Doom or Growth?
Opinion is divided on whether our world is heading towards certain doom or further growth. One side in this debate subscribes to the Puranic view that we are living in the Kal Yug, the Dark Age steeped in sin. This side argues that negativity is on the rise, crime has increased and weapons of mass destruction including nuclear arsenal have been trained on certain countries, threatening to plunge us in destruction. Pessimists hold the view that towards the end of Kal Yug, various calamities will strike our planet and cause the destruction of the world.
On the other hand, the optimist view is that we are in a cycle of growth, where social empowerment and use of technology in on the rise. People are more aware than ever before and society values knowledge like never before and invests heavily in it.
In my opinion, the world has always maintained a balance between the negative and the positive forces. You cannot experience negativity unless there is positivity. The Law of Duality works in such a way that whenever negativity rises, positivity will also increase to counter balance its effects. This will lead to growth and evolution.
In the Mahabharata, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna:
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata
Abhythanamadharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham
Paritranaya sadhunang vinashay cha dushkritam
Dharmasangsthapanarthay sambhabami yuge yuge
Translated by Swami Vivekananda, the meaning is: “Whenever virtue subsides and wickedness prevails, I manifest Myself. To establish virtue, to destroy evil, to save the good I come from Yuga (age) to Yuga.”
Ultimately, truth wins, just like in the movies. This dream movie of life would be very dull if there were no villains. For how will you experience the sweetness of victory unless there is also a looming fear of the enemy?
Negativity plays a large role in helping us realize who we are. Our true essence is Sat Chit Anand – Truth, Consciousness and Bliss. The whole world was created so that we can realize ourselves. We are the intelligent creative consciousness. And ultimately, through this play of Maya, it is creativity and life that will be upheld in the world. There will be growth as we move forward, that too infinite growth.
