15/9/2014
NATURAL
We use the word ‘natural’ by rote possibly correctly, but what it means is tricky to explain. The immediate meaning, ‘of or like nature’ is acceptable, but not explicit.
Often we have in mind that which is creation of man as opposed to nature. Artificial (made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally), contrasts with natural.
Man is a product of nature, steering clear of theology. But, the distinction that creation of man is not the work of nature stems from the idea that the world is creation of a Supermind. Otherwise, man being a part of nature, what he does is secondarily, at least, part of nature too. But, we are used to the prevalent idea that man-made things are artificial.
Sankara calls the state where (human) effort is involved as transient and the one where no effort is exerted as real. In Samskritam, prakriti denotes nature and samskriti denotes culture, human intervention. Culture and civilization, all knowledge including scriptures, are products of human mind. How far are they natural?
‘Natural is the best’ is a view that seems to be gaining momentum, nature cure, for instance. Nature is a huge laboratory where everything seems to settle by trial and error. It has no purpose that humans can discern. Nature is neither kind nor cruel to man. It does not care. The same nature produces delicious stuff that feeds man to be alive as produces poisons like hemlock with which Socrates was condemned to die. The same nature that brings on a zephyr to soothe the body unleashes a storm that destroys life. Nature is not benevolent or malevolent. It is human perception that describes it one way or the other. So, nature is not the best or the worst for human beings. It is just the setting that permits human life as a part of a whole rather than as the servant of man.
Let us take a controversial topic. Is homosexuality natural or not? There are people to whom it is natural! Why was it taboo? Nature likes reproduction and propagation, alongside destruction and renewal. Sex is the instinct that nature developed to aid its purpose. Only heterosexuality can ensure reproduction. Therefore, homosexuality does not appear to be ‘natural’. But, this presentation is human, based on reasoning, whereas the urge for homosexuality has occurred of its own. The very discussion herein may not be natural if human interpretation were not in the scheme of nature.
Would man have been better off living on instinct alone like animals? That may be a useless question to answer. The choice to live by instinct alone is gone. Instinct still acts strongly, but it is far from being trustworthy in the humanly organized world. We have to act by the norms of society and balance often instinct and intervention. For example, should we leave an illness to be sorted out on its own, or get medical help? The choice was not there for the early man. The modern man has to choose.
Nature is vast, its working complex, and my intellect and understanding limited. Naturally, I am unable to arrive at a denouement.
8/8/2016
NATURAL
We use the word ‘natural’ by rote possibly correctly, but what it means is tricky to explain. The immediate meaning, ‘of or like nature’ is acceptable, but not explicit.
Often we have in mind that which is creation of man as opposed to nature. Artificial (made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally), contrasts with natural.
Man is a product of nature, steering clear of theology. But, the distinction that creation of man is not the work of nature stems from the idea that the world is creation of a Supermind. Otherwise, man being a part of nature, what he does is secondarily, at least, part of nature too. But, we are used to the prevalent idea that man-made things are artificial.
Sankara calls the state where (human) effort is involved as transient and the one where no effort is exerted as real. In Samskritam, prakriti denotes nature and samskriti denotes culture, human intervention. Culture and civilization, all knowledge including scriptures, are products of human mind. How far are they natural?
‘Natural is the best’ is a view that seems to be gaining momentum, nature cure, for instance. Nature is a huge laboratory where everything seems to settle by trial and error. It has no purpose that humans can discern. Nature is neither kind nor cruel to man. It does not care. The same nature produces delicious stuff that feeds man to be alive as produces poisons like hemlock with which Socrates was condemned to die. The same nature that brings on a zephyr to soothe the body unleashes a storm that destroys life. Nature is not benevolent or malevolent. It is human perception that describes it one way or the other. So, nature is not the best or the worst for human beings. It is just the setting that permits human life as a part of a whole rather than as the servant of man.
Let us take a controversial topic. Is homosexuality natural or not? There are people to whom it is natural! Why was it taboo? Nature likes reproduction and propagation, alongside destruction and renewal. Sex is the instinct that nature developed to aid its purpose. Only heterosexuality can ensure reproduction. Therefore, homosexuality does not appear to be ‘natural’. But, this presentation is human, based on reasoning, whereas the urge for homosexuality has occurred of its own. The very discussion herein may not be natural if human interpretation were not in the scheme of nature.
Would man have been better off living on instinct alone like animals? That may be a useless question to answer. The choice to live by instinct alone is gone. Instinct still acts strongly, but it is far from being trustworthy in the humanly organized world. We have to act by the norms of society and balance often instinct and intervention. For example, should we leave an illness to be sorted out on its own, or get medical help? The choice was not there for the early man. The modern man has to choose.
Nature is vast, its working complex, and my intellect and understanding limited. Naturally, I am unable to arrive at a denouement.
8/8/2016
All the time we try to arrive at some generalisation, a
code of behaviour and a pattern of expectation that can be applied as a
formula. That perhaps is the basis of human organisation, not necessarily
preference of nature. Nature synthesises in interesting permutations and
combinations and seems to avoid tedium in so doing. Look at how different we
are from one another, with our look, voice, taste, and so on.
Life cannot be led without attention to the
nagging differences in details. This truth is conveyed in the saying: ‘You
cannot cross a river based on the average depth’.We need to develop knowledge
necessary for the purpose on hand.
It is also a healthy habit not to see others
from a standard model that has no sanctity.
June 09, 2016
Reason
Nature does not follow reason. It chooses convenience. Human beings are part of nature and behave like nature does. The only difference is that they invent reason for what they do.
Dec 8, 2018
Nature is ever virgin no matter you molest her.
Nature endures even if you injure her.
Our nature is in Nature and our put-ons will wear away.
There is only one god and it is nature. The Hindus have given the colour of blue and green to Krishna and Rama. That to me is to show that god is in nature and not in some heaven.
Dec 8, 2018
Nature is ever virgin no matter you molest her.
Nature endures even if you injure her.
Our nature is in Nature and our put-ons will wear away.
There is only one god and it is nature. The Hindus have given the colour of blue and green to Krishna and Rama. That to me is to show that god is in nature and not in some heaven.
Nature cares for us as we are its child.
Nature directs us to variety to sustain our interest and continue life. What
disappears appears in another form and what appears feels the need to
transform. Each atom of nature throbs with life.
Nature allows its children circumscribed
liberty and shows no partiality.
Nature teaches us through curiosity, fear
and uncertainty.
Nature is a miracle. It changes and yet
changes not. It has shifting horizon and hidden secrets. It reveals its secrets
but not all and in no particular hurry. It reveals only to make it still more
mysterious.
Nature is a whole pretending to be in
parts. No part is apart from it. Nature never lets anything go outside it.
Nature is all that is there and in nature
anything and everything is complete.
No comments:
Post a Comment