Jan 2004 - Issue 1
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In Search of Human Excellence
Maintaining your creative drive is hard work, we know. So what happens when you run out of inspirational fuel? Whether you've hit a creative roadblock or simply want to haul your brain our of a rut, give us a month and we'll get your creative gears turning.
Col. (retd.) Bashir Ahmad
Col. Bashir Ahmad is currently head of department of English at Military College Jhelum...
Human personality is a mysterious phenomenon. Its study raises more questions than it answers. It is a halo around man. It is superior, inferior, excellent, ordinary, and mediocre with some hundreds of other epithets. All of these allude to ambiguity and an ever-increasing need of understanding, the most misunderstood. Subjectivity and objectivity mean consciously manipulating the subject to congruence for the time being. Vagueness of impressions prejudices and sentimental somersaults obstruct even more. But he has been created with a purpose and for a purpose.
The human situations change every moment because they are looked at from varying angles. This is done to break the monotony of repetitions. Man's diffidence and confidence are both circumstantial. He adjusts and expands accordingly. He, however, resorts to some sort of concealment in both cases. Psychology may attempt any number of discoveries and give any prospects; man remains a deep mystery. Even today man is forced to tell a man, "be a man". What kind of a man, a man should be and how can he grow to excellence in all situations.
Ecstasy is a violent release of the psychic energy, which flows through the channel of faith. It is a supreme gift of God. If the outpourings of psychic energy are not given that direction, the condition will be that of insanity and madness, which will, of course, not contribute positively to the good of ailing humanity.
At young age, psychic energy has many diversions. It manifests itself in exuberance, climbing the highest, tackling the most difficult, hitting the hardest, running the fastest and growing the strongest. Left to themselves in such a state they get overly exhilarated and may explode. In older years it brings awareness, sharper vision and a well concentrated introspection. It even hits on intuition and creativity. The excellence is then at a stoners throw. Self discipline and the cultivation of ego are two facets of such a state. The terms, self discipline, and ego hood need some elaboration, particularly so when the temptations are numerous.
The inner-man is stronger than the outer man. To discipline the inner man any imposition from outside doesn't work. There is a perpetual tussle between the two entities. In public the outer man leaves no soft ground for the inner man to peer out. In private, the inner man rules, sometimes even mercilessly. The inner man has very powerful arsenal at his disposal. It comprises the psychic whole, the genetic disposition and the heredity, which are always readily available for the application. The outer man has only moral fear. Outer discipline enhances the moral fear. Self discipline harnesses the forces that tie down the inner man. The recipe varies from Self to Self and varies widely. If it were not so, humanity would be a dull repetitive monotony. The 'Self' controls the inner man. It is defined in the Quran in the following words :-
"By the self and the proportion and order given to it. And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right. Truly he succeeds who purifies it. And he fails who corrupts it. II (91-7 to 10)
There is a specific force which trains and guards the 'Self'. It is known as 'Conscience'. Conscience is the original of man. It is referred to as human nature in the Quran. If the 'Self' aerates, the 'Conscience' tries to keep it straight. The 'Conscience' is always heavily armed against the erring 'Self'. If the 'Self' breaks the bounds and remains unflinchingly evil, the 'Conscience' keeps on waiting for the right moment to strike. The 'Conscience' accommodates the right pattern of 'Self'. Such a state should usher man into the arena of great expansion. The perfection, originality and ascendancy are three blossoms. Such a man should become visible among millions. He receives identity. He reaps ego and becomes the most honourable and worth emulation. The main task of the great man has been to bring harmony between 'Conscience' and 'Self'. The vision and inspiration join hands. Faith supervises all functions. Temptations evaporate. Self-discipline becomes an ordinary comfortable routine. Salvation knocks at the door repeatedly and even follows. The secrets of nature lie unfolded. It is then ruling the world of material with no allurement. Iqbal has amply remarked :-
"The morning breeze has delivered this message to meExpress Your Thoughts!
The ones who understand ego, rule the world
Your honour and life depends on this
If you have ego you are a king, if you don't have it, you are ignominious."