THE IMPACT OF
POST-MODERNITY & RESPONSIBILITY
3. Post-Modernity They phrases ‘post-modernity’ or ‘living in a post-modern’ world’, are regularly used to denote or infer a new era. Our human family have made enormous strides in the past century and particularly in the past 50 years. We have made great strides in science, technology, cosmology and biology, to name but a few areas. We have travelled into space and into the macro and micro cosmos. Our understanding in so many areas has grown and particularly in the area of Neuro-science and our understanding of the human brain, its psychology and consciousness. Consequently, many believe we are moving away from the past, and its many errors and that humanity is moving into, or has entered, a post-modern age. This is an age that questions and challenges many of the ‘certainties’ of the past. It is an age that rejects the worst aspects of the paternalistic era. It is an age that opposes the oppression of women, children and the down-trodden. So in many ways Post- Modernity is very positive.
In the Western World, post-modernity is also equated with post-Christianity. This involves our stance towards religion, ethics and morality. In this post-modern world and particularly in the West, religion is being sidelined and seen as irrelevant to our modern age. Whilst many aspects of religious teaching or dogma are irrelevant and always were, this may be a classic case of ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’. What is in danger of being denied is the morality and ethics, mainly provided by the major Faith Traditions that underpin society and provide us with a Moral Compass.
This is one of the major drawbacks in our post –modern world. We know from our understanding of science and the natural laws, that nature abhors a vacuum. By ignoring the guidelines of ethics and morality that the major Faith Traditions provide, many are left rudderless and tend to drift into a morass of self-indulgence and selfishness. In short, many lead lives that lack purpose, meaning and direction. In addition, this also leads to many either avoiding their responsibility to lead meaningful lives or handing that responsibility to others.
Arguably, as previously stated much of the religious teaching is irrelevant to today’s world, its knowledge and challenges and probably always was. However, in the contemplative and mystical traditions of all the major Faiths, there exists a vast storehouse of universal knowledge. This has stood the test of time, of culture and of events. This storehouse of discernment and knowledge could help us to face up to our personal and collective responsibility.
4. Responsibility The issue of accepting personal and collective responsibility rather than apportioning blame or finding scapegoats is crucial. The dangers of avoiding our responsibility are stark. We either choose the path of ‘Blame’ or we assume the ‘Helpless Child’ position. The former is toxic and unhelpful in any relationship; whilst the latter hands power over to others, often with oppressive consequences. Neither of these choices assists or facilitates us and our world in finding positive and life-giving solutions to our many problems. Neither of these is helpful for our world and our human family. Historically they lead to war, aggression and oppression. In addition, we are becoming increasingly aware of the abuse of women and children by those in positions of authority in our Religious Institutions. What is required is a response that is rooted in responsibility.
Viktor Frankl, a famous Austrian Psychologist, the father of Existential Therapy and a survivor of the Nazi Concentration Camps, puts it plainly in one of his many writings. I intend to take three quotes from a book he wrote shortly after his liberation by Allied Forces in 1945.
1. ‘ Once we accept responsibility, we are both called and challenged to face
The questions that leads to meaning’ (V Frankl)
However, particularly in the West, as people have become increasingly affluent they have focused more on the pursuit of pleasure rather than happiness and joy. The paradox is as Frankl states;
2. ‘The truth is … ever more people have the means to live but no meaning to live for’
This meaningless existence has led to an increasing internal frustration and angst that has ultimately led to an existential vacuum. Natural law dictates that wherever a ‘vacuum’ exists it will suck in something else. This leads on to Frankl’s third quote which addresses the results of this existential vacuum.
Frankl in a lecture he titled ‘Is the New Generation Mad? ‘Addressed this existential frustration and proposed that this frustration lead to a mass neurosis. Focusing on this he states
3. Let me … briefly review the symptomatology of the existential vacuum, what I would like to call the mass neurotic triad, comprising depression, aggression and addiction’
These 3 quotes are prophetic in that they predict the neurotic outcome of our failure to take responsibility. It is a fact that the neurotic triad of depression, aggression and addiction have reached almost pandemic proportions in the West. The World Health Authority predicts that by 2020, depression will be the single biggest disease in the Western World.
So our modern failure to accept responsibility greatly adds to the brokenness of our world. Thomas Merton, a Christian Mystic of the 20th Century, grew up and matured after the 2nd
‘ No matter how ruined man and his world may seem to be, and no matter how terrible man’s despair may become, as long as he continues to be a man his humanity continues to tell him that life has meaning’ ( T Merton)
Both Frankl’s and Merton’s reflection indicate a possible better road for humanity. They point us towards the heart of the matter and indicate that our task is to begin to take responsibility for ourselves, our actions and our world. In summary, taking responsibility is the only safe and secure road that leads to finding meaning in and to life. I find their words very reassuring and affirming. My experience suggests that whenever I begin to take responsibility I not only feel better but I begin to catch glimpses of meaning in my life.
As Ishpriya so often reminds us in her teaching; we are all challenged to face the big questions of life. Some of these are:
Who am I?
I an ‘I’ exists, then what is my purpose?
What is the meaning of my life?
These are not merely academic or philosophical existential questions. They are questions that the Mystics of all Traditions have addressed throughout the ages. They are questions that are addressed in the Scriptures of our Faith Traditions over the past five millennium. They occur in the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Canons, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Bahia and in the traditions of the Aboriginal People of the world. They are questions that are perennial and the answers from the mystics are part of our inherited Universal Wisdom...
These short reflections have focused on some of the roots of our current crisis and on the need for people to take responsibility for bringing some light into our broken world. Christians are exhorted by the sayings of their Master – Jesus to Christ, not to hide their light under a table but to let their light shine. For those of us who have a belief or faith in an Ultimate Reality we are challenged to live out that belief and to be guided by its underlying values and principles. As Gandhiji remarked ‘All religions are merely different paths up the same mountain’
Essentially, if we believe that there is a Source to all that is and could be and that this Source is ultimately a Mystery; then taking responsibility will bring us glimpses of this Mystery and through these we will begin to find purpose and meaning. This is one of the reasons that Die Quelle, the Sadhana Ashram of the International Satsang Association has adopted the Tao Poem as its theme and motto. This poem symbolises the meaning and purpose of Die Quelle and also sums up our whole life’s journey.
All persons return to the One Source. Returning to the Source is tranquillity’
Peter Creagh Dec 2011
NOTE
These reflections are published in thee parts on our Website Blog
A downloadable PDF document of all 3 parts can be printed off from the Resources Pages of this Website
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