Thursday, March 11, 2021

4th Sunday of Lent; "In"LIGHTenment!!

 


In one of the seminars that I conducted I asked a religious brother, "What would be the best number of students in a classroom?" "Between 20 to 25!  Beyond that, the teacher loses focus and personal attention" he said.

In the same seminar, I asked another brother who had been in the field of education for a long time, "Should medium of instruction be in the native language or a foreign language?" "Definitely in the native language especially in the mother tongue of the student", he replied cogently.

Then why do you admit 60 or 70 children in a classroom or why do you start English medium schools?  There is no frank and truthful answer!

In most of my recollection talks to the religious, I start with a two little questionnaire lasting just 5 minutes.  For example, the first question I ask in the first survey, "What is the big problem the religious of Tamilnadu face?"  1. Caste issues 2. Money related 3. Power related 4. All three.  Almost all of them would tick on the 4th answer,  "All 3".  The next short survey is on self-analysis.  One of the questions is; Are you caste-minded?  All the 14 wrote, "No".  Are you money-minded? "No!".  Are you longing for authority?  "No, not at all".

Then, where is the problem?  When we can be ruthlessly objective about society, There is no frank and truthful answer when it comes to the self!

"People like to remain in darkness!"  we read in the gospel today.

Darkness gives a kind of comfort!  "Darkness" makes it easy for self-justification!

Can I kill animals for my food? Heart says, "No!".   The brain misled by the tongue created a theology, "God created all for humankind!"  Therefore, instead of being a brother or a sister to nature; you self-appointed yourself as the manager!  The entire nature feels frightened at your very sight!  They run away or fly away feeling that a killer is approaching!

Certain philosophies and theologies and sacred books created by you, help you enjoy that darkness!

Tamilnadu state elections are around the corner!  Vow!, almost all of them sound, saints!  The worst is, that they truly believe the same!  The very persons who had shed the blood of the innocent civilians come camouflaged as saviors!!

Option for the poor and Liberation theology picked up momentum among the religious circles from the 1980s!  Then on, the chapter documents or written constitutions smelt with total revolution.

But, ask them, "What is the percentage of the money they spent on social work, health care ministries, ministries for the poor, social justice, hospitals, rural development, education of the rural populace, peace building initiatives in the villages, working with victims of alcohol or drugs, working for sexually abused and their rights? compared to what they had invested on CBSE schools and shrines"  A big smile covers up all the rest!

I am curious, Why people rush erecting English medium schools?  Why turning matriculation schools into CBSE schools? Why rural children's education is forsaken?  Why do you have 60, 70 or 80 children in a classroom?

Ask the government employees, "Is the salary you receive is comparable with the wages of the common people?"  When you demand increments every year and an increase in pay every other year, what about the domestic workers?  Can they manage their life with this salary?  Do I have the same criteria that we use in deciding my salary and my servants' salary?

Treatment of young persons in schools and formation houses is sometimes alarming!  Their right to question, their right to free expression very often are crushed in the name of religion and culture.

When my intellectual comfort goes against the comfort of my heart, it indicates that I prefer darkness to light!

One way of getting out of this discomfort or dichotomy is to make honest efforts to be integrated, being congruent, and being humble enough to accept the reality objectively.

Religion creates the concept of hell to frighten people to come out of this very darkness.

Religion creates gods and goddesses to inspire and invite people to move into the light.

The gospel writer, John connects it with the person of Jesus to lead from darkness to light.

The choice between hell and heaven is nothing but a choice between darkness and light.  Enlightenment and preferred Ignorance!

In other words, The choice between a split personality and an Integrated personality is yours!  Let me caution, being an integrated person is not being a perfect person!  Integrity is not perfection!  Integrity is honesty; both in acceptance of reality and in making honest efforts.

Lucidity is luminosity; means brightness or soundness of mind!

Read the gospel (Jn 2/14-21) again!  You see it.

Ref: John 2/19-21  19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

 

2 comments:

  1. Eye opener. But it is reality... My views on CBcbse is for global aspirations... Both local n international.
    As far as politics and Electionis concerned. Ththe less we talk. Better for peace. Your blog sets our mind in action. Hard hitting facts

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very deep reflection on reality. Thank you for your your in lighten ment. A true life is a guiding light.

    ReplyDelete

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