How much luxury does a human need?

How often have we passed the municipal workers without even a smile on our face or a greeting or how often have we disposed of our kitchen refuse in an irresponsible manner without stopping to think that these are fellow human beings who will have to do handle these trash, often without even gloves being provided to them by their workplaces? It is time that all of us begin a new path of compassion that will bring us more joy than any petty item of luxury – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Sri Lanka is currently going through an arduous time economically in the backdrop of a global pandemic. Amidst the rising cost of living, is there another way to look at this problem? Is there another way we could look at the role that ordinary people could play to ease the situations?

Let us first look at businesses. Yes, the economy is bad and people are not having money to spend on many products, even the basic needs. Yet, the business community is a community that has made the money when the going was good. 

Surely at a time when many are suffering there could be a way that they could probably assist in thinking creatively through the lens of humanity on how they could sacrifice whatever they can to assist those who may be in abysmal need? This is happening, although the examples are very few. 

It is learnt that at least three food outlets within Colombo that provide breakfast for children have reduced the prices to a blanket rate of around 20 rupees per sandwich or cutlet or fish bun. This is a significant humanistic move that should well be emulated with the understanding that all our mainstream religions hold that charity at a time of great humanistic suffering will never be unrewarded; whether one looks at this aspect through the Buddhist lens or the Christian one or as a Hindu or Muslim or many of the other secular philosophies that speak of humane values, what is concluded is that such action fail to be rewarded. 

Also, those who are taking such decisions to sell these food products at a very low cost are also using some kind of business pragmatism which is common sense driven; in a time like this when you decrease the amount even drastically, the market can significantly increase. The end result is that such a business operation will never be short of customers and thereby could well pick up for the lowered prices by the volume it generates in sales. 

In essential items such as cooked food, with the prices of gas and vegetables and flour sky rocketing, such as action of charity would undoubtedly have karmic reaction of vast proportions that will hold in the universal law that anyone taking such a step would never face economic penury. 

What more can we do?

What more can we do in these times when everyone is struggling? Let us look from different dimensions examining actions we can take from the minute level, as individuals in different roles, say as a teacher, a student, an agriculturist, a grocery store owner, a traditional physician…or the media… whatever role in society. 

These days we seem to wake up in the morning to hear complaints and bad news of yet another price hike and politicians complacently telling us that indeed it will be so. It is pointless for us to wring our hands in anguish. What we can do is instead to examine how we have lives so far.

If we are a teacher, have we become another appendage of the tuition mafia even when we know that the parents of some of these children could include those who work almost 24 hours as labourers to afford some extra coaching for the children because school teachers are not doing their job properly? In a recent conversation with a young mother attached to the Municipality, I listened as she spoke glowingly how clever her child is and promised to show me the report card of that nine-year-old next time she comes to meet me. 

I asked her about the school the child goes to and was told that it is a small school within Colombo that has a perennial lack of teachers and where teachers indulge in careless ad hoc teaching. Thus, she takes on as much labour work as she can at private houses, weeding gardens or cleaning to be able to send that child for extra tuition. 

This example was taken to be able to link up to the earlier reference of teachers and what they could do in a time like this. Probably these teachers who earn extra as tuition teachers could opt to sacrifice a small amount by not charging those such as mentioned above or others in difficult situations in the given context. 

Basic requirement is empathy

Now let us look as to what a student will be able to do; say a teenager who maybe affluent in comparison to another. The basic requirement is empathy. One does not need a lot of money for a gesture like giving a new set of clothes that has been sitting in the cupboard unworn, to another friend who may not be able to afford any new clothes this Christmas season. 

‘How much land does a man need?’ is the title of the 1886 short story by Leo Tolstoy that inquires into the question of human greed and juxtaposes it with how much land one needs to bury oneself in earth in that final journey that we all must go. Similarly we can ask, in relation to material comforts, how much food or how much comfort or how much material gain does one need? Are we not creatures of over consumption? Do we even know why we want some of the things we want and have we examines our hearts to find out if they bring us happiness?

In comparison one feels happy when one shares and the happiness of a life of simplicity could well be the biggest boon that a successful business person could expect to have in this lifetime. Previous interviews in this page with those such as Merill Fernando, the founder of Dilmah Tea pointed to the fact that not resorting to cutting salaries of staff during this pandemic time was a conscious humanistic decision taken amidst hundreds of other business cutting down on both staff and salaries. 

It was pointed out by Fernando that not so surprisingly business has continued to be good despite it being a very tough time for many. Similarly an eatery that provides lunch at a very affordable rate and patronised by many who carry out labour work and dependent on daily wage, had reduced the prices by rupees 10 and when I asked why they did it and how I was told that they were doing it ‘because they were Buddhists’. There will be no dearth of people to declare their religious label at the drop of a hat but that definition of being Buddhist was one of the most authentic revelations that I have heard in a while. 

This article is not a comparative spirituality analysis so there will not be comparisons made with regard to the charity ethic preached in other faiths, but what should be highlighted is that one only needs the faith of one’s compassion and empathy. If we can recognise that someone is doing far worse than us, or even if we are in a difficult economic situation, if we can know that others too would be facing the same, then that empathy alone will assist us to give of what we have. It is in the little that we share that the universal consciousness of fate will judge us, not by the dregs of the vast riches we throw like crumbs. 

Look around with more love

Hence let us ponder on these and look around us with more love than usual. The ability to feel love is indeed a luxury as there are many who cannot, blindfolded by ostentatious living which is akin to wearing a shield on one’s heart. 

If there is anything productive we could do now, the best would be to think creatively how we can carry out our businesses or our work in whatever other sphere so that we rise to the occasion with kindness and sacrifice. Often we live much of our lives encased in non-awareness and this writer does not claim to have been any different for many years. 

How often have we passed the CMC workers without even a smile on our face or a greeting or how often have we disposed of our kitchen refuse in an irresponsible manner without stopping to think that these are fellow human beings who will have to do handle these trash, often without even gloves being provided to them by their workplaces? It is time that all of us begin a new path of compassion that will bring us more joy than any petty item of luxury.

(NOTE: This article is provided by Frances Bulathsinghala, founder of the for profit entity, Universal Heritage Inspire which is in the process of developing a series of brands that will sell products from Rs. 10 onwards which will include clothing, gift items, plants and food. This is to ensure that those who are hitherto seen as below the poverty line consumers will be able to afford some of the things that are hitherto seen as the privy of a particular class. Universal Heritage Inspire is currently planning the launch of a public event which will launch its fashion brand and global heritage Christmas gift hamper series. This endeavour will source crafts and talent from Sri Lankans across the island and from all communities. For inquiries: [email protected])