For how long shrewdness and manipulative-ness will prevail? It is pervasive. But will it triumph ultimately? I often wonder, is this world belongs to selfish, scheming and “Me first” people?
I was watching about Confucius’ life on History channel. He died as a disillusioned man. He sensed that nobody would listen to his uttering. Like a mirage, he kept on searching for a ruler, who could have understood his principles and acted upon it. He wanted to bury China’s anarchy, darkness and violence. He met one governor, from his own hometown, who listened to him. Both of them worked together and produced some fine results. But ultimately that ruler succumbed to the charm of three most beautiful, calculative and manipulative women of his province. These women were sent by his rivals.
Right proportion of nose, lips, eyes and cheeks or exact portion of flesh at right places or both? THAT IS ALL IT TAKES TO BRING DOWN ANY MIGHTY RULER, SCHOLAR, PAINTER OR FORMIDABLE GENERAL. Alas! This same phenomenon SEEMED true everywhere. Confucius all the wisdom, knowledge and vision could not fight with the charm of three beautiful and promiscuous women! Are these pessimists and conservatives always succeed? He had to leave his province. He wondered for 13 years in search of a ruler who could have at least same foresight that he possessed or willing to implement his ideas. He was not as fortunate as Chanakya. He could not find a Chandragupta Maurya throughout his whole life. Rulers of China chose to live comfortably instead of rising to occasion.
No one was willing to give him a chance. A break, that’s all he was asking for. Never got this wish fulfilled in his entire life. He confined himself to learning and teaching, thinking his disciples will keep his ideas alive. Even there he was a loser. He lost his most beloved and promising student to the cruel claws of death. This made him weep like a hysterical child. He said “Even God has turned against me.” He lost all hope and found solace in the lap of Mother Nature. The very solace of nature, he used to ridicule in his youth. Was he really defeated by reactionary forces? The same demons who travelled to England, to file petition in favor of custom of Sati, opposing Raja Ram Mohan Roy? Raja Ram Mohan Roy had William Bentick. (Thankfully neither Ram Mohan Roy, nor William Bentick had to fight an election. Otherwise they might not have offended popular sentiments of public.) But Confucius never met his William Bentick!
This is grave injustice. How could had he not foreseen his teachings propagated by World’s renowned Universities. He has become an institution in himself in modern world. When I watched the whole episode, I wish fervently, if once, just once, he could visit this earth NOW. He would know that no one remember those three vicious, calculative, manipulative rulers and women. His philosophy is being propagated, not in China but in the whole world; by progressive governments, by many institutions, by evolving organizations, by common people and by sensible individuals. But he was far ahead of his time. And we keep a bowl full of poison ready for such people, be it Meera or Socrates or worse a slow poison for Confucius.
But on hindsight, I think by following Confucius we are not honoring, discovering and recognizing him, but ourselves. He does not have to trouble his holy spirit to see us, the mere followers. May his soul rest in peace. Amen!
