Address at the
Swami Chidananda Janma
Shatabarshiki Mahotsava
At Bhubaneswar
25th January 2014
“Evolution of Enlightened
Society”
“Arise, awake, and stop not till
the goal is reached.”
….A sloka of Katha Upanishad
I am delighted to participate in
the Birth Centenary Celebrations of Swami Chidananda Saraswati Maharaj, the
great disciple of Swami Sivananda, Founder of The Divine Life Society. My
greetings to all the distinguished guests, Divine Life Society members and
monks. When I am addressing the members of the Divine Life Society let me
recall how Swami Sivananda once described about Swami Chidananda, Swami said, I
quote “Chidananda is a Jeevanmukhta, a great saint, an ideal Yogi, a
param-bhakta and a great Sage. He was
born to fulfil a great mission. He is
the torch bearer of my mission”. What a
great blessing by a Guru.
I had the good fortune of meeting
Swami Sivanandaji way back in 1950s. I appeared for short-service commission in
the Air Force after completing my degree in Aeronautical Engineering. I could
not make it and on my way back I halted at Rishikesh for a while to emerge out
of the frustration of not realizing my intense childhood dream of flying an
aircraft. It was then that I walked in to Swamiji’s Ashram. My Muslim name
aroused no reaction in him and as if he read my agony he made me sit near him
and then washed every single trace of despair out of my system through his
gentle words. Even today I can hear his words in the deep silence of my inner
space, “Accept your destiny and go ahead with your life. You are not destined
to become an Air Force pilot. What you are destined to become is not yet known
but it will manifest itself at the appropriate time. Forget this failure, as it
was essential to lead you to your destined path. Search, instead, for your true
purpose of your existence. Become one with your self, my son! Surrender
yourself to the will of God,” Swamiji said.
Today, standing before you in his function, I am re-living that
beautiful moment. While I am addressing this divine gathering of disciples of
Swami Sivananda from all over the world on this great occasion, I would like to
talk on the topic “Evolution of Enlightened Society in Planet Earth”.
Origins of Life
Life originated 600 million years
ago and continental drift occurred 200 million years ago creating five
continents. Mammals evolved 140 million years ago, Hominids that is the human
type, evolved 26 million years ago but modern man only arrived on the scene
some 200,000 years ago. He migrated and colonized the world only in the last
50,000 years. The spoken language is some 10,000 years old while writing
evolved only a few thousand years ago. All this phenomenal progress has been
achieved only within the short span of 200 to 400 generations, that is in just
10,000 to 5,000 years.
Newer DNA technologies have given
us better insight in retracing the history of man. ‘The DNA of a human being is
his history book ever written’. Nowadays intelligence, cognizance, drug
response, behavioral problems every thing is related to genes: disease gene
mapping is progressing at a faster pace with new age DNA technology. It is
probably during the 50,000-30,000 years of co-existence that societies have
evolved adopting newer innovations and cultures.
Challenges of Modern Society
Advances in genetics
demonstrating great similarity in the genome of man and animals shows that the
limbic brain perhaps is the cause for all conflicts within and outside. So far
human society, from origin until now has always been at war within and between
groups and has led to two World Wars.
Presently, terrorism and low intensity warfare are affecting many parts
of the world. Can we find methods by which we can remove these conflicts? The
divine life society of which you all belong may find a solution for these types
of conflicts.
Unity in Diversity
India
is a country which has over the years learnt to evolve and maintain a unique
unity amongst diversity. It has become an inspirational model and an example to
emulate for every region in the world. India
supports a social form of economic development and encourages a model of growth
with equity. We are conscious of the need for growth to respect the environment
and make it sustainable for future generations.
With this valuable experience of centuries behind India,
we can bring a doctrine of global cooperation built over the foundation of
regional collaborations and core competencies of people and society of many
nations.
In this context, I am reminded of
the dream of the Indian poet who articulated 3000 years back in the Tamil
classic which tells "I am a world citizen; every citizen is my own kith
and kin”. This feeling itself, I am sure, can be the foundation for the way of
human thinking on unity of minds.
Evolution of Enlightened Society
With this spirit of universal
brotherhood, I would like to put forth to this important gathering, a
methodology for evolving a happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our
planet, which I call as “Evolution of Enlightened Society in Planet Earth”. How do we create such an enlightened
society, which will have three components (a) Education with value system (b)
Religion transforming into spirituality and (c) Economic development for
societal transformation. Let us discuss.
A) Education with value system:
We have seen that the seeds of peace in the world have their origin in the
righteousness in the heart of every individual. Such righteous citizens lead to
the evolution of enlightened society.
Education with value system has to be so designed that the righteousness
in the heart is developed in young minds. That should be the mission of
education. The prime learning environment is five to seventeen years of age.
