More about Articles
Contents
- 1. Present state of the nation - nadir of deterioration
- 2. Factors responsible for the nation’s plight
- 3. Total revolution - the only remedy for the sorry state of the nation
1. Present state of the nation - nadir of deterioration
1.1 Not a nation but merely a social group
In the ancient times, the concept of a nation did not exist. Then clans, tribes, castes and communities had their independent existence. These constituents would not survive once their artificial or political external covering would get destroyed. As against this, a nation is imperishable; because a nation is a veritable result of human evolution. A nation is not merely an economic, political or administrative unit but is a lively, collective psychological unit. A nation has an inner life of its own. The principle of unity remains alive in the nation. This principle has a moral and spiritual base. A nation’s administration operates by exercising its authority on its constituent elements and in accordance with political convenience. If all the citizens of a nation are bound together by an internal unity, then such a nation never disintegrates or perishes.
If one contemplates about India on the basis of this definition of a nation, does India deserve to be considered a nation? The failure of powerful Hindu rulers to retaliate against invasions by Muslims in the ancient times, the heightened feeling of animosity among Hindu brethren, a handful of Englishmen being able to rule a massive Hindu empire, etc. all point towards the lack of internal unity among the Hindus. When such an administration which has not united into a Nation disintegrates, one cannot find any inner tendency in the society which can assist in rebuilding the external unity of the Nation thus leading to disintegration of the nation, e.g. partitioning of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Contrary to this, if a Nation whose people are bound by an inner unity, disintegrates due to any circumstances, an inner tendency to reunite is present therein, e.g. reunification of Germany. Our country is on the verge of further disintegration akin to how a single empire got partitioned into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Demand for an independent state of Kashmir is being made since several years. The separatist attitude of small North-eastern states like Asam and Manipur of separating from India, is gaining momentum since the last few years. Recently, independent states of Chattisgad, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal have been created from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh respectively. Demand for an independent state of Vidharbha is also gaining momentum in Maharashtra. This is a result of lack of feeling of unity among the countrymen, an attitude of not making efforts towards achieving unity and external invasions which disrupt the social fabric of life. If the current situation of our nation continues in this fashion, then the day is not far off when it will cease to exist altogether.
Sir Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister of Britain stated that India is not a nation but a disunited populace and that it is quite easy to rule over such a populace. It is regrettable that these remarks made 60 to 70 years ago, still hold good for India.
1.2 Western and Indian philosophy about progress
Westerners always equate progress with material progress. The definition of progress as per Indian culture (sanskruti) is far superior to that of Westerners. Indian culture mentions three inspirations namely sattva, raja and tama which inspire mankind. Raja-tama inspirations strive for material prosperity while the sattva inspiration strives to attain internal satisfaction. Indian culture certainly expected as much prosperity as is necessary to fulfill all one’s needs so as to obtain happiness but not so much as will prove an obstacle in attaining internal satisfaction. This culture accorded all the three inspirations their due position while considering the sattva inspiration as the predominant one. Unfortunately, over the period of time as the attitude of the Indians to blindly emulate Westerners gained a firm hold, Indians forgot this principle of attaining happiness put forth by Indian culture. Today, though Indians have made modern progress in fields such as science, technology on par with developed nations and have proved their intellectual prowess the world over; yet they have deviated from the sattva inspiration endowing inner satisfaction. Materialism refers to grossness. When man gets entrapped in materialism, the aim of attaining eternal happiness and satisfaction remains far from being attained. Consequently, the present lifestyle of Indians is filled with dissatisfaction, lack of peace, immorality and selfishness.
1.3 Problems faced by the nation due to a raja-tama predominant lifestyle
Corruption, selfishness, immorality, crime, poverty, social inequality, violation of human rights are the results of a raja-tama predominant lifestyle.
