Theos-Talk Archives (November 2008 Message tt00389)

>From time to time, you will find mention is made about the issue of respect
in messages posted in Internet. It is an interesting topic and I would like
to talk about it.

First of all, Internet (especially the unmoderated/uncontrolled/uncensored)
independent forums such as this, is the most level field. Many of us have
been posting messages for several years and none of us have complained about
lack of respect in the messages.

This is because, you cannot command or demand respect from independent
participants. You earn it by your actions both here as well as outside (if
outside actions are relevant and we come to know of them.) Some who are
are/were occupying positions of power of one kind or another, end up living
in a psychological cocoon and it is very difficult to get out of it in real
world where we are all equals because no one can exert any kind of power
over others.

There was an incident in one of Krishnamurti's group meetings. He went round
and inquired each one present as to what they are. One said he is a doctor,
another a teacher, third an accountant, fourth a homemaker, fifth chef and
so on. When everyone has responded, K said all of them are wrong. Everyone
is human being first and foremost.

He said the doctor is a doctor when he is treating a patient. An accountant
is one when he is in his office and doing his accounting work and so on. We
tend to bring our profession and other personal accomplishments into picture
and they are irrelevant except when you are engaged in the specific
professional act. When we meet and interact with each other as friends, we
are all human beings and keeping that in mind makes interaction and
communication easy.

So when we consider the question of respect, we need to be aware and not
expect respect in our message exchanges because of one's position (past or
present), one's accomplishments in other fields etc. When this is done, real
communication is possible and the whole focus on "respect" fades away and
one would not complain about lack of respect.

MKR


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