ASK MAULANA — Your Questions Answered

ASK MAULANA Your Questions, Answered What should we do when we come across people who lie to us? When you come across people who lie, don’t take their words seriously. You must try to avoid such people and not enter into any dealings with them. What is the difference between belief and ideology? According to general perception, belief is that which is based on subjective thought and ideology is that which is based on objective facts. But, according to my experience, there is no difference between belief and ideology. If one is able to find reasons to believe, then his belief becomes ideology. How can we adopt two different attitudes at the same time — following idealism at the level of thinking and adopting a practical attitude in other matters? It is quite possible to do so. Idealism pertains to one’s own mind and behaviour. So, there is no problem in adopting what you want to adopt for yourself. But, when it comes to society, you have to be practical and you have to take others into consideration. You have to adjust with other people. In such situations, it is quite reasonable for a person to adopt idealism in his own life, and to adhere to practical wisdom in his social behaviour. Both the behaviours can be summed up in a single formula: idealism for individual life, which is possible — and pragmatism for social life, which is also possible. What is the main obstacle to realizing the difference between reaction and positive action? Positive response means giving a well-considered response to the situation. On the other hand, reaction is a response given without doing serious planning for analysis of the situation. If you are serious you will certainly opt for the first choice; but if you are not serious you will be prone to taking the second option.