POSITIVE STATUS
QUOISM
Peaceful method in one respect, is another name for status quoism. The status quoism of a peace-loving person is not a form of inaction, it is rather a positive plan of action, in the real sense of the word. That is, the peace-love accepts the status quo to remove himself from the point of confrontation to other fields where he may proceed with constructive action. Instead of becoming embroiled in problems he looks to the future aid directs his energies towards the availing of opportunities. That is why the status quoism of a peace-loving person is indeed positive status quoism.
In this world of diverse interests, positive status quoism is the optimal base for the conception and implementation of constructive projects. Taking up this position may call for special virtues such as insightfulness as well as the capacity for the most superior type of planning. Thus it brings twofold benefit. Firstly, no disturbance of the peace, and secondly and ultimately, the guarantee of success. This formula can thus be summed up: Avoid confrontation, adopt peaceful activism.
Flowers and their Thorns
In our world there are flowers, but there are also thorns. It is therefore a common experience for one who wants to engage in any positive activity to feel that there are obstacles in his way, perhaps by the very law of nature. This applies to the individual as well as to the entire nation. Now one way of addressing such a situation is for him to set about removing all obstacles from the path and only then beginning to work towards his goal. This method is generally defined as radicalism.
Radicalism greatly appeals to extremists or to those who are guided by their emotions. But it is impractical in so far as achieving any positive goal is concerned. While radicalism may be effectively used for the purposes of destruction, it is worse than useless when it comes to construction. Once the path of radicalism has been chosen, not only does the prevalent system fall apart, but in the process of what are essentially ruinous activities, all those social traditions which had taken centuries to build, simply fall to pieces. Then as a result of bloodshed and violent confrontation, innumerable people fall victim to all kinds of afflictions. While experience shows that the method of radicalism is ideologically very attractive, in terms of its practical outcome, it is devoid of all merit.
Another method is that of avoiding confrontation with the status quo and chalking out a plan for possible action within possible spheres. By temporarily accepting the status quo, current opportunities may then be availed of. This is the positive status quoism to which I referred at the beginning of this chapter.
The method of radicalism invariably produces violence: on the contrary, positive status quoism fulfills its target by keeping the peace in society. While the former
invariably aggravates the problem, the latter, by avoiding friction, proceeds smoothly, without creating any problems. If one is the way to perversion, the other is the way to construction.
A De-linking Policy
Positive status quoism can also be defined as a de-linking policy, which entails finding ways of peaceful action despite the existence of controversies. This means that irrespective of there being a confrontational state of affairs or other adverse circumstances. Such strategies should be adopted as may prevent war being waged and violence taking place. Controversial issues must be set aside so that present opportunities may be availed of in an atmosphere of peace. In following this policy, two gains simultaneously accrue: one, the establishment of peace, notwithstanding the pernicious atmosphere created by controversies; and, two, the optimization of work opportunities, despite the presence of problems. One great benefit of this de-linking policy—in that it is the most felicitous natural formula for the establishment of peace—is that conducive circumstances for result-oriented actions are no longer a matter of the past, but become an actuality today.
Aspects of Positive Thinking
Positive status quoism is undoubtedly the most successful strategy for the construction of a peaceful life. The essential condition for the utilization of this strategy, however, is for man to develop the kind of positive attitude which will enable him to rise above his circumstances. Even in the most adverse situations, he should be able to weather all storms as do the big birds of the storm. His thinking should not be the result of prior conditioning. He should rather think out and plan his actions without any prejudice.
One of the obstacles to adopting positive status quoism is the tendency to give way to anger and vengefulness. Such an attitude so poisons man’s mind that he is no longer able to think objectively. It is this lack of objectivity which is the main reason for failing to adopt a positive stance.
Anger is a weakness
Anger is the killer of peace. Anger often results in violence. Giving vent to anger is a sign of weakness, whereas the mastering of anger is a sign of power. Anger, moreover, confounds one’s thinking capacity. The angry man can neither understand any issue in a clear-headed way, nor can he give a response which is adequate to the situation. What is worse is that when an individual is angry, he is all too prone to turn to violence. But the truth is that violence is no solution to any problem. For one who can prevent himself from succumbing to anger, there is no situation which he will not be able to turn to good account. He will seek a peaceful solution—the only sure way to solve any problem.
Man’s mind has extraordinary potential. When he is not angry, he is in a position to utilize his capabilities to the best advantage. But when he is angry, his mental balance is lost. He is not in a position to make the full use of such mental capabilities as would be to his own benefit. In short, not becoming angry is victory, while becoming angry is defeat.
