The vast majority of people on this planet function as if they are mounted on a machine over which they have no control. The psychological fabric of society captures people and they get driven by it like the soccer ball in the field. Unknowingly, they get influenced by the idea that competition and the rat-race are the right way of life. Once given over to it, it has strangle hold on the unwary people; the slavery sustains them to the point of callously inflicting injury on others, not realizing that they have to face it in their turn. Thus, the society is constantly in conflict keeping its citizens submerged in a sea of unhappiness. Some people, however, become aware of this and begin to steer clear of the crowd metaphorically – and perhaps literally too! They focus their life energies on short term and long term goals so that they lead a well ordered and useful life. In that very process, they create an atmosphere of well being in which they show an overall and holistic care of others and oneself. These are the people who are going to bring about a different world - a world of caring human beings who do not indulge in cut-throat competition in the name of ‘survival of the fittest’ which is currently the driving force for most people.If the goals are driven by sectarian belief systems or their opposites – atheism and agnosticism – we will be back in square one! This is because they will inevitably lead to antagonism between the rival groups and, hence, no harmony can result from it. So, if we have come that far, what can we do?
It is good to realize from the beginning that true inner development cannot take place through belonging to a group and submitting oneself to its psychology. What is needed is the purity of aloneness that prevents the group psychology from making one a conformist. Consequently, we begin to focus on the orderliness of our life. We soon see the need for converging on our short term and long term goals. Then, from our experience, we help our teenage children to discover their own short term and long term goals. Thus, if they start exercising their self-awareness from a young age, we would have helped them grow in self-confidence and not fall into some jingoism as a conformist.
Short Term Goals: The short term goals refer to items of immediate importance. These can be set in line with six avenues of practical life as listed below:
1. Health
2. Household
3. Studies, Vocation, Career
4. Attention to others (relatives, friends)
5. Hobbies
6. Spiritual matters
Passionate application to the above six items brings about a natural orderliness in the individual. Being creative in that application adds further vibrancy to one’s life.
The Long Term Goals: These goals need careful attention in terms of understanding the deeper meaning of life and wondering about what lies beyond the ordinary. This is where the esoteric aspects of life get their attention. On that path lies the sensing of the immensity of the Universe and the associated respect for the unknown. Paranormal phenomena such as NDE and OBE help a lot in this regard. When human beings understand the value of such long term goals, they polarize towards a wholesome life governed by a natural discipline.
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