Pattanaik's Secret Secrets of Vishnu: Part B (Matsya)

Pattanaik's Secret Secrets of Vishnu: Part B (Matsya)

This is the second secret of Vishnu: because of our larger brains, humans are able to empathize and take advantage of other people and animals. No animal has the ability to make judgements, show mercy, or experience empathy. Animals live in a natural state, humans strive to exist in a spiritual state. The chapter explores the differences between animal social structures and human culture. Only humans can create culture. The chapter puts a big emphasis on imagination as the catalyst for either exclusion or inclusion. Inclusion is positively associated with Dharma, while exclusion is negatively associated with adharma. Ram (or Rama) is a perfect example of dharma. Nature, because of greed, is exploited for culture. Culture is created by man's imagination of paradise, but this always excludes groups of people/animals/nature. The second part of this chapter discusses the balance between creating culture and protecting nature. Humans cannot include everyone, society will always exclude somebody. 

Matsya

Source: Seven Secrets of Vishnu by Devdutt Pattanaik