There are
people in the world that would say that there is no solution to the human
problem. The human problem is the problem of self-disapproval. There is always
an attempt to prove myself to be someone different. And I therefore seek approval
from my own people in the family, community and humanity, even perhaps from
gods. I seek approval from them all. That is because there is no self-approval.
In this,
pursuit of seeking solution, one can say there is no solution. In this world, I
am a very small and insignificant person.
Even the wayside rock has millions of years of stories to tell me. The hundred years I live are just a flicker
in the perennial flow of time. In terms
of pervasiveness also, I am insignificant on this earth. On the scale of the whole universe, I am not
even a dot.
With
reference to knowledge, the extent of my knowledge on any subject is
minuscule. In strength, I am ordinary
even among human beings. I started my
life as a small helpless person—I needed help even just to turn. Even though I did not know what parents
meant, I delivered myself to these people to compensate for my
helplessness. There was trust in them as
mighty giants. They appeared almighty
and infallible. I did not know at the
time that I was going to grow up to be like them. Therefore, self-judgement was
inevitable, that I was small and insignificant. When I grew older, I discovered
that the parents were fallible, and I was still helpless. Being helpless and without an infallible
support is a core problem.
The
Existentialist tells me that there is no solution to the human problem. I am
helpless and no one can help me. I am
subject to sorrow and I have to just try and make the best of it. The most selfish is the happiest. Another one comes along and says he has a
solution to the problem even though I am a sinner. He promises me heaven where
I can relax. I cannot verify this
promise here. Perhaps because it is non-verifiable,
I can believe it. I can trust what is at
least not subject to negation. That is
why people believe in heaven. They
commit themselves to the belief that there is no solution here for the human
problem but there is one in heaven.
Going to heaven is not a solution, says another. Like you there will be
many others in heaven, and you will have to deal with them. The standard of living may be better there,
but still you will be you, and you will have a lot of issues to tackle there.
“You
surrender your body, mind, wealth, and everything else to me and I will save
you.” “Don’t give up your self. Keep walking and reach the goal.” Slogans like
this ring loud and strong for those who want to pay any attention.
Now you
can understand uniqueness. The one who says you are unique does not promise
anything. He does not require to promise or instruct, nor control or
manipulate. All that he says is why
don't you see this truth about yourself.
The truth about yourself is that you are free. That is all the truth about everything and
you are the truth about everything. You
are the center and everything else is unlike you.
This is
revealed even by simple inquiry into the language. In language, there are pronouns: first,
second and third persons, singular and plural.
As you can see, the third person pronoun can refer to any person or
thing. The second person pronoun ‘you’
also refers to different persons at different times. But by the word ‘I’ you refer always to only
one person—you. ‘I’ is singular in
number and nature.
The
relationship between the ‘I’ and ‘not-I’ is the relationship you talk
about. It is the relationship that
bothers. It means that the one and only
‘I’ is bothered by the countless ‘not-I.’
You cannot begin solving the problems of life without understanding the
very source of the problems, which is you.
These are the problems of an approval-seeking, disgruntled, dissatisfied
‘you.’ To solve the problem of life, you
need to question whether you are the person that you think you are. If you are, there is really no solution to
the problem. If you are not, you have no
problem. Vedanta says you have no problem.
It is not
a promise that you will be free. To say
or promise that you will be free is to assume that you are bound now. Vedanta says you are
free. That is a challenge.
January
1995
Talks and Essays of Swami Dayananda Volume 1