There were twenty theatre enthusiasts from a college who participated in the audition for staging the annual college-day play. In all, six roles were up for grabs, including one female and five male characters.
As a safety valve, the well-feted and cerebral director handpicked one additional female lead and two male characters. The first choice for the female lead was an attractive, vivacious and bubbling-with-talent performer. However, she felt wretched sharing stage space with another plucky woman.
Her covetous and jealous mind, instead of concentrating on the character and performance, kept plotting strategies to run down her perceived opponent, much to the consternation of the director.
At his wits’ end, the director opted for the alternative and assigned the lead role to the other actress. The tempestuous woman, burning with envy, was clearly irresponsible.
The world has become exceedingly ruthless and is no longer populated by monks or sages. Renunciation today is often seen as an act performed by someone lacking in courage. Competition fuels aspirations to conquer territories and enlarge spheres of dominance.
Companies, countries and communities have all become wary of the material success of their competitors and, in the process, compromise on their goals and objectives. Consequently, they resort to shortcuts in order to emerge triumphant. These vicious methods do not generate positive externalities but endanger their own existence. In the long run, however, only public good can sustain and run organizations.
Perhaps to preclude wrongdoing, some indulge in charity or philanthropy. While this may benefit the community at large, it often originates from a sense of guilt. This may explain why Mahatma Gandhi advocated the philosophy of trusteeship.
“You can be the moon and still be jealous of the stars,” writes Garry Allen.
The attribute of jealousy arises when the mind becomes possessive of certain belongings. At its core, it reflects a sense of inadequacy and deficiency in one’s personality, which triggers capricious and mercurial behaviour.
Interestingly, envy also arises from perceived shortages—of aptitude, talent, resources, connections, opportunities, or even due to unfavourable outcomes. This breeds negative feelings towards perceived competitors, culminating in jealousy and resentment.
Individuals consumed by jealousy build walls of possessiveness and false security around themselves. They derive comfort from their possessions, clinging to them—be it property, position, power, wealth, pleasure or relationships.
Devadatta remained deeply envious of his enlightened cousin, Gautama Buddha, which ultimately led to his downfall.
The jealous and possessive mind is acquisitive by nature, taking both animate and inanimate objects for granted and becoming attached to them—much like an addiction. Such a mind is perpetually fearful of losing its acquisitions. This fear nurtures negative tendencies such as hatred, greed and ruthlessness.
In the case of the college theatre, the more talented actress became fearful and consumed by hatred and insecurity. Her ruthless mind kept devising ways to outsmart the second lead and, in the process, she lost sight of her own performance. Jealous and envious minds often become laboratories of antagonism that spew negativity.
“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves,” writes William Penn.
How do we overcome jealousy, envy and possessiveness?
At one end of the spectrum are institutions and authorities that must take responsibility—through proper parenting that nurtures inherent goodness, education systems that impart values, governments that ensure equal opportunities, and societies that uphold humaneness among citizens. The ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family—can emerge from such efforts.
While this may appear altruistic, it is an attempt to restore some semblance of sanity in a society otherwise plagued by avarice and jealousy.
A spiritual dimension is also essential. One may practice any faith, but must remain tolerant of others’ viewpoints. Spirituality often succeeds where rigid interpretations of religion create divisions.
Globalisation has made the world more connected, yet it has also accelerated crass commercialisation. As a result, human minds increasingly fall prey to jealousy, envy and possessiveness.
These destructive tendencies can be addressed through a two-fold approach—systemic reforms and individual transformation—so that the divide between people narrows.
“Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires,” advised Lao Tzu.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ravi Valluri is Advisor, Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited. He has authored both fiction and non-fiction work and is a faculty of the Art of Living. His latest work is Sita to Abhaya: Have Things Changed? He can be reached at valluri.ravi@gmail.com or WhatsApp at 9618564024.