Table of Contents
The Dilemma of a once Vibrant Civilization
Instincts are part of a human as much as in animals. When the spirit disappears from the rituals, it forms the basis of Culture. In this blog we shall discuss the finer aspects of Instincts, culture and the spirit. Today’s world is an interesting place to be in. This world, especially the land of Bharat is stuck between the old and the new.
By old, I mean, the remains of an ancient dilapidated civilization, which was once pregnant with the glow of spiritual splendor. By new, I mean the dilemma of the modern generation to grasp what is correct and what is incorrect, what is suitable and what is unsuitable.
The Indecision to know What is Appropriate
This is creating a strange psychological distortion which is affecting our decision making and making it unclear to us about our desires, goals, ambitions, the good, the bad and what is appropriate. This topic today shall thus weigh two aspects particularly relevant to the once spiritually glorious civilizations that have stemmed from Sanatana Dharma and geographically located where Bharat, also known as India, exists today.
Today the aspects of Culture and Human behavior are at loggerheads. We shall expose these topics today and find out if there are ways to bridge the gorge between Culture and Human Behaviour and find out whether Pure Spirituality is the solution that shall knock away our old cultural bondages, that stifle us and relieve our ailing psychological conditions.
Understanding your True Self – Human Behaviour Psychology
Man is driven by the ways of the world. He depends on external stimuli to decide his own state of mind. He is unsure of how he feels and unable to decipher whether he is truly happy or sad. Since he does not have direct access to his most innate feelings and tendency, most of the external world of events and opinions shape and dictate the way he thinks and responds. This response, is the response of the mind, a mere instrument that depends on dead data and information that is outdated and skewed depending on externally manipulated environments.
Today’s Man Usually Responds Mechanically
Man is ever manipulated by the externality of the world. The more he gets involved with the world outside, the likelihood is that he can be easily manipulated just like a computer program manipulates data. Most of the experiments in the field of psychology, are based on the mechanical responses of man.
Hence to a great extent the field of psychology has under its field of study about “Man, the Machine”. Hence psychology is extremely limited when it comes to assessing the deeper potentials of a human being. The more, a man becomes focused inwards, the lesser will the laws of psychology apply to him.
The Instinctual Aspect of Man
The above statements can be understood in the following manner. Man has tendencies which he shares with animals, which are fear, insecurity, tendency to covet and a host of other instincts. These instinctual tendencies are largely based on external environments.
When one is surrounded by neighbors who do not belong to your race or community, fear and insecurity builds, although these insecurities may not be directly have any rationale. Similarly if the neighbors come to know that you are not one among them, although they are in a majority, they shall always view you with a suspicious eye. However, there are no easy solutions for this. But awareness, can bring about a certain shift.
Such behaviors are within the scope of psychology and driven by instincts. Just as wolves have their own territories and cannot have territories shared with other animals, humans also share this trait. However, a man who has opened himself to the spirit, may not necessarily be limited to certain animistic behaviors or instincts. He may also not be under the grip of fear.
A Man of Spirit is less bound by Fear or Loss
A man of the spirit has realized the Truth about himself and the world and owing to this realization does not necessarily get bound to fear of loss. He is free from the limited views of a bound being, understanding well that the largest portion of humanity is also tightly bound by the domain of instincts.
Psychology has always been confused about spiritual people and treats them as a fringe population who are exceptions to the researches carried out in their field. But the fact of the matter is that it is never so. The faster a man realizes his unlimited nature, through spiritual practices and the pursuance of Truth as a principle, man shall witness his original eternal nature.
This is not a “fringe” observation but a matter of scrupulous Truth. This is an undeniable fact, if only man were to pursue the right things in the right manner. Matters of the spirit are eternal and unchallenged because they point to Truth and nothing else. If man realizes his limitations and takes a humble position to know and accept the Truth of the Self, he shall be able to transcend the illusion of personality and shall then graduate from a machine to a being. In the next few sections we shall explore Culture which is closely connected with both the Spirit and Instincts.
What are characteristics of instinct?
