Three Questions For A Better World
एक बेहतर विश्व के लिए तीन प्रश्न द्वारा चार्ल्स गिब्ब्समेरे मित्रों ने गरीबों एवं अमीरों के मध्य बढ़ रही असमानता के दूषित परिणामों को देखने में मेरी मदद की है| एक ज्ञानी अफ्रीकी धार्मिक नेता, जिनका नाम जोसे चिपेंदा है, ने मुझे इस स्थिति के, वास्तविक किन्तु अप्रिय, दृष्टिकोण को देखने की चुनौती दी है| जब मैं उनसे मिला था , तब आदरणीय चिपेंदा , संयुक्त अफ्रिका के गिरिजाघरों की परिषद् के नेता के रूप में, अपनी दो दशक की सेवा के बाद, अवकाश ग्रहण करने वाले थे| उन्होंने मेरे संयुक्त धार्मिक पहल के स्पष्टीकरण को उस संशयवाद से सुना, जो अधिकतर दक्षिण एवं पूरब के व्यक्तियों को होता है , जब वो उत्तर एवं पश्चिम के व्यक्तियों को , विश्व को बचाने के लिए एक और अच्छे उपाय को आगे बढ़ाने का प्रयास करते हुए देख रहे होते हैं|
मेरी बात पूरी होने के पश्चात उन्होंने कहा कि इस संयुक्त धार्मिक पहल को समर्थन देने से पहले मैं ये जरूर देखना चाहूँगा कि ये उन तीन समूहों के लिए क्या कर रहा होगा, जिन्हें मैंने अपनी वर्षों की सेवा में जाना है| पहला समूह उन व्यक्तियों का है जिनकी पैदाइश ही मृत्यु के लिए हुई है| जिन परिस्थितियों में वो पैदा हुए हैं वो इतनी कठिन हैं, और उनके जीने का उत्साह इतना कमजोर है, कि वो इस विश्व में बहुत ही कम समय के लिए होते हैं, और जैसे ही उनका उत्साह क्षीण होता है वैसे ही उनकी मृत्यु हो जाती है | आपका एक बेहतर विश्व बनाने का प्रयास उन व्यक्तियों के लिए क्या करेगा , जिनका जन्म ही मृत्यु के लिए हुआ है? दूसरा समूह , जो अत्याधिक विशाल है, उन लोगों का है जिनकी पैदाइश सिर्फ गुज़ारा करने के लिए ही हुई है|ये व्यक्ति अपना पूरा जीवन सिर्फ अपने जीवन के दैहिक उत्साह को जीवित रखने के लिए . प्रत्येक दिन संघर्ष में बिता देते हैं, |आपका यह कार्य उन व्यक्तियों के लिए क्या करेगा जिनकी पैदाइश ही सिर्फ गुज़ारा करने के लिए हुई है? तीसरा समूह, और ये अत्यंत ही छोटा है, उन व्यक्तियों का है, जिनका जन्म वास्तविक जीवन जीने के लिए हुआ है| उन्हें बहुतायत का आशीर्वाद है, हालाँकि वो इसके प्रति बेखबर होते हैं, और उनके पास इस जीवन में उन्नति करने का पर्याप्त मौका मिला होता है| आपका यह, एक बेहतर जीवन का प्रयास, उनसे क्या उम्मीद करेगा , और उनके लिए क्या करेगा जिनका जीवन उन्नति करने के लिए हुआ है?
मैं प्रयेक दिन इन प्रश्नों को अपने साथ रखता हूं एवं मेरा यह मानना है कि हमारे शिक्षण का मुख्य कार्य , प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को यह एहसास दिलाने का है कि वो तीन समूह, जो आदरणीय जोसे चिपेंदा ने बताये हैं, वो हमारी मानवीय प्रजाति के ही हिस्से हैं| हम सब भाई बहन हैं, जीवन के जाल के हम सब हिस्से हैं, और हमें ,जिन्हें बहुतायत का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त है और उन्नति के लिए ही पैदा हुए हैं , अपने कम सौभाग्यशाली भाई बहनों को नहीं भूलना चाहिए , चाहे वो हमारे पडोसी हों या विश्व के अन्य कोने में हों |
मनन के लिए बीज प्रश्न: आप अपने ,एक बेहतर संसार के जरूरी उपायों में , उन तीन प्रश्नों की सार्थकता से कैसा नाता रखते हैं? क्या आप उस समय की एक निजी कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं, जब आप एक बेहतर विश्व की परिकल्पना में, उन तीनो समूहों के बारे में सोच पाए हों ? अपने प्रयासों में ,उन तीनो समूहों की खुशहाली में लगे रहने में, आपको किस चीज़ से मदद मिलती है?
