SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT COURAGE

 

          SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT COURAGE

Courage is defined as bravery, valour, gallantry, heroism, fearlessness, pluck, boldness, daring, dauntlessness, hardihood, mettle, fortitude and determination.   

A few antonyms of courage are : fear, fright,  cowardice, fearfulness, timidity, gutlessness, faintheartedness and chickenheartedness,

Courage is indispensable for most of the actions we have to do. Without it we cannot cross even a road, climb a mountain, handle a hooligan, face our opponent or enemy, deal with challenging difficulties and dangers.

Even birds and beasts need courage. The lion is the most courageous animal. A hawk is one of the boldest birds.

Courage gives us strength, confidence, hope, inspiration, enthusiasm,  boldness and heroism to deal with all sorts of difficult activities and situations of life.

Courageous people do not care for cosequences. They go ahead with all sorts of adventures. They are heroic, daring, resolute, determined and indomitable. Their stamina is highly commendable.

The English clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780-1832)  says : Physical courage which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage, which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another. The former would seem most necessary for the camp; the latter for the council; but to constitute a great man both are necessary.

  Whatever a person does as hazardous duty, aim, or mission of his life needs courage.  The degree of courage differs among heroes.  A nation’s army needs most courageous soldiers.

Don’t be surprised if you are told that even teachers, politicians, writers, poets and newsmen need courage to speak the truth.

Finally, this short quote: Courage without conscience is a wild beast.

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G.R.Kanwal

4^th November 2024  

 

 

 

LOVE AS A VALUE

 

          LOVE AS A VALUE

            A value is also defined as a belief about what is right and wrong and what is important in life.

            A longer definition says: Your values are the beliefs and principles that you believe are important in the way that you live and work. They determine your priorities, and guide your decisions and the way you act towards others. When the things that you do, and the way that you behave, match your values, life is usually good.

            Among the various sets of values ---- personal, social, moral, religious and cultural are most important.

            Love is one of the most important personal as also social value. To love somebody is natural. But more important is to love the whole world including   the earth, its inhabitants, nature, and all other things that exists within its arena.

            To love is to be friendly, affectionate, intimate, adorable, enchanting, engaging, winsome, endearing and warm-hearted.

            Unfortunately, we are living in a divided world. Religions, Castes, customs, socio-political conflicts, various moral theories, superstitions, selfishness, competitive spirit, lust for power, vicious disloyalty and disharmony in the various fields of life breed enmity and antagonism.

            The remedy lies in adopting love as an overall existential value.

            To quote the English writer and poet Maria Jane Jewsbury (1800-1833) ”Love is the purification of the heart from self; it strengthens and ennobles the character; gives higher motive and nobler aim to every action of life.

            She adds: The power to love truly and devotedly is the noblest gift with which a human being can be endowed.

            Finally, let us accept love as a most sacred universal value to curb and stop all sorts of hatred and mutual discords.

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G.R.Kanwal

2^nd November 2024

 

CUT SHORT YOUR WANTS

 

                   CUT SHORT YOUR WANTS

“Wants” are needs, necessities, desires, wishes, ambitions, hungers, dreams, lusts,etc. They are of different importance. Some are indispensable; many are superfluous. Their limit also matters. If you are contented, you need only as much as is must for your survival. The rest is  greed.

            Here is an important note: “All the desires and aspirations and motives of humans are known as human wants in economics. And the wants that can be satisfied with goods and services of any kind are economic wants. Like for example food, shelter and clothing.

           

            Besides economic wants, there are some other wants which gratify the body, the mind and the soul; like music, dance, poetry, literature, worship, meditation, travel and all sorts of creativity.

 

            However, too many wants of anything are vicious. They are a sign of greed, hence have painful consequences.

 

            Indian freedom fighter and saint Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) said that in the  world in which we are placed  ‘there is enough for everyone’s need, but not for his greed.”

 

            The English clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780-1832 ) said: “We are ruined, not by what we really want, but by what we think we do; therefore, never go abroad in search of your wants: for if they be real wants they will come in search of you. He that buys what he does not want, will soon want what he cannot buy.”

 

            The truth is that our real wants are very few and it is very easy to satisfy them.  On the contrary, our imaginary wants are boundless and insatiable.

 

            Finally the most important thing is to enjoy your life by cutting short your wants and be happy with whatever and as much as you have.

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G.R.Kanwal
1^st November 2024