A Liberal and less Prudish Society could help reduce Crime against Women
Hi Friends,
The rampant instances of rape in the state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as other states in India, have caused alarm and disgust. Naturally so. Voices of concern have been expressed at international fora as well, including the United Nations.
One reason for this increased incidence of such crimes could be that more women are today coming out, relatively with less fear, and registering complaints against the criminals, instead of silently suffering. Media reporting in India is also sharper and quicker than what it used to be decades ago.
Rape is one of the worst forms of violation that a human being (mostly women, sometimes also men) can be subjected to. Some other forms of human degradation that come close to it are third degree torture, physical abuse and extreme humiliation. In all these cases, apart from the physical pain, it is the 'self' that takes a severe beating. The sense of self gets mauled at the hands of fellow beings! Has it occurred to you that only human beings are capable of being so cruel? Animals often fight over territory or mates or food. But that is more instinct driven. It is not planned. Animals are also known to strategise, mostly for survival. But I have never heard animals subjecting another one to cruelty for sheer sadistic pleasure.
There is definitely need for social change in the manner in which women are seen as objects in a male dominated society, through better education from early childhood. But these are all familiar arguments which have been around for long.
As I mostly do, let us examine this crisis from the spiritual perspective. My first argument is, what I keep stating, that human beings are FUNDAMENTALLY UNHAPPY. This unhappiness manifests itself, at the very core of human existence, in different degrees. Those who wish to do a quick recap, can read Series 3 (click here) and series 4 (click here).
Most of us are oblivious of this basic inner condition. We do get hints, but either we distract ourselves from it, or blame it on something external. Some of us feel it strongly but are in denial. They are more likely to 'manufacture' external causes for their unhappiness. The intensity of this inner pain can be devastating. The problem gets compounded when, backed by strong denial and an egoic self, this suffering is taken out on others. Outwardly such persons may look quite OK, except when they are overtaken by some rage, jealousy, anger, that triggers the inner condition. They can get pretty much out of control and can cause harm to others, including blaming, humiliation or even physical abuse.
Of course not all acutely fundamentally unhappy persons are likely to be rapists. But the converse is probably true: all rapists, terrorists, hardened criminals, are certainly persons who are in the throes of extreme unhappiness at their core.
They are 'unconscious' of their suffering, like a patient in pain put under anaesthesia. I am not suggesting that all of them could become criminals. In fact, the educated and well heeled within this class is unlikely to commit a crime like rape, unless it is a reflection of a very crude display of power and control.
Society as a whole consists of a huge collective FUNDAMENTAL UNHAPPINESS. When this unhappiness is unconscious due to lack or absence of self awareness, society suffers at the hands of fellow human beings. Most criminals, including rapists and terrorists, are 'unconscious' people, and a big threat and menace to society.
Interestingly, the persons who are able to feel this human pain within and are consciously suffering, instead of trying to attribute it to some 'manufactured' external cause, are least likely to cause harm to others. Being conscious of your inner pain through awareness, makes you more human. Such persons are authentic and can easily move towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. They are able to break free from many man made structures in society. Most of us who lack awareness, are comfortable to work around laid down structures and constraints. Women get the worst deal in such rigid societies. We only give lip service to the concept of freedom. Secretly, we prefer a restricted society, that is convenient to many of us.
Of course, we need tough laws, better policing, quick justice. At the social level, education will help up to a point. What is badly needed is more spirit in society, that brings more happiness, through self awareness and, consequently, more freedom. An aware person, will not easily be able to hurt any life form, leave alone human beings.
As I have premised in my book ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?, the burden of this collective human misery itself will, hopefully, prompt mankind towards more awareness, and hence a movement towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. If all the 'unconscious' people could display some courage and peep inside to face the muck within, they can all spring towards JOY and PEACE.
Instead of waiting for that, let us impart simple spiritual inputs to children from school. Children have less resistance, and they might imbibe the insights faster than hardened adults. Unfortunately, spirituality is almost often confused with religion. I have been blogging on this subject for almost a year. I have not used a single religious symbol to explain anything.
I repeat, much of the lack of self awareness comes from too many constraints created by society itself. So many things are illegal: adults watching pornography, gay sex, dance bars, prostitution, all in the name of protection of women and weaker sections. This has created a prudish society. Can you image an unmarried couple checking into a hotel room in India? No one bothers in developed, western societies.
