There is undoubtedly One Transcendent Eternal Power and all this has originated from It, and all this has to merge in It again. This belief is the hallmark of a Bharatiya; he who has not acquired this belief is not entitled to the name, Bharatiya. He does not deserve to be called a Hindu (BS, p. 13)
In this supremely holy land of Bharat
Tolerance is the towering quality of our character
of all the religious vows, the foremost is
Adherence to Truth, which is difficult to practise;
The sweetest and most respectable feeling in this land
of Bharat is the feeling towards mother;
Consigning to flames the moral fabric of our country
which ordains se(f-respect as greater than one own life,
The dagger of unrestrained freedom has been given
to people imitating the Western way of life;
Alas! What can! say about the rulers of this land of Bharat?
Just as an elephant cannot realise its own strength
So are the Bharatiyas today. (Telugu poem)
(SSS Vol.38, p. 34)
In this sacred land of Bharat,
Forbearance is our best wealth;
Of all forms of rituals, the highest is
The observance of truth and morality;
Of sweetness of disposition,
The greatest is maternal love.
Jettisoning the national ideal
That honor is greater than life itself,
What a pity people have fallen
a prey to exotic practices
What can I say about the plight of Bharat!
Like the elephant unaware of its strength,
Alas! Bharatiyas have become docile today.
[Telugu Poem]
(SSS Vol.31, p. 420)
Soon Bharat will have a great name as spiritual leader of the world, and Bharatiya culture and spirituality will spread to all corners of the world. (SSS Vol.42, p. 43)
In this sacred land of Bharat, forbearance is the real beauty.
Of all forms of rituals, adherence to Truth is the greatest penance.
Is there any ritual more sacred than the feeling of
love toward the mother?
What else is to be communicated to you more than this?
O members of this noble and august assembly!
[Telugu poem]
Bharat (India) is the birthplace of spirituality, charity and righteousness. It is the abode of peace and non-violence. Having been born in this sacred land of Bharat, it is the bounden duty of every Bharatiya (Indian) to foster the noble qualities of truth, peace, charity and non-violence. This sacred land is the birthplace of the Adi Kavi (first poet), Valmiki, and sage Vyasa, who classified the Vedas. This is the meritorious land that gave birth to Gautam Buddha, who declared Ahimsa paramo dharma (nonviolence is the highest dharma). This is the noble land that was ruled by Lord Rama Himself. This is the divine land where Lord Krishna sang the song celestial, Bhagavad Gita. It is most essential for the Bharatiyas to follow the ideals of these sages and Avatars. Having taken birth in this sacred land of Bharat, the Bharatiyas should make every effort to keep their hearts sacred.
This Motherland of ours gave to the world noble
souls renowned in all the continents.
It is the land that ousted the foreign rulers and
achieved freedom.
This Bharat is reputed for its scholarship.
It is the sacred land that stood forth as the exemplar
in the realms of music, literature and sacred
lore and is noted for its fine arts and
natural beauty.
Born in the land of Bharat, oh devotees, it is your
bounden duty to foster the glory and prosperity
of the Motherland.
[Telugu Poem]
Realise the greatness ofBharat. There is no need to disparage other countries. Only be prepared to sacrifice everything for your Motherland. Students today have no patriotic feelings. They only love themselves (their bodies). Deha (the body) and Desha (the country) are intimately related to each other. Recognize the unity of the two.
Realise at the outset the greatness of Bharatiya culture. It is an ideal to the world. It confers Atma-anandam (spiritual bliss). Without recognizing this, all your education is worth nothing. You are acquiring book knowledge, but are not putting into practice what you have learnt.
It is most essential to practise unity in thought, word and deed--which is the mark of all great people. Recognising the all-embracing character of Bharatiya culture--which covers every aspect of life from the spiritual to the physical--you have to live up to its message. Develop the spirit of love in your hearts. (SSS Vol.23, pp. 283-284)
Bharatiya culture is a wonderful one. It has been nourished and cherished by Bharatiyas from times immemorial. No other faith has such an all-encompassing outlook. It is your great fortune that you are becoming the ruler of such a nation. You must be grateful all your life to God for conferring such a blessing on you. You should not impose any restrictions on the religious practices of the Bharatiyas. Do not go against Bharatiya culture. Do your duty (as a ruler). When you want to take any vital decision consult all the great scholars of Bharat. If you do not follow this path, you will come to ruin.’ Such was the warning of Babar. Babar wrote that Bharatiya culture was based on equal respect for all religions. He also said that service, sacrifice,Dharma and love are the vital limbs of this culture. (SSS Vol.23, p. 201)
Bharatiyas should develop unity
The Bharatiyas achieved independence, but not unity. The pristine glory of Bharat can be restored only when the Bharatiyas achieve equality, integrity, unity, and fraternity. These sacred values should be imprinted in the heart of every Bharatiya. There are many men of sacrifice, highly educated and affluent people, eminent statesmen and politicians and very good administrators in this country. But what is the use? There is no unity and cooperation among them. That is the reason for the present plight of the country. They should give up individual differences and work for the welfare of the society. If all Bharatiyas stand united, none can ever attempt to attack us. Since the unity is on the decline, others are trying to take advantage of this situation. (SSS Vol.32 Part I, pp. 48-50)
Bharat (India) is a naturally well-endowed country. It is the primary source of all morality, spirituality and worldly wisdom. It is Annapoorna (a land of plenty). To regard such a sacred land as a poor country is a mental aberration. We are not a destitute nation. It is a richly endowed country. If this had not been a wealthy country, why did the Mughals, the Europeans and others invade this country? Though we have been well endowed, we have not been able to safeguard our riches. What is the reason? It is because the people have lacked unity.
