KILLING THE LIGHT INSIDE

The most outstanding manifestation of negative growth in the spiritual, mental and physical health of the human race through aeons of evolution is the pride of place that has been given to Guilt.

The burden of guilt starts weighing us down from early childhood. We make our children feel responsible for unnamed horrors and mishaps because they have not finished their glass of milk or done their school homework. They are held responsible for ruining their ‘future’ many times a day! Does the lion scoff at and deride his cub for not picking up something and putting it aside, for standing when it is ‘supposed to be sitting’ for not thinking of what will happen tomorrow? A little rebuke with a firm nudge in the right direction, yes; emotional blackmail, no! 

We have seen children burdened with guilt because their love and respect for the parent is in question if they will not pick up the TV remote and hand it to us! We probably get the remote and lose ourselves in our favourite soap, but we have forgotten a thoroughly confused little person who is having a tough time accepting that Love means to hand over the remote, sit down at one’s books, not shriek with delight, wear clothes one abhors, eat when not hungry, not ask for food when wanting it, not go out to play but be a sportsperson, play but come back with clean clothes, and so on.

The moment it is shouted at, the glow of innocent existence on a child’s face dims. It seems at once sullen or belligerent or sulking or annoying; in effect, less attractive. That is The Inner Glow that I write about.

As we grow, the weight of guilt grows, too. This or that would not have happened if I had exercised more, studied harder, driven slower, stayed up more nights, chosen more carefully, prayed more frequently, eaten less fat, cared more for my children or parents or whatever!

In another context, I would have been more beautiful if I had not gone out in the sun, eaten meat, bathed too often, walked in flat shoes, externally applied all my recommended dietary intake to my hair and skin, laughed carefully all my life to avoid wrinkles, never screwed up my eyes against the wind! Oh I can cover myself with layers and layers of senseless goo emerging from tubes and jars, but will they give me radiance, exuberance, warmth, joy, the glow from my inner being?

Responsibility, blame, fault, duty, obligation, mistake; we use these words for our parents and children and teachers and neighbours and governments and nations. Where is Love?

Majestic, wonderful, magnificent, splendid, graceful; these are adjectives we use everyday for animals, what happened to the human animal?

THE INNER GLOW WENT OUT!

And only freedom from the oppression of guilt can bring it back. Do not pour guilt into someone’s psyche, and don’t let anyone tamper with your conscience.