Charles Gibbs was the founding Executive Director of United Religions Initiative. He has published a book of poetry, and currently is working on a subsequent book.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the three questions to evaluate our grand ideas for a better world? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to think about all three groups when evaluating your vision for a better world? What helps you be invested in the welfare of all three groups in your own work?
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11 Past Reflections
On Jan 4, 2022 Helen wrote :
“The growing gap between rich and poorâ€
I believe that greed in the most wealthy countries causes need in others.
(Why was my comment flagged as spam earlier?)
I believe that greed in the most wealthy countries causes need in others.
(Why was my comment flagged as spam earlier?)
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On Jan 4, 2022 Kathryn wrote :
challenging questions. I find as I lean toward remembering my own animal being, my body form as part of this amazing inter-dependent world of life, that I hold more compassion and understanding for humans regardless of their status or life expectancy. I don't hold onto such a strong expectation that we are only here to thrive. Soul Lessons come in so many forms. Might we try to walk simply and to reach out to others with love sharing whatever we have to offer?
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On Jan 4, 2022 Patrick (aka anonemoose monk) wrote :
Bold, challenging questions that we must all ponder. And then we must act in loving, grace-filled response depending on which group we are in. The wealthy may have the most difficult time, as Jesus of Nazareth noted in his encounter with the rich, young ruler.
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On Jan 4, 2022 Kca1986 wrote :
I think there are subgroups of those. For example, those that are born to die but have a strong spark for life. Possibly. Would like to know if that is a thought if mine or a truth. It seems hopeless to categorize them all as weak spark for life. Maybe we need to figure that out.
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On Jan 4, 2022 Myrtle wrote :
Everything and everyone come to pass so we are all born to die. Its hard to reach those in the first group, particularly the ones who have given up. For those in the second group, there is hope and I beverage it is hope that keeps them hanging on, surviving, and for some they reach the level of thriving. Among the thrives are a handful of people who wish to make a difference in the lives of those in the first and second groups, the ones who sincerely want to leave the world a better place. I think there is a very small fourth group of insanely greedy people who only think of themselves and their power and will do anything to keep groups one and two in their place.
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On Jan 4, 2022 loretta land wrote :
A change of heart will change our world and bring harmony here on Earth. Power is emerging from the bottom and is bringing in an honest, sustainable world based on respect and cooperation. It is happening now, and it is arising out of the toxic present paradigm.
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On Jan 2, 2022 David Doane wrote :
I very much agree with and support what I think Rev Chipenda is saying -- I think his way of saying it is not accurate. Many die hardly having a chance to live and many are struggling to survive -- no one is born to die or born to merely survive. We are each born to live and thrive. It is tragic so many are born into very harsh and sad conditions. I think often about all three groups. I think often about the injustice in the world and have my vision of a better world in which there is justice for all. Problem is I don't do much about it. What helps me be invested is knowing that we are one, care that I have for all people, and belief that a level playing field of fairness, equality, and compassion for all would be best for all.
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On Dec 31, 2021 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
I relate to the three groups conceptually - the group of people born in harsh and hard conditions that extingwish the phycal spark of their life that lasts for a brief period of life. The second group is enormous composed of people born to survive. The thid group is tiny composed of people who are born to thrive. I have spent many years of my life in the second group and a few years in the third group. Sadly we have been living in this tripartite world for a very very longtime. Attempts have been made to create a better world by people who belive in communism, socialism, democratic socialism, democracy and spiritualism. We need to go the roots of the system of inequality, apathy, injustice and discrimination. Freedom without responsibilty, equality, humanism and spirutual values is not enough.
As mentioned before I have spent a great amount of my life time in the second world. I kow how difficult it is to survive. Thankfully, I had parents who taught me how to live with dignity and... [View Full Comment]
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On Dec 31, 2021 NAREN KINI wrote :
As the saying goes, the process of dying starts the moment your are born. How, when and where are probably the only aspects left for others to discover. That said, it is my hope that the answer to these questions lie in the realms where science and spirituality can collaborate. Science with deep rooted spiritual values can address the first question to a large extent and some to the second one. Spirituality and its understanding through compassion, kindness, sharing, giving and enabling will certainly address a part of the second and make the third group enablers. Just as the spider uses what is within it to weave a web, we humans should go deep within and will find values of sharing, giving, loving and kindness. It is this essence alone that will be possible. United initiatives of any kind should not be mistaken as a way to bring different faiths together, but connecting human hearts under a common canopy or shelter of compassion and sharing so as to bring some aspect of equanimity in... [View Full Comment]