This reminds me of an ancient Greek teacher's saying, "Give me a child for
seven years; afterwards, let God or devil take the child. They cannot change
the child". This indicates the power of great teachers and what good
teachers can inculcate in the young minds. Parents and teachers must inculcate
moral leadership amongst children. It requires the ability to have insights
into the uniqueness and universality of human consciousness. True education is
the acquisition of enlightened feelings and enlightened powers to understand
daily events and to understand the permanent truth linking man, to his
environment, human and planetary.
While I was in college, I
remember the lectures given by the highest authority of a Jesuit institution
Rev Father Rector Kalathil of St. Joshep’s college, Tiruchirappalli, Southern
India. Every week on
Monday, he will take a class for an hour. He used to talk about good human
beings present and past and what makes a good human being. In this class
he used to give lectures on personalities such as Buddha, Confucius, St.
Augustine, Califa Omar, Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein,
Abraham Lincoln and moral stories linked to our civilizational heritage. In the
moral science class, Father Kalathil used to highlight the best aspect of, how
the great personalities have been evolved as good human beings through parental
care, teaching and companionship of great books. Even though these lessons were
given to me in 1950’s during my college days, they inspire me even today. It is
essential that in the schools and colleges, lectures are given by great
teachers of the institution once in a week for one hour on civilizational
heritage and derived value system. This may be called as Moral Science Class
that will elevate the young minds to love the country, to love the other human
beings and elevate them to higher planes.
This will ensure embedding of righteousness in each citizen with eternal
goodness and wholesomeness in conduct.
As we say in our country:
Righteousness
Where there is righteousness in
the heart
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the
character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the
home.
There is an order in the nation.
When there is order in the
nation,
There is peace in the world.
This is true, for the whole
world. When we need peace in the world, we need order in the nation; we need
harmony in the home. The origin is righteousness in the heart. Now, let me take
up the area that is transforming religion into spiritual force. Many in the
world believe, it is a difficult mission.
I would like to share an experience that I have witnessed which has convinced
me that it is possible.
B) Religion Transforming into
Spirituality: Universal Mind: Religion has two components, theology and
spirituality. Even though theology is unique to every religion, the spiritual
component spreads the value to be inculcated by human beings for promoting a
good human life and welfare of the society, while pursuing the material
life.
I would like to recall one
incident, which commonly occurs in some parts of our country. I have witnessed
this event when I was a young boy (10 yrs). In our house, periodically I used
to see three different unique personalities meet. Pakshi Lakshmana Shastrigal,
who was the head priest of the famous Rameshwaram temple and a vedic scholar,
Rev Father Bodal, who built the first church in Rameshwaram
Island and my father who was an
Imam in the mosque. All three of them used to sit and discuss the islands
problems and find solutions. In addition they built several religious
connectivities with compassion. These connectivities quietly spread to others
in the island like the fragrance from the flowers. This sight always comes to
my mind whenever, I discuss with people on Dialogue of religions. India
has had this advantage of integration of minds for thousands of years.
Throughout the nation and the world, the need to have a frank dialogue among
cultures, religions and civilizations has been felt now more than ever.
This incident, what I have
narrated gives me the confidence that religions definitely can be bridged
through spiritual components. We have to spread such “Glad Tidings” to every
part of the world.
Let me now talk to you on the
message of “Giving”.
Mahatma Gandhiji Mother’s advice:
Only good deeds lead to good thinking, good thinking results into actions
radiating love as commanded by Almighty. While talking about good deeds, I am
reminded of the advice given to Gandhiji by his mother. She says,
"Son, in your entire life
time, if you can save or better someone's life, your birth as a human being and
your life is a success. You have the blessing of the Almighty God".
This advice has made a deep
impact in the mind of Gandhiji, which made him to work for the humanity
throughout his life. Every mother has to give this advice to her sons and
daughters, so that the whole humanity will be benefited.
Now I would like to share an
experience how the religion and science came together in a big mission. It was
during early 1960’s, the founder of Indian Space Research Programme Prof.
Vikram Sarabhai with his team, had located a place technically most suited for
space research after considering many alternatives. The place called Thumba in Kerala, was
selected for space research as it was near the
magnetic equator, ideally suited for ionospheric and electrojet research
in upper atmosphere. I was fortunate to
work with Prof Vikram Sarabhai for about eight years.
The major challenge for Prof
Vikram Sarabhai was to get the place in a specific area. As was normal, Prof. Vikram Sarabhai
approached the Kerala Government administrators first. After seeing the profile
of the land and the sea coast, the political system expressed the view that,
thousands of fishing folks lived there, the place had an ancient St Mary
Magdalene Church, Bishop's House and a
school. Hence it would be very difficult to give this land and they were
willing to provide land in an alternative area. Similarly the political system
also opined that it would be a difficult situation due to the existence of
important institutions and the concern for people who were to be relocated.
