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 Ancient mystics and modern religions perceive the purpose of man as being to help his fellow men. Lawyers are best placed to do so, writes Renuka T. Balasubramaniam
Property & Prestige
When mired in an endless list of briefs needing attention how often have we asked ourselves if there is more to life than this treadmill of work, pay and more work? There are those among us who abide by the “work hard, play hard” attitude to life. Yet experience tells us that even this provides only a transient solution to this niggling question.
Each man inevitably pursues happiness as defined by that which he considers necessary to complete him - a desire for fame, wealth, power, recognition and esteem among our fellow men. These desires may loosely and conveniently be termed “selfish” by reason of the fact that they do not bring benefit to anyone other than the individual concerned and his loved ones. Exposure to this mental climate necessarily prevents any room to consider the welfare of those around us.
Extensive Influence Inadvertently the selfish personality we have nurtured develops the capacity to influence the lives not only of those we work with, but also at home, over our loved ones. Spending time with loved ones in activities they find pleasure in (and in which we don’t), almost never happens. Going out for drinks with the colleagues has a greater appeal than going home for an uninspiring dinner with the family. The personality that has thus far thought much of itself cannot allow the views of any others to suppress its own. We may wish to question whether the domineering or oppressive personality we may have developed is a symptom of an inherent lack of a real personality. For those of us who feel an uncanny familiarity with the personality suggested above, the responsibility that lies ahead is the development of the personality to an extent that these thought processes and behaviours are transcended.
Sand and Rocks, or Ocean? Radha Burnier, International President of the Theosophical Society wrote: “Sometimes, standing on the beautiful beach, we can see a great rush of water towards the shore, which is quickly and invisibly hauled back to the ocean by a strong undercurrent . At times there is a dramatic clash between the powerful forward swell and the unseen current carrying back the mass of water. The collision throws the waves high up and they fall with a crash. This seems symbolic of how the human mind repeatedly rushes toward the dry sands and rocks of sensory and material existence, not realizing that there is no escape from the mighty invisible energy which will pull it back into the vast ocean of reality.”
Needless to say, it is inevitable that the sudden change in purpose will result in conflict not unlike the waves that fall with a crash.
Providing Aid Ancient mystics and modern religions perceive the purpose of man as being to help his fellow men.
Hence, if selfishness appears to be the theme that has surreptitiously crept into our lives, then selflessness must be the antidote. Although it may be natural to wish that our husbands, wives, clients, secretaries or parents would only change their offending behaviour, keeping the focus on changing ourselves, results in accelerated mental, emotional and spiritual progress. The great law that works throughout nature, that action and reaction are equal and opposite also provides a useful guide. In Annie Besant’s commentary to “Light on the Path”, she suggests that to force a selfish thought out of one’s mind is useless as it will only rebound and strike us. She suggests that in order to transcend existing thought processes and behaviours, one must substitute selfish thoughts for thoughts of exactly opposite nature. Thus for pride, we might substitute kindness, for anger affection, for fear admiration and for material desires, thoughts of purity, dignity and honour; because the human mind cannot concentrate on two separate things at once. It is not being suggested that one cease accepting briefs, cease dreaming of a brighter future or looking out for the well-being of our families. Rather it is suggested that the practice of maintaining focus on oneself and one’s immediate family, be tempered with the extending of selfless aid – legal aid - to complete strangers. Unfortunately the word ‘aid’ is in itself fraught with misconception. The first being that aid is often given with expectation. Those who seek to aid must erase any thought of the good that may result – of being granted gratitude or recognition or even of bringing a change to the life of the individual – these expectations must be dispatched in haste. The exercise of performing legal aid for the sake of doing service without reward or expectation is the very epitome of selflessness. As a result, the cultivation of this practice will extend and influence our approach to the lives of our families.
Superhuman, we are A man who has realised his special qualities, has the power to set aside his personal wants and needs by dedicating his life to the service of those who cannot. In the recent box office hit, Superman discovers that his finding his home, world and family is not to be and returns to earth accepting his special qualities and his role as the protector of mankind, simply because they can’t and he can. The analogy that can be drawn is that our service to the less fortunate or less capable is indeed equivalent to superhuman abilities by virtue of the fact we wield the power that is education. In this sense we are superhuman, as compared to those of lesser education, ability and expertise.
Service in Practice The Legal Aid Committee of the Bar Council is a mechanism symbolic of the importance of a work-life balance that has been built into our organised structure. Participation in the Committee’s endeavours promises limitless opportunities for the development of the selfless personality. The only pre-requisite is the confidence to do all that is necessary and to learn from our peers as regards the areas that we don’t feel comfortable. Once the file has been entered into our diaries it becomes second nature that we work at it in a manner no different from our income generating files.
Are criminals worthy of service? The majority of those charged in court today are charged with offences related to narcotics, offences against property and against the person. A deeper look will reveal that these offences had their root in an inability to control emotions ad desires very much like our own desires and feelings. Is not the boy who steals a motorcycle or car thinking of himself or his family and an enlarged income? Is not the man charged with using narcotics or sexual gratification to escape the pressure of home similar to those of us who escape with work or drink? It is not difficult to see that one is but a baser version of the emotions or acts that is in essence the same as ours.
The Great Orphan - Humanity Legal aid is a practical solution that lies before us. Will we continue repeatedly rushing toward the dry sand and rocks of sensory and material existence, or give ourselves to the mighty invisible energy which will pull us back into the vast ocean of reality? By using our capabilities in service, we progress toward transcending our selfish desires, the direct consequence of which is an unmitigated clarity and focus in life from seeing our personal selves in its true place – beside the larger self of the “great orphan that is humanity”.
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