Carelessness about the future

'Let us take care of today. Why bother about what is going to come and all that?' This mentality is found not only in individuals but also in institutions and associations. Too much future planning is also mistaken to be calculative. To calculate is not same as to be calculative. To calculate is part of the mental functions as a human being. But to be calculative is taking one tool out of the toolkit too far and too chronic. It is counting the things as possession and ignoring values as irrelevant. Very easily it slides towards 'range of the moment' attitude. But the sanity starts from the moment you think 'that which I do now what will be the effect of it in future'. What action in my past has resulted as my present state of things? If what I want is overall happiness in life how can I prioritize my preferences and actions. What can I give up and what can I not? - all these thoughts gave rise to the concept of 'karma' in the past ages. 'Karma' is nothing but the deep thinking of wakeful human society conceptualized. It can be misused as 'all karma; so no responsibility on my part; whatever I do is karma, don't blame me'. The misuse of a concept shows human predilection towards self-destructiveness and can serve as a warning to pull ourselves back in time. But rightly understood, 'karma' clarifies on various levels and paves way towards a sustained constructive social living. It does not require great thinking to realise the blindness of the attitude 'exploit now; no bother for the next day'. Not only is it blind but nature punishes us frequently on that count. 

'To obey is the first step towards conquering nature' is an old adage but all the more relevant. If we understand this adage rightly, we will give attention to nature, give attention to us as parts of nature, to the society as the best possible context for meaningful living. We will feel shy to behave irresponsibly towards nature, surroundings, human beings and our history. Irresponsibility will never parade as independence of thought or being individualistic. The worst enemy for any responsible human living is self-aggrandizement that comes out of blind egoism. These two, blind egoism and self-aggrandizement together can do more havocs than missiles to humanity.
Srirangam Mohanarangan
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