During the world cup, the country was flavoured with good will, a willingness to serve and the spirit of ubuntu. Being fully aware of the country’s history, South African’s irrespective of caste, colour or creed readily and gladly embraced the river of euphoria that flowed and coursed its way throughout the country nourishing all who bathed in her waters. The be-devilled people of South Africa bathed heartily and drank deep and long from this cup of ecstasy.
All good things must come to an end, and so ended the world cup. Stark reality once again stared people in the face. “WHAT NOW?” asked the media on behalf of the South African public. The previously stressed and emotionally drained public were lullabied into a dreamlike state. They needed another dream…..to again taste and feel the euphoria.
By experiencing a higher taste the South African public did not want to walk on the dark side again. And so was born “LEAD SA,” an initiative launched by local media houses to capture and continue the “Vaikuntha” atmosphere that enveloped the country during the successful staging of the world cup.
This initiative is a challenge and request to all South Africans to become model citizens and to lead by example…..to be the change they want to see. If everybody plays their part we will very soon have a country of model citizens, and peace and goodwill will again permeate the psyche of the populace. Although this effort is very laudable and commendable, it is destined to fail. Why? Because we want to create the kingdom of God without God. With the interaction of the modes of nature, the lower modes of passion and ignorance will dominate and without any spiritual strength and guidance the ignorant masses will be left to their own devices and that is the sure road to hell. The whole concept is materially conceived and devoid of any spirituality. As stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam (5:18:12)
Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana
sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah
harav abhaktasya kuto mahad guna
mano rathenasati dhavato bahih
“One who has unflinching devotion for the Personality of Godhead has all the good qualities of the demigods. But one who is not a devotee of the Lord has only material qualifications that are of little value. This is because he is hovering on the mental plane and is certain to be attracted by the glaring material energy.”
Without the necessary spiritual culture and training, people will be unable to sustain this effort for any tangible period of time to ensure it makes an indelible mark on their lives, as the alluring material energy will definitely entice and offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy and exploit. Our lifestyle is based on the false premise that we are these bodies; there is no soul and therefore no afterlife. This philosophy promulgates hedonism as we bear testimony to the decadence that surrounds us. A life of sense gratificatory pursuits takes precedence over a life dedicated to the service of God because we don’t have to account for our actions.
Boldly standing on the stage of false pride, persons of such disposition proudly state that this world is “…unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no other cause other than lust. Following such conclusions, such persons who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world. They believe that to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification. They think, ‘So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him, and my other enemies will also be killed; I am the lord of everything; I am the enjoyer; I am perfect, powerful and happy; I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives; there is none as powerful and happy as I am.’ (BG 16.13-15)
“Deluded, they do know what is to be done and what is not to be done. Neither cleanliness nor proper behaviour nor truth is found in them. Bewildered by false ego, pride, lust and anger they become envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in their own bodies and in the bodies of others, and blaspheme against real religion.” (BG chapter 16)
For Lead SA to work there has to be a radical shift in paradigm. Society has to be infused with spiritual consciousness. The leaders of society have to lead by example so that the masses can be enthused and inspired to follow suit. As a popular idiom states “if the priests are such, God bless the congregation.” The leaders of society have to become lovers of God and automatically all the good qualities of the demigods will become manifest in their personage.
“Fearlessness; purification of one’s existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge; charity; self control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity; simplicity; non-violence; truthfulness; freedom from anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to fault finding; compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness; gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigour; forgiveness; fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from passion for honour…” (BG 16.1-3) are the transcendental qualities our leaders have to cultivate.
How will our leaders realize the enormity and seriousness of the responsibility they carry and owe to the populace they purport to lead? They have to get the association of saintly persons or those who are trying to develop the qualities of the demigods.
End of part 1 – part 2 to follow