What connects spirituality and law

When we read newspapers or watch TV news, it becomes evident that attacks on senior citizens have increased substantially in the last couple of years. In most cases, it is observed that the culprits turn out to be their long-trusted aides and acquaintances who rob them of their life’s savings and don’t spare them either. Though such incidents get media attention for a while, little comes out of it in the long run.

Under such a scary scenario, there is not only growing distrust in the government and the law and order machinery, but also lack of faith in interpersonal relationships. The need of the hour is to lay emphasis on developing a culture which produces human beings of benign conduct. In the above cases, greed for money led the people to perform immoral acts. This does amount to a breach of law, but it begins with a breach of morality. Unfortunately no one dares to talk of morality these days, for fear of being accused of ‘moral policing’.

Most people dismiss morality by saying that how it is perceived differs from person to person. In such cases, who will draw the line between right and wrong? It is possible to dissolve this difference by understanding spirituality as it is based on the truth that every human being is intrinsically virtuous and possesses qualities of wisdom, purity, peace, love and truth. So any act that goes against these fundamental qualities amounts to immorality and disturbs the social fabric. And so, to cleanse society of crime, there is a need to foster a culture of spirituality.

Spirituality makes people look at each other with respect. There is a need to use the latest technology, media and government channels to empower people to recognise their own goodness so that they obey laws, and even if some people err, others in the society respond to the victims’ appeals with greater responsibility and humanity. Such a culture would then be able to create harmony deep within people where laws cannot reach, and promise an inner security that fences and guards cannot provide.