A. An anxious and insecure day-to-day life of Indians: One need not delve deep to understand how the entire social system is eroded by corruption. Even a study of the day-to-day happenings around us is sufficient. The first encounter with corruption when we get up in the morning is in the form of the milkman who brings adulterated milk. When we glance through the morning newspaper we get to read about massacres in Kashmir, clashes, riots at various places, rapes, etc. Hence, instead of a good morning our day begins with a bad morning. When we set out for office it is difficult to walk on the roads as the hawkers have encroached on the road and slum dwellers have occupied the pavements. If one sets out by bus then the conductor has no change! If one travels by rickshaw or taxi either the fare is not charged as per the meter reading or the meter displays higher fare. If we use our own vehicle, then we have to make do with adulterated petrol. If we visit any office then we find that everyone is corrupt right from the watchman to the I.A.S. officer, from the constable to the Director General of Police or from the ward boy to the chief medical officer. Corruption has now infiltrated all spheres including finance, judiciary, education, sports, etc. One now realises why India has a high rating amongst the world’s most corrupt countries and why it is said that 60% of Indians are corrupt. As one has to face such unpleasant events throughout the day, most people lead a life of distress and strife.
If we take into account Jammu-Kashmir and the North-eastern states, a gory picture of a populace terror-stricken with the inhuman acts of terrorism meets our eyes. The social scenario in Jammu-Kashmir has deteriorated to such an extent in the last ten years that it is impossible to carry out even the day-to-day activities. Here, setting out of the house at night is like inviting one’s own death. Even if someone is critically ill, he cannot be shifted to the hospital. As curfew is imposed at any odd hour, there is no guarantee that a person who has set out of the house will return home on time or whether he will reach home safely at all. Everyone goes through their daily routine under tremendous tension as at any time they may fall prey to gunfire, bomb blasts or be murdered. To add to it, the Indian government had declared an unilateral ceasefire against the terrorists with the aim of restoring peace in Kashmir. On account of this, the morale of the police, the Border Security Force and the army weakened while that of the terrorists received a boost. The terrorists’ belief that ‘We will conquer Kashmir’ has turned into a firm conviction. Prior to the formation of Israel, whenever Jews used to meet they would greet one another saying, “Let us meet in Israel next year”. Likewise terrorists now say, “See you in Kashmir next month!”. All this has made the local populace to totally lose its trust in its government. The people carry on their lives helplessly saying, “We have met with this fate because we are Indians.”
In short, the common man in the country has totally lost faith in political parties, people and worldly transactions. They are unable to find an alternative. The average man has become devoid of radiance and confused and is helplessly tolerating all the injustice inflicted upon him.
B. Tendency to form ‘unions’ for selfish ends: The various components of society are bound by unions or associations. An union thinks of only a small section of society and not of the entire society. Unions fight only for their rights but do not teach the workers to carry out their duties. The hooliganism of various workers’ unions is widely known. The present financial state of the nation is so bad that salaries of employees should actually be reduced. But in reality, the unions continually demand for a raise in the salary. In order to get their demand for a salary raise or some other similar ones fulfilled, the unions wield the weapon of strikes to hold the public and the nation at ransom. Those who give a call for strike which is against national interest in all aspects as well as those who lend their support to it, are all traitors in a way.
Union workers who come together only for selfish interests also lack foresight, e.g. 20 years ago when the Government thought of computerising the banks, workers’ unions strongly opposed the move claiming that it would result in increasing unemployment. Consequently, India lagged behind on the international level.
If one does not curb in time, this attitude of the workers of forming a union in order to extract maximum benefit, the future of the nation will become even more bleak.
C. Unholy nexus between criminals, police and politicians: Our countrymen have experienced their nexus on several occasions. Hence the public is confused as to who are the protectors of law and its saviour.
2. Factors responsible for the nation’s plight
2.1 Politicians
The holy text, Mahabharat 12.56.3 says ‘सर्वस्य जीवलोकस्य राजधर्म: परायणम् ।।’ meaning ‘the code of Righteousness of rulers (rajadharma) alone is the great support of all living creatures.’ This illustrates the importance of a politician from the nation’s point of view.
