I am a member of Care2.com .Its a website which deals with petitions , causes and such.Recently I was browsing an article on eating meat. The article said that people eating meat ,couldn't justify their actions by saying it was a 'personal' choice.I posted a comment on it stating that it was bad karma to eat meat and doing good karma was the order of the day. But then I realized , I am one among the few here. The western society and civilization rules the world based on their ideas and principles.I used to live in the USA and I understood the culture and society of the Americans. They teach selfishness as a good thing.The world values money and power ,so aim for that at no matter what cost.Very different from the ashram where I live in. I now live in Mata Amritandamayi's (Amma)ashram in Kollam,Kerala.
I'm not saying that selfishness is really bad, but getting preoccupied by thinking about yourself or your family only is extremely negative. In fact this is opposite to what we learn from Amma. Amma teaches us that with whatever freedom you get , you should use it for a greater cause.Like helping the poor and needy.Amma lives a life of sacrifice and giving. There are a lot of westerners who throng to visit her,quite a few of them Americans too. I find this to be the real education.People flock to universities and colleges,compete at competitions and learn to come out on top , no matter whatever the consequences.That is not education for the soul.That's not what makes character. What makes character is Amma's message. The message of unconditional love and compassion.To give of whatever little you have. Im sure this is not possible for the majority of people,but at least have a balance. Balance between selfishness and selflessness(giving). If most of the affluent people,decided to live like this, we wouldn't see poverty,injustice , cruelty , and so many inhumane crimes against humanity. Affluent people should learn from Amma. Her life and her world.
I'm not saying that selfishness is really bad, but getting preoccupied by thinking about yourself or your family only is extremely negative. In fact this is opposite to what we learn from Amma. Amma teaches us that with whatever freedom you get , you should use it for a greater cause.Like helping the poor and needy.Amma lives a life of sacrifice and giving. There are a lot of westerners who throng to visit her,quite a few of them Americans too. I find this to be the real education.People flock to universities and colleges,compete at competitions and learn to come out on top , no matter whatever the consequences.That is not education for the soul.That's not what makes character. What makes character is Amma's message. The message of unconditional love and compassion.To give of whatever little you have. Im sure this is not possible for the majority of people,but at least have a balance. Balance between selfishness and selflessness(giving). If most of the affluent people,decided to live like this, we wouldn't see poverty,injustice , cruelty , and so many inhumane crimes against humanity. Affluent people should learn from Amma. Her life and her world.
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