"Kulakke moola kodali kaavu"

കുലയ്കേ മൂല കൊടലി കാവു is a saying in Kannada which means, "the wooden handle of an axe kills its own race." 

Immense are the possibilities of technology, but many of the things invented are used for the destruction of the living and non-living beings directly or indirectly. We are least bothered about what happens to others when we apply something – be it the chemical fertilizers for farming or atomic weapons used for wars.

There is a story about the human predicament.  Four princes went in search of some special science that shall help the humans to have a better life.  They went round the world and each one learned a special art. The first one, learned to assemble the born of any dead animal together; the second one learned to put flesh on the skeleton and the third one to put the skin and hair to the skeleton.  The fourth one learned the art of giving life to a dead body.  They went around, found a skeleton; the first one put it together, the second one put flesh to it and the third one its skin and the fourth one gave life.  But the sad fate was that it was that of a lion.  I do not have to tell the predicament of the four people in front of a lion.

There is another story - about a demon called Bhasmasura in Hindu mythology.  He gets the boon from Lord Shiva that whatever he touches should be reduced to ashes.  But as soon as he received it, he wanted to test it on Lord Shiva himself.  Shiva took to his heels.  Lord Vishnu appears in the form of a beautiful woman, Mohini, and distracts his attention from Lord Shiva.  He wanted to marry her.  She puts one condition that he should dance with her and do whatever she does. He agrees and she dances many postures and finally makes him touch his own head with his hand.  He was reduced to ashes. 

Modern technology seems to be like the burning power of hands granted to that demon.  If he turns out to be negligent even for the slightest moment, it may lead to the ruin of the world or self-destruction! 

The greatest enemy of humankind is humans themselves.

BE HONEST

Honesty and integrity are values that are very rare these days.  “Excel no matter how” is what is projected now. ‘Being honest’ is only when it brings gain in your life is what is intentionally or unintentionally taught even in Schools. It is a known fact that many Schools (especially the well reputed ones) encourage their students to use unethical means to be achievers so that their ‘name’ can be kept high. In a world of cut-throat competition, honesty and integrity has no place – ‘succeed’, ‘achieve’ ‘win’ etc. are the watch words of the present. We have to bear in mind that a dishonest world cannot stay for long.

Once a general manager wanted to test his people about their values of life.  He announced that in their seminar folder, there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put it in good soil in a pot and look after it very well.

He would hold a competition in the next year's seminar and that the best plants would be awarded suitably.  Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And next year in a big hall, there were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants - a great scene.

Except one pot in which the soil was there and no plant! The owner was standing quietly and seemingly ashamed of himself!

The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed which he was given – and did that was to be done- but nothing happened!

The general manager declared him the winner!

Everyone was shocked. It was announced, "Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds.

This man was honest to his work and, therefore he did not cheat me or himself!"

Please remember that when you are dishonest, you are cheating yourself.  When you cheat yourself, you are disintegrating your personality.  The end result is you become the ultimate loser. 

MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES ARE NOT

The affluent in the so called poor countries are not at all guilty about wasting their resources; moreover, they consider it their right to do so because they pay for it.  As a priest, I go to receptions hosted by the Church and the individuals, where  I am disturbed to see that so much food is wasted – the guests pile-up all the food stuff into their plates and throw it off after consumption of not even a quarter of what is taken.   A Tweet by Chetan Bhagat has prompted me to write this post.  I quote it verbatim:

Germany is a highly industrialized country.  In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life.

When we arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty.  There was a table where a young couple was having their meal.  There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on their table.  I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.

There were a few ladies on another table.  When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.

As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.  When we left, there was still about one third of un-consumed food on the table. 

When we were leaving the restaurant, the old ladies spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much of food.

“We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind,” my colleague told the old ladies.  The old ladies were furious.  One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone.  After a while, a man in uniform from Social Security organization arrived.  Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Euro fine.  We all kept quiet.

The officer told us in a stern voice, “ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME. MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.  THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES.  YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.

The mindset of the people of this rich country must put all of us to shame.  We are to be aware that we belong to a country which is not very rich in resources and many live in abject poverty.  To show off, we order large quantity and also waste food when we give others a treat. Recently while I was in a dinner, a person sitting near me felt ‘ashamed’ that my plate was empty after which he commented, “Can’t you leave something in the plate so that others will not think of you as deprived.”  There is a saying in Malayalam “undaal paathrathil irikkanam” which means there should be some left over so that your host will come to know you have been given more than enough.  My interpretation to the above is that your plate should be so clean that you can sit on the plate. Let us be affirmed: MONEY IS YOURS BUT THE RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.