FANATICISM!

FANATICISM!
A fanatic is a person with a rigid set of beliefs. These beliefs may be religious, political or personal. The more you try and convince such a person of the futility of the belief, the stronger that person will react.
Fanaticism leads to strife. When two people who are uncompromising in their beliefs, try and convince each other about their beliefs, strife is going to be the inevitable result.
Firmly holding onto a certain belief without trying to understand the opposite viewpoint is fanaticism. Fanaticism leads to war and rioting. A fanatic feels naked without belief and will resort to anything to justify his or her standpoint.
If our worldview becomes catholic or pliant, we can avoid this kind of strife. Instead of being rigid, why not be like a sponge? Let us be ready to absorb and consider various viewpoints, even if it is opposite to one’s belief.
Unless we empty ourselves of past impressions or rigid beliefs accumulated due to certain incidents in the past or associations of the past, our fanaticism will only increase.
It is our upbringing and societal opinion that cements our beliefs. If we distance ourselves of these past impressions and associations such beliefs will loosen their grip on you.
We need the vision of the child. We need to look upon all our beliefs with the innocence of a child without holding any preconceived notion for or against such belief.
It is only when we become ‘tabula rasa’ or like a blank slate without anything written on it, will our fanaticism cease!
