Ancient wisdom teaches that peace stems from inner self-control rather than controlling external chaos. By applying timeless philosophies to modern life, we can cultivate resilience against digital distractions and emotional exhaustion. I learned from my SLI colleague, COO Yazdi Bankwala, a Persian, who is currently residing in London, that “Central to Zoroastrianism (founded in 6th Century BCE) is the profound dichotomy between good and evil, and the idea that the world was created by God, in order the two forces could engage with one another for peaceful co-existence & the evil one will be incapacitated.”
Yazdi who is based in Asia, has returned to London, 15 months ago to take care of his dad, Jehangir Bankwala in London, who passed on the 20th June at the age of 100 year-old (1926-2016). His family practice a modernized version of Parsi tradition 5000 years-old. Yazdi added, “It started with the ancient Greeks that saw in Zoroastrianism the archetype of the dualistic view of the world and of human destiny for a tangible change in this challenging world.”
It is widely recognized by scholars and historians that Zoroastrianism believes in one supreme God, but its theology balances monotheism with ethical dualism. This seems like a peaceful ancient wisdom that could shape modern civilization & hope one day would reclaim a meaningful place in this world. (https://www.britannica.com)
As CEO of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) & Global Sejahtera, and a student of comparative cultures & values, I learned the importance of mental discipline, the dichotomy of control, and voluntary discomfort for managing passions and alleviating emotional suffering. Through my studies, I realized how ancient societies faced the same fundamental realities as of the modern world, showcasing these parallels across different cultural manifestations.
Yes, ancient wisdom can be applied to the modern era, and doing so is highly effective for solving contemporary problems. While our technology has changed, human psychology, relationships, and emotional struggles have remained identical for thousands of years. I found ancient philosophies provide time-tested frameworks for navigating issues like digital burnout, warmongering news, and the social media algorithms designed to hijack our attention.
Share hidden facts about Malaysia and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM4,300! Find out how to join here. T&Cs apply.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.