What Makes a Man Whole

What Makes a Man Whole

1992 3-4 March-April 13 What Makes a Man Whole (357) In the course of a conversation the other day, I said that in my interaction with people I have never found a single person who could be considered whole. Everyone was Mr. 50%. There are no Mr. Hundred percent.

All were experts on facts which affected others. No one was an expert on the truth which affected the self. Everyone talked of principles, but no one acted on them. People talked of the light, while spreading darkness, all around them. They vaunted the truth, yet hid behind falsehoods. And all this while wearing a halo of righteousness.

Everyone was pleasant in disposition so long as he went on hearing what he wanted to hear. The moment something was said which was not to his liking; the mask of pleasantness would fall from his face. He would even go to the length of becoming an oppressor, but always behaving as if he were the oppressed. Clever enough to understand what lay in his own interests, he would become deaf and dumb where others were concerned.

Everyone pursues his own self-interest while claiming to serve the faith and humanity. He is well ahead of others when it comes to talking in this way, but when it comes to action, he lags far behind. It is only when he is engaged in some form of destruction that he works up any real fervour, claiming all along that whatever he does is constructive in its aims. This he says wearing an air of great seriousness. Who knows what idle, dangerous thoughts lie behind?

He leads others to death’s door, but describes himself as the champion of mankind. Everything for him is a matter of personal gain.

If people said plainly what they intended to do and then did so without any fanfare, they would get the credit for speaking the truth and behaving properly. But in the prevailing conditions, no credit of any sort may be given.

It is pitiable world indeed where everyone is half of what he should be, while proclaiming himself to be whole. How can the man who represents autumn present himself as the leader of spring?