Freedom has been won, but unity has not been achieved. It is because there is no unity, Bharat is subject to all kinds of calamities. Ghazni Mohammed invaded the Punjab and took away from the country 700 maunds of gold as plunder. In Nagarakota there was a hall thirty yards by fifteen yards entirely built of gold. The entire hall was taken away by the invaders.
Inspite of being born in such a land of wealth, it is a pity that people do not take pride in their country. Wherever you turn, you see only swaartham (rampant selfishness). Embodiments of Divine Love! Eschew selfishness. Promote unity. Enjoy the bliss of harmony.
It is high time you realised what a sacred country Bharat is. In this holy land, nothing is lacking. ‘What cannot be found in Bharat cannot be found elsewhere’ is an ancient saying. Inspite of these multifarious endowments, this country is being regarded as poor and backward. This is born of delusion. Only when we free ourselves from this delusion, we can experience Atmic bliss. We can experience Brahman only when we can get rid of bhrama (delusion).
When everything is available within Bharat, why go abegging to other countries? Everything has originated from Bharat. Hence, having taken birth in Bharat, strive to promote the glory of Bharat. Every devotee should take a pledge to protect and promote the greatness of Bharat. Like an elephant that does not know its own strength, Bharatiyas are unaware of their power. Despite their myriad capacities, they are behaving as weaklings like an elephant before its mahout. You have to get rid of this weakness.
Develop brotherly feelings for all
Bharatiya culture has emphasised the valid ways in which one has to spend energy and money for service of the distressed, the diseased, the hungry, the illiterate, the ill-housed, the ill-clothed. It condemns the spending of energy and money for pomp, for vengeance, for competitive faction, for material triumphs. Wealth is to be held on trust and used for promoting the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. This culture also lays down that nothing should be done to damage any one’s faith in God or in his own self. Faith is a tender plant and it needs all the nurture that you can give. My desire is that you should not censure other religions. Develop brotherly feelings for all. God is One; there are not many Gods, one for each tribe among men! Love is One; it transcends caste, colour and creed, if it has to be genuine. Truth is One; there cannot be two. For, two can only be One, occurring twice. The Goal is One; for, all roads must lead to the One God. Why then should men quarrel and fight over the Eternal and the Absolute?
Dharmakshethra has a great part to play. It is in Bombay, which is the stomach of Bharat. The Himalayas are the Head and the Kanyakumari is the feet. When the stomach is inefficient, the entire body suffers the consequences. So, keep the Dharmakshethra efficient and strong. Do not allow it to degenerate into a Kurushetra; let not friction and faction raise their heads here. Let the high ideals of Dharma (righteousness) be upheld here. This is the real seva (service) I expect from you and thr ough you. If this is done, our land will have peace and security. (SSS Vol.7, pp. 37-41)
Be aware of the uniqueness of Bharat
Bharat has produced many great sages and saints who have taught profound truths. It is a land of heroes who fought for the freedom of the country. It has been the leader in the knowledge of various arts and sciences, in music and literature. It is most unfortunate that many born in this sacred land are unaware of its unique greatness. Love of the mother is a nectarine quality. What a pity that love of the Motherland should be absent!
You must love the Motherland. Resolve to dedicate your lives to the service of the motherland. Unity is the primary requisite. People celebrate the birthdays of our great ones, but few care to follow their teachings. There is nothing great about celebrating birthdays. Every effort must be made to understand their teachings and act upto them. Develop the quality of love. Fill your entire life with love. This was the prayer which the gopikas addressed to Krishna in the former Yuga. A life without love is utterly barren. Man is the embodiment of love. Love has to be directed towards what is true. Such love is man’s life-breath.
