THE ETHICAL UNIVERSE:
DR MOLLY JOSEPH, CHIEF COORDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ETHICS. [Univ. of Ethics].
ETHICS: THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS
In contemporary fast changing scenario, how can age old definitions prevail unless redefined and put in full consonance with the moving waters?
Yes, the flow, the flux has to go on and as Heraclitus put it, “You can never touch the same water twice.”
The constants and the variables vie with each, but the basic undercurrents exist beneath every flow. The certainties of love, compassion, sharing lie shrouded beneath. Especially when humanity stands on the peripheries of devastation culturally, geographically, spatially, with imminent
threats to existence and depletion of life giving
sources on earth, aren’t we facing a greater threat.. of depletion of human values?
We hear cases of sons and daughters killing their own parents in greed to grab their money and property. How one shudders at the case of a young mother, a technical graduate killing her own child who is barely one month old. Honour killing, religious or political killing, all have become the order of the day. How much depravity we have stooped into despite all this trumpet and flourish over progress with advanced science and technology.
May be with AI (Artificial Intelligence) shifting human cognitive, emotive quotients to new algorithms of data base, a new human species can be artificially manufactured in “Bio Labs” than in the womb of a human mother. See, to what inhuman level man can extend himself in such devastating
dimension!
Unless human conscience arises against these self annihilative efforts to hack and hijack human brain, his existence, and sensible, sustaining efforts and experiments are taken in right direction, the future of humanity will be in total jeopardy.
Before the world dries up and shrinks to moral decreptitude,
let sane voices resound, sowing seeds of creative thoughts and action. Therein lies the relevance of an International Academy of Ethics.
Let it start at grassroot level.
Here I make a list of Best Practices.
1.
At Family level :
Let there be more of conscientious parenting. Let parents feed children not on greed or competition, but on need. Just bring in him the awareness to think, the whole world is there not to serve him, he has to serve the world around and that he grows smart not by outsmarting, out performing alone, but by accommodating, accepting others. His importance as a person, a valuable link in the cosmic chain has to be highlighted and assimilated.
Teach him the joy of sharing.
In setting his goals, prioritise his becoming a good human being.
Here is a poem that I wrote in that line.
Be like the Sun!
…..
When we walk
through this world
of wonders,
my child
you ask me
“what shall I become?”
be like the sun
you see in front
showering light around,
over all alike,
on the tip of grass
on the top of the
mountain…
be like the sun,
shower your love, care
all around,
be thankful
for the grace
showered on you,
look! how
the blades of grass
bow their heads
before the Sun
in the gentle wind…
see, how
the mountain tops
glaze, basking in
gratitude
reflecting
sun’s glory…
when soaked
in love, grace,
you will fly high
like the birds,
see how
their shapes
silhouette the
horizon so vast
when free from
fear, anxiety
they can fly
and float
exploring worlds
anew..
become good
at heart
helping others
to wipe out
their tears
and be in cheers
since life grows
sweeter
in giving, sharing…
grow into
that good man
dear, spreading
radiance
my son, the sun
of the world…
2.
Be a good listener to Your child:
Find time for your child everyday sparing time in your busy schedule. Yesterday I read in a Newspaper of a college boy
caught up in regular monthly robberies of serious kind. When the police approached his Mother, the single parent, she could not believe it. Her son was with her as her support after his school time. Only one night occasionally he would go to his friend, saying he would come back not disturbing her sleep… Yes they loved each other. But the mother seldom knew she had to make him his friend in daily conversations and updates on his time spent in college and friends. How many children thus just slip out of our fingers to levels so dangerous!
3.
Inculcate good practices, show them to your children:
Take them to homes of less privileged, old age homes. Let hours be allotted in course curriculum for “reach out.”
It can even involve cleaning up the environ, organic farming, giving electrification for a needy house (Technical students of a Professional College, I worked in, took up those tasks in flood hit areas) At the end of these assignments, the satisfaction they get as the “helper’s high”… nothing can match that, no degree or material reward. As a teacher I have seen that glow in their eyes
3.
Ethical acts needn’t be frilled with self-preened accolades:
Let it get deep rooted in them, flow natural. We do these beautiful deeds for the sense of worth we invest in our lives. Let us earn our tomorrows by the good deeds we did today.
Here is an anecdote. I was travelling in Hyderabad, the busy city. For some shopping to the nearest market, as I googled, the auto fare was a
reasonable amount, Rs.150.
I approached the Auto man, he was charging double, for Rs.150, claiming Rs. 300. He sensed my Hindi which showed I was an outsider. I knew some heckling, bargaining mattered but he would not come down below Rs. 250.
Two other Automen haggling over it, ultimately one coming down to Rs. 225. None of these men agreed to put in the metre. I agreed and went. Coming back it had turned late. I hired another Auto. The man readily turned on the metre and charged just the reasonable amount Rs.150. Not a penny extra for the night ride.
I was so overwhelmed by his honesty. Stepping down I thanked him and offered him a 500 Rupee note.
He was surprised and I told him about my previous experience. “Honesty matters in life, keep up your honesty, it will put you in good stead,” I assured him. At first reluctant to accept the extra, but when I offered with love and appreciation, how his faced glowed and I am sure he will bring up his children on the credos of honesty.
These are the small ways with which we can foster good values of life..
Before I wind up, let me attach a poem of mine on what I perceive as Ethics.
Ethics
………
Imbibing ethical
undercurrents
let human lives
flow
Let it turn
the automatic
reverse button
that strikes
your cords
of conscience
when your
actions
dwell up on
self seeking edge
alone,
overlooking,
superceding
the space
of others…
like, when
you overlook
the asthmatic
elder
waiting,
wheezing in
the consultation
queue,
while you
jump over
to the Doc
through
connections
personal
to save
your time…
ethics not
about stringent
dos and don’ts
based on
moral codes
framed, reframed
as per soical dictates…
ethics is
your sense
of being humane,
empathetic
kind and considerate
giving a wide berth
to all,
nature, man
the bird, the animal
the universe
treating all
with the
inherent pristine
sanctified spark,
as raw and fresh,
as a vital part
of the vibrant
universe
that pulsates
through
you and me.
BIO :
Dr. Molly Joseph, Professor – Poet from Kerala, had her Doctorate in Post war American Poetry. She writes Poems, Travelogues and Stories for children and is a renowned translator. She has authored 17 Books which include 15 Books of Poems and a Story book for children –Adventures of Billu, Dillu and Thrillu (which won The Best Children’s Book of the Year award 2022, from ALS Delhi ) and two Novels (translated from Malayalam). Widely anthologized, she serves as International Jury for Poetry competitions and is an insightful reviewer. She has won ‘Wordsmith Award 2018’ and India Women Achiever’s Award 2019 instituted by Asian Literary Society, New Delhi. In 2021 she won the Yan’nan Gold Medal -The Outstanding Poet’s Award, from the Yan’nan Literary Society, China. Her book ‘Where Cicadas Sing in Mirth’ won the ‘Master of Creative Impulse’ Award from ‘Philosophique Poetica & Grand Productions Canada for ‘ Experimental Poetry.’ Her indigenous diction is characterised as “Ribbon Poetry.” Her books “Water sings over the Stones and Songs of Silence” won The Best Poetry Book of the Year 2020 and 2022 respectively. Two of her Books were released in Kenya at the Kistrech Poetry Festival and her latest Book of 2022 “ Voice over the Waves” was released at World poetry Conference 2022 in Chandigar. She represents India at SAARC and BIMSTEC Literature Conferences.
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