What does society not like about me?
The short answer is that I am a rebel and do not conform to social norms. For example I am unmarried and do not have a job. India is a traditional and conservative society and such actions are disapproved of.
Here is the long answer:
It is that I am arrogant and have a chip on my shoulder. I have the reputation of a person who wants to extract his pound of flesh
People also think that I am a little crazy for still staying in India. Any sane person who was harassed and victimized like me would have left a long time ago. I agree that that is a lapse in judgment on my part. I had chances to leave India and didn’t take them. I didn’t want to marry or work at a job and wanted to spend time with my books and philosophy.
Combine that with the fact that I behaved in an extremely eccentric and disobedient manner when I was young. Society still remembers that. But that was more than 35 years ago. I think I have served out my punishment now.
About the other accusations, let me give a point by point reply to them:
- Arrogance – The cause of that is that I have read many books including philosophy. Philosophy is known to give people a swollen head. In addition practicing spirituality frees you of the ego and results in increased self confidence.
- Chip on the shoulder – Now I agree I was an angry young man and also for some time an angry middle aged man. But my reading of spiritual books has cured me of this foolishness. Also I have already got my pound of flesh due to some events I cannot talk about. The end result is that I am not looking for trouble and am of a peaceable nature.
- Being unmarried and not having a job – Philosophers are not supposed to marry and I think of myself as a philosopher. Regarding not having a job, I think I have a better opportunity to contribute to society through my blog than working as a clerk in the Accounting department of some business. If you read my blog regularly I think you will agree that this statement is justified.
So I have good reasons to not conform to the expectations of society.
Emerson said in his essay on Self Reliance: “For non conformity the world whips you with its displeasure.” Frequently there is a lack of respect in the way I am treated. Maybe that is true for everyone but it is possible – in my case – that it is because I do not conform. This is just something I must live with.
The bottom line is that I do not have bad intentions towards society or to you.
I hope you will agree that my personality deficiencies (arrogance and so on) are no more than minor irritants. It can be accepted and dealt with in a civilized way.
You are free to keep your interaction with me to a minimum. I will not pester you for company. As the Buddha said – Be an island unto yourself. But there is no reason for unpleasantness.
I hope you liked my blog. Please share it on WhatsApp, X and FB and let me have your comments. Feedback from my readers keeps me going.
An Aside: If you are interested in being friends, tooting my own horn I will say that I am a good conversationalist (because of my wide reading) and am good natured and also polite. The way I talk may come across as arrogant but the reasons for that (my arrogance) are explained above.