When we are confronted with news reports of wanton brutality committed against defenceless individuals by their fellow human beings, incredulity turns increasingly into despair. When searching for the reasons for the moral decay that we witness everywhere, we ask, ‘Why are more and more people becoming slaves to their desires and lower instincts? Why is it that the moral restraints that have served mankind for ages are being abandoned by so many?’
Each scandal or atrocity is followed by hypotheses about the possible causes, and fingers are pointed at many things, from alcohol consumption to the corrupting influence of movies, video games, and television. The guardians of the law are themselves accused of being corrupt.
Over the past year, a string of highly publicised cases of crimes against women have shaken the conscience of Indians. In many of the cases, the perpetrators were under the influence of alcohol. Given the depraved nature of some of the crimes, that is hardly surprising. No one in their right minds can act the way the accused in these cases did. There were countless discussions and recommendations about what could or should be done to prevent such crimes. But there was no serious consideration of limiting the sale and consumption of alcohol or by creating awareness about its deadly effects.
The present condition of the world is, in fact, entirely in keeping with the times. We are now in the final stages of the Iron Age (Kaliyuga), at the end of the cycle of time. Human souls, who are the principal actors on the stage of this planet, have been playing their different parts in the drama of life from the Golden Age (Satyuga) onwards, when the cycle of time begins. Passing through the Silver Tretayuga), Copper (Dwapur yuga) and Iron ages, they have gradually lost their powers and virtues and increasingly become slaves to matter. It is because of the loss of their powers to discern, judge, decide, tolerate, and accommodate, that humans are now unable to take the right decisions even when they know that the consequences of their actions may not be good.
The Brahma Kumaris at the UN uphold the dignity of all people, men, women and children of all races and creeds, and work diligently to eliminate violence against women. Violence against women is a crime against humanity. The only power that can restore balance, harmony, righteous thinking, and behaviour, is spiritual power. The only source of spiritual power immense enough to enlighten humanity, is that of the Supreme Being. The effect of taking time each day to access this divine power and use that energy to transform our own thoughts and actions, cannot be underestimated. Each one can of us can make a contribution to the transformation of the state of affairs we all find ourselves in. It is up to us.
Gayatri Naraine is the BKUN representative to the United Nations in New York.