A. Unrighteous politicians: No one need get confused whether unfavourable times or the rulers are the cause for the pitiable plight of the nation; as indeed the unrighteous rulers themselves are responsible for it. The Mahabharat says, ‘राजा कालस्य कारणम् । (The ruler alone is the cause for the times.)’ The reason why our secular democracy is hailed today is because either the rulers have misconceptions about Righteousness (Dharma) or because their intellect is shrouded by unrighteousness. Only a righteous nation can be called humanitarian in the true sense. No nation can be devoid of Righteousness and certainly not India, because Righteousness is the very life of a nation and equality of all religions (sects) is the soul of Righteousness. Righteousness being the very life of a nation, a nation devoid of Righteousness is lifeless. When any nation’s constitution is based on Righteousness and not merely on psychology, the chances of deterioration of Righteousness are low. As a result, the probability of society and nation being affected by calamities is reduced markedly.
B. Immoral politicians: The moral values spoken about in politics is generally a farce. We encounter several examples of moral degradation of political leaders.
C. Dereliction of duty by the politicians: The duties of an administrator are twofold namely - those related to home affairs and those related to foreign affairs. The present day politicians do not fulfill either of these, that is they do not follow the code of Righteousness of rulers (rajadharma).
Not executing the duties related to home affairs
1. Not looking after the subjects: Almost 50% out of the 1 billion population in our country is living below the poverty line. When the politicians are asked the reason for escalating poverty, they give evasive answers and attribute it to population explosion and illiteracy. These politicians who merely give slogans of ‘Do away with poverty’ do not take any stringent measures to eradicate poverty. Terrorism has wreaked havoc in Jammu-Kashmir and the North-eastern states of India. As a result even well-to-do families face a dire state. The politicians have totally failed to even protect their lives, let alone provide the basic amenities to the public in these states. So also, in times of natural calamities like floods or earthquake, despite having the entire administrative machinery at their disposal and receiving assistance from international organisations, time and again it is seen that the politicians have failed to provide the necessary timely aid to the victims of the calamity. Apathy towards public welfare and dereliction of duty are clearly the reasons behind this.
2. Not protecting the subjects: The public has not only to face various crimes from robbery, dacoity, extortion, rapes, etc. but also malpractices such as extortion of money which are carried out openly during public celebration of religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, etc. Moreover, their incidence is increasing day by day; but the politicians have failed miserably in curbing these crimes.
3. Failing to punish the evildoers: When hooligans from political parties themselves get elected as panchayat members to members of the Parliament, who will take punitive action against the evildoers?
4. Failing to make the subjects follow the path of Righteousness (Dharma): This was never done by politicians since they themselves are unrighteous. As a result along with Righteousness, morality too deteriorated. Consequently, corruption and crime reached a peak.
Not performing duties pertaining to foreign affairs
1. Not remaining on constant vigil: Always remaining alert about the enemy is an important aspect of national defence. From the time of India’s independence till date, enemies have attacked India on several occasions. The 1999 Kargil encounter is a recent example of this. This shows the lackadaisical attitude of our rulers with regard to the defence of our borders.
2. Inefficient intelligence agencies: Several criminals, terrorists and pro-Pakistani Muslims from our country itself are harassing the Indian public and are causing tremendous damage to the country. Agents of Pakistan’s intelligence agency and some pro-Pakistani Muslims have even secured entry into the Indian Defence Forces right upto the Union Home Ministry. How will an intelligence agency which is incapable of procuring information about such people who pose a threat to national welfare, obtain information from countries abroad?
3. Negligence about the armed forces: It is the duty of the politicians to see that our soldiers who defend the country by putting their very lives at stake, are provided with all the necessary amenities. How our politicians fail to even provide the minimum necessary equipment to our soldiers to fight against the enemy is clear from the Kargil experience. During the battle of Kargil, Indian soldiers had to fight without the special shoes to be used in snow!
4. Failing to annihilate the enemy: It is a doctrine from the scriptures that if the enemy fights cunningly, then one too should retaliate likewise. Till today, Pakistan has committed several acts of aggression against India and Pakistan sponsored terrorists have brought about numerous massacres of Hindus in Kashmir; yet India maintains its image of a ‘peace loving nation’, trusts Pakistan’s offer of friendship and even declares an unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir against the terrorists! The politicians do not even realise that this encourages the enemy in a way.
