A civilised community does not guarantee progress and prosperity for a healthy living, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj Ji
The event of physical birth brings an individual into contact with a particular culture, community, race, religion and nation from the very beginning of his life. As he grows in that environment, his personality is moulded by various groups, influences and, in turn, he also influences these groups. Everyone indeed, has to participate in the life of these various groups because no one can live unto himself alone, cut off from all others. And, it is no doubt true that by relating oneself meaningfully with others one is able to enrich their life at least upto a stage. But one thing that results from participation in group life is that, gradually, man develops cultural, intellectual and emotional ties with, and loyalties towards, these groups, as a result of which one difficulty that crops up from these ties is that man begins to conceive humanity in this limited sense and considers those who are in his group as his own and others, who are not of this group, as aliens. He shares the sense of oneness with only a small section of people belonging to a community and does not have the feeling of belonging to the world community.
In such a state of mind, he does not admit to his obligations beyond the frontiers of rights and duties to the group. This, sooner or later, poses a problem, for man’s narrow loyalties create prejudices which take the form of misunderstanding or ego-centric behaviour towards others initially and then bickerings and finally conflict. This then becomes the greatest danger to peace and stability. The fact that a person or a community is civilised is no guarantee for stability and progress if the people are not prepared to make even a little sacrifice for the common good of all, in which their own well-being is also ensured. So, the mantra for peace, progress and prosperity of all is to tune our mind to the wisdom, summed up in the famous Sanskrit saying: Sarvay bhavantu suhkina, sarvay santu niramaya... which means ‘Let all be happy and prosperous, and let all be healthy’.
Unless and until this forms the basis of our politics, economics and business or industrial management, conflict, confrontation, tension and turmoil will always remain. But the question is how can we cultivate this attitude? For this, the second mantra is Vasudhaiv kutumbakam.. which means that the whole world is our family. Without this ancient spiritual wisdom, neither can we have peace nor can we make constant progress.
Now this happy condition, in which man has a feeling of belonging to the world-family rather than a small group can be brought about if people are soul-conscious rather than body-conscious. As a soul, one is a member of the great human family and one feels concerned for others who are not even physically related to him in any way. It is through spirituality that one can continue to belong to a particular ethnic or racial group and yet, at the same time, go beyond all this because one will have global, rather than provincial or narrow perspective. It is spiritualism alone that reduces ethnocentricism and increases knowledge and appreciation of others and mutual respect between all human beings. It is this which can create stability and peace. The most urgent need at present, therefore, is for such spiritual education that creates in man the awareness of belonging to world-family under the Fatherhood of God.
