CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Disciple: Master! Should capital punishment be abandoned?

Guru: Yes! Certainly!

Disciple: What is the rationale?

Guru: Firstly; in principle; our punishments should be born out of the vision of global benevolence and not vindictive impulses. Vindictive impulses and urge of vengeance; appear justifiable; but this is only because they gratify our basal nature.

Secondly; the laws should be such; that they help us to blossom; and NOT throttle our freedom, harass us and in fact promote all varieties of crimes ranging from relatively innocuous mistakes and misdeeds; to murders and rapes. Further; the laws should be should be understood by people; and ideally so simple; that compliance would be much easier �law breaking� would become rarer. Even the need of lawyers would be reduced.

Thirdly; we can curb the criminal tendencies; right from the beginning (when they are not as ghastly as they latter become); and prevent crimes to a large extent.

Fourthly; the nature of punishments; in general should be emphatically corrective and reformative to such an extent; that �deterrence� would ensue through correction and reformation.

Fifthly; the capital punishment usually leaves no chance for an individual; for compensation and/or chastisement; for a particular crime.

Sixthly; capital punishment (and in general; the idea of deterrence as such in punishments) seems to further; the chain reaction of crimes; and multiply the evil; and not eliminate it!

Seventhly; this does not mean that the punishment should be mild. What it means is; it should be appropriate; to both; chastise and compensate (to at least some extent)! For example; a person, who throws litter on road; should be made to clean it free of cost for a week or two.

Eighthly; we ourselves (the makers of law and those who implement it) have to rise above our own criminal tendencies; and also the craving of vengeance. For this; we have to undertake some activity that can sublimate our �rage about crimes and injustice�; into �honest concern� for universal welfare!

Such activity; useful; irrespective of race, region, nationality, occupation, religion and ideology; is NAMASMARAN (JAP, JAAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, SIMARAN i.e. remembering God�s name or true self). If we have this pill to cure and prevent a disease (crimes); then why should we use radical surgery; such as amputation (capital punishment)?

Disciple: But would a society in rage; accept such punishments for heinous crimes?

Guru: Till we grow beyond our subjectivity, prejudices and notice the nascent criminal tendencies within us; we may not appreciate the value of all the foregone discussion. But as we get more and more civilized, through the practice of NAMASMARAN; even more creative and constructive suggestions would emerge!

DIVINE WISDOM: DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

NAMASMARAN is a process of promotion from a position of helpless engagement; in compulsions, activities and duties; of primitive and basic nature; to the positions of being increasingly closer to and in tune with; the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent superpower; our Guru! This is also called the phenomenon of self realization and is the greatest of all achievements; as there is nothing else to achieve!

But this does not appear to be true; till we are engrossed and entangled in consciousness; associated with body metabolism, endocrine system, autonomic nervous system and central nervous system; and its interactions with the internal and external environments (KARMA).

The environments (including the educational, occupational, political, cultural, economic, social, religious etc); keep stimulating and arousing us to act in one way or another! But we find that in spite of our efforts; life �leaves us behind� and continues to shape itself beyond our imagination!

In the process; our passions, desires, love, hatred, ambitions, missions and so on; appear to be defeated! The world moves ahead and we get dragged after it; helplessly; even if we are physically and financially sound!

As and when; our Guru blesses us; we realize that �we� do not fully understand the nature of universe and the myriads of good or bad entities and desirable and undesirable events; inside and outside; and that; our Guru fully �knows and governs appropriately�; everything!

As a result; we begin to �see� our Guru�s eternal divine wisdom at work; in everything and in every event; and the merit of surrendering Him! Thus we stop considering the practice of NAMASMARAN (JAP, JAAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, and SIMARAN i.e. remembering God or true self); a defeatist, escapist, helpless expression of an aging or ailing person; but a promotion to a top position of governance and benevolence!

PRIDE AND BEYOND: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is very difficult to live without pride; as that amounts to live in self pity; which is like death. Whether we call it; ego, self respect, self esteem, self dignity or even a certain degree of arrogance; I need it! I need it to live. If I am a king, a celebrity or a rich person, then I tend to have it any way.

But even if I am a beggar, an ailing individual; or a person helpless in some other way; I need it; and I need it even more; to sail through the ocean of hardships. If I am stripped off this pride, then it would be impossible for me to gather any strength to struggle and the vitality to live!

Probably in view of this; pride of race, religion, nation, language, tradition, cult and a person; is often considered natural, normal and even commendable. It has played a major role in rise (though excessive or perverted pride becomes a fanatic megalomania and can lead to downfall) of a race, religion, nation, language, tradition, cult and a person.

The holistic perspective; enlightens and empowers me. It adds to my pride and enables me to fight a variety of failures. But by virtue of this; it also develops condescending attitude in me! I tend to be judgmental, although compassionate and considerate; and take onus upon myself; of everything; in my life and the universe.
This is exasperating and never ending.

My Guru caringly guides every single particle, every chemical and physical reaction, every physiological event; every phase of consciousness; and every event and interaction in my life; and everything in universe. He empowers and enlightens me to see �this fact�! He shows me at appropriate time; His all encompassing vitalizing, controlling and nurturing role; in everything, which I feel proud or guilty; or hateful or envious of!

As this becomes clear and clearer; instead of being arbitrarily and abruptly stripped of my self-pride; I am skillfully sailed from and through my life full of pride (and prejudices); to the abode beyond every kind of pride! In complete self effacement, which is otherwise terrifying; I find the lotus feet of my Guru; the infinite eternal ocean of bliss.