D. Varying facets of the politicians’ narrow-minded attitude: One will have to regretfully say that administration is a sheer waste of human resources after seeing the narrow-minded attitude of the political parties and their followers.
One with personal ambitions and egoistic: Today's leaders praise some social ideologies under the pretext of the welfare of society. Though they call themselves representatives of the people, in reality they only harbour personal ambitions. They become arrogant with the political, military and economic powers which they gain.
Power hungry: In the pre-independence era there was no competition for power because political leaders were assessed in terms of their sacrifice for the nation. After independence however, the culture of sacrifice was replaced by a new era of power struggle. In this lust for power and the fame and respect gained thereof, political leaders forgot the path of honesty and unknowingly began to harbour undesirable attitudes.
Absence of an expansive attitude: Since our political parties or leaders are oblivious of the problems faced by the entire country, they have proved totally inefficient before the great political powers in the world.
Extremely secretive: Elected representatives of the people open a front with likeminded people and juggle with the constitutional provisions to form a majority and execute transactions in secrecy like thugs.
Making use of national calamities to fulfill selfish motives: Our selfish leaders indulged in corruption in the purchase of arms and even in the purchase of coffins during the battle of Kargil.
Hooligans becoming political leaders: For some years after independence, elected representatives would make speeches after an indepth study on the matter and bring about interesting debates on the subject. Now instead there is pandemonium, slogan shouting, manhandling one another and destruction of property. The Speaker and the Prime Minister have to mete out punishment to control such members of the Parliament who waste precious time of the Parliament through their unruly behaviour. What can be more shameful for Indian democracy than all this?
The sorry state of affairs is that the public is yet unable to see through the hypocrisy of the political leaders as if hypnotised by them and blindly follows them.
2.2 Public
A. Not having a liking for Righteousness (Dharma) and morality (niti): There is no able politician in the country today who can make the public follow the code of Righteousness by setting an ideal before it by himself following Righteousness. Naturally according to the law, ‘As is the king, so are the subjects’, the people too have become negligent about following Righteousness. Our religion and culture are openly denigrated. Pictures denigrating our deities are printed on wrappers of fire crackers, boxes of sweets, newspaper advertisements and lottery tickets. Malpractices which taint religion are openly resorted to during religious festivals. Yet no religious sentiments are kindled in any citizen of the country. Not one is inspired to curb these acts which taint religion. This itself is the lack of Righteousness among the Indians.
The morality (niti) of society too is dwindling, along with Righteousness. It becomes necessary to understand the difference between Righteousness and morality. A quote from the Upanishad says, ‘Speak the Truth, follow the code of Righteousness (सत्यं वद, धर्मं चर)’. In this, ‘speak the Truth’ is related to morality while ‘follow the code of Righteousness’ is related to Righteousness. Morality is mainly at a psychological level whereas Righteousness is on the spiritual plane. Morality is a small aspect of Righteousness. Morality is relative to time, place and person whereas Righteousness is not. Righteousness does not undergo change according to time, place and person. The doctrine of Righteousness that if one offers one’s body, mind and wealth to The Lord, then one attains God realisation is an eternal truth.
Given below are a few reasons why Indians lack morality:
In the olden times, effulgent and towering personalities like Lokmanya Tilak and Svatantryavir Savarkar set an ideal before the society. Today, their place is taken by criminals, politicians, filmstars, sportstars, etc.
At home, parents do not set a proper ideal before their children. Hence moral values are not inculcated in the wards.
Growing influence of materialistic western culture on the society, with the advent of television.
No educational curriculum in schools, colleges or elsewhere encompasses the subjects of Righteousness (Dharma) and morality. It is only lately that schools have commenced moral education.
B. A cadaveric society that has lost it basic effulgence: There is a saying that ‘Society acquires politicians according to its worth’. The Indians themselves are responsible for acquiring such politicians who derelict their duties; as they alone elect them time and again. Should other nations have got such politicians then the public there would have revolted and overthrown them. This does not occur in India because of the cadaveric society, that is a mentality devoid of the code of Righteousness of a warrior (kshatradharma).
