Sunday, 24 February 2013

Guru Tegh Bahadur, Joan of Arc and Mahatma Gandhi- WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?




All of them had faith in their “believe”, whilst confronting the face of death. How many of us would stand by with what we believe, even if it means certain death awaits? In the advent of a scientific world, man, constantly look for an answer for every possible phenomenon, and when he can’t, he, searchers for justification for its existence.

 “Believe” today seems to be as superficial as the dew in the morning, when the sun goes up the dew disappears. Or on the other hand, the “believe”, could be something imposed by somebody else to fill in the vacuum in the minds of the beholder. Thus the beholder conforms without reasoning, but merely abides due to conditioning and regimentation, for non-compliance would lead to either worldly or ethereal, punishment or reward. Whether one believes in himself/herself, or in the Divinity, reasoning via understanding and experience should be the source their faith. Otherwise their actions or inactions would be in vain.

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the 9th Guru of the Sikhs who was executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his non- compliance to renounce his faith. Joan of Arc a Catholic Saint at the age of 19 was burned at the stake purportedly for heresy, a charge which was deemed politically motivated. Mahatma Gandhi was murdered, for what he believed, “non-violence”.

All three individuals had a choice to comply, which may have saved their lives but they chose not to and pursued their own destiny. Today their lives have had profound impact on our rationalization process. It keeps check and balance on our own pursuits so that humanity is not compromised.    

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