Justification

Justification.... That is what we try to do most of the times, the moment we open our mouth to say something ‘in response’ to a question, or even just a statement of fact (during conversations)!

For instance, an elderly lady happened to comment thus: ‘The youth now-a-days feel very hesitant to bend down to touch the feet of elders in the family to receive their blessing!’ (There is an ancient tradition in India, to touch the feet of elders, as soon as they meet, before taking their leave, or when they leave after a visit). I happened to puzzle this lady, with an unexpected remark “Yes, and they are quite right, in their hesitation!” …. And then, after allowing a few moments for the statement to sink in, I quietly added, ‘Are these elders quite sure about what they are doing,(or at least what they are supposed to do), in response to that mark of respect, when youngsters touch their feet?’ This unexpected question showed clearly on the lady’s face, with an expression that she could not find time to hide. The facial expression-response was instant. And then, I added, “Well, there was a time, when most people knew, what it meant to ‘bless’ or benedict, and did only what was appropriate on the occasion!..... It is perhaps time, before we try to re-impose those rituals on the youth, we re-equip ourselves, about the wherewithal, the know-how, and other technical details ….”

I was amused to find a simple straight response to a question about ‘feeling’ justified in telling a lie!
Quote:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101221132647AAKOlEt

“When do you feel justified in telling a lie?”

(Somebody gave a wonderful answer! )
“Always. We tell lies because we think they are justified.”
Unquote:

As simple as that! Are we not feeling ‘justified’ about everything that we say? Then, where is the ‘special’ treatment about a lie?

(The mind becomes a useful tool in our hands, only when we disable this reckless ‘justification’ about anything and everything, a bit consciously! A demonstrable situation is created by Spiritual Masters, during certain programs, where the participants feel utterly relaxed, when they ‘let go’ themselves free of their past, dropping the justification, especially the justification about their own ‘guilt’ about their past! The participants feel light, joyous, and cheerful for a while at least, soon after that program. Only the few alert ones pursue this ‘key’ later, when they roll back into their routine lives!)
psn(22nd December, 2010)