Criticism And Nature Of Admiration

Great people are publicly admired and face criticisms, too. However, a person who is publicly admired, but not criticised is not great; he might be mighty, but intolerant. Those who are neither respected nor criticised publicly are ordinary folks. It does not mean that these people are never admired or criticised. They have their short-range quotas among their limited admirers and critics. In other words, admiration and criticism for them occur somewhat privately.


The Bhagwad Gita advises that one should do one's duty, whether it be pleasant or unpleasant, without bothering about admirations and criticisms. A common human tendency is to embrace pleasantness and avoid unpleasantness. However, life is not a bed of roses.


When we wish to honour somebody, we usually admire him. This does not mean that the person has only virtues, and no vices. It is simply overlooking the negative side. Chanakya Niti says, "Learned people have only virtues, and no vices." This is said to emphasise the role of learning in life; it should not imply that they have no weaknesses.


All human beings have both strengths and weaknesses . There is a saying that all saints had a past, which might not be so saintly. Folklore says that Maharishi Valmiki was a wicked man, Daku Ratnakar, in his teens and adulthood. Somewhat similar was the case with Angulimal, a cruel man, who changed after encountering the Buddha. Thus, transformations in life are not uncommon. It is also true with matter that transforms with temperature, pressure and other extraneous forces. Rigidity resists transformation, while flexibility allows it. Both life and matter have these traits.


People are happy when their strengths are cited, but not when their weaknesses are pointed out. Some people enjoy mimicry and caricatures of others, but they feel irritated when it comes to them.


The Gita classifies human values in three categories - sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic. Sattvic character is associated with truth and honesty, rajasic character with motive, and tamasic character with negativity. Sattvic admiration surfaces when the admirer's soul is in a joyous state. It is the purest and most transparent form of admiration. It is long-range, that is, its effect spreads far and wide. It creates positivity and brightness all around.


Rajasic admiration is like vishakumbham payomukham, nectar in the mouth, poison in the heart. It is characterised by flowery language coming out of a dark heart. This kind of admiration is widespread in a society that seeks material glory and benefit.


A tamasic state is always devoid of admiration, be it public or private. It is always critical of everything. Attributes that describe this state are darkness, inertia, noise and chaos. Rise of unrighteousness can only be brought down by the spread of righteousness.


Many are never admired publicly or privately. They spend their whole lives in ignominy. Oliver Goldsmith says, "They spend their whole lives without passionately declaiming against Providence or calling their fellows to be gazers on their intrepidity."


Authored by: G S Tripathi
The writer is an adjunct professor of Physics at Berhampur University