The Power of Ideas: Mathew Idikkula

Throughout history ideas have influenced mankind by shaping their lives in one way or another. We’re aware of how the powerful ideas of communism, Marxism, fascism, Nazism, materialism, and extremism, to name only a few, have changed the course of history

 Ideas can be good or bad, right or wrong, virtuous or evil, depending upon what they intend to propagate. The world is a vast mine of ideas, ranging from heavenly to hellish; there are ideas that contribute to the betterment of humanity, as well as those that transform people into savages.

 On a positive note, we need ideas that help shape our life to its highest fulfillment, just as a sculptor needs tools to shape his sculpture to its perfect form. Conventional learning offers ideas powerful enough to change minds, but in wisdom we find ideas that actually make us strong. Those who have succeeded in overcoming the storms of life inspire us with noble ideas. What follows is a brief discussion of some of their insights that may help us defeat the adversities of life.

 As we all know, adversities in one form or another visit all of us.  Our success in life lies not in avoiding these adversities, but in overcoming them like a hero. Adversities are meant to test our power of endurance. The truth is that we become stronger and wiser not so much by prosperity but by adversity. “The more the diamond is cut, the brighter it sparkles,” a popular proverb highlights.

We’re, therefore, not to be disheartened by adversities in life, the purpose of which is not to punish, but to reward us. Listen to a relevant passage of assurance from Peace Pilgrim, an American sage: “There is never really anything to be discouraged about, because difficulties are opportunities for inner growth, and the greater the difficulty, the greater the opportunity for growth.”

We indeed learn many things from adversities. In fact, every experience, good or bad, is a lesson to learn. Peace Pilgrim says: “Humanity must learn to accept everything that life offers as a learning experience.” Theodore Munger writes, “The lessons we learn in sadness and from loss are those that abide.”

Even so, the one lesson that we all are left to learn is that which we learn from our mistakes. The conviction that we’ve committed an error is so compelling that it serves to deter us from repeating it. That’s why, Tryon Edwards offers these words of wisdom: “Some of the best lessons we ever learn, we learn from our mistakes and failures. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.” In other words, our mistakes are the stepping stones to forge ahead in life.

Speaking about stepping stones, we need to be extremely vigilant not to step on others in our frantic rush to get ahead in life. It’s here the law of cause and effect comes to impact all of us in whatever we think, say, or do. Everything in nature is caused. The cause may be hidden, but the effect is obvious. Simply put, we must reap what we sow; which means there are neither rewards nor punishments in life, but only consequences of our own actions.

Listen to the words of Buddha: “Not in heavens above, nor in the farthest reaches of the sea, nor by transporting yourself to the remotest valleys of the mountains, will you be able to hide from the consequences of your own evil actions. Likewise, certain are the blessings growing out of your good actions…” If we truly understand the inescapable law of cause and effect, how could we do anything but good!

 Occasionally, we do things in the heat of the moment, because we’re not in control of our senses.  The triple maladies, also known as the “three gates to hell,” that rock humanity to a point of ruin are: anger, greed, and lust; they are interconnected in which one leads to the other.

 A famous passage of Bhagavad Gita clarifies the process as well as the eroding effects of these deadly emotions with this penetrating analysis: “When you keep thinking about sense objects, attachment comes. Attachment breeds desire, the lust of possession that burns to anger. Anger clouds the judgment; you can no longer learn from past mistakes. Lost is the power to choose between what is wise and what is unwise, and your life is utter waste.”

Control over our senses is critical to living a meaningful, peaceful life. “Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break into pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock,” cautions Mahatma Gandhi.  

In our struggle to live a healthy life, the power of patience as a virtue cannot be stressed enough. Life is bound to stumble without it. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “To lose patience is to lose the battle.” We need patience, in abundance, to face any life situation.

That being said, haste doesn’t land us anywhere. “The greater our hurry, the longer the way; the greater our patience, the sooner we reach the goal,” a German proverb puts it. Those who jump to decisions without any forethought are reminded of this proverb: “Look before you leap.”

 While noble ideas help us soar into the heights of wisdom and love, ideas of evil plummet us into the depths of darkness and brutality. What we see in today’s world of widespread terrorism is the power of evil ideas.  All ideas, including religious and scriptural, aim at changing the psyche of man. When we change, the world is changed.  That’s the power of ideas.