Fill your hearts with the heritage of Bharat
Embodiments of the Divine Atma! Esteeming love as the essence of divinity, you have to engage yourselves in loving service to society. You have to restore the glory of Bharat. Bharat has been in the past the preceptor for all nations. All other people are coming to acquire peace and enlightenment. In this situation, it is a great misfortune that Bharatiyas themselves are not conscious of their greatness. Bharatiya history reflects the achievements of Bharat in the realms of the physical, the mental, the spiritual and all other aspects of life. We have to fill our hearts with this heritage.
Today we are dedicating our lives to material and worldly comforts. Of what avail are all these appurtenances? We have to realise the Atmic principle which is the source of enduring bliss. All the knowledge that is acquired, all the positions one may get are of no use if there is no love in the heart. The acquisition of good qualities is more essential than the pursuit of knowledge.
In yoga practice, some types of breath control are adopted. The Kundalini yoga is also practised. All this is a form of business. In the breathing exercises, inhalation is described as Purakam, exhalation as Rechakam and holding the breath as Kumbhakam. These do not constitute the means to achieve yogic power. To breathe in all that is good is Purakam. To give up all that is bad is Rechakam. To retain in the heart what is good is Kumbhakam. Everyone is qualified to practise this kind of yoga. This divine type of yoga should be practised by every human being. This is the primary goal of every Bharatiya.
Bharat is not a poor country
It is the duty of everyone to cultivate faith in the Divine, get immersed in Karmayoga and divinise his life. No Bharatiya should forget the sacredness of Bharat. Bharat is not at all a poor country. It is because this fact is not realised that the country is riddled with strife and disorder. Failing to distinguish between what is transient and what is permanent, people are ruining their lives in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. For the sake of trivial and momentary benefits, people are sacrificing what is of lasting value.
At the time of attaining freedom, only 13 percent of the population was considered backward. This percentage has gone on increasing over the years and today it is 80 percent! In five or six years, it may become cent percent! This is not proper at all.
Bharat is not made up of backward classes. For the sake of some petty concessions such classifications are being made. Foreign countries are regarding Bharat as a poverty-stricken country. Bharat is a land of plenty. No country is so well endowed with resources as Bharat. Why, then, should we call ourselves a poor nation? Nor is that all. In the fields of education and medicine, we have to develop the spirit of sacrifice.
Make education available free for all
We must seek to promote a system which will make education available freely to all. Education must be for the sake of learning. When that happens, these problems will not arise among students. In the sphere of education, if we do not create new classifications like ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ and establish a system of free education for all, without distinctions of rich or poor, the nation will make striking progress. We are wasting crores of rupees. If we ensure the right kind of future for our children, the nation will benefit immensely. Every spiritual organization should also provide free education. (SSS Vol.23)
Love for divinity
Bharatiya culture has always upheld the supremacy of faith in God. Bharatiya culture was based on the view that there is nothing in the world which is not permeated by the Divine. From a stone to a diamond, from a blade of grass to a blooming lotus, from an ant to an elephant, everything was regarded as a manifestation of the Divine. Bharatiya culture upheld the view that love should not be confined to human beings, but should be extended to all beings and objects in creation. Ignoramuses who have not understood this great truth speak disparagingly of Bharatiyas as people who worship stones, trees, serpents and the like. In the eyes of Bharatiyas, every object is a creation of God. ‘Sarvam khalu idam Brahma’ (All this is Brahma), ‘Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat’ (The cosmos is permeated by Vishnu)--these Vedantic declarations proclaim the same truth. You cannot find in any other country a universal, all-embracing sacred declaration of this kind. This contains the broad concept of social justice. You cannot see in any other country such a sacred view. Although all religions have preached this truth of oneness and samathvam (equality), selfish persons, for their own ends, have interpreted them in narrow terms and promoted strife and discord between different people. One who is merely well-versed in the scriptures cannot be called a Pandita (a person with knowledge and wisdom). Even a master of the Vedas, sastras and Puranas cannot be esteemed a Pandita. Scholarship alone does not make a man a pandita.
Mastery of language does not confer this title. ‘Pandithaah samadarsinah’ (Pandits are those who see all with an equal eye), says the Gita. Only the person who has this vision of equality can be esteemed a pandita. Hence, we should look upon all religions with Samadrishti (equal respect). No religion should be crtiticised or reviled. One should imbibe the sweet essence in all religions.
