Spiritual Vision for Social Harmony
There has been growing radicalization on religious and ethnic lines in many parts of the world, and reports of incidents of intolerance have been making headlines frequently. One of the most arduous challenges that face humanity today is to establish harmony among st people of different creeds. When we look at the human world and its progress towards a civilized and developed society, we can see our steady march towards better standards of living.
Even though there are some common values and tenets in all the faiths, there are far too many misconceptions and conflicting beliefs that have continually fanned mistrust and hostilely among the masses. Where there are two opinions can there be a single unifying belief? There can be better understanding, tolerance and acceptance of each faith but there cannot be unity unless there is a single or common belief.
Why are we as humans becoming more and more intolerant? Is it wired in our psyche to hate and hurt each other because someone has a different faith, colour, belief system or lifestyle? In this scenario, legal or political interventions can hardly check or change this much. Unless there is a shift in the mindset of leaders and masses, the situation is going to worsen further.
Spirituality is the common thread that unties all human beings at the core. It is that unique platform where all labels, differences and divisions dissolve. When we look at the world from a body-conscious perspective, our outlook and attitudes are coloured and prejudiced by limited and narrow feelings. The feelings of ‘us’ and ‘them’ arise and there is strong identification with nationality, creed, caste, social status, professional stature, political and cultural groups. These then create strong likes and dislikes, prejudices, biases and intolerance, which create a great imbalance and instability in the human race.
Spiritual wisdom enlightens us, teaching us that we are souls identities such as being an Indian or American, male or female, Hindu or Muslim, and so on. These are the various roles that we take on the play our part in this world drama. No tow souls or actors can have the same role in this drama. We have to respect the diversity and uniqueness of each human being in this complex matrix of life. Deep respect and care for each human being can emerge only when there is a soul-conscious vision towards all. When we realize that every human being is a souls acting a role in this world drama. We begin to accept and treat others with kindness no matter how different they seem from us.
We can envisage a unified faith only in terms of the spirituality inherent in all faiths. Universal spiritual and moral values from the essence of religious teachings and the common goal of every seeker. But when will humans realize these values and embody this spirituality? The Godden Age or satyuga is the period when everyone will be an embodiment of goodness, purity and divinity Religion or dharma (which actually means original nature) will find its true expression in human beings. Truth, peace and harmony will prevail in that age.
In the eternal cycle of the world drama, everything goes through a change – entropy. Everything degrades from a perfect state to an imperfect, fragmented state. Human souls, nature, religions, and civilizations – everything passes through the sato (pure), rajo (mixed) and tamo (Impure) stages as the cycle of time spins from the Golden Age to the iron Age. Today we are witnessing the tamopradhan (Most degraded) stage of all aspects of human existence. Religions are no exception to this process of change.
As God’s children we are all connected to each other as soul brothers. When a person bleeds or gets wounded, the violence affects the whole human race. Every religion or faith has taught us that we should love everyone as our own kin. Actually, we need not tolerate anyone if there is genuine respect and care, just as in family we love every member in spite of the weaknesses or imperfection they have. The strong feeling behind that care is that they belong to us. This sense of belonging holds true for the entire human family.
It is the thread of spiritual brotherhood that will create a new world where the idea of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam – one world family – will be a reality. In that world there will not be a need for tolerance because there will be natural respect for all.
None but God can create such a perfect world based on true dharma. Only God has the authority, wisdom and power to create a world based on a unified faith. God is truth, and truth signifies that which is immutable and eternal. The innate values merged in every human soul are eternal and hence we need to address these values in order to unify the world. Only when humans embrace that truth in their hearts will there be a unified world. God alone gives us the wisdom to nurture these dormant values and to create peaceful world.
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