DOUBTS AND CLARIFICATIONS - 4

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DOUBTS AND CLARIFICATIONS

DOUBT:  So high a philosophy is discussed in the Gita.  It seems to me individualistic.  May say and I also feel, absence of social awareness in our society is primarily due to this..  (He did not complete his question).

CLARIFICATION:  Start with a small initiative.  Stop reading daily newspapers and stop viewing NEWS channels.  The only purpose of these is to generate social awareness and social responsibility.  But, that was when Shri Lokamanya Tilak and Subramania Bharathi edited and published Newspapers.  Today, this field is a rabid commercial, that too distinctly dishonest commercial field.  There are one or two purposeful magazines like Tughlak in Tamil.  Stop reading Newspapers and start seeing the society with wide open eyes and ears.  Gain direct experience.  Study our Nation’s history, right from Ramayana days to the recent.  Continue with a spiritual practise at personal level, only to protect yourself from contamination.

There are two different aspects.  Individual and Social.  Spiritual effort, undoubtedly, is individualistic.  Quantitative and qualitative improvement in this effort should impact every field in social life.  The second aspect is social unity, cooperation, sincerity, commitment, honesty in profession.  The social life has two aspects to it.  One is social administration and the other is social standards.  These two are intertwined and both are reliant on individual man.  Most, a huge majority of men in the society tend to be followers.  Hence, social standards are set by examples, live examples.  The grand examples of olden times found in books may stir up imagination in us, but only living examples right in front of our eyes inspire us.  Let us become examples.  May our lives become crucible for experimentation.  “I will involve in other (social) fields after I set right my life, after I remove every worry from my life”.  This seems logical but is impractical and impossible.  Let us discard such a thought.  Jump into water and learn swimming.  Let your life be full of experiments and experiences.

Danda shakti is a chief factor in social administration, power to punish those who disobey and go against Law.  This power is at present, in deep slumber.  Men who act so irresponsibly in our countries, act to the contrary in Singapur, Dubai and America.  Powerful and vigilant Danda shakti there is the cause.  Here again, exemplary men are needed, men who stand firmly on Dharma, men who are fearless, men ready to forego their personal benefits, comforts and even life.  Number of such men should increase.  If you are ready, this number increases by one.  Let us become better instruments in the work presently in our hands.  When entrusted with greater works in future, let us take up those and succeed.  It is of no use complaining about non-performing men in top positions.

Why hurry?  No need to panic.  A human life is mere fifty to seventy years.  This is too short a period in social life.  Changes and transformations occur not on our demand and desire, but on His plan.  Let us not compare with other countries.  We are different.  The population and diversity that we have is not to be found anywhere else.  The tradition and history that we have is unique and different from those in any other country.  Hence, no comparison.

I agree with your concern that social awareness is faded in our country.  This is not as a result of philosophical ideas but lack of those.  In our history, the numerous movements and organizations which have caused significant impact, have been initiated by men in spiritual and philosophical world.  During the days when Bharat was a glorious Nation, men with spiritual background have played great role in art, music, science, literature and these field attained glorious heights.  They were part of every successful political movements.  Chandragupta’s Gupta dynasty, Shivaji’s Hindu Samrajya and Vijayanagara Samrajya would not have blossomed without Chankya, Samartha Ramadas and Vidyaranya, respectively.  Right from Aadi Shankara to recent revolutionaries and reformers like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maharshi Dayananda, Bankim Chandra, Subrahmanya Bharathi belonged to families involved in spiritual activities.  Reform movements like Brahma Samaj, Aarya Samaj have been initiated by men born in Brahmin families.  Our adhyaatma does not ask us to be aloof.  The Homas are conducted for Universal good.  Those involved quietly in performance of Homa are also capable of taking up arms and fight.  Shri Krishna does not suggest retirement from social life.  He commands Arjuna to fight, fight for Dharma.

I am happy that you are worried about lack of social awareness.  It is need of the hour.  After independence, the political leadership, the ruling class does not seem to be worried.  The administrative leadership is in silent collusion with the political leadership.  We observe a discouraging scene wherein the Prime Minister, while addressing students, laments about defects in Education system and suggests that this system of education should change.  Who is supposed to do this?  Who has to initiate change, rather put in efforts towards change?  The Prime Minister or a student?  But, worrying is not a solution.  Be assertive and be active.  That is the solution we have in our hands.

DOUBT:  This is a continuation of the previous question.  Social environment in our Nation does not match with the high philosophy thought over and talked here.  Why?

CLARIFICATION:  Social environment improves as Brahmin and Kshatriya attitudes are strengthened.  Today Shudra attitude is growing stronger and stronger.  Everyone aspires to take up a job. Everyone means everyone, son of a carpenter, son of a barber, son of a farmer, son of a Purohita (priest), son of a weaver.  Even the highest educated is desperate to sit in a job.  Shudra attitude is to shift responsibility of life to someone else’s shoulders and be freed from worries.  This attitude is natural and more prevalent in a daily wage earner.  The higher one reaches on the ladder of education, the more fearless and confident he should become.  On the contrary, the more educated is more fear fraught today.  Brahmin and Kshatriya traits should be cultivated and nourished so as to cause an effective transformation.  Spiritual education should be part of education.

Mere thought is not enough.  Men who live to that thought are more essential.  An idea is lifeless so long as it remains in a book.  It is enlivened by men who try to execute it.  Ancient Greek also had sublime ideas.  Today’s Greek does not have men who live those ideas.  Bible says, “Show the other cheek if you are slapped on one”.  Neither in Jerusalem where it was born nor in Europe where it spread, are there men who live a life close to this thought.  In our Nation too, there are very few among those educated in English system, who know the Gita and try to live her ideas.  And they dominate the social scene.  Hence, it seems to be a bad situation.  But, even today, there are thousands who are trying to know the Gita and follow her.  There are millions who may not know the Gita, but live a Truthful life.  There are many like you who are concerned.  The change, rather transformation will definitely happen.

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