Saved by shackles

Most of us may have at one point or another felt the fear of unknown. Some of us choose not to meddle with what is less known... while some prove brave enough to get out there and expand their horizons. But even then.. there is this limit... for each of us.. beyond which we would choose not to wander. This is our self-made barrier for protection. Our mental solace... within which we cherish the comfort of our own knowledge.



I do not have anything to say about the existence of this wall specifically. What I do wish to comment about here is people's usual denial of what lies beyond. Its one thing to not know something... but quite another to believe what you do not know can never exist... not in your world.. not anywhere else. This is what troubles me. And when people with different levels of knowledge interact, this is often the major source of conflict. The one more blessed with ignorance shall try hard to hold ground, while the other tries to move it from beneath their feet.

I am hoping you are all nodding your head and are on the same page with me so far (assuming u did not get bored and clicked out of my blog!).. but read on.

Normally, being the one on the path to acquire knowledge.. and more of it.. I would naturally favour the one with a broader perspective in such conflicts. Heck, I even believe strongly in: "If you have the ability, you have the responsibility". No, its not a quote.. just something I made up myself.. rhymes well and has a meaning strong enough to merit its own post in this blog. Neverthless, in short it means I believe that if anyone has the luxury of enjoying a special capability, it is his moral responsibilty to share it for greater good whenever the opportunity arises.

Going by this belief, I would think that if someone has more knowledge, its his moral responsibility to impart them within the less fortunate. I would even argue that the people who do not yet know.. are missing out on things that lie far beyond their walls of safety. But here is what I have realised over time. This sense or awareness of ability or capability.. to break one's wall of apprehension and move forward... needs to be self-realised and cannot be preached. And all for a good reason.

Remember that I said that no matter who you are, most probably you too have a wall somewhere... even if its very very far as compared to others. So while you take the solemn oath to free the minds of others... to help them break the shackles.. you forget that you are only inviting them into a larger cell... thats all. Moreover, although it may seem that helping someone overcome that wall is enough... your duty towards him/her does not stop there. For a person being forced to scale the wall... the bigger world is still going to be largely unknown. And since that person did not climb over in his/her free will... you.. their messiah.. would need to keep holding their hand for long after.

On the other hand, when someone crosses over by himself or herself, it not only indicates his/her free will to come out, but also means that this person is ready.. to battle the uncertainties that await him/her initially in the newer world. So it does not fare well to look at someone less informed and feel pity for the things you think that person is missing, because to miss them that person needs to want them in the first place.. and if he/she doesnt even know about them, its quite possible for them to be happy without. It reminds me of a cocoon and how you cannot force a catterpillar out of it and expect it to turn into a butterfly.. it does do that.. but when its finally ready.. in its own sweet time. Meanwhile, that cocoon serves to protect and nourish its existence and we know that its quite alright to let it be that way.



So unless you are ready to take full responsibility for the entire act.. when in any moral conflict with someone less kowledgeable than you, remember that you are better off letting them live happily... safe within their shackles... till its time for them to come out.. and at that point in time... you can go ahead and help them through.. to turn into that beautiful butterfly they anyway will be.