The essence of all religions is the principle of Oneness, the principle of Love. When you cultivate this principle of love, there is no room for hatred. (SSS Vol.23, pp. 309-310)
The greatness of Bharatiya culture has been praised by people of all countries, creeds and castes. The Muslim ruler, Babar, held Bharat‘s culture in great esteem. In a letter to his son Humayun (who succeeded to his throne), Babar wrote: ‘Son! You are lucky in being born as my son and I am lucky as the father of such a son. It is your supreme good fortune to become the emperor of this sacred country of Bharat, which has stood for the unity of all faiths, which has proclaimed the truth of the unity that underlies all diversity, and whose religion embodies the essence of all religions. See that you safeguard this great good fortune. Do not interfere with the cultural practices of the Bharatiyas. Their culture is a mighty force. It is sacred and its potentialities are unlimited. Do not interfere with this culture. Whatever decisions you wish to take, seek the counsel of Bharatiyas before doing so.’ Babar, who was the founder of the Moghul empire, had such great esteem for Bharatiya culture. (SSS Vol.24, p. 101)
Unifying Mantra of Bharatiya culture
The Mahabharata and the Ramayana teach the laws of righteousness not only to Bharat but for the whole world. From the most ancient times, Bharatiya culture has been promoting security and prosperity in all countries. Transcending all differences of nationality or religion, Bharatiya culture taught to the world the unifying Mantra: ‘Lokaas samasthaas sukhino bhavanthu’ (Let all the worlds be happy). This message transcends the barriers of time, space and circumstances and preaches the doctrine of oneness. Bharat alone has held forth the broad-minded principle of the happiness of all people everywhere, eschewing the idea of ‘T’ and ‘my people.’
What is the inner significance of the fact that the sage Vyasa, without any regard for the wealth, power, physical prowess and abilities ofDuryodhana, Dussasana and others, esteemed only Dharmaja, (the eldest of the Pandavas)? The great men of those days had the highest respect for Dharma (Righteousness), regarded Dharma as the sole sustaining power in the world, and considered that all institutions in Bharat should be based on Dharma. It was out of his supreme regard for Dharma that Vyasa esteemed Dharmaja highly.
The Ramayana, which taught to the entire world the greatness of morality and integrity, should be the life-breath of every family. How should the brothers in a family conduct themselves, how should a son carry out the injunction of the father, how should husband and wife live in harmony--all these aspects of family life are excellently expounded in the Ramayana. Ramayana taught how the unity among the elder and younger brothers should be fostered, how affection should prevail among kinsfolk, and how the reputation of the family should be safeguarded. The author of the great Ramayana is Valmiki. (SSS Vol.24, pp. 204-205)
Bharatiya culture is boundless and unexcelled. Every Bharatiya festival is saturated with profound spiritual significance. These festivals did not originate to provide occasions for merriment, feasting and ostentation. When you examine them from the spiritual or scientific point of view you will find that they are full of sacred meaning.
For the Bharatiya every object is fit for worship. All objects, whether they are visible to the eye, audible to the ear, arising in the mind or inspiring the heart, are pregnant with the Truth of the Spirit. Every object, ranging from a piece of stone to a precious diamond, from a blade of grass to the celestial Parijatha tree, from an ant to an elephant, from a sinner to a saint, conveyed to the Bharatiya the truth of the Divine. (SSS Vol.24, p. 287)
Bharatiya concept of social justice is unique
The great Mahavakyas (profound aphorisms) like ‘Sarvam khalu idam Brahma’ (Verily, everything here is Divine), ‘Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagath’ (The entire cosmos is permeated by the Divine), Ishavasyam idam sarvam (Isha Upanishad) (All this is dwelt in by the Lord) were based on this concept and proclaimed to the world. The Bharatiya concept of social justice has no parallel in any other country in the world. Ignoramuses who are not aware of these profound truths tend to revile Bharatiyas. They refer mockingly to Bharatiyas as worshippers of stones and trees, of forests and mountains.
Bharatiyas are animated by the magnificent conception that love is not confined to living beings but is present in every object, animate or inanimate. It is natural for human beings to see the many in the One. But Bharatiya culture comprehends the divine concept of unity in diversity.
Every festival is intended to awaken in man the consciousness of his inherent divinity. The Bharatiya scriptures call upon men stridently: ‘Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.’ They exhort men to get rid of their ignorance, realise their primal divinity and strive for the realisation of that consciousness. (SSS Vol.24, pp. 287-288)
High status of women in ancient India
Bharatiya culture declares: Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor and guest as God). But the highest place has been given to the mother. She is truly your first god. (SSS Vol.35, p. 131)
The scriptures have ascribed seven virtues to women as a class: Sathya (truth), Prema (love), Dharma (righteousness), Santhi (tolerance), Sahana (tolerance) Ananda (bliss) Svanubhuthi (spirituality) (SSS Vol.24, pp. 115-116)
If Bharatiya culture and morality have survived despite long periods of foreign rule, it is to no small measure due to the courage and fortitude of the nation’s women. Women shine as soldiers with the weapons of satya and dharma. They will not normally tell lies. There may be occasions when a few of them may do so unknowingly. But, by and large, they as a class uphold truth and righteous conduct. They follow the Vedic injunction, Sathyam vada, dharmam chara (speak the truth and practice righteousness). (Extract taken from (Bharatya Culture)