Righteous waste

Irawati Karve's Yuganta is about a lot of things, suffice to call it an eye-opener, as a study of history foremost ought to be.
But the biggest lesson for me in it was how it argued that "saints" have brought more damage to this world than "sinners"!

It showed how a righteous Bhishma could have avoided the Mahabharata not once but multiple times in his life. It is so true. Even Yudhishtira behaves as his word is more important than his wife, and allows a most despicable behavior on her in front of his own eyes.
Indeed, it was eventuality up to a street-smart Krishna to ensure the Pandavas got what they desired, win the bloodiest war and lay claim on a kingdom they really did not deserve to rule. For Krishna understood the true nature of life. And even though he couldn't have spoken in clearer terms of the gray nature of life, the Bhakti movement in later centuries made him a God, replete with an ideal childhood and romantic youth. When a cold study of the complex character, teachings and true life-story of Krishna could have opened up our minds, we obviously find it easier to numb our minds endlessly repeating "Hare Krishna".

Karve further posits how Gandhiji could really have avoided the bloodshed of partition and it's aftermath that we suffer even today. He even failed his family to stand by what is "right". Arguable, controversial, but food for thought.
Few can deny that there couldn't have been a greater mass-murderer in the past century than Hitler. And yet, he was puritanical, almost saintly in personal-life.

Even today: The honor killings, the caste and class prejudices, even when we judge people based on their personal tastes and choices.

Life in true nature is harmony, is rhythm. Both the waxing and waning are important. There has to be beautiful birth and ghastly death. One who realizes this no more has questions. The why does this happen, the why me and the how could he.

We need to start seeing life as a cycle, as the weeks, the seasons, even birth-death-rebirth. Give up the austerity that gives grief to others. Hold true to your priorities for better or worse.

Yuganta is a must-read.
You need to accept both the good and bad in you, to be complete.