BROTHERHOOD
AND ITS SANCTITY
_A P ANAND
The author,
before writing, started thinking as to why he is giving importance to the
subject matter. He realized giving importance of closeness in other relations
also. Our two eyes which see together, blink together and close together, in
reality, cannot see each other though being so close but still so far. It is
felt that motherhood and parenthood are equally important to mankind, animals
and birds etc. The word “hood” means a protective covering for the head.
Mother’s heart is tender and her ways of sowing and nurturing the seeds for
children in closeness right from womb to tomb and acting as a protective head
for providing strength, comforts , discipline and generosity are exemplary. She
understands well the needs and language of her child who has not even started
speaking. She is a blessing in disguise, a great genetic symbol and embodiment
of sacrifice/ care, understanding, unselfishness, inspiration, nonpartisanship
and love. Her blessings are as cosy as a bed of roses. She is life support and
her influence on children’s life leaves an impact even after her death like a
guide/ shelter. It is universally recognized that behind every success there is
a woman in the guise of mother.
The suffix of
“hood” is also used for father as he, too, holds the same qualities, which may
be in a different way. He is also known as “father figure” being a protective
head of the family. The role of both the parents is equally important as
parenthood means to ‘bring forth’, the children/ off spring.
All the above said qualities,
collectively, are true and are reflected in our daily life including
brotherhood. The example of Lord Rama and brother Laxmana, during Rama’s exile,
is indelible as both stood by and remained united/ bonded even during most
difficult times.
Brotherhood,
literally, means comradeship and association with common positive interest.
Brotherhood with matured understanding is one of the ingredients to achieve
success in the goal of life. One has to tread many difficult and circuitous
routes and one has to quench and smother one’s existing habits/ vices which act
as road blocks on way of life. The virtues and peerless qualities act like a
plume on one’s forehead and help to spearhead all the noble causes. Brotherhood
contributes a lot for our happiness, enhancement and upliftment of
society. One should try utmost to
achieve the status of international brotherhood and citizenship to be welcomed
everywhere. Remember the adage: it takes two to a tango. Solitary attempts
result in sluggishness. Sometimes one has to throw/ accept a gauntlet which
requires a lot of aplomb (confidence) and courage. Universal brotherhood
practiced and propagated by Lord Buddha through non-violent methods cannot be
forgotten.
Our lives
have become intricate like a maze and thus we have to think/ look into and
expose ourselves beyond our borders/ limits in many ways to come closer to the
toiling masses to achieve our goal so that people do not lose the feel and
pulse of our importance and of our mission by gaining foothold. We are
interdependent and indispensable. We have to lay a fixed road map and take
corrective measures so that we are not humiliated and haunted later on.
One should
have optimistic attitude for gaining real brotherhood and keep universal sensitivities
in mind while dealing with others. It is necessary to explain the meaning and
effect of good/ bad, wrong/ right without hesitation for which one has to know/
understand many languages/ gestures/ expressions. The intensity of brotherhood
cannot be measured/ weighed through any meter/ gadget but through intensity of
feelings/ realization due to actions.
To achieve
the goal of brotherhood it is pre-requisite to think beyond our physical,
religious, cultural, racial, caste, creed, social and political borders/ limits
if you have belief in unity in diversity. You can cosy-up your relations with
others and act like a facilitator if you become a socialite and have courage to
counter challenging situations and have balanced and conciliatory approach. The
relationship should be based on faith/ trust and not on mongering rumours and
this way one’s actions are appreciative. People should cuddle and coddle you
with love and respect. There should be no action, overtly or covertly on your
part, to gain name, fame or wealth. All the decisions should be taken in the
spirit of equanimity. One should give thought to the views of others and use convincing
methods to reach the consensus. Also one should avoid issuing bellicose and
hawkish statements or use of slang and curt words which are like rubbing salt
to the festering wounds or rupturing relations. Hatred, ego and reprisal
towards opponents never help in fostering brotherhood. One should help the
victims during calamities without any reservation. Lord Krishna helped his poor
friend, Sudama, purely in the spirit of brotherhood. Brotherhood also requires
a lot of restraint and endurance and to maintain cordial relations exchange of
views is a must to resolve thorny issues for success, elation and satisfaction.
To imbibe
brotherhood one should have unalloyed feelings for others. To achieve this end
one has to purge one’s own inner dross without transgressing into the personal
lives of others. So many subduing acts/ practice with tolerance are required.
One has to catch the vices including ego by the fore locks and burn them in the
blazing heat so that, later on, one will not wring hands in despair. The vices
can throw us down like a thud in a split of second. To win the hearts of
others, one should be self kind hearted. One should bottle-up one’s erupting
feelings. One has to imbibe love, tolerance, adjustment, compassion and spirit
of solidarity and also removing ignorance, poverty and illiteracy. The sorrows
and pleasures of all should be shared. On achieving brotherhood one’s dopamine
(pleasure chemical) increases in brain which gives great satisfaction.
Brotherhood
is a relationship of sanctity, a platonic one and the purpose should be to
reform and sanctify others. When one’s mindset changes for betterment, it
brings colourful spring in one’s life. It will assuage many irritations. If all
co-operate, the whole world will come out of despondency. It is to be
distinctly understood that united we stand, divided we fall. It is tested
during difficult times. When on success due to unparallel feelings of
brotherhood, with Lord’s blessings, one’s heart brims up with giggles one
should swirl on and on, untiringly, in jubilation. One should avoid muck
raking. One may be, ultimately, beatified/ glorified and canonized after
reaching the pinnacle of success. Let our forceful voice on brotherhood echo in
the corridors of the whole world.
Friendship
and love between sisters is also very important which is not being discussed
here because of constraints.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A
P ANAND
E/120, “VIRGO”, LOWER KHARODI
MARVE ROAD, MALAD (W), MUMBAI—400 095
Email: anandpanand@yahoo.com
Ph: 022-2862 0872
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