Watching One's Thoughts

Checking ourselves for traces of "dehumanizing" trends

- Manjula Shukla

What ways out are there for the dehumanized “man of today?” a Sadhaka wondered. That sounded hard, although sometimes I am getting pained myself by “dehumanization” being somehow in the air. By this is meant a hostile or cold indifference with regard to fellow beings. Some seem unable to relate, other than in a capitalistic way, meaning calculating how they could get something out of another. The profit might be in form of money, knowledge, getting work done free of cost, reputation, access to something desired or, if nothing else, sex for free. Of course, no one could survive by just giving without also getting, and it is natural to like to be given or gain something. But there are vast differences in the treatment of others, ranging from exploitation to appreciation and fair remuneration. Yet, this way of functioning, more like a calculating machine than a feeling, pulsating human being, can only apply to a small portion of modern men.