difference of Opinion ! lessons from Bhagwad Geetha !!

Life is simple, yet there are too many conflicts – conflicts not necessarily outside, some at home too !!  Difference of opinion is   a disagreement or argument about something important.  Sadly, in many divorce cases, we hear that – one partner puts up that ‘the differences are so severe that they can no longer be compromised!’. 

வீட்டில் தம்பதியருக்கு இடையே சண்டை வந்தால் - அதிகம் சொல்லப்படும் வார்த்தை, நான் உங்கள் முகத்தை கூட பார்க்க விரும்பவில்லை !!  -  அப்படி சண்டை நடக்கும் சமயம் - சோழனுக்கு சோறு கிடையாது !!

 

As each one of us humans is an irreducible individual, we all will have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. This will sooner or later lead to mutual differences of opinion. Generally, we learn to live with such differences; we consciously or unconsciously adopt the motto, “Live and let live.” 

Co-existence exists on paper, but being together  becomes difficult when the two sides see the differences of opinion differently. One  considers the difference super-important, whereas the other  considers the difference to be inconsequential. This second one  doesn’t get worked up about the difference, whereas the first one  gets worked up about that difference — and gets even more worked up seeing that the other side is not at all worked up. So accusation further flows that the other is insensitive,  monstrously insensitive. Incensed by such labeling, the second labels the first side hypersensitive, rabidly hypersensitive. 

So people move away more from each other, getting polarized – separation, scalding scars all make life miserable and to a large extent  unlivable.   Many would put up that   ‘everyone is entitled to their opinion.’  Is that really true ? – can you fight on every damn thing and express  your opinion or are people  only entitled to what they can argue for.”  Lesser the arguments, simpler the life, more happy !! 

Meryl Dorey is the leader of the Australian Vaccination Network, which despite the name is vehemently anti-vaccine. Ms. Dorey has no medical qualifications, but argues that if Bob Brown is allowed to comment on nuclear power despite not being a scientist, she should be allowed to comment on vaccines.   We see in our country that even failed actors try to voice their opinion on Economics, Fiscal policy, Rocket science and more !!    

The problem with “I’m entitled to my opinion” is that, all too often, it’s used to shelter beliefs that should have been abandoned. It becomes shorthand for “I can say or think whatever I like” – and by extension, continuing to argue is somehow disrespectful. And this attitude feeds,   leads  into the false equivalence between experts and non-experts that is an increasingly pernicious feature of our public discourse. 

Bhagwan Sree Krishna has lived us the way the life is to be lived and taught the great Bhagwad Geetha on the battle field.

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।

सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: ॥  

He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna! 

One who is Kṛṣṇa conscious is a perfect yogī; he is aware of everyone’s happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. The eternal  cause of happiness is knowing Kṛṣṇa to be the supreme enjoyer of all the activities of the human being, the proprietor of all lands and planets, and the sincerest friend of all living entities. The perfect yogī knows that the living being who is conditioned by the modes of material nature is subjected to the threefold material miseries due to forgetfulness of his relationship with Kṛṣṇa. As e one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is happy, he tries to distribute the knowledge of Kṛṣṇa everywhere. Since the perfect yogī tries to broadcast the importance of becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is the best philanthropist in the world, and he is the dearest servitor of the Lord.   In other words, a devotee of the Lord always looks to the welfare of all living entities, and in this way he is factually the friend of everyone. He is the best yogī because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit, but tries for others also. He does not envy his fellow living entities.  

 

Life is simple, live it happy, you may win an argument but in the process would destroy a fine thread of harmony and disturb the mental peace of at least two, of which you are the first victim

 
Words of wisdom from  Aasami Sirippu Sinthanaiyaan
 
S. Sampathkumar
29.7.2023

Collated from various sources; Bhagwad Geetha from : https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/6/32/