What is Purity?

Girwan Paudyal

DSS XII ‘Saipal’

Borrowing a formal definition, Purity is one of those things that is closely related with human satisfaction and contentedness. Yet, purity can’t be defined in a linear way, it is such an arbitrary word that needs to have an extended definition, isn’t it? Purity is achieved by cleansing yourself. You cleanse your body by bathing and taking a shower; but what about your mind, your soul, what about cleansing yourself of the crushing regrets of things you have? Of course theists may have you cleanse your soul by ridding yourself of sins and yet, I doubt it would lead to total contentedness.

People will have you believe that there is indeed a way to cleanse yourself with the right ways and methods, following a “human” way that circulates around morality and principle. This would hold true for most of us for the rest of our lives. What about the small, few that have had tragic losses and huge regrets then? A man witnesses a drunk driver crush his parents’ vehicle instantly killing them, yet the driver is bailed out of jail. The man takes it upon himself to enact vengeance through any means possible. In his eyes, he would be cleansing himself of the crushing sorrow that engulfs him, he would be truly satisfied- but what would others see? A man killing another man. It is purification for him, but would it be the same for us? Would he acknowledge his intentions and actions if it were for a “noble cause”?  If yes, then the world would be encompassed in utter chaos as no judge or jury on earth can figure out a person’s true intentions.

What if the man took another path to cleanse himself of the sorrow and the horrors then? Would he follow a pilgrim’s path- to find reasonable enough answers within himself to move on? Yet human nature, cruel and unyielding in itself, would have it that only few will be able to conquer it through such means. Crude emotions have a stronger hold on us than we like to admit. Often, the line between right and wrong is determined by morality and principle. Yet, the same morality and principle, which differs from person to person, drives a wedge into that line. What would be the conclusion then? Is there no way to purify or cleanse ourselves at all that would allow for contentedness? Or is it that we were meant to live life in fear, regret and sorrow?

I pondered long and hard on this question and I came up with an answer which I feel is as close to the truth as possible. Purity is indeed arbitrary. It can be molded and shaped as we wish, and the ways of purifying will change from person to person. The meaning itself lies in what we perceive as the best way, regardless of human boundaries such as morality. A robber robbing a bank to feed his family has cleansed himself by securing a better future for his family and also rid himself of the tremendous resources he wasted due to his selfishness. He feels content even though now society has ruled him out as an ‘outcast’.  Maybe for somebody, to cleanse oneself of their sin is to commit another sin. The thin line grows ever murky. Yet, this is not a topic for which a hard answer can be found, as these are only my thoughts. People are bound to differ by nature.