy that need. And in this way, you will have a disturbed calm in your nerves. Now, we can extend this logic to other things also. You want grapes. Take them, and your body will feel upbeat. You need coffee. Take it, and you will feel highly attuned. Don’t you think how tea works on our nerves and after taking a hot cup of tea, we are able to work better? If you don’t get tea when your nerves want it, and instead, somebody suggests you to take ‘lassi’ [curd shake] can you imagine what will happen? Now, go a bit farther. You want rest, and you do not go for rest. Your body needs sleep and you keep it awake. And now the final question. You love Gita, and the society says, you can’t marry her. And, now you go for Sita. Will it still the unrest of your nerves? Or aggravate it? This is how we find nervous unrest in our society, because people are not getting, what they want, at the time they want, and in the quantity they want. And here we are: a society, whose balance is in jeopardy? A society without equilibrium. Even saints who consider themselves stoics, cannot escape this fate. The social factors affect them too and we can see its impact in their lives.
CRIME AS NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
The crime, the corruption, the unrest, the disturbance, and distraction, and despair that we find in our society is the result of this dangling equilibrium of the society. All these evils which bring misery and pain are the earthquakes which shake human psyche, and are then, converted into social upheavals. At the center of all crime and disturbance, is a disturbed mind, which tries to settle itself in ways which are mere distractions. Just look at criminals. After committing the crime, they start taking wine, or they are found watching high decibel dances of bother-not dancers. They take drugs, and then, only then, they have some semblance of sleep. Such minds, when become active, gain their spurious balance, only by looking for more pleasure, by inflicting more pain on the society. Otherwise, how can we justify killings, kidnappings, rapes and deceptions? People, whose minds are lost to the balance which nature provides, the equilibrium that comes from a sedate sobered mindset, often find the Birname wood coming towards them, to silence their inhuman pride. [An allusion to Macbeth’s last moments, when the Birname forest started walking towards him].
Animals and birds live in comparative peace, simply because no animal, unless it is domesticated, dies of starvation, physical or sexual
Lustus, the great cousin of Satan, in Lustus: The Prince of Darkness sets out to disturb the mental balance of mankind, so that they act out his evil commands. He believes that for disturbing mankind, he has to disturb their sexual balance. Animals and birds live in comparative peace, simply because no animal, unless it is domesticated, dies of starvation, physical or sexual. Lustus wanted to humanize nature also, and bring disruption in the lives of animals, birds, trees and waters. When your thought stream is poisoned, you fall into the hands of Evil. And, one step amiss, you cannot regain your balance. This is what has happened to our society. Our balance has been disturbed by the Corporate Evil, and they have a ready market for the heady solutions they provide.
PEACE, LOVE AND HAPPINESS: TADI PAAR*
Peace has left the portals of human society. Love is on the way out. Happiness, finding no suitors, has followed suit. All the things which gods had for us aplenty, are turning stale on their shelves in the absence of demand. Gods are wondering why there is no footfall in the Reception Hall of Heaven. The Receptionists are mostly sleeping and dreaming of the long queues in front of the counters of Hell. Is hell such a prized place for the people from the Earth? They only find some birds and animals coming to them, for onward treatment. But men? En masse they were heading for Hell.
Peace has left the portals of human society. Love is on the way out. Happiness, finding no suitors, has followed suit. All the things which gods had for us aplenty, are turning stale on their shelves in the absence of demand
Finally, what we have lost is our equilibrium. We have forgotten the past when men were able to strike a balance between nature, mankind and divinity. Now, men have thrown nature out of their system, replacing it with plastic. Mankind is no longer kind as it is being increasingly replaced with humanoids. And divinity? If they can create artificial men, can’t they create artificial gods living in artificial clouds?
Here we are. Disturbed minds in search of Peace and Pleasure from Artificial Saints. Good luck!
[*Tadi Paar is a legal term which is used for a criminal who is ordered by the court not to enter a particular city].
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Published under International Cooperation with "Sindh courier"
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