Most people have forgotten the latent potential within them and are totally oblivious of the might of social unity. At one juncture, Swami Vivekanand has said, “The drawback of our society is not that it does not set out to do a magnanimous task, but rather that it does not do what is within its reach.” It is only when every countryman is inspired to do something for the society, nation and Righteousness that a new divine consciousness will emerge within the nation, not otherwise.
C. Sorrowful state of the mentality of the society
Arrogance: We experience everyday how people behave arrogantly.
Absence of humanitarianism: No educated citizen comes forward to assist someone who is injured or is lying helpless on the road.
Absence of remorse about the darkest of deeds such as corruption: Formerly people would hesitate to do bad deeds due to an unknown fear. Today, not only is there no fear but people have become so insensitive that they do not even feel any remorse. Rampant corruption is taking the nation to its doom.
Desire for reservations: In the government departments, institutions, schools and colleges, 50% posts come under the reserved category while in some places it is over 50%. Many social groups are constantly trying for their inclusion in the ‘reserved’ categories.
Desire for salary increments and perks: Despite the government having a great financial burden, government employees are lavishly given perks. Despite this, employees are continuing to demand for hikes in salary and more privileges. In India, people do not think about sacrifice, but only about personal luxuries.
Greater significance endowed to number than to qualities: Today qualities are accorded a secondary status while attaching greater significance to numbers. Hence mob psychology is prevalent in India.
Erroneous philosophy: Nowadays human problems are looked at by forming wrong equations such as ‘farmers, labourers, tribals, villagers and the poor are virtuous and intellectuals, the rich and city dwellers are unrighteous’. Such philosophy is being propagated so that there is a clash between the various social groups.
Contradiction between actions and thought: Today, all over we see contrasting attitudes. On one hand people denounce amassing wealth but actually strive to amass it.
This is not culture (sanskruti), but perversion (vikruti): If the activities of the present day social workers and youth organisations and the cultural and religious programmes organised are observed then it can be said that today, culture has become a perversion.
2.3 Religious leaders of Hindus
The Yajurveda quotes, ‘वयं राष्ट्रं जागृयात् पुरोहित: ।’ meaning ‘We Brahmans (priests) will perpetually remain vigilant about Righteousness (Dharma) and keep the flame of Righteousness burning in the country’. It is due to such Brahmans that is seekers knowledgeable in Spirituality, that the nation becomes enriched with culture and effulgence. Hence in olden times there were important positions such as Guru of the king (Rajguru), the royal priest in royal courts. In those days such extremely righteous evolved souls were a great support of the administration. But today however, there is lack of religious leadership in our country. Muslim priests such as mullas and maulavis preach in the masjids and Christian priests guide Christians in churches in all matters including religious, political and social matters. In Hindu temples however, Hindus do not get guidance even about religious issues, let alone acquiring social and political guidance. One sees only the priestly class practising the stage of ritualistic worship (karmakand) whereas some heads of hermitages (maths) run schools teaching Vedas which generate only mendicants and shelters for cows (goshala). Why have the Hindu religious leaders upon whom lies the responsibility of constantly keeping Righteousness (Dharma) intact, turned away from the society? The society itself is responsible for this. People want priests only at the time of performing ritualistic worship (puja), marriages and the last rites of a person. Otherwise priests are constantly criticised by the society. Due to this hatred by society, the priestly class which has some knowledge about Righteousness (Dharma) and fosters moral values, began to keep itself aloof from society.
2.4 Danger posed by some Muslims and Christians to the nation
Some Christian missionaries in the country foster separatist tendencies by resorting to conversions and social work. Increasing the number of followers of their sect through any means and obtaining benefits is the main intention behind the conversions. We should maintain our distance from such individuals who pose a threat to national interests and cause deterioration of Righteousness.
Ignorance, desire for money, duress and hatred are some of the reasons for falling prey to such conversions. During the British rule in India, people were converted to Christianity by saying that they had drunk water from a well in which pieces of bread were thrown. This was sheer ignorance. Even today the tribals (adivasis) are converted by exploiting their ignorance. The poor are converted by luring them with money. At times the conversions are carried out by force.
