CLARITY OF EXPRESSION
Objective Thinking
YOU need to be clear in your expression both written and spoken. The person who hears or reads what you have written should clearly understand and not be confused.
Nature has bestowed material things in separate shapes and forms. In the natural or physical sciences, material or physical objects are automatically separated and sorted out. It is different in the case of humanities since they deal with concepts and ideas which need sorting. Humanities include religion, spirituality and the social sciences. Categorization and distinctions between ideas require reflection and deep thought.
The physical sciences demand clarity and precision. In humanities, people can look at the same human-related issue in different ways, and this can lead to much confusion. This is true in the case of both secular and religious issues. In the physical sciences, things are sorted out, separated and delineated by nature itself, while in the humanities, people with different opinions and world views see things in very different and often contradictory, ways. Such easy and automatic categorization does not happen.
In the humanities, categorization and distinctions
between ideas require reflection and deep thought.
Milk contains a huge amount of bacteria which are not visible to the naked eye. They can be seen if you examine just a drop of milk under a microscope. Similarly, our galaxy, the Milky Way, appears to our naked eye as a white stream. But if you view it through a telescope, you will notice that it consists of a vast number of stars, which, because of their enormous distance from us, appear like one large white stream.
In contrast to material objects—like the bacteria in milk and the stars in the Milky Way—ideas do not exist separately. They exist in our minds mixed up along with other ideas. Our minds are a maze of different ideas that are often jumbled up. So, when you speak or write on any subject, you should be capable of sorting out the different ideas that coexist in your mind and clearly presenting the particular idea that you wish to convey. This does not happen naturally. You have to do it yourself, using the power of analysis. If you lack this power, your words will only confuse people, for want of clarity.
Consider this: Islam is taught as a subject in madrasas as well as in universities. But there is a clear distinction between the two in this regard. In madrasas, Islam is taught in terms of belief. In contrast, in universities the Islamic Studies curriculum is taught as a historical phenomenon. If you don’t understand this difference between madrasa education and university education and you talk or speak on this subject, you are bound to create confusion.
Consider another example—the question of the freedom of expression. There is a crucial difference between the Western and Asian approach. A person adopting the general Western approach and discussing a contentious Islamic issue, while exercising freedom of expression, might be interpreted by an Asian as ‘anti-Islamic’. This way, causing much chagrin.
When we talk of issues related to different conceptions about mankind and life, how do we make sure that we do not create confusion?
We should develop sufficient power of analysis to sort out
matters in our minds, and our minds should be so awakened that we can
immediately recognize the distinctions between things.
The answer is to emulate nature - develop analytical powers to sort out matters in our minds, and learn to recognize the difference between various concepts and ideas.
For this, we need ‘objective thinking’. One has to be free from prejudice, keep away from distractions, rise above situations, and become a fully ‘de-conditioned’ person. Such a person will be completely realistic. For him, the truth alone is of importance. Nothing else matters.
Such qualities are more likely to be found in ‘secular’ people, but not in a complete sense. These attributes can be found only in a Godconscious person, someone whom the fear of God has completely cut down to size.
It is not enough to have knowledge in order to speak and write with clarity, God-consciousness is indispensable. Without this, the clarity of your expression will be limited. It is when knowledge and Godconsciousness combine in a person that his expression truly gains clarity.
