Power Doesn’t Corrupt
Lord Acton has said it in writing.
Power
tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
On a fleeting look this appears to be
true, Osho says. However, on a closer scrutiny one can realise that power is not
the cause for corruption. Power can only give an exit- route for one’s own
wickedness. Power is just a facilitator.
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| ratheesh.t-untitled- oil on canvas |
Of course, we have seen rulers the world
over are abusers of power. Invariably, the person who wields power is tempted
to abuse it. Why? Have you ever given it a thought? If you do, Lord Acton’s
postulate stands unacceptable. Power doesn’t corrupt. It’s the corrupted who get swayed by the lure
for power. When they get power by virtue of their seeking, they start doing
things which they always wanted to do but couldn’t. They didn’t have the
authority earlier. They didn’t have the ammunition either. Things have changed
and they have both at their disposal. Now, start finding fault with a flying
bird! Shoot anyone who is unarmed. Yeah, wipe of your lips with a napkin. Still
the gory grin lingers.
Obviously, the shooting took place because
of your inborn trigger-happy character and not due to your state-of-the art pistol . The seeds of evil had been sown in your psyche from Day
One and power just provided the ideal environment. The moment you assume
positions of power, your pent up desires spring up in full force. Nobody can
stop you because power is on your side.
Power is the dark spring when all poisonous
flowers bloom.
Osho puts a semicolon here;
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| ratheesh.t |
Good people too get attracted to power,
why?
Where does the corruption start?
In my opinion, corruption stems from an
attitude. Thirukkural gives the example of a beggar receiving a coin. He/she
accepts the coin without any sort of excitement. Only a lunatic can jump over
with exhilaration on receiving a dime! Of course, there is a
chance of finding a gold coin too. Even then, the poor fellow cannot
rejoice. His life is at peril. Various risks are running concurrently! One has
to hush up the gold, act naturally so that rest of the beggars do not feel ill or find anything fishy.
The “noveau rich” beggar has to be extremely
alert and attentive. His/her wisdom and
intelligence should be kept at full throttle.
Or….get killed by your clan! Get rounded up
by the police.
The gold coin is lost forever!
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| ratheesh.t- Mother Goddess - 2010 |
Is there a way to utilize power without
facing its shortcomings?
Yes.
Gandhiji has given his prescription
already- Think of the daridranarayanan you happen to see on the footpath while the
chauffeur drives you to office, i.e., using power bestowed on you for greater common
good.
Always lead, don’t rule.
Then you have the millennium-old oriental wisdom
to guide you right. Use power as an offering to the Ancient One. Ultimately
your efforts are reaching there, anyway! Try your level-best and leave the rest.
Better still, get down to the root-cause of
corruption.
Its kama, i.e., the desires which are not
in tune with Dharma is the singular reason behind any sort of
corruption. Whenever such ego-centric desires originate in your mind, be alert. Isolate the thought and defuse it..
corruption. Whenever such ego-centric desires originate in your mind, be alert. Isolate the thought and defuse it..
Difficult but definitely worth trying.
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| on the middle step -ratheesh t. - 2014 |
First, decide which side you’re on.
There are two, Changampuzha as well as
Edasserry.
"എന്തുവന്നാലുമെനിക്കാസ്വദിക്കേണമീ
മുന്തിരിച്ചാറുപോലുള്ലോരീ
ജീവിതം "
ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ
vs
"ഇടയ്ക്കു
കണ്ണുനീരുപ്പു ചേർക്കാതെ -
യെന്തിനീ ജീവിത
പലഹാരം"
ഇടശ്ശേരി
Decide for yourself.
Are you with ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ or with ഇടശ്ശേരി ?
If you’re the Changampuzha type, you’re susceptible to corruption.
No doubt about it. Power only corrupts the corruptible. For them, it just feels
too good to abuse power!
The fact is that power in itself is neutral from a moral
stand-point.
Yeah, John Steinbeck is right.
“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts…..perhaps the fear
of loss of power.”
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