Some Muslims in India earn their livelihood here but are loyal to Pakistan. The society and the administrators have still not realised the danger posed by such Muslims. Although a thousand years ago there was not a single Muslim in India; yet they established the Mughal empire within a hundred and fifty to two hundred years of their coming to India. Presently there are 300 million Muslims in India; however 30% of them, that is 100 million are pro-Pakistani. The possibility of their ruling over India cannot therefore be denied.
3. Total revolution - the only remedy for the sorry state of the nation
3.1 Destroying the evil
A. Evil politicians deserve punishment: The main cause for the pitiable state of the nation are its evil politicians; so the only solution to this problem is to make the administration of politicians, ineffective by the rule of Righteousness (Dharma), that is by saints and seekers. Just as Shri Parshuram destroyed the evil monarchs which led to the establishment of the righteous rule of Lord Rama (Ramarajya), we too will have to establish a righteous kingdom. To achieve this, we will have to permanently eliminate the evil politicians along with their supporters.
B. Teaching every evildoer and his direct and silent supporters a lesson: It is essential to take action against every evildoer in society. It is insufficient to simply cut the trunk, the tree itself has to be uprooted.
C. Violence towards evildoers is non-violence itself as per the scriptures: Though there is a quote which says ‘अहिंसा परमो धर्म:’ meaning non-violence is the greatest virtue; yet as per the scriptures punishing an evildoer does not tantamount to violence.
3.2 Turning society towards spiritual practice
Clarifying ignorance and misconceptions about Spirituality
Explaining the importance of Spirituality: Every living being from the smallest insect or ant to the more evolved human being wishes to acquire the supreme quality of happiness continuously and constantly makes attempts to acquire it. Happiness which is continual and of supreme quality is called Bliss (Anand). The science which teaches how to acquire it is the science of Spirituality. After explaining the importance of this science to the society, many more shall turn towards Spirituality. Also, the excessive importance given to the physical sciences in the recent times should be reduced by explaining their limitations to the society.
Turning society towards Spirituality: Due to deterioration of Righteousness all over, social demerits have attained a peak. As narrated in the Purans all sorts of calamities which befall a nation and the pitiable state which it attains is because of unrighteous behaviour of its citizens which makes God Himself to send such disasters. Hence, if each one becomes righteous, then social merits will be augmented and the nation’s pitiable state will improve. For this, turning society towards Spirituality just like the individual is extremely essential. Presently out of the four pursuits of human life that is Righteousness (Dharma), acquisition of wealth (artha), fulfillment of desire (kama) and the Final Liberation (Moksha), only two pursuits, i.e. acquisition of wealth and desire are pursued in the political, economic and social spheres. Pursuit of Righteousness is the least among all these, especially in politics. In the present scenario, it is impossible to even imagine a relationship between the Final Liberation and social life. Hence righteous individuals and those conscious about the welfare of the nation should encourage the society to turn towards practice of Spirituality. It is essential that awareness is created in society that spiritual practice can be undertaken with respect to society and nation too just like internal spiritual practice. Sanatan launches campaigns about religious, legal, social issues, etc. as a part of spiritual practice. Through them the seekers are able to make individual spiritual progress while simultaneously working for social upliftment.
3.3 Revolution - a must from the viewpoint of spiritual practice
Spiritual practice is impossible with raja-tama pollution: To be able to undertake spiritual practice, one should have a healthy physical constitution and the surrounding atmosphere has to be sattvik (sattva predominant). If we study the present state of our nation, then one will realise the limitations of safeguarding each one’s life. Raja-tama frequencies are constantly being generated by the evildoers in society. How will we create a sattvik atmosphere with so much raja-tama pollution? For this, destroying the very evildoers who are responsible for generation of these raja-tama particles proves to be beneficial in all respects. Or else the entire society shall be destroyed. To protect oneself, the society and the nation at large, undertaking the spiritual practice of protecting seekers and destroying evildoers (kshatradharma sadhana) is inevitable. What we imply by a revolution is this very spiritual practice of protecting seekers and destroying evildoers.