Those who have watched the Hindi movie, Queen, would have had a taste of a free society, when they saw the lead lady, played by Kangana Ranaut, share a hotel room with three men in Amsterdam. It helped her break free from the constrained way she was brought up in India, and she was able to reject the same boy, who had earlier rejected her for marriage. This sense of freedom, backed by saner laws is of paramount importance to restore some sanity in current Indian society. I doubt if any of the rapists from the fringe sections of Indian society, have ever spoken or played with girls as youngsters. It would have been frowned upon. The plight of young girls would have been worse.
Being in touch with yourself adds spirit to life. And, spirit is the solution to so many problems we face in the modern world today: crimes, hatred, torture, abuse of human rights, pollution, cruelty to animals...
Let us hope better sense prevails.
There is definitely need for social change in the manner in which women are seen as objects in a male dominated society, through better education from early childhood. But these are all familiar arguments which have been around for long.
As I mostly do, let us examine this crisis from the spiritual perspective. My first argument is, what I keep stating, that human beings are FUNDAMENTALLY UNHAPPY. This unhappiness manifests itself, at the very core of human existence, in different degrees. Those who wish to do a quick recap, can read Series 3 (click here) and series 4 (click here).
Most of us are oblivious of this basic inner condition. We do get hints, but either we distract ourselves from it, or blame it on something external. Some of us feel it strongly but are in denial. They are more likely to 'manufacture' external causes for their unhappiness. The intensity of this inner pain can be devastating. The problem gets compounded when, backed by strong denial and an egoic self, this suffering is taken out on others. Outwardly such persons may look quite OK, except when they are overtaken by some rage, jealousy, anger, that triggers the inner condition. They can get pretty much out of control and can cause harm to others, including blaming, humiliation or even physical abuse.
Of course not all acutely fundamentally unhappy persons are likely to be rapists. But the converse is probably true: all rapists, terrorists, hardened criminals, are certainly persons who are in the throes of extreme unhappiness at their core.
They are 'unconscious' of their suffering, like a patient in pain put under anaesthesia. I am not suggesting that all of them could become criminals. In fact, the educated and well heeled within this class is unlikely to commit a crime like rape, unless it is a reflection of a very crude display of power and control.
Society as a whole consists of a huge collective FUNDAMENTAL UNHAPPINESS. When this unhappiness is unconscious due to lack or absence of self awareness, society suffers at the hands of fellow human beings. Most criminals, including rapists and terrorists, are 'unconscious' people, and a big threat and menace to society.
Interestingly, the persons who are able to feel this human pain within and are consciously suffering, instead of trying to attribute it to some 'manufactured' external cause, are least likely to cause harm to others. Being conscious of your inner pain through awareness, makes you more human. Such persons are authentic and can easily move towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. They are able to break free from many man made structures in society. Most of us who lack awareness, are comfortable to work around laid down structures and constraints. Women get the worst deal in such rigid societies. We only give lip service to the concept of freedom. Secretly, we prefer a restricted society, that is convenient to many of us.
Of course, we need tough laws, better policing, quick justice. At the social level, education will help up to a point. What is badly needed is more spirit in society, that brings more happiness, through self awareness and, consequently, more freedom. An aware person, will not easily be able to hurt any life form, leave alone human beings.
As I have premised in my book ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?, the burden of this collective human misery itself will, hopefully, prompt mankind towards more awareness, and hence a movement towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. If all the 'unconscious' people could display some courage and peep inside to face the muck within, they can all spring towards JOY and PEACE.
Instead of waiting for that, let us impart simple spiritual inputs to children from school. Children have less resistance, and they might imbibe the insights faster than hardened adults. Unfortunately, spirituality is almost often confused with religion. I have been blogging on this subject for almost a year. I have not used a single religious symbol to explain anything.
I repeat, much of the lack of self awareness comes from too many constraints created by society itself. So many things are illegal: adults watching pornography, gay sex, dance bars, prostitution, all in the name of protection of women and weaker sections. This has created a prudish society. Can you image an unmarried couple checking into a hotel room in India? No one bothers in developed, western societies.
Those who have watched the Hindi movie, Queen, would have had a taste of a free society, when they saw the lead lady, played by Kangana Ranaut, share a hotel room with three men in Amsterdam. It helped her break free from the constrained way she was brought up in India, and she was able to reject the same boy, who had earlier rejected her for marriage. This sense of freedom, backed by saner laws is of paramount importance to restore some sanity in current Indian society. I doubt if any of the rapists from the fringe sections of Indian society, have ever spoken or played with girls as youngsters. It would have been frowned upon. The plight of young girls would have been worse.
Being in touch with yourself adds spirit to life. And, spirit is the solution to so many problems we face in the modern world today: crimes, hatred, torture, abuse of human rights, pollution, cruelty to animals...
Let us hope better sense prevails.
Cheers!
Deepak Chatterjee
chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C
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