It should be borne in mind also, that overcoming anger is not simply a matter of suppressing one’s emotions. It means being able to deal with the problem by rising above the negativism of anger. One should be able to respond, uninfluenced by emotion in spite of being provoked. This principle applies not only to the individual but also to entire nations. Positive status quoism is undoubtedly the surest way to success, but only those can adopt this method who have the ability to think independently of the psychology of anger.
The principle of positive status quoism can be adopted only by those who have the mental discipline not to resort to violence, despite facing unpleasant situations. Those who cannot curb violent tendencies will never be able to experience the benefits of positive status quoism.
The Way of Non-Violence
One of the laws of nature is that non-violence is result-oriented, while violence is destruction-oriented. Therefore, if the individual confines his activities to the field of gentleness and non-violence, his work will yield results, whereas one who opts for the way of violence and intolerance regresses instead of advancing.
The truth is that whenever anyone opts for the way of intolerance and violence, his energies are unnecessarily divided between two fronts—internal construction and doing battle with the external foe, whereas one who opts for gentleness and non-violence can devote all his available energy and resources to the one front of internal consolidation alone, and as a natural result, he can achieve a far greater success.
This is the law of nature which is operative in our world. Here if one is to achieve any estimable goal, it will only be by adhering to this system of nature which is entirely based on the principle of peace and non-violence. Therefore, here one can be successful by adhering to, and not by deviating from this law. Non-violent activism can in fact, be equated with positive status quoism.
The Benefits of Peace
It is a fact that all worthy feats in this world have been performed by peaceful endeavour. No great or noble task has ever been carried out by the power of violence. This applies equally to scientific discoveries and technological progress. Neither educational institutions nor research institutes have ever been established by violent means.
Iron’s conversion into machines and major city planning have all been done by the power of peace, not of violence. Right from ensuring social welfare to the setting up of the relevant infrastructure—all progressive measures have been carried into effect by peaceful strategies.
Violence per se is destructive and no constructive result can ever come from a destructive act. This is the law of nature and as such is immutable.
The Solution to the Problem of Enmity
People generally hold that so and so community or nation is their enemy. Then, for most people, enmity becomes both the cause of and justification for taking to a course of violence. They take up an aggressive stance, openly or covertly, ostensibly to put an end to the enmity. But this is as misconceived a plan of action as any could be which has been devised on the supposition that war can be any kind of solution.
They fail to realize that the best solution to the problem of enmity lies in the way of positive status quoism, which facilitates dealing peacefully with the enemy. This is possible because positive status quoism is a psychological condition which enables us to deal with the enemy in such a cool-minded way that all animus will of itself disappear once and for all.
It is imperative that we regard enemies as superficial rather than as integral parts of our existence, and we should recognize that the hostility of any foe can be brought to an end by positive strategy. The enemy can be likened to the dust sticking to glass. Such dust can easily be washed off with water. The real problem will arise only when we have no water (i.e. a positive strategy) to wash off the dust.
It takes two hands to clap. One hand on its own cannot clap. Similarly, enmity is a two-sided matter. If someone turns your enemy, you should not respond to this with hostility. Not returning enmity for enmity is the most successful solution to the problem. Adopting positive behaviour towards the enemy can yield such beneficial results that your former enemy could one day turn out to be your friend.
Violence is the result of frustration
One advantage of positive status quoism is that it obviates the baneful effects of frustration that come from a sense of deprivation. Bright prospects are discernible in all situations, however unfavourable those situations might appear. The miraculous benefit of positive status quoism is that it gives human beings unlimited courage. It saves them in all situations from becoming so discouraged that all doors appear closed, and they fail to identify any viable course of action.
Violence results from a feeling of deprivation, while peace results from a sense of discovery. Those who have the notion that they have been deprived of what is rightfully theirs suffer perennially from negative psychology. It is this negativism that frequently takes the form of violence. But those who live with the positive feeling that they have experienced the feeling of discovery enjoy mental peace. Their lives remain eternally peaceful.
Those individuals or groups who feel hatred for others, and who stoop to violence in their dealings with them, prove by their behaviour that their grievances derive from a sense of deprivation. On the contrary, those individuals or groups who lead peaceful lives prove by their behaviour that they have experienced the feeling of finding what they truly desire in life. The mind of a frustrated person is always obsessed with the prevalent state of affairs. While a person whose mind is free from the psychology of frustration will be capable of thinking by rising above the immediate circumstances. Thus a frustrated person is a present–oriented person while a person free from frustration is a future oriented person.
