What makes us human?
Someone posted that day "What makes us human ?" and that made me thinking. I thought about it from the perspective of what makes us human and also different from animals even though we are biologically same.
There are many difference between animals and humans but I think the most important distinction that we have is our ability to have a pause before reaction. This reaction could be to a thought, an urge or to someone who said something. It is true that we all have to strengthen this muscle to make a better use of that pause but at least we have it. Animals, however, do not have the option of taking a pause, to observe, to contemplate on their present situation or what has passed. This is what stretches the line between us.
Whenever we lose this ability of ours, or we fail to use this ability of ours ,we cross into the territory of animals. Many of our addictions and compulsive behaviours are mostly the result of tampering with this ability or failure to use this power properly.
Our animal instinct is always on alert. It is always there to help the body to survive at any cost. So, when we are not conscious or present in the Now and a thought (or an urge)pass through our mind. It will always decide to meet the requirements of that urge. It is when we stop, think over it, or decide to let the thought pass by becoming aware of our patterns we come up to the level of being a human otherwise what is there to differentiate us from the bare animal ?
If we are here to fulfill every desires of ours. To react in positive to our compulsions and urges then we are animals because it is they who do that. We humans have the ability to think over our situations and most importantly, we have the power to decide.
It is these decisions that we take every waking moment in different situations and for different kinds of things, we shall be held accountable. It is for these decisions, we are responsible not only in this world but in the world hereafter. Animal won't be judged but we shall be. Being a human is therefore much harder.
Rather than reacting to this with I did not ask to be made a human or I was not given a choice. It is better to take a pause and ponder.