Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement involves a sense of gratitude. Gratitude comes from knowing that the benefits of the ‘Present’ are the result of the turmoil undertaken by the people of the ‘Past’. Gratitude is in knowing that we are still unharmed, despite most of the things not being in our control at the ‘Present’. Gratitude is in knowing that everything has a relation to our own lives and that we exist in a web of relationships all the time. 

Where does one begin the chain of thoughts? Should we express gratitude to the sparrow that comes at our door step signaling the arrival of the morning? Should the sparrow express gratitude to the tree which offers it a branch to make a nest? Should the tree be grateful to the seed that gave its current form? Should the seed be grateful to the earth for taking care of it and giving it all the nutrients? Should the earth be grateful to the monsoon for supplying the nutrients? Should the monsoon be grateful to the wind for carrying it from one place to another? Should the wind be grateful to the Sun to cause pressure differences? Should the Sun be grateful to events in the universe that cause it to boom and bust at regular intervals?....

Take any example, and one will notice that the event does not exist in isolation. Not existing in isolation means that there is a cause and effect. There is a cycle of actions. And one is a part of that cycle which represents the Past, Present and the Future.

Thus, an oppressive environment maybe a precursor to a liberalized environment. 

In understanding the continuity and transformation of above events, what we are dealing with, is the aspect of ‘memory’. What is memory? How does one learn from memory? And what constitutes a collective memory? Thinking about these questions, one may realize, that memory constitutes an experience of place, people and time. Generally, when one appeals us to consider the effects of our actions, one is principally referring to this cycle of transformation. The question to be considered by us is – what is the cycle of actions that you wish to create? And will the cycle of actions be of significant benefit to the entire ecosystem (and not just humans)? Issues regarding heritage, history, conservation, sustainability come under this domain. And so does evolution, transformation, recycle and rejuvenation. 

From above perspective, it is probably a mistake to consider the definition of “new” as something that is completely unrelated and unconcerned to the Past. Adherence to this definition constitutes being foolish and arrogant as well. What we are trying to understand is the aspect of “relevance” or “appropriateness” of one’s thought and action. Relevance and appropriateness is therefore, place, people and time specific. And if one doesn’t consider the influence of place, people and time, one is assuming to be just plain arrogant.