However there was a suggestion to approach the only person who could advise and
help. That was the Bishop “Rev Father
Peter Bernard Pereira”. Prof Vikram Sarabhai, approached the Bishop on a
Saturday evening, I still remember. The
meeting between the two turned out to be historical. Many of us witnessed the event. Rev Father
exclaimed, “Oh Vikram, you are asking my children’s abode, my abode and God’s
abode. How is it possible?” Both had a
unique quality that they could smile even in difficult situations. Rev Father Peter Bernard Pereira asked Prof.
Vikram Sarabhai to come to church on Sunday morning at 9.00 AM. Prof. Vikram Sarabhai went to the church again
on Sunday with his team. At that time the prayer was progressing with
the recitation of Bible by Father Pereira.
After the prayer was over, the
Bishop invited Prof. Vikram Sarabhai to come to the dais. The Rev Father introduced Prof Vikram Sarabhai to the mass, “Dear children, here is a
scientist, Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. What
do sciences do? All of us experience, including this church, the light from
electricity. I am able to talk to you
through the mike which is made possible by technology. The treatment to patients by doctors comes
from medical sciences. Science through technology enhances the comfort and
quality of human life. What do, I do, as a preacher? I pray for you, for
your well being, for your peace. In short, what Vikram is doing and what I am
doing, are the same - both science and spirituality seek the Almighty’s
blessings for human prosperity in body and mind. Dear Children, Prof Vikram
says, he would build within a year, near the sea-coast, alternative facilities to what we are having. Now dear
children, can we give our abode, can we give my abode, can we give the God’s abode
for a great scientific mission?” There was a total silence, a pin drop silence.
Then all of them got up and said ‘Amen’ which made the whole church
reverberate.
That was the church where we had
our design centre, where we started rocket assembly and the Bishop’s house was
our scientists’ working place. Later the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching
Station (TERLS) led to the establishment of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
and the space activities transformed into multiple space centers throughout the
country. Now this church has become an important centre of learning, where
thousands of people learn about the dynamic history of the space programme of India
and the great minds of a scientist and spiritual leader. Of course, the Thumba
citizens got the well equipped facilities, worshiping place and educational
centre in an alternate place at the right time.
C) Economic development for
societal transformation
We have a mission of spreading
this economic growth throughout the country including the rural sector. Nearly 220 million people have to be lifted
by upgrading their quality of life in both rural and urban areas. Even though
the GDP growth indicates our economic growth, people’s participation is
essential for achieving the required targets. It is essential to ensure that
the citizens are empowered with good quality of life encompassing nutritious
food, good habitat, clean environment, affordable healthcare, quality education
and productive employment, integrated with our value system drawn from
civilizational heritage leading to the comprehensive development of the nation
that will bring smiles in one billion people. These are indicators for the
growth of the National Prosperity Index. To achieve that growth rate, we have
identified five areas where India
has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food
processing (2) Education and Healthcare (3) Information and Communication
Technology (4) Infrastructure development such as power, transportation,
communication and including Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) and
(5) Self reliance in critical technologies. We propose to realize the vision of
transforming India
into a developed nation before 2020 by energizing and igniting the minds of all
the 540 million youth of the nation.
Conclusion
Dear friends, I recently wrote a
book “Squaring the Circle: Seven Steps to Indian Renaissance”. In this book, I
have said, I believe that it is time Indian youth emerge out of the servitude
mentality and stand in the world community as free-thinking human
resource. People of religion and
spirituality can take lead in this mission.
It is essential to reform Indian society using reason, challenge ideas grounded
in primordial identities of religion, ethnicity and castes, and advance
knowledge through the scientific method. Let us promote scientific thought,
inquiry, and intellectual interchange and oppose superstition and intolerance.
We have a bounden duty to work for young Indian generation’s release from our
self-incurred incapacity to use our own understanding without the guidance of
another. This incapacity is not real. It is self-created and self-imposed. Its cause is not lack of intelligence, but
rather a lack of determination and courage to use one's intelligence without
being guided by another. Let us give our
youth this understanding enabling clarity of their perception.
What I have learnt from the
spiritual journey can be summarized in the following verses;
“Oh Almighty, create thoughts and
actions
in the minds of the people of my
nation
so that they live united.
Help all religious leaders of the
country
Give strength to the people to
combat the forces of division.
Embed the thought ‘Nation is
bigger than the Individual’
in the minds of the leaders and
people.
Oh God, bless my people to work
and transform the country into a prosperous nation soon.”
I believe that a beautiful
society can be evolved with a good human being for self, for family, society,
nation and the world through thoughts of Swami Chidananda Saraswati with a
message:
Tolerance for people’s opinion,
Tolerance for people’s culture,
Tolerance for people’s belief
system,
Tolerance and people’s styles.
With these words, I inaugurate the
Birth Centenary celebrations of Swami Chidananda Saraswati and also the three
year long Centenary Celebrations.
May God bless you
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