Over time, the world has been suffering from multifarious crises, including socio-economic, political, personal, and psychological ones. These have not only drained human beings but also tormented them both internally and externally. Genocides, wars, violence, and conflicts have left behind memories of loss, pain, regret, and bloodshed. As William Faulkner said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” Unfortunately, we are still carrying the burden of history and, as a result, often lack the rationality to understand the nuanced nature of various situations and events. Everyone claims to be right and truthful without possessing a true conscience to discern right from wrong.

Capturing and experiencing the states of materialism and disruption within ourselves and in our surroundings has become increasingly evident. There is a need to pause and reflect – to introspect both ourselves and our environment. Unfortunately, today’s human being is living a life of deception. This, however, is a point worth pondering. We tend to believe that what we possess, what we carry, and what we desire are inherently right or true, without applying rational thought to them. A coin has two sides – what we see or wish to see is not always what is appropriate or right for us. Yet, as part of a materialistic world, human beings have lost their sense of conscience and continue to descend into irrationality day by day. Practices such as critical thinking, deep observation, and the pursuit of wisdom are now being overshadowed by artificial tools, relentless competition, and distorted perceptions.

“The culture of a civilization is the art and literature through which it rises to consciousness of itself and defines its vision of the world.” – Roger Scruton

The world today is immersed in an abundance of knowledge, information, and academic degrees, yet it often lacks the deep-rooted wisdom of the self and of the surrounding world. However, a well-developed and secure culture requires space for relativity, compassion, and humanity. To foster an environment of harmony and true civilization, we must turn to the culture of art and literature – where one can embrace the light of wisdom, the eye of........

© The Spine Times