Spiritual Awareness Essay

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I begin with a quotation of Gandhiji where he said, "I believe in absolute oneness of God and, therefore, also of humanity." This captures so well the basic philosophy of India, contained in the concept of `Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam` - the world is one family. It enjoins upon us to treat fellow human beings as if they were our own family. This thinking is an outcome of a profound understanding of the inter-connectivity and inter-dependability of human beings on one another. In today`s era of globalization, an echo of this is heard, when the world is described as a global village, and where all human beings are required to be good global citizens to promote global good. Of course, each individual is an important entity. The collective world that…show more content…
It is a matter of concern that a degree of selfishness has crept into our societies. Visions have got limited. Take the example of the meaning that is attached to success. It is often measured in terms of material gains and in this race for success; we forget human relationships. We sometimes forget that in little things like loving smiles, friendly conversations, in words of encouragement, in sharing our joys and sorrows, there is meaning. A meaningful life as I have mentioned earlier, is one of living for others. Spiritual awareness and empowerment of people should go hand in hand with material progress. Then only can we realize the dream of establishing peace and prosperity in the world. Building peace has another essential element. It is rejecting violence of any kind, as violence even of the subtlest form can destroy peace. Indeed, Mahatma Gandhi the Apostle of non-violence describes it as a creed, and as a strategy which involves respect and love for all forms of life. Using harsh language is also similar to violence. The US civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., deeply influenced by Gandhiji, said, "Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to…show more content…
We need to bridge these divides and necessarily through dialogue. Dialogue produces a confluence of the various streams of thought, opinions and aspirations. It draws together various inputs to produce a grand movement of human advancement. India is a land of many faiths and cultures, and the principle of secularism, enshrined in our Constitution, is based on respect for all religions. I would like to stress this again, that not merely tolerance but respect for all religions is important. There is no place for fissiparous ideas of any sort - region, religion, language, culture, caste, creed, hatred or any other ground. We have to work together with unity of purpose to make India, which has a pluralistic society, an even more prosperous and harmonious nation, on the solid foundation of secularism which is the basic principle of our Constitution. Also, progress should touch every section of society. Inclusive growth is very important in building an equitable, stable and sustainable base for the growth of the nation. I have always been a proponent of women's empowerment, as I believe
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