Become A Citizen Of The World

Become A Citizen Of The World

Be suspicious of convention. Take charge of your own thinking. Rouse yourself from the daze of unexamined habit. Popular perceptions, values and ways of doing things are rarely the wisest. Many pervasive beliefs would not pass appropriate tests of rationality. Conventional thinking ­ its means and ends ­ is essentially uncreative and uninteresting. Its job is to preserve the status quo for overly self-defended individuals and institutions.

On the other hand, there is no inherent virtue in new ideas. Judge ideas and opportunities on the basis of whether they are life giving or not. Give your assent to that which promotes humaneness, justice, beneficial growth, kindness, possibility and benefit to the human community .

Examine things as they appear to our own mind; objectively consider what others say, and then establish your own convictions. Socially taught beliefs are frequently unreliable. So many of our beliefs have been acquired through accident and irresponsible or ignorant teaching. Many of these beliefs are so deeply ingrained that they are hidden from our own view. The commonplace sluggishness of the lives lived by the undisciplined is dangerously contagious, for we are often exposed to no alternative healthful way of living.

Awaken and be vigilant. Take stock of your habits to preserve your higher standards.

Many people declare with all sincerity that they are committed to their own integrity, while engaging in thoughtless or intemperate actions. They proceed willy-nilly, undercutting their otherwise well-intentioned efforts by failing to face themselves and to articulate a coherent personal moral code to which their future actions would conform. Don't listen to what people say . Watch what they do and evaluate the attendant consequences.

Just as we must clean, order and maintain our homes to move forward with anything; we need to do the same with our minds. For not only do we risk inefficiency by failing to do so, we invite our soul's very corruption.

A disorganised, foggy soul is dangerous, for it is valuable to the influence of better organised by unsavoury influences.

Trust nothing and nobody but yourself.

Be carelessly watchful over your beliefs and impulses.

The difference between the instructed and the ignorant is that the wise know that the virtuous are invincible. They aren't tricked and provoked by the way things appear to be.

The instructed respect the kinship we share with the ultimate and thus comport themselves as a compassionate self-aware citizen of the universe. They understand that the wise life, which leads to tranquillity, comes from conforming to nature and to reason.

One cannot pursue one's own highest good without at the same time necessarily promoting the good of others. A life based on narrow self interest cannot be esteemed by any honourable measurement. Seeking the very best in ourselves means actively caring for the welfare of other human beings. Our human contract is not with the few people, with whom our affairs are most immediately intertwined, nor to the prominent, rich, or well educated, but to all our human brethren.

View yourself a citizen of a worldwide community and act accordingly.

Om Namah Shivay