Spiritual Quotient in resurgent India
By Gopal K Agarwal,
Three great social movements are simultaneously taking place presently in India and
will have long-lasting effect on India's future. There is a sort of revolution
that is taking place.
The mass movement by Swami Ramdev is
transforming ordinary person's way of living on a daily basis, making him aware
of healthy benefits of Yoga Pranayam and Ayurveda. He has created a revolution
among people where persons from all walks of life are getting aware of big
benefits from daily practices of yoga and Pranayam. The mass appeal of his
movement is so effective that from a rickshaw-puller to a housewife and to a
professional or a businessman, all are being benefited from his teachings and
have started practising it in their daily routine and adopting it in their lifestyle.
The yoga programmes are being held
across the length and breadth of the country. Even in Europe and other foreign his sessions are attended by large gathering. It is a seven-day urse in the morning
from 0500 AM to 0730 AM with attendance in thousands Millions of people watch
these sessions live on television channels, adopt these techniques and are
being benefited.
The second important mass movement,
which is transforming Indian life, is the Sudershan Kriya by Art of Living
Foundation of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The Kriya is being taught in a
seven-day basic and advance courses and involves a breathing technique. Along
with this technique his message of love, peace and positive thinking is
appeal to the intellectual mind and influence effluent middle-class to a
great extent. It is transforming their life, creating a bonding among his
followers.
He travels and teaches internationally, reminding us that great spiritual traditions have common goals and
values. His talks programmes and Sudershan Kriya have helped people in
reducing stress, experiencing physical and emotional healing, and developing a
sense of belonging. His work is getting recognition in all parts of the world.
Art of Living Foundation has its offices in 157 countries around the world, and
the teachings are being adopted by all without any distinction of caste, creed
or religion. He is a strong contender for Nobel Peace Prize
The third slow and steady movement
having potential of a spiritual revolution is Vipasana. The observation
technique, which is a Pali word meaning insight, i.e. seeing things as they
are, encourages people not to react to external stimulus. The reaction to
external stimulus by an individual takes away his calmness, peace of mind, thereby causing exhaustion. By observing these external and internal stimulus
and its effect on human body and analysing their nature of impermanence, a
person acquires a balance whereby slowly his reactions subside. He stops
reacting to external stimulus, and slowly this process helps him overcome
internal disturbances caused by past actions and situations Vipasana is one of
India's most ancient techniques of meditation Some 2500 years ago. It was
rediscovered by Gautam Buddha and taught by him as a universal remedy for
universal ills. It is now being propagated by Shri S.N. Goenka through a
ten-day course. During the ten days, participants remain within the area of the
course site, having no contact with the outside world. They refrain from
reading. writing and all forms of communication and get into deep meditation
and contemplation. The process of Vipasana has worked profound changes within
oneself, which persist even after the end of the course. The mediator finds
that whatever mental strength was gained during the course can be applied in
daily life for the good of others and for one's own benefit. Life becomes more
harmonious, fruitful, and happy.
Shri S.N. Goenka says "I do not
wish to convert people from one organised religion to another. But conversion
is involved: from misery to happiness, from defilement to purity, from bondage
to liberation, from ignorance to enlightenment." He has never sought
publicity, preferring to rely on word of mouth to spread interest in Vipasana
For these reasons he is less widely known than he deserves to be.
I think the three main move ments
along with the economi cally resurgent India are creating a mindset that is
preparing India for the role it well deserves in the future.
The
second important movement that is tansforming Indian life is the Sudershan by
Art of Living Foundation of Holiness of his Sri Sri Shankar.
