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Negative attidude vs Positive attidude

For leading life in a positive way, one’s actions, ‘Karmas’, need to be performed with ‘samatva budhhi’ (balanced mind), ‘Swadharma Buddhi’ (Path of righteousness), ‘Samarpan buddhi’ (without an intention to satisfy one’s own ego or else’s ego), ‘Asang buddhi’ (non attachment to the result of action) and ‘Prasad buddhi’ (whatever comes, accept it). Positive attitude towards life inspires in human beings qualities like sincerity hard-work, honesty and uprightness.   

Negative attitude in life makes a person pessimist. It develops in him a tendency to stress the unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation. Most  of the times, such a person enlarges a problem, blames destiny, circumstances or others for adverse circumstances and fails to find solutions.

‘Self-gratification’ is leads to negativism. It usually happens, when ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’ take centrestage. Everyting else assumes no importance in relation with ‘Me’. It is doing a great damage to the modern society.  Persons having such an attitude become insensitive, insecure and unable to care for his own happiness or the welfare of others or the society. Sometimes such an attitude leads to abnormal behaviour.

Many times, negative attitude in individuals encourages people to care only for  their passions and desires without caring for anybody else. Passions, materialism and consumerism take supreme position in life. It encourages individuals to enjoy life to the core, even if one has to ‘beg, borrow or steal’ (Charvakas). Such a tendency ignites the desire or craving for ‘more’, which instead of making them happy and contended, limits human aspirations for sensual enjoyment only, meaning eating delicious food, nights out, wearing costly/designed clothes and possess all the riches and worldly possessions to enjoy pleasures of life.

Achievements only at physical plane does not always make a person happy, successful and strong. Such a mindset gives rise to greed, anger and passion and most of the times (s)he is not able to maintain good relations with others. Materialism, consumerism, ruthless competition for positions of power, money and VVIP status in society in addition to having all the pleasures of life at others cost have brought some unpleasant changes in the mind-set of people in recent past and is increasing every day in the character, role and inter-relationship of the six main constituent of the national elites – political executive, legislators, businessmen, organised workers, surplus farmers and bureaucrats etc.

Enjoyment in life or caring for self-interests and interests of one’s own family or making efforts for success in life is not wrong. After all man is a social animal. Therefore, caring for his welfare can not be called ‘selfishness’ or a ‘Mleccha Praviti’. In Indian Philosophy,  ‘Sanatan Dharma’ gives family-life/ ‘Grihastashrm’, of all the stages, a high place of honour.

In ‘Grihastashrm’, an individual is supposed to lead an active and happy married life. It is the most energetic and enjoyable period of ones life. Giving maximum importance to   ‘Grihastashrm’ shows that Indian philosophers attached a great importance to social values. This stage of life offers a person opportunities for practice and for cultivation of social values. A householder is in direct contact with the whole society.

 This stage is a real ground to utilize one’s intellectual and physical capabilities. An individual is advised to work for financial and material success, get involved in economic activities in order to fulfill one’s dreams and ambitions. But at the same time, this is the stage, when an individual is supposed to fulfil certain duties as well. A householder is a contributor, a trustee and a manager of social estate and society is the recipient. Proper management of other three stages (stages of student life and stages of  life of elderly/old people in ‘Vanprastha Ashram’ or ‘Sanyas’)  depends on Grihasthashram as their needs (like provision of food and financial help) are directly or indirectly supported by householders. A householder is expected to give protection to dependents with love and care. Dependents include elders, children, members of extended family and strangers in need of help. An individual is supposed to make direct contribution to the society consistent with the dictates of his own knowledge and conscience.

July 9, 2010 - Posted by latasinha | Social and political values and systems | Positive or negative attitude