Probably one of the strongest frames, we all are tied to, is the frame of morality. This frame is so strong because it gets support from not only the law of the country but also the social conventions and religious texts. The frame of morality has the oneness of life at its center. Probably that is one of the widest frames possible but the problem lies in its selective interpretation. Somehow, we tend to divide this framework into pieces and pick a piece of the framework to suit our purposes.
For example, the framework of morality is based on the concept of the larger good, and therefore our actions should aim at the larger good. But all of us have been using natural resources indiscriminately. We have been traveling for fun making the air polluted, throwing so much water every day into the flush, using different industrial products made by the industries that are polluting the air and water, and using pesticides and insecticides without awareness of the violence. How can the "morally upright" people pollute the natural resources and make their future generations suffer for their fun and entertainment? Where is morality in this?
It applies not only to natural resources but also to human beings. Let's look at the societies, and what we have done to them. We have developed systems that allow human beings to accumulate wealth in terms of money, properties, and precious metals. By using these systems, people accumulate money indiscriminately depriving fellow human beings of the bare minimum resources. How can a "morally upright" human being sleep well with billions of rupees of assets while millions are lying in their beds on empty stomachs? In fact, how can we continue to live in our ivory towers unconcerned about the people who do not have the resources to feed their children.
Where lies the concept of "power" in the frame of morality? How can a morally upright society have so much of a craving for power? Why would anybody in a morally upright society like to have power and exploit anybody? In a society that is so obsessed with money and power, where lies the scope for morality? Even relationships are based on "give and take" in this society. People invest in their kids to get security for their old age. The parents forcefully choose the career of their kids so that they can boast in their circles that their kids are brilliant and have been selected for IITs and IIMs. Kids have become like medals. Many parents force marriage on their kids with a match in their caste and religion. Some do so even for dowry. Isn't it just like using the kids for self-interest? Investing in the kids so that they can pay off by bringing medals for the parents that they can use in their own circles to get accolades from their own society. Where is "morality" in such parenting?
How can there be even "enlightenment" which is unconcerned about the people around? How can we be confined to some hypothetical realization by closing our eyes toward the people around us? How can the cries of the children who are being raped be muted by some "sadhana"? After the so-called "enlightenment", what are we trying to gain? Union with the divine? When we can not unite with his creation, how can we unite with Him?
The frame of morality can neither be understood nor applied by the "ego" rather it requires "egolessness" to appreciate the framework. People have identified themselves with very shallow identities. It's impossible to break the framework of morality at our convenience. Human beings have cleverly (or rather stupidly) done so over the entire period of human history. I feel that so long we are not able to break free of our "egos", we will keep misunderstanding the frame of morality with our limited "egos" and in fact, we will keep taking the support of such "misinterpreted morality" to fight wars, exploit fellow human beings, pollute the environment, kill animals, confine the freedom of our kids and family members, use relationships, treat our own kids like robots, and building organizations and systems that we can control to exploit others. We will keep validating our actions with the shallow interpretation of morality. It requires complete awareness of what's going on inside us to be aware of what morality is. Can "I" love "You" without that feeling of "I" and "You"? Till that happens, I feel it is quite futile to talk of morality.
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