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Perspective
First Quadrant
by
J. Ajithkumar
 Human body and human life are among the most complex tangible and
intangible phenomena known to mankind. It is a simple fact that we
cannot envisage anything tangible more complex than a human body. Even
the most complicated of machines or devices pale out in complexity when
compared to the hundreds and thousands of systems and sub-systems that
operate in every inch of the human body. The complexity is much more
compounded when we consider the human life where multiple interactions
with multiple personalities are involved. Yet we can always trivialise
anything and start looking at complex and complicated phenomena in
limited angles. Like in physics the complex whole is always a sum of its
parts and same theory applies to intangibles also.
If human life can be plotted on a two dimensional plane, what should be
the nature of curve for an ideal life? Before we can proceed any further
with this philosophical ‘space walk’, we should define what are the
parameters represented by the two axes. Let us take Values on X-axis and
Actions on Y-axis (the third axis can be defined as Thoughts). When we
fix these two co-ordinates for life, we get combination scenarios as
follows:
-
First
Quadrant –
Positive Values, Positive Actions
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Second Quadrant – Negative Values, Positive
Actions
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Third
Quadrant – Negative
Values, Negative Actions
-
Fourth Quadrant – Positive
Values, Negative Actions
Now the question is about where do you want yourself to be in? Let us
try to analyse the various scenarios and see the results.
Best Options
Undoubtedly it is the First Quadrant that all of us want to be in. But
is it really possible? Is it a viable option to uphold positive values
and resort to only positive actions to achieve them? History shows that
it is not an easy option. If positive actions refer to living
peacefully, helping and sharing, we have seen them failing easily in
front of violence, attack and selfishness. And if positive values stand
for truthfulness, sincerity and gratefulness, then again we see them
ineffective in comparison to dishonesty, insincerity and ingratitude.
Even the best man we can identify in this universe cannot operate purely
in the First Quadrant at all times. At best it is only an unachievable
but a lofty target worthy of ideal pursuit. A peaceful world with no
conflicts, no poverty and complete equality is one such ideal that is
never attained.
For any student of history it is an easy conclusion that no man or woman
could ever exist in the First Quadrant throughout his or her life. Even
the best of biographies and auto-biographies do not tell us everything
truthful about the individuals. Mahatma Gandhi’s was considered the most
open but even that is turning out to be hiding many truths. What usually
happens in the case of such life recordings is a look back from the
pinnacle of life and invariably many of the pitfalls will be
conveniently missed out. If that is the case, the natural question can
be about the very relevance of such an impossible quadrant for life. It
is impossible to be in First Quadrant but it is definitely a must to
have such unattainable ideal options in every aspect of life.
Other Quadrants
Among the other three quadrants, we can easily rule out the third one
which involves negative actions and negative values as an unacceptable
one under any circumstance. The world cannot sustain itself if we have
majority of people living in this quadrant. The whole world would be in
turmoil if there is no minimum trust, understanding and accommodation.
Second and Fourth Quadrants, where there is some positive values or some
positive actions are the places where most of us would find ourselves
most of the time. While Second Quadrant indicates negative values but
positive actions, the Fourth Quadrant stands for positive values but
negative actions. Is it acceptable to have negative values and carry out
positive action to achieve them? But it is definitely not a desirable
scenario to have people using positive (legal) methods to achieve
negative (illegal and immoral) ends.
The Fourth Quadrant of life which stands for positive values but calls
for negative actions to achieve them is the most interesting one. Is it
not what Lord Krishna advocated when he clearly instructed Arjuna to
stay on with the dharmic war to achieve noble ends? In our world today
it is no exaggeration to imagine each of us as Arjuns in Kurukshetras
around us that calls for similar actions to achieve nobler ends. If it
was swords and lances then, today we are living in times of guns and
bombs. We do not see our enemies but they are out there everywhere. The
modern weapons make no mistake and the modern terrorists make no
discrimination in using them. Negative values can be confronted only by
negative actions and that’s what Fourth Quadrant requires us to do. But
that should be an exception.
Whatever be the quadrant we are in, we have our lives to live and live
on we must. While First Quadrant is where we want to be, it takes
immense luck and sacrifice to be there through out. While most of us
would invariably get pushed around the other three quadrants of life, it
must be the endeavour of everyone to get back into the First Quadrant at
the earliest. If a majority of us succeed in doing so it would be much
easier for us to identify those who are stuck in the Third Quadrant and
isolate them for ever. Our world would be a much safer place if we can
destroy and thereby limit the occupants of the Third Quadrant. In the
current parlance there should be only terrorists in the Third Quadrant
and all of them must be eliminated for our own good. Genuine Paradise
would prevail only in the First Quadrant and that is what all the sane
secular and rabidly rational humans must strive for.
January
20, 2007
Image
under license with Gettyimages.com
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