The Power of Collectivity

Today morning, I came across a beautiful story of a maize growing farmer who used to win awards every year in the Agricultural Show. However, the farmer also used to share his seeds with his neighbouring farmers, who also competed with him in the same Show.

When someone asked him about this, he smiled back and explained,
“The wind picks up pollen from the ripening maize and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior maize, cross-pollination will steadily downgrade the quality of my maize.”

The idea is that if one has to grow good variety, neighbours must also grow a good crop. So is the case with our lives. If we want to live well, we must help enrich the lives of those around us.

Even in the family, if a member is sick for any reason whatsoever, others in the family can’t enjoy the life. This very often happens now-a-days, when a member suffers from covid, and if not taken proper precautions, all in the family also get infected.

If one man is not safe, others will not be safe. Welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all. The fact remains that none of us truly wins, until we all win.

It is the power of collectivity, a law of life. We, therefore, believe in the following mantra or shloka (verses):

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु
मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शांति:।।

that means-
all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
may all see what is auspicious,
may no one suffer.
Om peace, peace, peace 🙏🙏🙏

–Kaushal Kishore