Learning to let go for our own sake

 

Photo by M Venter: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-man-sitting-on-a-cave-1659437/

We are driven by our ego-our sense of self-worth. This is true of every human being notwithstanding what or who one might be in life. Ego dictates the actions of corporate head honchos and family patriarchs as well as spiritual leaders and the farm labourer toiling in the fields. There is nothing wrong, immoral and unnatural about it, never mind what the purveyors of new-age spirituality ironically heading huge multi-billion business empires might tell you, while doing the exact opposite of what they profess. It is the way that we are programmed to live our lives. It is what it is.

It is, however, important to understand the fact that our actions and those of others are driven by ego to avoid falling into the trap of self-righteousness. This helps you acquire perspective with regard to how you interact with others. No body lives forever and there is a limit to how much a person can accomplish to satiate their ego. This realization can help you avoid stress, conflict and ultimately bad health.

The Buddha advocated the Middle Path or the path of moderation to find peace and balance in life. The Bhagwat Gita advises you to focus on performing your duty and not obsessing over the results or the fruits of your actions. In ancient Greece, moderation was a highly valued virtue that helped one follow an ideal course of action by eschewing excess. The progress that mankind has made over the millennia seems to have dulled our sensibilities to the simple facts about what is really needed to live a content and happy life.

The world today stands at a crossroads. There is climate catastrophe staring us in the face, an imminent unravelling of the global trading systems, and a demographic collapse in nations around the globe makes their future uncertain? How did we come to this pass, where our very existence is threatened? We don’t know if our children and grandchildren will even have access to fresh air and drinkable water, even as demagogue leaders around the world rave, rant and breathe fire.

Collective unchecked human ego and hubris lead the whole world to forget the plain truth that our lives are limited and the Earth’s resources are limited. We cannot become gods. In that sense we are all part of a classical Greek tragedy, where our weakness of character leads us to our doom.

We can rescue ourselves and the world by letting go. We need to tone down our hankering after all manner of achievements and settle for less. That will put less stress on the environment and ourselves. We may experience less fleeting glory, but more peace, contentment and better health. We can do with fewer cars, smaller houses, less gadgets and eating sensibly. There is no need to hoard possession and create idle wealth that no one has access to.

We can be kinder in our interaction with others and not convert everything into a zero sum game. Not doing so only builds up rage and angst inside us that manifests by way of quarrels, disputes and damaged health and vitality. Letting go puts one on the path to heal ourselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It would do well to remember the fact that we are mere mortals with limited wherewithal and above all a finite amount of time. We need to be able to make the most of it. Living everyday stress free and with limited achievable ambitions is how we can do it. This is true of us as individuals and as nations. We need to learn to let go. Now.