I feel that exploration is our fundamental expression. Even a toddler wants to explore. Leave him free, and he would like to move to the next room to see what lies there. He would like to interact with the new people he meets. He would like to touch different objects and explore. Nobody teaches that baby, and yet that curiosity and explorative instinct is natural to all babies until we confine them to the boundaries of relationships, family, society, community, and religion.
Adults have a very strong sense of divisions. They have divided the entire territory between "me and mine" and the "rest of the world". Some people have a very strong sense of "me and mine" that may, in worst cases, be confined to their own body and may not even extend to their parents or spouse, or kids. Some have this "me and mine" extended to a few family members. For some, "me and mine" extends to the larger family and friends. The relationship between "me and mine" and the "rest of the world" also varies from person to person. Some believe in peaceful co-existence, where they don't hurt "the rest of the world" and do not expect the "rest of the world" to hurt "me and mine". Some are quite aggressive and for the interest of their "me and mine", they will not hesitate to hurt the "rest of the world". Some believe in "co-operation" and feel that "me and mine" should cooperate with the "rest of the world" for finding new possibilities.
Whatever the case, I get quite curious to know as to why and how a curious child gets confined to this "me and mine"? All of us have different bodies to live in this world. If we remember "who we are" even after entering these bodies, would we still feel vulnerable? Would we have the fear? Would fear still be a fundamental emotion to guide our existence? Would we be afraid of death? How would we react to pain? Let me be frank in admitting that I don't have an answer to these questions. I have my own share of fears. In fact, I was born and brought up in one of the most fearful societies, where social ostracism is one of the most fundamental fears. It's a highly unsafe society, and therefore, people consider society to be their fundamental safety mechanism, and that's why they will even die for social validation.
I have observed at least a few things with my experience of interacting with people of different cultures, religions, and thought processes. Everybody in this world has the same fundamental instinct to explore. Everybody wants to explore something new. Some want to play it safe, even while exploring, while some take risks while exploring. Everybody loves and has compassion, and wants to work for the poor and needy. Some play it safe, and their sense of "me and mine" is so strong that they feel pained while giving their time, energy, and resources to those who actually need that. While some have so much love and compassion that their "me and mine" is not able to confine their efforts, driven by love and compassion.
I have a strong feeling that it is "loss of awareness" of "who am I" that makes us confined to "me and the mine". That confinement makes us fearful. The thicker those boundary walls separating "me and the mone" from the "rest of the world," the more fearful we are. It does not matter what lies inside those boundary walls. It does not matter how big this confined place is. It may be one whole religion vs the rest of the world. It may be my family vs the rest of the world. It may be my community vs the rest of the world. The stronger this sense of separation and the bigger the fears will be. We will not be conscious of that fear inside as long as we feel safe inside. That's why the fear of social ostracism is so strong. That's why we mindlessly conform to the social norms and standards. A few souls remember their "true nature" and somehow, freedom, love, compassion, and exploration are non-negotiable to them. Some of them fought for the freedom of India even at the cost of their lives. Until all the souls remember that and "love, compassion, and freedom" become the guiding force of the whole of humanity, those few who remember will have to gather exceptional courage to stand up against the cumulative resistance of everybody who has a strong sense of identification with "me and mine." It's not easy to unite the strong "egos". "Awareness" is the key. Awareness of our own "mental stories" around this "me and the mine" will make us clear about the difference between "love" and "possession"; "concern" and "responsibility"; "purpose of life" and "desire".
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