Acharya Tulsi
The concept of the birth of the New Man is very pleasant and comforting, but its process is extremely difficult. A mother is thrilled to imagine the birth of her first child, even if she has to suffer the pangs of the child birth. In fact, when is a new man not born? Every man that takes birth is a new man after all.
A philosopher once visited a village. He found a group of villagers gathered at a particular place. The philosopher asked "Brothers, has any great man taken birth in your village?"
The villagers were stunned to hear that question. One of them replied, "Oh, my good man, in our village, only children are born. No man is born."
That illiterate villager revealed a great truth about life. It is a fact that no man is big at the time of his birth. Rama, Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Gandhi, and all other great man were born only as children. They made tremendous efforts, they acquired ability to do something and become great man.
Debate about Birth and Destiny
Darwin's theory of evolution describes man as the descendant of the ape. The story of the New Man can be written according to that theory. But Darwin's view does not stand the test of the Jain doctrine. Therefore, the New Man would have to be related not to his birth, but to his making. In the Mahabharata, Karna says, “My birth in a particular family is determined by fate, but the endeavour is mine. [1]" He says that he has not spared any effort and his personality is entirely shaped by his endeavour.
Man always desires to be different from what he is. Novelty attracts everyone. Today, man has become archaic. He is won out in every sense. It is not possible to put him into good shape by trimming and pruning. From that point of view the idea of the birth if the New Man pleases the mind. But the context in which the New Man has been discussed has nothing to do with his physical form. By new I mean new thinking of creativity, superiority and constructive outlook. It is probably not within anyone's power to create the man who would possess all these qualities, but it is certainly possible to shape such a personality.
It is said on the basis of new scientific inventions that it is possible to have the desired progeny by changing the genes.
By introducing the genes of a scientist, an engineer, a doctor, a political leader or an actor, it is possible to develop the future progeny in that image. There is no question of looking upon science with mistrust or contumacy, but it is not appropriate to trust it too much till we are faced with it in its practical form.
It is Possible to Shape Personality
In terms of psychology, there are two factors that shape the human personality, genealogy and training. The development of personality as determined by genes proves the importance of hereditary sanskaras. The other factor is training. During the Welfare Year (1986) we made an attempt to shape man's personality through training. We had aimed at building the spiritual-scientific personality. It is not possible to find the solutions to the problems of our age by adopting either a purely spiritual or scientific approach. Only the combination of spiritual and scientific thinking can help us arrive at some solution.
The aim of both spiritualism and science is the quest for truth. Spiritualism aims to proceed on the quest by concentrating on the Soul, while science is concerned with matter. Both proceed in their quest to know the unknown. Spiritual development is possible with the help of the scriptures, but no accomplished spiritualist stops just at that point. Bhagwan Mahavira directs that we must discover Truth ourselves. [2] Developing a scientific attitude in the field of spiritualism means developing a spiritual-scientific personality. If the training is appropriate, organised and spread over a long period, it can bring the desired results.
In the Contrary Situation
Some people give greater importance to hereditary factors. They have little faith in training. Even the scientists, who proceed on the basis of the genes, go by the possibility of the transference of the sanskaras. However, this also involves the possibility of undesired results.
Bernard Shaw met a beautiful young lady at a meeting. Highly impressed by Shaw's learning, she said, "Shaw I would like to marry you. I wish to give birth to a son who would be learned like you and handsome like me - Shaw said with a smile, "Your aspiration is indeed very high. But suppose it happens the other way round and your imagined son is born with my physical appearance and your brains?"
Bernard Shaw's thinking does not seem irrelevant even with regard to the birth of the New Man, because, even after the new birth, what would that man do if he is still under the influence of the same old hackneyed sanskaras? By the birth of the New Man, I mean instilling in his new sanskaras. If one model of such a man is presented, we can think of the possibility of shaping millions after the image. If one lamp can light thousands of lamps, why can one man with good sanskaras not be a source of inspiration for millions of other men?
Model of the New Man
The very concept of the New Man can be thrilling to some people. They would wonder who such a man would be. How would he be shaped? Would he be a superman? Would he be free from all human weaknesses? Without getting entangled into all these questions, I would like to present a model of the New Man of my imagination:
- The New Man would be free from the restrictions of casteism and communalism.
- The New Man would not be sectarian, but religious.
- The New Man would have faith in non-violence.He would not sharpen the weapons of violence.
- The New Man would not cut the roots of democracy, but would deepen them.
- The New Man would not pollute the environment, but would always be on the guard to protect it.
- The New Man would be free from the tightening grip of addiction to any intoxicant.
- The New Man would regard money as a merely means of livelihood and not deem it as an end.
- The New Man would not drift along the current of his age, but would follow a well-thought out way of living.
Not the Age but the Mind is Obstruction
While talking about the model of the New Man, some people can make despairing observations. In their view, the situation of the present times is such that they cannot change the life-style of anyone. This is the mentality of avoidance, of making pretexts. When people do not wish to do anything and do not wish to change themselves, they blame their times. If man's resolve is firm and he makes arduous efforts, he can carry on with his task in any age. The Taittriya Upanishad has defined the ages as follows:
The age which sleeps is Kaliyuga or, for the one who sleeps, every age is Kaliyuga. The age which is awake is the Dwaparayuga. No one can sleep in that age. The age which sits up is the Tretayug. He lazes even after being awake, or pretends to sleep by hiding his face under the rug even after hearing the alarm-clock. He, who walks, attains Truth. He, who walks, reaches the destination. Walking is the sign of Satyuga. For a person who is indolent and gives himself up to despair, no age can be good.[3]
Those who blame their times and succumb to the prevailing situation can never build anything new. Let us march anew with the firm conviction that an effort at the right moment in the right direction would surely bring results. This is the only way the New Man would be born. Concerted efforts are needed both at the individual and the collective levels.
Need for Full-fledged Surgery
One more concept is in vogue with regard to novelty. According to this concept, the old can be turned into the new. This applies to some extent to costumes, jewellery and certain traditions. As far as man is concerned, I do not think the birth of the New Man has become necessary because man today has become archaic. The main reason why his renewal has become necessary is the not what has gone deep into his character. This rot in his character is a disease which is amenable to no remedy. A full-fledged surgery is required to deal with it. Otherwise, its evil effort would pass on even to the future generations and they would not be healthy and strong. It is for this reason that the birth of the New Man is necessary.
One of the tragedies of the 20th century is the erosion of eternal values of life. Where can we go and discover those values now? Therefore, it has become unavoidable to abandon the idea of reinstating those values and establish new values instead. The New Man would be born in this world when this task is accomplished.
The Best Example of Erosion of Values
There was a time when someone committed a crime everyone thought it was something new. If someone broke social conventions, thousands of accusing fingers were pointed at him. If someone resorted to an immoral act people looked at him with contempt. What has happened now to all those accusing fingers? Why is no one amazed by someone's crime? There was a time when a person who committed a wrong under the pressure of circumstances he had no courage to look at anyone straight into the face. But today, the anti-social elements that resort to killing and acts of sabotage strut about with pride and arrogance. Yigor Amir, the assassin of the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin, is absolutely satisfied by his success. Is this not the best example of the erosion of values? The lack of humanistic values like respect, shame, sensitivity and compassion is playing havoc with mankind. If man has to be redeemed from this state the New Man would have to be born. Anuvrat can fully cooperate in this task.
Those who blame the times and surrender before the circumstances can never build anything new. Let the new journey begin with the firm conviction that the right endeavour at the right time in the right direction would be fruitful. This is only way the New Man would be born. Concerted efforts at the individual and collective levels are needed.
