Making of a New Man
We have to create a new society. A society without any religious conflicts, where one religion does not oppress another, where people are helping each other for each other’s upliftment and development and where a certain economically backward class does not stay like that forever. So that each one of our 20 million Nepalese people is educated, cultured, developed to their fullest potential – so that we never have to bow down to anyone. No one should have to make a living as a porter or coolie for others. No one should have to make a living as a thief, robber, pickpocket, or a prostitute. Imagine a country without alcoholics and drug abuse. It is for these reasons, let’s dream not just of a new society, but also the birth of a new kind of human being.
A man can stoop low, and go down to the lowest level. But a man can also become great and there are no boundaries to human greatness.
Going low, a man can go as low as to become a ghost or vampire. And the same human being can rise, to become a Shiva, Ram, Krishna, Lord Buddha – or Marx and Lenin. Or a prophet like Jesus or Mohammad. He can be a Duryodhan, a Yudhiṣṭhira, or a Kamsa or a Ravan. He has the potential to be any of these characters depending on his efforts and thoughts.
Buddha’s teaching is:
“Your mind can make you a Buddha. The mind can also make you behave like an animal. A man in illusions is like a monster. Therefore pay attention to the mind and guard your mind.”
Another teaching of Buddha:
“The body is not Buddha. Those who see only the body did not see me.”
Inside all human beings, there is a source of infinite energy. Let’s harness and grow this energy, and utilize it to develop, if not the whole world, at least our own country and people.
Let’s try to learn what being a real human means.
Other than humans, the capabilities of all other creatures are limited. A bird can fly, but cannot survive or play in the water like a fish. A horse can run, but cannot fly like a bird. A sparrow can fly from tree to tree, but can it fly to the moon?
A person who does not work hard is capable of even less than a bird or horse or fish. But the same person with hard work, effort, and dedication can go anywhere he or she wants to – inside the ocean, fly to the moon, from one corner of the earth to another, and can see the world from inside the house.
Today, we Nepalese are in an economically backward state in every aspect. We are good consumers of all sorts of goods, but we do not use our own hands to produce anything.
Of course, we can make some nanglos, dokos and some carpets. Our government has limited our potential for producing such small things in the name of the cottage industry. But we do not dare to imagine ourselves taking over challenging engineering projects – like designing planes, manufacturing telecommunication equipment, computers and so on.
Not just this, we should be able to take on projects that even others could not take on. Countries as small as ours are working on projects and producing goods needed by their people, making them independent. They are doing all this utilizing their minds and doing hard work. Nepal also has that potential. Utilizing that potential, we have to move forward and develop our country.
Being the best of ourselves – getting rid of greed, anger, hate, and lust – we can transform ourselves into a new and great human being.
Human birth and fate is determined, to a great extent, by the conditions of our parents. The body is nourished by food. The development of the mind is determined by food, education, and experiences in life. And the body and mind together are directly affected by the human condition. With the change in that condition, both body and mind can change for the better.
Therefore, let’s work towards creating a society that empowers people and provides the right conditions and opportunities to develop to their full potential.
By: Tulsi Lal Amatya
Source: Samsmaran Ka Panaharu (Memoir)
Edit/Translation: Sanjay Amatya