Spiritual practice for the sake of society is more import¬ant than individual spiritual practice
Importance of individual spiritual practice and that for the sake of society according to time: Spiritual practice is of two types - individual (vyashti) and that for the sake of society (samashti). The former aims at individual spiritual progress and the latter at spiritual progress of the entire society. The importance of individual spiritual practice and that for the sake of society keeps changing according to time. Spiritual practice for the sake of society mainly includes spiritual practice of the Brahman (priest) and Kshatriya (warrior) classes. Spiritual practice of a Brahman involves preaching spiritual practice to the masses and guiding them on to the path of Self-realisation. Spiritual practice of a Kshatriya is destruction of evildoers to protect society and even sacrificing one’s life for that cause should the need arise. In the Satyayug there were no evildoers in society, there were only seekers with a sattvik (sattva predominant) temperament. As a result, there was only individual spiritual practice. Evildoers came into being with the passage of time. As their number went on increasing, the spiritual practice for the sake of society began to gain importance. In today’s times the importance of individual spiritual practice is only 30% whereas that for the sake of society is 70%.
When a seeker indulges in spiritual practice for the sake of society, his attention gets focussed on the spiritual practice, progress, spiritual experiences, etc. of others and gets freed from ‘I, my spiritual practice, my spiritual progress, my spiritual experiences’. This accelerates his spiritual progress.
Mere individual spiritual practice takes a seeker from the Muladhar chakra to the Brahmarandhra, in other words from the Great Illusion (Maya) to Brahman (God). With spiritual practice undertaken for the sake of society (samashti sadhana), while remaining in the Brahmarandhra, that is while remaining in communion with Brahman, if one descends to the level of Muladhar chakra, then one can obtain the spiritual experience of Brahman in the Great Illusion. One thus attains Absoluteness (Purnatva) in Spirituality faster. Lord Shrikrushna has set an example of this Himself.
The Lord is more easily appeased with a seeker undertaking spiritual practice for the sake of society than with one who is in a way selfish, that is one who undertakes only individual spiritual practice.
3.4 Only warrior seekers (kshatravir) can bring about a revolution
Warrior seekers who have an unparalleled combination of a selfless attitude, unity, intense motivation to undertake the mission and faith in The Lord: It is not an easy task to oust evil politicians. To achieve this, one will have to combat their ruffian party workers, the police force and the army under their command. Therefore, this is certainly not the work of selfish politicians. The people have experienced in the last 54 years after independence that despite granting opportunity to various parties to assume power, replacement of one politician by another does not bring about any change in society. Social workers and intellectuals try to bring about a social revolution, but their efforts meet with little success as such people are often lone fighters. It is said that in the Kaliyug, might is acquired only by remaining united (संघे शक्ति: कलौ युगे).
Only trained warrior seekers who are bestowed with the blessings of God and saints and are several times mightier than the powerful rulers, are capable of fighting them. In such seekers, the flame of penance is constantly burning. Other average followers are charged merely by being in their company. Only such warrior seekers who are united and are willing to sacrifice their body, mind, wealth and even their lives for the sake of the nation and Righteousness can bring about a revolution and emerge victorious.
The Lord’s support for the mission: Most social reformers and patriots proclaim “we shall do it”. On the contrary, seekers carry on their mission with the faith that ‘everything occurs according to God’s wish, He alone is the doer, I am nobody’; that is why God performs the mission for them. Social reformers attempt to lead society solely on the basis of morality; hence they are unsuccessful. As against this, seekers emerge victorious constantly because The Lord assists them in their mission. Saint Samarth Ramadas swami quotes,
The strength is in the campaign,
And the person who undertakes it,
However, in order to succeed,
He must have full faith in God. - Shri Dasbodh 20.4.26To summarise, The Lord assists a devotee, not a patriot. It will be possible to reinstate a righteous, Divine kingdom enriched with divine consciousness only after a revolution is brought about by warrior seekers. We have already understood how a nation is unaffected by any crisis if it is constituted on righteous principles. That is why this holy text discusses the concept of reinstatement of such a Divine kingdom in greater detail. Details on national security is given in ‘Texts on Defence: Vol. 3 G - India’s Defence Preparedness’.
Post comment
Print Article
Send to Friends
Save as PDF