Pre-independence, India was ruled by the British. There was a government to rule like the present-day government. The difference being that the government was not elected by the people of India and was rather selected by the British Government. There was also a legislature to make the laws like the present-day Parliament of India, but the legislature made laws that served the interests of the British people. Similarly, there was a judiciary like the present-day judiciary, but the decisions of the judges were led by their biases for the British rather than being guided by truth. What is the meaning of "love" for the country in these situations? Does that mean blindly following the directions of the administration and following the rules, despite the rules being exploitative and alien? The freedom fighters rejected the idea of complying with the facade, and their "love" for the country motivated them to fight against British rule in different ways and means. "Love" for the country is different from "love" for British rule, and in fact, "love" for the country has its genesis in "love" for freedom.
Many people, especially in the present-day generation, talk about self-love. People give a damn to society, relationships, and even family members because their feel that they "love" their self without even being aware of what this "self" means. Does loving "self" mean following the command of the instincts that rule our body? If that's the case, the people who are driven by their greed for power or money are also driven by self-love. People who kill in the name of religion are also driven by self-love. People who carried out genocide in the name of their beliefs are also self-loving people.
Self-love is not a lust for certain sensations of the body. We enjoy certain tastes because they leave a pleasurable sensation on our tongues and make us feel good. Similarly, we value money because having more money makes us feel safer and gives us more options. We strive for powerful positions because they provide us with safety and respect. We feel that our existence is validated by society. We follow the societal belief system because it makes us feel secure. We believe that society supports us in our moments of need. Do we recognize the influence of society on our "self"? Isn't society governing our "self" in the same way Britain ruled India? Isn't our "self" yearning for freedom? Can we see that India is different from British-ruled India? Are we able to recognize that the "self" has an independent existence, separate from the society-conditioned belief system, the society-induced desire for money and power, and the self-image we create for social approval? Just as "India" is different from "British rule," the "self" is different from society and the body that tries to dominate it. That's why "self-love" is quite different from "obsession with basic instincts." A desire for the comforts of the body, safety, money, power, belief systems, or the image of being good is not "self-love."
When we sit in meditation, we begin with the intention to meditate. We move from one thought to another, and most of the time is spent just thinking. That's not meditation. As long as we identify with our thoughts and there is no distinction between the thought and "self," there is no meditation. Similarly, as long as we continue to feel pain and pleasure in different parts of the body, we are not in a meditative state. It is only when we observe our breath and become witnesses to our bodily sensations and thoughts, as independent observers, that we connect to our self. Only when we connect to our "self" can we love "self." Otherwise, it is merely an obsession with one thought or another, or with one sensation or the other. The ultimate test of "self-love" is equanimity. When we remain equanimous, we love "self." When a country is governed by its people, it flourishes, and there is no internal conflict. Similarly, when our lives are guided by "self-love," we remain calm because our true love directs our life rather than a "mental story" based on some social belief, physical comfort, or mental safety. When someone loves "self," they embrace freedom, stay aware, and cultivate compassion. They desire everyone to be free, binding none and allowing no one to bind them.
Comments