There are many solutions researched and presented in psychology and management towards dealing with conflict. A sustainable solution towards conflict that is unexplored in the modern era is a spiritual approach. Let us dive in that for a while and see what spirituality has in offer for us.
Spiritual Perspective – Let’s start with what is the purpose of a human life.
The purpose of a human life is to consciously become aware of the life that runs inside him, in the form of the creator of this world – aham brahmasmi !
Everything present in the universe is god. Just like electricity runs billions of instruments and yet is the same everywhere, similarly, the universal intelligence that we call god is there in everything that we see around us (so why we have conflicts?)
When we hear things like – ‘look inside you, god resides there’, it means exactly the same. God operates from within us, as us. For example, the very life energy that is running you is also enabling you to read this very article which is the same energy that is enabling you to think and introspect about who you are. Without this energy you cannot think that you are this body and this name and its story, isn’t it?
But over a period of time (read many lives), we all have forgotten who we really are. Just think, without this life energy, this body can’t function, which includes thinking. Then is it not that it is this very energy that is thinking or is reading, right now?? And so does it not mean that you, the one who is reading now, or is aware of this life energy in yourself right now, ‘is’ the same life energy itself, because even this awareness is because of this life energy only and there is no one else who can think inside you other than this energy. Stay with this thought but go very slow. It takes time to get digested !
Conflict Management – Now is it that the life energy in you is different than life energy in another living being? No, it is the same, just like electricity is the same in all instruments, right? And so it also means that you are the same energy which is running everything else in the universe. And we all know this energy as god, don’t we? So therefore, it means that you are god personified, just as everyone else is…..right?? aham brahmasmi, as the ancient texts say…
…and that is the purpose of a human life I
The showcase of the viraat roop in Bhagwad Gita where Krishna says – ‘dev bhi main hoon, danav bhi main hun’.
Big picture – Although every living being is god, whether it is a rich or a poor human, or a tiger, or a frog, or a lizard, or a butterfly, or…the list is endless, but somehow, humans have been given the capacity to realise this fact that they are ‘the’ universal intelligence. It is said that it was when this life energy wanted to experience itself and its creation in the physical form, it produced humans.
Then it also kept creating through human form. All the technological progress that humans have made is the way god created in physical form. Before humans (and even now) things were automated. Life gets created in a womb automatically, the body sustains and works automatically, seasons come and go, gravity functions automatically, etc, etc. But with humans, things got an even better shape and creation could become even more beautiful.
Decoding Conflict – But the problem is, as Buddha says, that humans have started thinking themselves as separate from this life energy, as a separate entity and that separation makes them worried about their survival and then for the sake of their survival they get into all kinds of negativity. The purpose of human life is to only know that we are a life energy and are indestructible and so we don’t have to create negativity like hate, anger, jealousy, voilence, etc. for the sake of mere survival.
‘Being’ Human – Infact, the moment one connects to the life energy inside him, and realises his true identity, life becomes smooth automatically. A divine force, much more intelligent than his egoic mind takes over and fills life with joy and abundance. But the key is unconditional trust and surrender and therefore fearlessness about survival. And then one can keep doing his work as well enjoying his life. It’s about a transition from being human to effortless being (to be).
That’s the state of mind where one knows that all that is there including fellow humans, other beings, all events, thoughts, actions are nothing but the universal intelligence and its drama and life is not supposed to be lived so seriously. Life has to be playful, joyous and full of love for all.
It is like playing the game if chess alone. You are playing from both sides and you are both the winner and the loser. The life energy (called god) is the same in everyone and ‘Is’ everyone. So there is no place for hatred for anyone and residual conflict (within and without). Only love has to be there, unconditional love. Let us give aham brahmasmi a place at the workplace to attain peace and effortless team work. That’s what leaders need to be trained for, today more than ever !
‘and to reach this level of awareness is the only purpose of life where we transcend conflict!!
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