Dear Friends
Oxford Dictionary defines “Parochialism” as a limited or
narrow outlook, especially focused on a local area; as narrow-mindedness.
Merriam Dictionary also calls it petty selfishness, although according to me
that definition is far extreme compared with my own understanding of the term.
The opposite of parochialism is called “Universalism”.
Recently I have been interacting amongst two association
of people, in one of which I am a little active in communication whereas in the
other, not so much. In the interaction with people in the former, I have
observed some preference to interact with a few chosen ones more freely, than
others. However in the latter, I have observed openness, a welcome approach to
assimilating emotions of all who come in contact, without any chosen
preferences.
In many organizations, there are policies geared towards
welcoming new members, familiarizing and engaging them in participation with
different work-groups etc. In certain other organizations, the new members are
left to fend and find their way. Over a period of time, the newcomer, in either
case, becomes a part of the various activity groups and finds his or her
moorings. Having said that, we find that in almost all organizations, there are
“cliques”, i.e. a group of people who prefer to maintain a “closed association”
amongst themselves, where “outsider entry is prohibited”.
Why am I using these examples? What am I trying to get
at? Let me explain.
We Hindus are fond of saying that our religion is
ancient. Actually our ancient religion was called “Sanatana Dharma”. Translated
to English, this means “Universal Religion”. There was nothing sectarian about
it. All beings were considered equal. Differences based on birth, gender,
wealth, caste, etc were not found in Sanatana Dharma. People who worked in
different activities, did so because they were adept or experts at that nature
of work. This ancient religion is claimed to be over 7500 years old. There were
no deities, no forms or names of worship. Nature was God manifested in a
beautiful form.
Nowadays, as people have become more learned, somewhere
down the line, they have lost their education. Knowledge is plenty but Wisdom
is scarce. We differentiate people and have created groups to identify them. In
the process groups of “WE” and “THEY” have been created. These differentiations
are on the basis of work, workplace, groups within works, schools, classmates,
colleges, clubs, etc etc. Although these differentiations are necessary to make
our living more organized and less chaotic, somewhere, we have lost the “WE”
collectively and become “ME” centric. Our differentiation has led to an
unconscious “Parochialism”. Without realizing it in our day-to-day actions, we
have lost the Universal Vision.
Among the teachings in Bhagwad Geeta, this Universalism is explained by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in Chapter 7, Verse 10 as follows:-
Beejam Maam Sarva
Bhootanam; Viddhi Partha Sanaatanam
Buddhirbuddhi
Mataamasmi Tejastejasvi Naamaham.
(This is translated by Swami Chinmayananda as follows: -
Know me, O Partha, as the
eternal seed of all beings. I am the intelligence of the intelligent. The
splendor of the splendid I am)
Let us celebrate togetherness, embrace Universalism and shun
Parochialism.
Prem & Om / Suresh