Instincts happen as an automatic reaction to a stimulus. Survival, self-protection and self-defence are the basic drivers for instinct. Instinct only relays animal like characters which does not care about the the other. This is the highlight of instinct. To be bothered about one’s hunger or one’s family’s protection without having any concern about others is an example of basic instinct.
What are the three basic human instincts?
Sexual drive, Hunger and Self-defence under all conditions are three basic instincts
Does instinct determine our behavior?
Yes, instincts form the essential components of behaviour. However when man awakens to the call of spirit, instincts become sublime and get conquered. The dark aspects of reacting through spirits disappear and the person’s behaviour graduates to a higher grade.
Should I trust my instincts?
Trusting instincts indicates that one is more concerned about self-maintenance. Instincts are not driven by intelligence. The more one becomes aware and internally focused, instincts become sublime. It is better to trust the spirit. Instincts are severe in people who have no idea about the spirit.
How do you control instincts?
Instincts cannot be controlled. They have to be investigated. Investigation can only happen if we become totally aware. Automatic responses are usually a function of instincts. The more we become conscious, instincts become sublimated. Intelligence then replaces instincts.
7/8 Questions from Sanatana Dharma
The scores generated in this Quiz may or may not be absolute. There may be right or wrong answers to each Question. A percentage towards 100 indicates that you are more aligned to the overall subject matter.
Influence of Culture on us
Though culture always intends to see society prosper, the evil intentions of society have tarnished the role of culture in our lives.
Usually, cultures, traditions, ancestral practices, nationwide practices based on religion, or even family-based practices define the way we live our modern lives. Modernity amalgamates with these older ways of living. Then, it forms the general unwritten rules that dominate our lives. Cultures and traditions have a positive impact and are talked about highly amongst intellectual circles, as part of study on Human Behaviourism.
A Weapon called “Culture”
Some of the practices also form the way politics works in a nation. Religion and caste politics is somehow based on the sectarian aspects of culture alone. Culture and tradition are spoken of highly in every nation. But, it can never be denied that culture has usually misdirected people and diminished humanity in many ways.
We shall examine culture at a very family and personal level. It is this very poison of culture that roles up at the sect level, district level, state level, and national level. It goes to define corruption and misuse of power in many ways. Let us dive directly into the waters of such cultures. Countries like India have a very huge population that defines almost 20-25% of the entire world consumer market.
The greatest dent that is created in such nations is through weapons manufactured out of culture and tradition. We live in a hypocritical world. You may agree with me if you intend to see the real faces hiding behind these masks. For example, in a Joint-family system, prevalent in many towns and villages in India, people use culture and traditions to hide their selfishness and greed.
Ocstrasizing, other inncocent beings by way of hiding behind outdated malpractices like child marriage, blind-belief systems based practicing age-old practices and beliefs in this modern age, that have lost relevance etc, especially applying them on other beings for one’s own sadistic motives, is like using culture as a weapon.
A Business Called Culture
They promote culture, although they don’t resonate with such ideas. Just like advertisers promote their products through cultural-based or festival-based ads, although they are not directly connected with these ideas. Through direct means of promoting culture, people satisfy their greed and agenda.
People get influenced by such advertisements and invest in the product. Thus, common folks get trapped, while the agencies earn their profits. In a family, where there are fathers, uncles, nephews, nieces, and grandparents living together, each older member of the family encourages the younger ones in the family to respect them. They demand respect, as a matter of culture and tradition. This gets ridiculous most times.
When Customs become Toxic?
In one line: Customs become toxic when they are employed for selfish purposes, and bear evil intentions. Traditions are never toxic directly. But, when through culture, people satisfy their hidden motives, it does become toxic. Though culture is not directly involved, it does get used as a medium of destruction For Example, the tradition of respecting elders is a good custom. Isn’t it.
Many say: “Why should it ever be bad? Of course, it is good.
But what if… a drunkard father spends his money on friends and on cheap sources of entertainment? When such a father returns home, he puts on a sober face, although drunk.
The mother orders the children to serve their father. In such a case, especially in rural setups of Bharat, such customs need to be discarded.