Violence Unnecessary
Social violence is against real human nature. Violence, the greatest of all crimes, is lethal to humanity. In spite of this, why do people engage in violence? The reason is that they take into account only present conditions, and lack the ability to see future prospects. Then such people find self-styled justifications for engaging in violence. Their version of justification appears to them to be based on logical argument, but in actual fact their arguments are fallacious. In defiance of all rational opinion, they adhere to the notion that, in their own case, for such and
such reason, engaging in violence has become morally justified.
But the truth is that any so-called justification for violence is invalid. Whenever an individual or a group engages in violence, they have at one and the same time the option of a non-violent or peaceful method. This being so, why should violence be resorted to at all? When the opportunity to achieve one’s objective is available without having recourse to violence, why should everyone opt for violent methods? The truth is that violence must be in principle discarded absolutely and peace must be adopted absolutely. Therefore, man ought not to engage in violence on any pretext. He must adhere to a peaceful course of action in all situations.
Patience is the Secret of Success
One element of positive status-quoism is the “wait and see” policy. This means that whatever man is easily able to do at the present time should be done, while whatever he feels presents too many difficulties should be postponed until the situation seems more favourable.
It often happens that whenever one is faced with difficult situations or one undergoes some bitter experience, out of sheer exasperation, one resorts to violence. But this kind of reaction is a result of deviation from nature. The truth is that the law of nature always favours those who adopt a realistic path. If such individuals or groups who stand by truth and justice do not act in an over-hasty manner and remain patient, such favourable conditions are ultimately produced for them that success will come to them on its own.
In the most cases, failure awaits those who are so impatient that they act emotionally, without giving much thought to the repercussions. On the contrary, those who opt for the way of patience are destined to be successful.
When an individual adopts the path of patience, he is following the path of nature. And when he adopts the path of impatience, he deviates from the path of nature. And one who strays from the path of nature has no prospects of success in this world of God.
Future-Oriented policy
To put it another way, positive status-quoism can also be thought of as a form of foresight. As a policy, it is in accordance with the natural law of “wait and see”. There are times when each individual and community find themselves in the kind of situations in which they begin to feel that they are faced with certain obstacles, which prevent their making any headway. In such cases, most people come—consciously or unconsciously—to regard such difficult circumstances as a permanent condition. And as such they begin to wrestle with the circumstances in order to remove the hurdles. Fighting of this kind always proves futile. It only results in making things go from bad to worse. It should be remembered that difficult circumstances are never here to stay. They are always of an ephemeral nature. This being so, the easy solution to this problem is to ignore it, rather than unnecessarily wage war on the circumstances. This policy will preserve man’s mental peace, and whatever lies in store for him will in time become available to him.
Whenever man is confronted with any problem, he wants it to be solved without delay. This is where he actually goes wrong. If he could just shelve his problems at least for a short time, he would find that solutions would present themselves which had nothing to do with combating circumstances head on, or with coming into confrontation with opponents.
None of his problems would remain such for an indefinite period of time. In most cases violence takes place only because this principle, not being generally understood, is not applied in daily living.
Avoidance of controversy
Positive status-quoism is undoubtedly a certain guarantee of success. But adherence to the method of status-quoism is possible only for one who has the ability to refrain from the policy of confrontation, in spite of provocation, and who never on any pretext engages in retaliation.
Proceeding by avoidance of confrontation is the secret of success. Avoidance of controversy means not giving any opportunity to others to create friction. That is, whenever differences arise between one party and another, their settlement should be confined to a peaceful sphere of negotiation. It should never happen that differences escalate into actual confrontation between two parties.
In the present world it often happens that, on some point or the other, tension arises between two parties. This tension is in itself something natural. There is no escape from it, whatever the situation may be. What is really worthy of consideration is that this difference should not be allowed to escalate indefinitely.
What does it mean for differences to remain within limits? It means that differences must be confined to the peaceful sphere. When differences reach the actual stage of clash and violence, then all limits have been crossed. There is nothing wrong in differences being confined within limits: what is wrong is for differences to cross all normal bounds of decency.
For one who wants to pursue some serious goal successfully, it is necessary that only those points come under discussion which are related to this objective. The discussion of anything other than the actual goal is anathema to a man with a mission.
But how may a non-confrontational atmosphere between the speaker and the addressee be established? The answer is that this atmosphere can be produced only unilaterally by a display of patience on the part of the one who has the positive goal before him. From the practical point of view, no other way is possible. A purposeful man, by his avoidance of friction, has to maintain a normal atmosphere between himself and possible antagonists, so that his onward journey may proceed unhampered. It is such wisdom as provides a sound basis for positive status quoism.
