Making choices is part of life. Indecision leads to prolonged confusion and worse inaction. Any action also involves making judgements and these have consequences.
In Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Shylock the moneylender has lent Antonio a sum of money and the penalty for default is a pound of flesh. Shylock is angry and bitter, so when Antonio cannot repay the loan Shylock goes to court to enforce the bond.
In vain Portia pleads with him to be merciful and utters her immortal words, “The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven”. But Shylock remains adamant; he has been wronged, he says, and he wants revenge. Shylock has made his decision, no doubt; but at what cost?
Spiritual knowledge shows the way here; surely the Bhagwad Gita has alerted us to the deeper truth of contradiction, for a powerful message of peace and love emanates from the battlefield, the very citadel of violence. There is also the example of Guru Gobind Singh, who encompassed within both the innocence of a saint and the fearlessness of a warrior. Truth, it appears, nestles somewhere in the midst of contradiction. If the scales are tilted at all it is in favour of Portia, for spiritual teachings side with her in upholding human values above all else. In fact the highly revered Ashtavakra Gita extols forgiveness as the very first requirement of an aspirant. The next is sincerity, then compassion. Not surprisingly judgement is given short shrift.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that judgements are so subtle that we are not even aware of their existence and then they get solidified like rock. Judgement is often unavoidable in everyday life. “But do not hold onto the judgement; see the possibility that people and circumstances can change at any time.” This is a skill that comes from yoga and meditation; the judgement remains for just that moment and then we let it go. “It is like drawing a line in water.”
Valmiki was a dacoit who went on to become a great saint. When we say to a person, “you are bad”, we lose sight of human potential. This is not a sign of wisdom; rather wisdom is to see the spark of divinity even in a criminal and help him to transform. We can judge Shylock and say that the victim has turned culprit; or we can take a giant leap and see how inside every culprit there is a victim. This leap is possible with spiritual wisdom; to be in the world yet to remain unscathed; to be active, even heroic, yet retain innocence. For this we must create a space for spiritual development in our lives.
