Super Heroes
Mankind has always aspired to have the highest abilities possible for them. Philosophers, Thinkers, Common men, Religious Gurus and even gods have tried to define the highest of the living beings. Anything or anyone coming to near these qualifications soon captures their utmost attention and devotion. And, they equate such persons with the god, the creator himself. Why? What is the reason behind it? Is this sheer madness to follow supermen, heroes?
Or is it common sense, or inner longing to be like one, or our own greediness, because you can get what you want from these powerful people only. It is obvious; you can not ask a beggar to fulfill your outrageous demands.
Are people fooled by these supermen? Or did they provide example, inspiration and guidance to mankind to live a happy life? Have we lost our own power of creative thinking? Are we living our lives according someone else’s thinking? Why often we readily believe in what is dished out at us. Some of these ideologies are centuries old and is not applicable in recent times, while, some prove to be right even today.
Let us now journey to different perceptions about the superman, the hero, the ideal man or the greatest man, whatever he or she is called.
of : – He does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crisis, to give even his life, – knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live. He is of a disposition to do men service, though he is ashamed to have a service done to him. To confer a kindness is a mark of superiority; to receive one is mark of subordination… He does not take part in a public displays… He is open in his dislikes and preferences; he talks and acts frankly, because of his contempt for men and things…..He is never fired with admiration, since there is nothing great in his eyes. He cannot live in complaisance with others, except it be a friend; complaisance is the characteristic of a slave…. He never feels malice, and always forgets and passes over injuries….He is not fond of talking…. It is not concern of his that he should be praise, or that others should be blamed. He does not speak evil of others, even of his enemies, unless it is to them. His carriage is sedate, his voice deep, his speech measured; he is not given to hurry, for he is concerned about only a few things; he is not prone to vehemence, for he things nothing important. He bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of his circumstances, like a skillful general who marshals his limited forces with all the strategy of war… He is his own friend, and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own enemy, and is afraid of solitude.
Superman of : The goal of human effort should be not the elevation of all but the development of finer and stronger individuals. “Not mankind, but superman is the goal.” Mankind does not exist; all that exists is a vast ant-hill of individuals. Better that societies should come to an end than that no higher type should appear. … The group is not an end in itself. The nature is most cruel to her finest products; she loves rather, and protects, the average and the mediocre …. The superman can survive only by human selection, by eugenic foresight and an ennobling education. “He who strides across the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies.” And there will be no moralist acid in this education of the superman; an asceticism of the will, but no condemnation of the flesh, even a superman may have a taste for beautiful ankles. A man so born and bred would be beyond good and evil; he would not hesitate to be bose if his purpose should require it; he would be fearless rather than good. Perhaps the dominant mark of the superman will be love of danger and strife, provided they have a purpose; he will not seek safety first; he will leave happiness to the greatest number. Energy, intellect, and pride, – these makes the superman. But they must be harmonized; the passions will become powers only when they are selected and unified by some great purpose which moulds chaos of desires into the power of personality. To have a purpose for which one can be hard upon others, but above all upon one’s self; to have a purpose for which one will do almost anything except betray a friend,- that is the final patent of nobility, the last formula of the superman.
Superman of (1632-1677) : To be a superman is to be free not from the restrains of social justice and amenity, but from the individualism of the instincts. With this completeness and integrity comes the equanimity of the wise man; not the aristocratic self complacency of Aristotle’s hero, much less the supercilious superiority of Nietzsche’s ideal, but a more comradely poise and peace of mind. “Men who are good by reason- i.e., men who under the guidance of reason, seek what is useful to be placed above humanity, ruling others; but to stand above the partialities and futilities of uniformed desire, and to rule one’s self…He rises from the fitful pleasures of passion to the high serenity of contemplation which sees all things as parts of an eternal order and development; he learns to smile in the face of the inevitable…
:- In “Geeta” He describe characteristics of highest as follows;
Those who are free from pride and illusion. Who have conquered the evil of attachment, dwelling constantly in the self, dissociated from desires, freed from the dualities, known as pleasures and pain the undeluded, attain the eternal state. (15.5)
Fearlessness, purity of mind, steadfastness in yoga of knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, simplicity…(16.1)
, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to fault-finding, compassion for all living beings, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty and determination…(16.2)
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from envy and pride, these belong to one born of divine nature, o Bharata. (16.3)
Note: Surprisingly, they have not included filmy heroes, cricketing masters, war lords etc.
Pradipkumar Raol