They become toxic, as the thought, word, and deed are misaligned. The thought is “Such an evil man”. The child presses the feet of the father, on the order of his mother. But develops extreme hatred towards the father, which is natural. There is no conscious action either from the side of the Mother, Father or the son.
Culture represents the Residue of dead Rituals
Culture can only bear fruits if spontaneously done with faith, understanding and absorbing the underlying spiritual value it represents. Nowadays people, atleast in orthodox Hindu families, perform the required rituals of the marriage and get the couple married. But neither the parents nor the couple, understand a word of what is uttered as Mantras during the ceremony.
In many cases, even the officiating priest chants mantras in a scurry, as if they were just an obligation. He is more worried about the time, because he has to officate another funeral, and is getting late. Who is worried about the sacredness and the intentions of the mantras and the purpose of the rituals. What do the rituals represent. What is the inner motive and meaning of the mantras and rituals. Who is there to make us feel and understand the sacredness of these rituals and their value? No one.
Today, there is no purity, as we just perform rituals on the New Moon day (for so-called devout Hindus). Thus when rituals lose their meaning, what remains is culture that one generation thrusts upon the next one that follows. Such mindless thrust of culture is not only a waste of time but a disrepect to our sages and the Personality of Godhead who had them as part of the Vedic system, so that society remains integrated and grows organically towards the light of Truth.
The rituals and mantras are supposed to be the harbinger of spiritual light, but today they represent the decayed and the dead, the culture.
Hypocrisy in Traditions must be Rejected
People learn about you not by what you say but by what you do. This is the fundamental principle of life.
If the grandfather of the household plays cards with the good for nothing neighbors, while the grandmother smokes along with other old women of the colony, they set a wrong example for the younger members of the family.
Despite such behaviour, they narrate the teachings from Ramayana and the Gita to their grandchildren. They misconstrue the stories as they have consumed them in the most distorted manner from their own misguided parents.
Whatever they say, to convince others about their religiosity, or traditional beliefs, shall have no relevance. To talk about religious, cultural, or traditional beliefs it is necessary that one follows them thoroughly, the same way that one breathes, without a break. But here we see that words contradict action.
Devious Nature of Human Character
Is it worth respecting such dubious people of the family and society is a personal choice.
But, hear what the soul says, as they are the words of wisdom. This is culture or rather this is the way culture proliferates in the modern world. There are unworthy uncles and fathers of households, who spend their father’s money on certain businesses.
They invest without care, without considering whether or not the business is profitable.They fail and then get into bad habits like drinking and gambling. Then they demand respect out of their young ones. Is it fair then? This is more so with families and Nations that are genetically known for their rich traditions. Now such families are dens of duplicity.
Culture Does not mean Respecting Unworthy People
Today, the level of hypocrisy is such that they do not deserve but yet they desire, it’s their birth-right because you are part of the “rich” heritage of a so-called nation. How can such a nation, at ground zero, ever prosper? What values do parents have? Do these so-called “guardians”, know anything about heritage or culture? One must understand that tTruthis the nature of the spirit.
It cannot belong to the “past”. Truth is the flowering of the spirit. It has nothing to do with ancestors or traditions. Tradition and ancestry are born out of the graves of unworthy people of the world who have followed practices, which never meant anything to them.
The older practices of culture have been transferred from generation to generation sans the spirit. Hence, we have been unnecessarily holding on to the coffins of decayed “culture”, which was supposed to be dumped into the fathomless ocean of anonymity.
If one is in need of authenticity, one needs to know the art of connecting with the spirit. Only a heart that has connected with the spirit can live by Truth and nurture it.
What is required of elders is to first accept a humble position of “I do not know”.
Only then can new possibilities be explored.
The moment one becomes empty and unassuming, can one begin one’s journey into the field of the spirit. Then newer dimensions of Truth, reveal itself. Once, one is connected to the spirit, the job of the elders is to show that path to their wards. Only if such a system emerges can Truth remain intact, fresh, even if a millennium passes by, without the need for Culture.
You display your love by reading this valuable material. So kindly read and consider financially supporting us to keep our efforts going with renewed vigor! Supporters in India can donate via Razorpay while those abroad can use PayPal!
