Simplicity
is the most vulnerable part of one’s character. As such, simplicity is not a
quality that can be acquired. I am rather sure that simplicity is the outcome
of one’s childhood experiences. The fine point that may be essential to
appreciate here is that I am not talking that much about the external
influences one is subjected to when he/she is a child; it is about how such
influences are processed by the child in the course of his emotional, mental
and intellectual development. I have felt that there is at least one elder
(whosoever he or she may be) who nurtures a child’s simplicity. Yes, it is true
that to start with all children are simple. They become complicated as the time
passes.
When someone
becomes complicated, the first person who finds him difficult to understand is
he, himself. In other words, lack of simplicity puts one’s self under wraps,
and hence obstructs one’s spiritual growth. Many spiritualists consider the
external world as illusory. Without entering into any debate on this matter, we
can safely say that much is pretentious about the external world.
Pretentiousness and simplicity are opposites of each other. One’s simplicity is
perpetually endangered by the external world. To preserve the simplicity of
thoughts, conduct and words is not easy.
One way of
preserving one’s simplicity is to maintain constant interaction with the people
who are simple. This works well, but only when each one of those who are simple
and are in contact value their own simplicity and work hard to stick to their
respective simplicity. Often one is quite contended and much satisfied with his
simplicity. He is also rather confident that his simplicity cannot be attacked
externally. Being casual about one’s simplicity is fraught with several risks.
It starts with developing a few complications in one’s thoughts, conduct or
words; and goes up to one becoming much pretentious about one’s simplicity.
The simple
people who come close to one another for preserving their simplicity must be
vigilant about their own simplicity and the simplicity of those who are on
their contact with the specific purpose of preserving their respective
simplicity. Any signs of complications appearing after simplicity getting
suppressed must be promptly pointed out to the one who might have sacrificed
his simplicity. The unwanted development must be discussed to identify the root
causes. In this world where there is much pretentiousness, simplicity is under
constant attack. Anyone who wishes to preserve and protect his simplicity can
make mistakes. The important thing is learning from one’s errors and rectifying
one’s errors.
PROMOD KUMAR SHARMA
[The writer of this blog is also the author of “Mahatma A
Scientist of the Intuitively Obvious” and “In Search of Our Wonderful Words”.]
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