Reinvent The Self!

As we know a cross in Christianity connotes 2 things. Permanence (Nitya) and Impermanence (Anitya). Also we call them vertical and horizontal dimensions of The Reality. There are some qualities that are associated with Nitya and others which are associated with Anitya.

Qualities that I need to reflect in horizontal vs vertical dimensions:

Sensitivity vs Indifference: I cannot become sensitive to others’ sufferings and hence my own well being unless I know how to be indifferent. My sensitivity towards others’ sufferings, urges me to act indifferently. I must be unbiased, impartial when I plan to alleviate the overall suffering in the world! This indifference (unbiased) acts as an input to my actions. Then the likelihood of my actions being pure and rightful becomes very high.

Involvement vs Detachment: I cannot act without being completely involved in doing it. However, I must be detached from the outcome of my action. This detachment is associated with the output of my action. I am focused on doing that act rightfully without being associated with any outcome whatsoever.

Doing vs Being: It’s highly likely that my actions are impure if I hold even an iota of the sense of ownership with me. It’s only when I surrender my ego (sense of doership), that my actions become purer and effective.

Inspired vs Content: I need to understand that at all the times, I am not in the state of lack. In other words, I am always content. I am always happy with my situation. I do not have absolutely any urge to do something, to prove something, to know something. This then makes me inspired to act rightfully. Because, this contentedness, filters all the impurities from my action and my action becomes purer.

Careful vs Carefree: I need to be careful while I act. Now, unless I am carefree (having no worries, problems or anxieties), how can I become careful? I need to be unperturbed intrinsically, in order to be caring, to be careful. That is, I need to be happy all the time.

These pairs seem semantically opposite however both coexist in the Reality which is composed of both the dimensions. And they can be read as, “Unless I feel contented, I cannot be inspired” or “Unless I am detached, I cannot fully be involved”. And likewise.

If I become indifferent to what is happening in this world, be it Covid situation, or a war, or deaths due to them, I grossly misunderstand the Reality. If I do nothing just because I am content, I misunderstand Reality. I don’t need to tell you how carefree attitude people carried while dealing with Covid pandemic. People literally didn’t wear masks, didn’t follow social distancing. They considered themselves to have risen above the level of being worried!

In short, if I show vertical qualities in horizontal realm, then I am not understanding the Reality or doing the rightful action.

Also, on the other hand, we also saw that in the Covid pandemic, there were people who got so frightened by Covid that they abstained from going out, became asocial, wore masks even when at Home. They were so sensitive to the happenings around them that they became fearful or frightfully distressed. This sensitivity that gives me fear is the fake sensitivity, or it is certainly not the sensitivity that is expected to bring forth the rightful action. If I am involved in some action because I expect petty gains from that, it certainly displays my lack of understanding. If I start doing something which my instincts dictate, I am not doing the rightful act.

In short, if I try to assume horizontal qualities without having vertical qualities, then also I am not understanding the Reality or doing the rightful action.