Transform the mind, and you transform the individual and society

I espouse such precepts that transformation of an individual is but transformation of society. Such transformation, which is in vogue among those engaged in political and economic deliberations, is becoming a distinguishing characteristic in institutions, organisations and governments seeking with unrelenting effort to reflect the multifarious societies in which they exist and represent. These are reforms and structural transformations without which, the successes of these institutions and governments will falter. A prime requisite to these endeavours is but transformation of ourselves as individuals from diverse cultural heritages belonging to these organisations and society in general, of our own mindsets and attitudes. This is an arduous undertaking intensified by our own unwillingness to be the architects of change; and certain indolence insensibly leads us back to our ordinary course of life.

This, however, may seem extravagant and ridiculous to the apprehension of those who regard themselves as being most skilful in conducting themselves and their reason; to those who perhaps embrace solipsism — the branch of philosophy that the self is all that can be known or exist; to those who observe the imperfections in our society, which convention has without doubt materially attempted to smooth the inconveniences and defects thereof, as almost always more tolerable than the change necessary for their removal. In the same manner that highways, which wind among mountains, by being much frequented, become gradually so smooth and commodious, that it is much better to follow them than to seek a straighter path by climbing over the tops of rocks and descending to the bottom of precipices.

Although the utility of this process of change will not be discernible at first encounter to those stubbornly set in their ways, it is nevertheless of the greatest, since it affords the easiest pathway by which the mind may withdraw itself from residual notions and petrified precepts of superiority and inferiority. It is difficult to rid one’s self promptly of an opinion or belief to which one has been long accustomed. It is, therefore, useful for all of us to know something of the manners of different minds and the cultures from which they’re formed, that we may be enabled to form a correct judgement regarding our own, and be prevented from thinking that everything contrary to our opinions, customs and cultures is ridiculous and irrational, a conclusion usually come to by those whose knowledge and experience has been limited to their own thinking and conduct.

We should look forward to the far distant future with ardent and confiding hopes, for this retrospect presents a ground for still deeper delight. Such further impresses on my mind a firm belief that the perpetuity of our endeavours depends upon ourselves, that if we maintain the principles on which they were established, or ought to be (brotherhood of mankind), they are destined to confer their benefits on countless generations yet to come, for our charge is to set footprints for other generations to follow.

Walt Whitman once asked: “Are all nations communing? Is there going to be but one heart to the globe?” For us, a similar question remains “Are all races communing? Is there going to be but one heart to this varicoloured society?”

The contention by many that “that’s how things have always been”, inertly bears witness to our aversion to change. Our own purpose to thrive should begin with our own recognition that indeed change is inevitable, that our own transformation represents a transformation of society, of our organisations, a movement from traditional ways of thinking, traditional ways of dealing with challenges, to more ‘refined’ ways, since nothing is so far removed from us to be beyond accomplishment. The question we must answer is whether we have exhausted all efforts to affirm our determination in bringing about such change, whether our passionate intensity is sufficient to define what should compose this indubitable reality.