In the world of madness I need someone to translate disharmony to harmony. Although we speak the same language, we still fail to understand each other. It seems as if we spend more time trying to be understood than to understand. For me this is sheer madness.
Being harmonious is realising that there is one common flow in everything. It is this flow that animates elements and planets in their glorious splendour. This flow crowns the animal kingdom and the realm of plants in majestic balance. It leaves man as the sole creature, who is unable to live with his environment and ultimately with his own conscience. After having their fill, whilst other creatures rest in the shade, man is still running around franticly night and day trying to bloat his ego.
In this age of explosive globalisation, kindness and compassion are the first things that are ditched. With instant technological communication at our finger tips, many still feel out of touch with themselves. Although the internet enables us to access millions of pages of information and knowledge, sadly all this knowledge does nothing to eliminate ignorance which fuels the fire of hatred. We never witness the branches of a tree fighting amongst themselves. This is because the branches can see that they are part of the same tree. Similarly, disputes only occur because man does not see the Power that holds creation in place.
As the world population surges, people are geographically pushed closer and closer together, but the hearts and minds are moving further and further apart. We now live in a global village but still carry tribal mentalities. Today’s state of affairs is reflected in the words of Confucius:
“Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star”
There is enough moonlight on a clear night for a traveller to see the difference between the road and the pavement, but in pitch darkness only darkness can be found. There are tremendous unthinkable tensions between countries, communities and cultures rooted in historical wars and feuds lasting generations. This is the pitch darkness engulfing humanity, where man cannot even recognise man. Any existing relationship of coexistence and co-operation evaporates at the first sign of distrust and discord.
As long as our relationship is defined and determined by our differences we will empower those who sow hatred rather than harmony; those who promote conflict, not peace; and those who bring suffering, not hope.
But if we define our relationship based on our mutual bond, not by our borders or ethnicity; by our mutual understanding and respect, and hold tolerance and dignity of all human beings as paramount, then it can be said there is real progress. We move forward only if we move together. We can only move together if we follow what His Holiness Nirankari Baba often reminded us of;
“Separate ourselves from that which separates us from others”.
This does not mean that we forego that which makes us different. Instead, we must first embrace that which has made us the same! We are all human beings made of the same elements and we are all intrinsically linked to one another. This relationship happens only when a real sustained effort is made to listen to each other, and to learn from each other, to seek a ‘common ground’.
The understanding that we share is not European, American or African, but human. This mutual link is more powerful than any other material force or personal ambition. It is to realise that the power of love is greater than the love for power.
With harmony comes an undeniable sense of freedom, which is deeply rooted in the fabric of human nature. But the manner through which man seeks that freedom and happiness often becomes the cause of self-inflicting plight. Therefore, as Martin Luther King aptly says:
“Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking
from the cup of bitterness and hatred”
Those who are in harmony, experience freedom and they can set others free. Where there is harmony there is appreciation, joy, a feeling of liberty and sense of satisfaction. Where there is discord there is a feeling of distress and disturbance. Human beings are strangled by wanton selfish desire and crippled by pernicious bigotry.
Although we share the same water from the same rivers, food from the same earth and breathe the same air, we struggle to share thoughts and words in harmony. We often quickly detest anyone who challenges us, never thinking that it is these precise moments that allow us to surpass our self-imposed limits. Man dwells in huge mansions, yet expects his Maker to dwell in his small mind.
Sallust, a Roman historian on this very point states:
“Harmony makes small things grow, but the lack of it makes great things decay”
Harmony is the seed of happiness which yields the fruit of peace. Those who attain this are revered throughout the annals of history. Those who caused great devastation and discord are now only remembered as demonic monsters. Those who remain true to their own humanity are like roses living amongst thorns. They still give fragrance not only to the admiring passers-by, but also to the very thorns that spike them. Despite the spite, true harmony blossoms.
-Surjit Dhami
