INFINITE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN #Women have been subject to physical, emotional and intellectual exploitation and persecution even in countries where there is supposed to be progressive thinking and development. Men are reluctant to create an environment free of intellectual and emotional inequality and pressure – whether at work, home or in society. As long as this attitude remains, a shadow will continue to loom over relations between women and men and society as a whole. Without mutual respect and loving acknowledgement, the lives of women and men will be like two distant shores without a bridge to connect them. To forge a positive relationship, both must cultivate greater understanding, mental maturity and intellectual discrimination. If these are absent, discordant notes, arrhythmic patterns and unrest will continue to prevail. Equality begins in the mind. Presently, our minds are being ruled by notions of inequality and so society’s growth and development remains incomplete, like a half- blossomed flower. Alienating women from matters of finance and politics is to discard half the intellect and strength of society. Men must become aware of the progress society and the individual can make when women are sincerely invited to cooperate in such matters. Without doubt, forums, think-tanks and publicity campaigns are necessary to bring about a solution to this problem. However, thinking in purely intellectual terms will not rectify the situation. We need to uncover its gross and subtle causes to arrive at a solution. Women say that they are not being given the status, consideration and freedom they deserve at home, at work or in society. They say, not only are they not respected; they are even treated with contempt. Men do not like hearing this truth. They feel women are being given too much freedom as it is and have become arrogant, neglecting their homes and children. Before considering this, we need to understand how this situation arose and trace its roots. Only then can we change misconceptions. In the past, the condescending notion, “Man is superior to woman. She does not need freedom or an equal place,” became entrenched in the minds of most men. The mentality of women, however, is altogether different. They feel: “For so long men have lorded over and exploited us. We’ve had enough! From now on, we need to teach them a lesson; there’s no other way.” Both these stances are fraught with resentment and enmity, inflating egos and further confounding the problem. For our minds to be free, we must abandon this competitive mentality of “Who is better?” Women are questioning socially fabricated rules and regulations and starting to awaken and advance. But due to habitual attitudes and traditions, men are not allowing them to awaken. How did this male ego come? According to Vedanta, the philosophy of non-duality, the ultimate cause may be maya or illusion. Woman is not weak; her natural compassion and sympathy have been misinterpreted as weakness. Men should sincerely help her realise and acknowledge her latent strength. If we align ourselves with that inner strength, war, strife and terrorism will come to an end. Love and compassion will become part of life. Feminine strength has the capacity to move toward the goal, overcoming any obstacle it encounters. Men must be ready to give the inner strength of women the value it deserves. For the sake of society’s collective growth, men should accept and encourage women with an open mind.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 13:21:04 +0000
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