Acharya Tulsi
On page 3 of Dharamyug dated 10th August, 1982 appears an advertisement of Novino (battery) cells. On the top is sketched the figure of a man and by his side is laid a calculator, worked by a battery-cell. Beneath the sketch appears the caption: "We can guarantee that the calculator would work without a hitch. Could the same be said of the man?" What a mordant satire on one man by another! Man, the source of infinite energy, contrasted disparagingly with a battery—cell! After all, the battery cell is man's creation. What an irony for man, the creator of the cell, to be so ridiculed by a fellow-man!
Man, who has put electrical energy to multifarious uses, is now progressing fast towards the computer age. The computer would now accomplish all those tasks which hitherto have been the province of rational man to perform. Does it not constitute a direct challenge to the power of man? Man's downfall wrought by man himself; verifying the truth of what the banyan tree said in the tale of the woodcutter.
A wood—cutter about the forest, carrying in his hand an iron- blade. The trees of the forest were greatly perturbed at the sight of a tree-feller in their midst. An ancient banyan sought to reassure them. "Comrades!" said the banyan tree, "Do not be afraid! This wood—cutter can do us no harm. The mere blade in his hand is utterly worthless, for it cannot be used against us unless one of us joins the enemy and cooperates with him in cutting us down. "The banyan tree's dictum proved to be true:the cutting down of the forest trees commenced only after the iron-blade was fitted with a wooden handle.
Even the greatest power of matter can pose no danger to man, unless man comes to own and employ it against himself. From the day man began to exploit nature and sought to master the power of the atom, his very existence has been at stake.
Man’s thought is entirely superficial, being conditioned by material considerations. Unless thought emanates from wakeful consciousness, man will continue to mock at man. Let man do a little retrospection: How much progress has he made since he began his pilgrimage? He must analyse his movement, the impediments encountered by him, and his goings—astray. The transform the very obstructions in his path and his wrong- turnings into continuous movement are vital living. The consciousness of movement lies, not in the calculator or the computer, but in the establishment of humane values. That man will be able to concentrate his attention on this truth is our earnest hope.
