The Greatest Good
One can achieve one’s personal target only by taking into consideration what lies beyond oneself. That is the only realistic approach and is therefore the wisest approach.
What is the greatest good for a man or a woman? Justice is generally regarded as being the greatest good in human life. Theoretically, this would appear to be the right answer, but in any practical sense, it is adjustment that should be regarded as the greatest good.
To illustrate this point, I would like to cite the example of Pakistan and Japan. Pakistan had its inception as a separate country after the Second World War. More than sixty years after its establishment, Pakistan is commonly regarded as a failed state. Why? It is because Pakistan adopted a confrontational stance with its neighbouring country. Such an approach yielded nothing for Pakistan except further loss.
The opposite example can be seen in Japan. Japan also began a new phase in its history after the Second World War. There were serious issues between Japan and the U.S.A. But Japan adopted the formula of adjustment. The Japanese Emperor of that time, Hirohito, gave a clear-cut direction to his nation. He said in one of his broadcasts just after World War II: “We have to endure the unendurable, so that we may be able to reconstruct our nation in the post-World War period.” And now it is generally accepted that the result of this policy has been miraculous, for now Japan has emerged as an economic super power in the present world.
The same holds true for individuals. A certain banker of my acquaintance, who was in a senior position in an international bank, had a heated exchange with his immediate superior. He was so upset by this incident that he resigned from his post. But what was the result? He is now unemployed and living in a state of frustration.
Another acquaintance of mine, who was also in a senior position in a bank, had a similar problem with a more senior executive and he wanted my advice. I told him my advice was based on a four-point formula: first, adjustment, second, adjustment, third adjustment, and, lastly again adjustment. He took my advice and now he is very happy with his job.
What is the difference between the concept of justice and the concept of adjustment? The difference is that obtaining justice, having to be effected on a bilateral basis, becomes a very difficult task, while adjustment, being a unilateral matter, can be instantly achieved. In the case of injustice, when some other party is behaving unfairly towards you, justice becomes a thorny issue between the two rival parties. In the quest for justice, demands and protests will naturally be made; a confrontation ensues and sometimes this even leads to violence. Frequently such action proves to be counter-productive.
The case of adjustment is completely different. In this case there is no rival, no other party. You are the only player. When you opt for adjustment, you instantly find the starting point; and if justice in practice leads to confrontation, adjustment always leads to peace.
There is a well-known saying: Politics is the art of the possible. This saying pertains not only to political affairs, but also to all the affairs of human life. This being so, the best way to proceed in all aspects of human existence is to adopt a realistic approach. You have to differentiate between which target is possible and which is not; between what is achievable and what is not.
All men and women have to strike a balance between their own desires and the external situation. Simply by running after one’s own desires, one does not necessarily achieve one’s goals. One must fully comprehend the external situation, the external circumstances and the external opportunities. One can achieve one’s personal target only by taking into consideration what lies beyond oneself. That is the only realistic approach and is therefore the wisest approach.
