Khambatta, one of my teachers during childhood in London, had a pretty negative view of people on this planet.
As a master, he admitted that all life was joy-filled light and divine, including people; but as individuals, he said, “people stink”.
A wide-eyed boy, I revolted. Actually, my usual reaction to Khambatta - and my other teachers’ comments - was firstly one of revolt, often tinged with a healthy dose of doubt.
“What they do stinks,” Khambatta said. “For instance when human souls are put in the position of teachers and politicians - given power over others - always, they screw it up big time. In fact 99 per cent of politicians go to hell at the end of the incarnation for abuse of power for personal ends.”
“What about people like Gandhi…?”
“The one or two in history who do not screw (he used a different more obscene word here actually) it up are not even from this world, but portions of intelligence from the higher planes of other worlds.”
“What - all the good ones are from somewhere else?!”
“With one or two exceptions, yes,” he insisted.
He then gave me a few more words:
“Life is all about being put in positions and seeing how you respond. When you are ready, you will be given power over others, usually as politicians or teachers. The management of power is the one experience that people on this planet fail at, without fail! It led to the downfall of three previous civilisations and leads to the downfall of many human souls every day.”
I have to admit that this little lesson kept me back from accepting certain positions offered during my life up to now. Maybe Khambatta wanted to hold me back from failure until I was really good and ready. Or maybe it is just an excuse to avoid doing good for others?
All I know is whenever one of my friends enters a position of power, I feel that he or she is about to enter the worst - and the best - phase in life.
Malaysia, the country I love and have lived in for eight years is going through a revolution of sorts in politics. While the potential for positives has suddenly become apparent, as a foreigner, I hope all the choices made every day are the right ones.
Tread carefully, warned Khambatta. For you can too easily become like the ones you used to scorn. The difference between personal and impersonal ends is more subtle than the sharpest blade in the universe.
– Kuala Lumpur, April 9, 2008

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