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There ought to be a practical aspect of freedom,
i.e. freedom from the narrow outlook rooted in casteism and
sectarianism. One sect should respect the beliefs of another sect. We
may think differently and may follow different practices of worship and
our ways of paying obeisance to gods and goddesses or to God might also
be different, but that diversity should not be interpreted as a synonym
of antipathy or antagonism. Diversity doesn’t mean antagonism. It is
the beauty of our way of thinking, our vision. We like a garden where
different types of flowers bloom and which has many varieties of plants
and trees. If all the flowers and trees are of the same type, the
beauty of the garden will also diminish. What pains me most is that we
change what is beautiful into violence and antipathy. Is it not the
incomplete mentality of our thinking? Let us also ponder over this
question.
Let us have self-introspection, self-criticism. We must not only think
about others. On this occasion, let us review the past and look back to
examine how our past year was. Let us not only look back on the year
that has gone by, but also look forward to the coming year with
auspicious thoughts, and pray for an auspicious future. Let us
introspect and examine what we did in the past and what we are
going to do in the future. The talk of peace will remain incomplete
till the review of the past, the thought of the present and the vision
of the future are in harmony with one another. I wish that we abandon
all epithets and think of an existence devoid of epithets. Our
consciousness is not free from any label: it is influenced by our sect,
our caste and our colour. Let us put religion into practice. Let us not
regard religion as a mere testimony or symbol.
Acharya Tulsi said, “Man should set an example of morality, truth and
integrity in his life.” Religion should not only be confined to places
of worship, it should manifest itself in markets and offices as well.
The religion enshrined in scriptures and sects should make its way into
the places of work. If religion doesn’t integrate into business and
offices, and we only over-emphasize its principles, I can not say to
what extent it would really mean religion. We have to think of the
changes that are necessary in the form of the religion that is in vogue
today. If we do not think of changing the outmoded customary practices
and insist on following dogmas, it doesn’t bode well for humanity.
Let us always think of something new. We must not merely carry the
burden of old beliefs, but we should also learn to unburden our mind.
The present age lacks an environment of openness. The tension that we
see today might not have existed to this extent in the past. The main
cause of the tension that we see today lies in man’s infatuation with
wealth. Man is seized by his lust for wealth, which degenerates into
deep infatuation. As a result, he is ignoring morality. This economic
infatuation gives rise to crimes and unethical behaviour. All these
problems emanate from man’s greed for wealth and from his straying away
from the world of higher consciousness.
We are all sentient beings. Every human is a sentient being. He has
knowledge, but the difficulty is that he doesn’t associate as much with
those who have a state of higher consciousness as he does with the
material objects. Therefore, it is imperative that we talk of ahimsa
for the sake of peace, and think of limiting our consumption and
accumulation of material objects for the sake of ahimsa. If these
ethical norms become a part of our life’s daily routine, the dream of
peace may come true. What are the causes of tension, diseases and
depression? The answer to this question lies in the fact that man is
drifting away from his own existence and is getting associated with
material objects. Without finding out a solution for this problem the
problem of stress and depression can not be solved. Mere medicines and
hospitals can not help us to get rid of diseases unless we think over
the causes that give rise to them.
I plead for peace and nonviolence. I myself know very well that this
can not be accomplished merely through sermons, discourses and
messages. A change may occur in our thoughts and beliefs, but it may
turn out to be a short-lived impact. A thought that reaches the domain
of our conscious mind only may not last long. Its impact on our mental
attitude will be transitory until it is able to make its way into the
unconscious mind. In order to transmit thoughts into the unconscious
mind, we have to undergo rigorous practice. Without that it is not
possible. Let us therefore think of practice and training. In the
present system of education, great emphasis is placed on students’
intellectual development. They are also learning strategies for
technological development, but are not taught how to develop their
emotional competence. Today training in ahimsa is not imparted to
students. I believe that without training and practice mere discourses
in ahimsa will degenerate into the futility of verbal exercise. It will
fail to bring about any change in society. If we want to transform
society, we will have to change our lifestyle and our way of working.
The greatest solution lies in a self-restrained lifestyle. There is one
main slogan of the Anuvrat Movement i.e. “self-restraint is life.”
In my opinion, the highest precept for solving the problem of the
present is self-restraint. Today innumerable people are suffering on
account of the unrestrained behaviour of some individuals. The lack of
self-restraint on the part of one individual can make the lives of
several individuals miserable. We should ponder over the question of
self-restraint and self-control. We should not think of controlling
others, but should think of controlling our emotions and awakening our
inner consciousness. The more a person’s inner consciousness is
awakened, the more perfect will be the solution of the problem. We will
not succeed if we try to find a solution on the external level only.
A boy came and lit the lamp. The saint asked “Where has the light come
from?” The boy blew the lamp out and put a counter question “Where has
the light gone?” No one knows from where the light comes and where it
goes. It is a problem, and it is we who have to find a solution. We
will also have to find a solution of the problem as to where unrest is
coming from and where peace is going. Let us not continue to grapple
with the problem and throw pebbles in the darkness, but we should move
with the light and find out a solution. The way to the solution of the
problem lies in a state of consciousness, that is free from tension,
fear and dogmatic insistence.
Let us practise pious thought and celebrate it with great joy. May this
joy become our permanent attribute and may we succeed in collecting
such resources as may make the future auspicious and prosperous. |
