A quite senior and distinguished professional was once explaining to me how he was in a restaurant sat eating in Hong Kong, when an middle-aged American man came in with someone who seemed to be someone who worked for him. The American man in a loud voice such that the entire restaurant can hear, began explaining “This is how my management style works..” “I don’t like it when people do this..” “I want people to…” The conversation wasn’t really a conversation, it was a monologue. It was very annoying to anyone who could hear it. A bar brawl is far more likely to be started by someone who is egostic, out-there, and a ‘trouble-maker’, who might run into someone else like that, than an introverted, quiet silent person sitting in the corner sipping a quiet drink on his own. The lion doesn’t look like some docile, harmless creature; it has a tongue that is razor sharp and can scrape off an animals skin, what to speak of a human’s skin. When we see a crocodile, just by it’s physical features; we are automatically on-guard to the risk it might pose; especially in today’s society where humans and animals don’t really live together. It is human nature at an instinctive, or “gut-feel” level, therefore to associate external features with potential behaviour, and flag it as a risk. It’s what we call our ‘radar’ where alarm bells start going off based on certain things we see. We are setting an expectation based on previous experience or awareness. The issue with this is, it isn’t always accurate. Many ‘home-grown’ terrorists in England are extremely unassuming, they become brainwashed with ideology, and become a dire threat to hundreds of people. They could be the quiet guy, the introvert, etc, and cause far more harm than the ‘loud mouth in the bar.’ The COVID-19 virus is a bug, it cannot even be seen, it is a far greater threat than the lion. It doesn’t have sharp teeth, nor teeth that can grind through bone. It is a tiny micro-particle, which is now responsible for the deaths of one and a quarter million people within a year. Sometimes we are absolutely right in associating a wild and scary appearance with a wild and scary being, but equally we sometimes fail to see the threats of the “quiet guy”, and the “unseen” things. In this sense we are prone to making associations that may or may not be correct.
When we observed the external behaviour, the speech, and conduct of President Barack Obama, it was absolutely pleasing to see. Gentlemanly in his dealings, polite to address sometimes even impolite people and reporters, and also humorous at the appropriate times. He blew everyone away. We saw similar with Tony Blair in the U.K. young and fresh Oxford graduate and politician, he was a breathe of fresh air for many in a country after years of consecutive Conservative Party rule. Tony Blair went on to agree to a war against Iraq which was unfounded, and grossly harmful both to the people of Iraq, and also to thousands of British troops made to fight there, many of whom died, and many of which returned with less limbs, a very sad sight. He later went on to admit the mistake and circumstance that gave rise to the decision, however it was grossly lamentable; people cannot be bought back from the dead in concession of a mistake, nor can people’s limbs be the same as they were. The ‘deep’ values are what drives one to make benevolent decisions over the fate of thousands, or even millions of peoples lives. The ‘superficial’ or surface level eh values are what make people feel pleased in interacting with you. The superficial values can take you a long way. Why? Because it is what people see. It is what people have to deal with. It carries an energy, and it will easily affect people. Rudeness is not something many people like. Noone can stand a bully who shouts and yells, doesn’t care for public humiliation of another. It just doesn’t resonate with most of us, and rightly so. The Mahabharata has the character of Shakuni. His sister married the King of Hastinapur, the ruling dynasty, who was physically blind and she voluntarily put a veil over her eyes so that she could experience the same thing as her husband. Being displeased with this situation and the sacrifice she was undergoing, her brother decided to do all he could to enact the demise of the kingdom. He worked on the crown princes, to cause internal friction with their cousins who also had claim to the throne. Sewing these seeds of division, he always tried to come across smiling and laughing courteously so that he would not be held in so much suspicion by the more rigorously truthful elders, he tried to hide his deep values through superficial ones. The Pandavas, on the most part had robust deep values, and would act with external respect and in a manner giving dignity to others also. Some of the brothers, most notably Bhima had very little regard for superficial values, manners etc. Of course he would be very respectful to the elders who were honourable to him, however to those who weren’t Bhima had no qualms in expressing his disgust, and abrasively. Indeed he made the famous promise when his wife Draupadi was attempted to be disrobed, that he would rip open the chest and drink the blood of Dushashana, and went on to do so. He also chastised his elder brother Yuddhishitra many times saying it was not necessarily his ‘deep’ values, but weakness of heart that stopped him from seizing what was rightfully theirs. Yuddhistira and Bhima were generally at different extremes in approach and sometimes at odds with each other as a result, but were aligned in their cause. Yuddhistira tried to be perfect in both deep and superficial values. Bhima gave priority to deep values. And Arjuna tried to break a balance of the two, seeking the counsel of Krishna where he was unsure. Yuddhistira is still regarded as Dharmaraj, or guardian of dharma, or truth. Bhima isn’t really given much praise. Arjuna of course is always regarded as the supreme hero. Good people generally like to see good values in a demonstrable way and it is pleasing to them. Often this is actually on the surface only. We don’t have the time or inclination to lift the bonnet. Nor is it possible. We do not observe the private lives of leaders, nor is there perfectly accurate accounts of them. So we rely on what we can see; it is only natural, just like if we are in a forest and we see in bushes orange fur with black stripes, we will tend to have alarm bells ring. The Mahabharata, and Bhagavat Gita tell us to go deeper with values, not stay superficial. Deeper values are what are truly defining. They do not hinge on being black, or white, or well-spoken; but they define the substance of what you do, not how you come across.
Values, and Not Individuals
In one sense we cannot be entirely sure what someones deep values really are; this is linked to their motive, which is not tangible, it is subtle. We also do not know what leaders are doing as discussed already. We also seem to be very fixed that once we have deemed a leader to be a certain way, that they cannot change. Change of nature is very difficult, and unlikely, however change of motivation is very possible. One day we may have a big investment in one country, and the next day in another country. This will totally change a persons outlook and interest in that country. Therefore alignment with individuals is a very dangerous thing. The famous saying that all that glistens isn’t gold comes to mind. Am fairly convinced that the rationale for a lot of people not liking Trump is because of the way he manages his external or superficial values; he has no regard or care about how he comes across. For many, it can be extremely irritating to see someone with such lack of care about how he comes across. Most people were very certain, especially given the US’ history of starting wars in various places in the world, that there was a major risk of a global conflict. It didn’t happen. Once people noticed his mannerisms and certain tendencies, the hole only began to bigger for them, since certainly didn’t fundamentally change. This made it a very easy choice for many after this feeling had been exacerbated over 4 years. Trumps abrasive approach challenging many global business in the way they operate, also didn’t win him much support from those engaged in the pursuit of profit. Globalism is profitable for the corporate, and this is something Trump was adding many conditions to. This came at a price. Corporates control the plumbing, and so having them against you will never work so well. In conclusion, what can we learn from this election, Trump & Biden aswell as predecessors? Never attach yourself to an individual, but only values. It is the energy that flows that is important, not who is holding it at the moment. The passing of the olympic torch from country to country is very beautiful in that sense. The country holding the flame is an important a detail, but light is more important. So here is to the preservation of deep values as leadership changes hands once again.
“A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons.”
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Purport, Śrimad Bhagavatam 4.18.5
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