SOCIAL HARMONY
ONCE, a dispute arose between two farmers, over the boundary between their fields. To begin with, the dispute concerned a piece of land but soon developed into an issue of honour. Withdrawing their respective claims, they thought, amounted to losing face. Thus the quarrel which had started on a petty issue was blown up, out of all proportion, and neither party was willing to make a compromise.
Things went from bad to worse and took a violent turn leading to murders and destruction of their lands and property. Eventually the matter was brought to court. Judicial procedure was long and drawn out and the cases were brought to an end only when both the parties had lost everything in the process—family, fields, health and wealth. And all only in an attempt to recover something of much lower value.
It is more circumspect to seek out the root causes of problems; not there and then, in terms of the prevailing circumstances, but elsewhere.
In a comparable case, another farmer found himself in a similar situation. But, instead of taking immediate action, he chose to stop and give the matter serious consideration. He consulted his friends in order to determine what steps he should take. Finally he came to the conclusion that the boundary dispute should be settled not at the boundary, but on some other front.
He started to think over the issue; not in terms of today, but in terms of the past. Being deeply hurt at the usurpation of a part of his farm, he felt the same sense of dishonour and material loss as the men who had decided on quick action in the previous example.
How was it that his opponent had the daring to infringe upon his land, he thought. A great deal of cogitation led him to the conclusion that it was his own weakness that had emboldened his rival in this matter. Now, it was not so much a matter of a boundary dispute as it was of his position in society. His position being weak, he could not inspire sufficient awe in his neighbour to prevent him from laying hands on his rightful property. Thinking coolly, he arrived at the conclusion that if he were able to improve his status, he would be better equipped to combat his opponent in a weapon-less battle. Then his rival would not venture to appropriate his rights.
So, having restrained the impulse to retaliate automatically, he began to work harder than before on his fields. The strength which would have been wasted on destroying the enemy was now utilized in constructive activities. Such positive thinking inspired in him new hope and courage. Not only did he work harder in his fields, but he started a business as well. His newly awakened consciousness had inspired in him a new zeal to construct his life afresh and cutting down on his expenses, he put all his efforts into increasing his income. In addition, he sent all his children to school and resolved to give them the best possible education.
Confrontation should be avoided at all costs and no factor which can produce positive results should be rejected or ignored.
Like the farmer in the first example who continued to fight with and sue his rival over a period of twenty years, this farmer too had to work for twenty years for his efforts to come to fruition. For the former, twenty years of effort had amounted to nothing but destruction, whereas, for the latter they meant a period of great achievement. His children having received a fine education were well employed. He himself had developed his farm so much that he had to buy a tractor to replace the pair of oxen which had formerly tilled his land. His resources had increased considerably. The very farmer who once had humiliated him, had sold all his land along with the disputed boundary area.
The above two contrasting cases present a good lesson for social harmony. The one who had wanted to settle the boundary dispute at the boundary was a loser; on the other hand, the one who tried to solve the problem on other fronts not only came to possess the disputed land but the whole field belonging to his opponent.
When an electric bulb or fan stops working, we do not devote our efforts only to the bulb or the fan to make them work again, because we know that the reason often lies outside the bulb and the fan. Simply by carrying out repairs at the proper place, we can set matters right.
For example, by replacing a fuse, we can re-light the lamp and set the fan in motion again. Human affairs too are often of this nature. But it is a pity that what one remembers in the case of material matters is often forgotten in solving social problems.
The normal practice, when a problem arises, is to attempt to solve it there and then in terms of the prevailing circumstances. But since present events so often stem from past events and circumstances, it is more circumspect to seek out the root causes elsewhere. Confrontation should be avoided at all costs and no factor which can produce positive results should be rejected or ignored. Even if such an approach seems lengthy and complicated, it is the only process which can lead to harmonious living in society.
Every good act is charity.
Your smiling to your brother is charity
an exhortation of your fellowman
to virtuous deeds is equal to alms-giving;
your putting a wanderer
on the right road is charity;
your assisting the blind is charity;
your removing stones, and thorns,
and other obstructions from the road is charity;
your giving water to the thirsty is charity.
A man’s true wealth,
hereafter, is the good he does
in this world to his fellowmen.
When he dies, people will say,
“What property has he left behind him?”
But the angels will ask,
“What good deeds has he sent before him?”