Thursday, 7 August 2025

INDIVIDUALITY

 

          INDIVIDUALITY

            Individuality means uniqueness, distinctiveness, unlikeness, originality, singularity and peculiarity.                  

            A person with individuality has a unique personality. He is not like a group, class, crowd or flock. He is not sheepish. He is different from other members of the herd. He is like an un- imitable signature.

             The Indian mystic and philosopher Acharya Shree Rajneesh, popularly known as Osho (1931-1990) says : Be An Individual. One of his quotes on this subject is: It is very convenient to follow the parental voice, convenient to follow the priest, convenient to follow the church, convenient to follow society and the state. It is very easy to say yes to all these authorities --- but then you never grow.

           

            Osho also warns you if you don’t follow the aforesaid authorities. He says to be an individual is the hardest thing in the world, because nobody likes you to be an individual. In spite of this reality, he advises every person to choose his own destiny.

             

            Nature loves individuals. That is why you have poets, authors, leaders, scientists, mystics, philosophers, saints, sages, seers, pedagogues, with different views, styles  and personal traits.

 

            Individuals are theorists, discoverers, inventors, innovators, and revolutionaries. They are not a flock of sheep but unlike each other with an undifferentiated  individuality.

 

            Somebody rightly said: Individuality is everywhere to be spared and respected as the root of everything good.

 

            The American preacher, poet and editor Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814-1880)  had this to say : We live too much in platoons; we march by sections; we do not live in our individuality enough; we are slaves to fashion in mind and heart, if not to our passions and appetites.

 

            To conclude, here is an inspirational quote:

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest compliment. “  

                                                                        *******

G.R.Kanwal

7 August 2025

No comments:

Post a Comment