One World Family And The Global Citizen
Dada JP Vaswani
|
If the Divine animates each one of us, I are we not all part of one great consciousness, one great world family? Thousands of years ago, when human beings were blissfully free from the concepts of international travel and visas and resident permits, at a time when the longest distance a traveller could hope to cover was no more than a few miles per day , Indic scriptures spoke of essential human unity . Sadhu Vaswani would say , “Children of the earth, ye all are one.“We are global citizens enjoying multiple citizenships consumer citizenship; flexible citizenship; even mobility citizenship; but in Vedic terms, we are, and always have been, members of the One Family of God's Creation Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.
Experts tell us that it is technology, capital, flow of travel, trade and human potential that define global citizenship.Together, they constitute a new sense of belonging, a new sense of unity and a loyalty to a broad common ideal of humanity . But in India, we have a different `take' on this. The Rig Veda tells us: “Let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere.“
The idea here is that we are essentially spiritual beings not the bodies we `wear' as outer garments. This is our real identity not our race, religion or skin colour! The Atman, the soul, transcends all these divisions.
When we respect everyone's spiritual identity, we promote peace and happiness for all.This is why India has welcomed so many races and religions from ancient times. We don't believe in fighting or dying for our religion; but we would aspire to live up to the ideals our religion places before us! The Atharva Veda proclaims this truth: “We are all born on this planet; The same sky covers us; We gaze at the same stars We breathe the same air; ...We may live individually But we can survive only collectively .
I am told that there is a magnificent archaeological site in western Africa the vast ruins of Jenne in Mali.Apparently , this was a city of over 1,00,000 people one thousand years ago a world-class metropolis in the first millennium.
A visitor to the site observes: “Its art was stunning.
Its architecture reflected a complex society ... What struck t, however, was the fact that it me most, however, was the fact that it had been completely ignored by western archeologists for decades, because they found no evidence of military construc tions! The Jenne civilisation did not find its strength through military conquest or intimidation of its people, but through cooperation. It was a great city built not on fear, but friendship!“ This world is a garden of God.Krishna is in all and we all are in Krishna! When we have this vision of the One-in-all and All-in-one, we will grow in the spirit of brotherhood of all creation.
Our hearts need to be saturated with love, for love is the light that will illumine the world. For this, we need illumined hearts that can behold the vision of fellowship, unity and brotherhood. Love is what we need to build a new world of brotherhood and peace.(Abridged from Gita Publishing House.)
Experts tell us that it is technology, capital, flow of travel, trade and human potential that define global citizenship.Together, they constitute a new sense of belonging, a new sense of unity and a loyalty to a broad common ideal of humanity . But in India, we have a different `take' on this. The Rig Veda tells us: “Let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere.“
The idea here is that we are essentially spiritual beings not the bodies we `wear' as outer garments. This is our real identity not our race, religion or skin colour! The Atman, the soul, transcends all these divisions.
When we respect everyone's spiritual identity, we promote peace and happiness for all.This is why India has welcomed so many races and religions from ancient times. We don't believe in fighting or dying for our religion; but we would aspire to live up to the ideals our religion places before us! The Atharva Veda proclaims this truth: “We are all born on this planet; The same sky covers us; We gaze at the same stars We breathe the same air; ...We may live individually But we can survive only collectively .
I am told that there is a magnificent archaeological site in western Africa the vast ruins of Jenne in Mali.Apparently , this was a city of over 1,00,000 people one thousand years ago a world-class metropolis in the first millennium.
A visitor to the site observes: “Its art was stunning.
Its architecture reflected a complex society ... What struck t, however, was the fact that it me most, however, was the fact that it had been completely ignored by western archeologists for decades, because they found no evidence of military construc tions! The Jenne civilisation did not find its strength through military conquest or intimidation of its people, but through cooperation. It was a great city built not on fear, but friendship!“ This world is a garden of God.Krishna is in all and we all are in Krishna! When we have this vision of the One-in-all and All-in-one, we will grow in the spirit of brotherhood of all creation.
Our hearts need to be saturated with love, for love is the light that will illumine the world. For this, we need illumined hearts that can behold the vision of fellowship, unity and brotherhood. Love is what we need to build a new world of brotherhood and peace.(Abridged from Gita Publishing House.)
