ASK MAULANA

What is the method for de-conditioning our wrong conditioning? There is only one method for undertaking one’s de-conditioning. This method is to engage in introspection. A person needs to develop selfthinking. Without any bias, one must study on one’s own. One should be so serious in this matter that one should even go to the extent of self-hammering to overcome wrong conditioning. This is the only way of de-conditioning ourselves, there is no other method in this regard. What will happen if we do not de-condition ourselves? In the light of my experience, not doing one’s de-conditioning leads to failure in life. De-conditioning develops rational thinking in a person and makes him adhere to value-based ethics. One who does not decondition himself is left with only self-interest to guide his life. After de-conditioning one develops objective thinking, whereas without it, one is driven only by self-interest. The latter kind of person is unable to develop his personality. How much time does it take to de-condition years of wrong conditioning? Overcoming one’s wrong conditioning depends upon one’s own willpower. If a person possesses strong willpower, he will be able to instantly and completely de-condition himself. However, if a person is devoid of strong willpower his process of de-conditioning will be delayed depending on the level of his determination. It is also possible that one who has weak willpower may never be able to de-condition himself at all. How to prevent further wrong conditioning? There is only one way to save oneself from wrong conditioning, and that is by way of intellectual development. Without intellectual development a person cannot even know that he is a case of wrong conditioning. And when a person is unaware about himself, he will also not be able to de-condition himself. An example of an intellectually developed person is one who does not get offended when somebody critiques him, rather he takes it as an opportunity to think why he was criticized. This approach would help him understand that he was a case of conditioning and that he should come out of it. Is it possible to become fully free of wrong conditioning? It is true that one takes the influence of one’s environment, and hence becomes conditioned. But if a person is intellectually awakened and at