The Shackles

Nature has blessed immeasurable potential and capacity to human brain. It seems unfathomable akin to universe. However, the creator has created the beholder of this machine so fragile, susceptible and vulnerable that exploitation of its endowed potential seems impossible. There are shackles to contain this potential to acceptable limits. It’s a strange juxtaposition of immense potential and shackles to contain that potential. Although, God has blessed the potential to humans of breaking these shackles but the journey is so hard that only a minuscule of humans might attain that rare feat. The logic of juxtaposition of potential and shackles can be best known to the Mother Nature. With shackled intelligence humans are challenging the Mother Nature in many ways. May be it was desired to keep this monster in check.

It’s important for humans to understand these shackles only then can they strive to get rid of them. In Hamlet Shakespeare had said, “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space”. That’s the kind of confinement imposed on human brain. The shackles could be termed as chains or cage and these are innumerable. Strength, binding potential and efficacy to these shackles is given by the human itself. Noticeable shackles are: greed, lust, ego, fear, jealousy, duplicity and ambitiousness. Unless human brain is unshackled and free of these, it cannot even function at lowest level what to talk of unleashing its potential.

In routine functioning of common humans, tranquillity of mind is essential for super qualities of brain viz, sharpness, wittiness, creativeness, etc. A mind which is agitated, conflictual and embroiled cannot be witty, sharp or creative. Peace of mind – essential for these qualities is linked to worldly blessings vs contentment. Worldly blessings are never sufficient. The more we get the more insufficiency we feel. Thus, it seems that the key is CONTENTMENT. One can only have peace of mind if one is contended with whatever one is blessed with and remains grateful. Stephen Hawking who had unfortunately led a miserable life by worldly standards, had advised his readers, “enjoy what you are blessed with and don’t curse what you don’t have”.

In the first stage it’s important for a human mind to attain peace and tranquility, sans which it cannot have super qualities. In the next stage it’s important to unshackle the mind of the chains and cages. It’s an arduous journey and very few can reach the pinnacle. But it’s worth trying. If not fully unshackling, one can achieve weakening of these shackles. Incapacitation of mind will be directly proportional to the strength of these shackles.

At societal level, deprivation, injustices, inequality and poverty rob the human mind of peace and tranquility. These state functions create shackles for the human mind. For a human to enjoy peace, tranquility, super qualities and freedom from shackles, it’s essential that he resides in a good society which is governed by good people who are wise, concerned and selfless. Lower the level of society, harder it is to unshackle the mind. Governance, justice, fairplay, management, civility, rule of law and education are much needed in Pakistani society for the people to unshackle their minds.