Traditionally, every culture has a bunch of people blindly following rituals and beliefs without getting to the essence of it. It is here when these belief system turn to superstition and does more harm than benefit.
There are numerous such fables which have become a matter of past, as life has become fast paced. No one has the time to even think and reflect in those terms. But the trouble arises when we confront such thought process of having some omen or odds to an event or situation.
For example leaving home for outstation in a particular month or season is considered inauspicious by some culture, specially in Hindu religion. Not all follow it, but some like my mother had a strong belief in it. Like not to cut hair or nails or even shave on particular day of the month. Or not to cross a road when a black cat crosses your path as if some evil is cast upon you. Certain numbers are also considered bad omen like 13. The question is though not many are following it, but if the tradition has been observed in past, the new generation may think over twice before acting on it or rejecting it right away. Even if any fable has been passed from generations for good reason or purpose, the fact is the very essence behind it somewhere gets lost or mutilated. Then it becomes rather dangerous. It can mislead us to faulty decisions or bring fear or doubt in our mind without valid reasons.
How to overcome such delusions. The very first step is to revisit history. Understand the origin of such fables and the lessons from it passed from generations. Time has changed and so our needs and lifestyle. It would be absolutely non sense to put restrictions on women to enter kitchen during their periods which was observed in earlier times when there were not much sanitary measures. While today's world is much equipped with technology, it is high time to put pause and reflect. Are we progressing in the right direction.
In fact, it is also a myth that today's lifestyle is very progressive. On the contrary, people are leading a very fast life along with multitasking being overambitious. Every time we are doing something, we are already in the mode of shifting to other task with the result that we are not able to give 100 % to the task in hand. To be precise, being not able to be in present moment is a disaster itself.
The best practice is to balance today's time with the merits of ancient times. There have been quite a many practices for good to follow and if adopted in today's hectic schedule we may reap the benefits of steadiness with better time management and stress could be at bay introducing rituals of gratitude, slowing down by giving breaks in between with conscious rest or meditation. Whatever is not true and functional is a myth and should be abolished from our lives or society.
Talking about merits of ancient times practice, the very first thing comes to our mind is that in earlier days lot of values were imbibed from the childhood by telling stories run from generations with moral theme. Emotions if directed in right way can be an useful tool to function without anxiety or stress. Like practice of showing gratitude, surrender, worship, faith, festivals with symbolic significance of how to hold up the values of society.
In the end, I would like to conclude that in today's world also we can have traditional values without indulging in superstitions and unnecessary backward mindset of division of sect or wealth. It is just a matter of being aware with proper knowledge and introspection of its relevance in today's time.
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