World Peace Through Spirituality
Ac. Pranakrsna Ananda

The word world is translated into sam'skrta as "Jagat". Jagat means that
which is always moving, always undergoing change. Everything in this world
moves, nothing is stationary. This is the nature of the world. However, we
might ask the question, "In what direction is it moving?" What is the goal
of this movement?
Let us suppose that I am assigned by my professor to do some research. I
go to the bus station and approach various people to ask them to help me
fulfill my assignment by answering a question. My question is, "What is the
goal of life?"
I am sure my question would surprise most people, as they have never
thought about this idea. However if I ask them the goal of their business,
their club, their organization, they could easily tell me as it is written
in the aims and objectives of their constitution and by?laws which they
submitted for their registration. Many individuals hardly ever think about
the goal of life. Why have I been born? Why did I come to this planet? What
is my purpose in coming here?
The world moves and I are part of this world. This vast universe with so
many stars, suns, nebulae, planets, billions of plants, animals and human
beings was not created just so I could get a University degree, a beautiful
family, a house, car, video and TV set. Such a tremendous creation taking
billions of years to complete must have had some larger goal in mind.
Yogis believe that after death there is rebirth??life?death?rebirth?etc. So
the degree I attain in this life will not continue with me to the next. I
will have to begin again at Primary One. I will have to study again, marry
again, and struggle again. For how many lives will I continue to struggle?
It is obvious that this struggle is for something else! Even after I achieve
these petty goals, I am not content. I want more and more and more. So
surely there is more???somewhere.

"ATMA MOKSARTHAM JAGAT HITAYACA"

7000 years ago a great spiritual master named Sadashiva came to this planet
to give a direction to this created universe. He came with a specific
purpose to show us in a practical way the goal of life and how to attain it.
He said the goal of life is "Atma moksartham Jagat hitaya ca". It means
"Liberation of the Soul from the bondage of psychic boundaries and selfless
service to the world". He said that this is the goal of the individual and
society.
What is society? The word society in sam'skrta is "Samaja". Samaja is
composed of two root words??sama and a'ja. Sama means together or same. A'ja
means "to move". So when humanity moves together it is a society. If there
is to be a society, then two elements are essential. One is a common goal; a
goal, which everyone agrees, is our collective objective. Second is the
energy to move toward that goal. Now if we all agree that the goal Shiva
gave us is the correct one, then there must be some specific method or
process to achieve that goal, otherwise, it is Utopian. That scientific
method which Shiva taught to realize the goal is Tantra Yoga, the Yoga of
Challenge. Yogi’s say the most essential aspect of that Spiritual Cult is
meditation. So meditation is the practical struggle to achieve the status of
liberation and the attitude of selfless service.
But what is the most fundamental necessity in order to do meditation?
Meditation is impossible without a human body? Therefore to maintain a human
body, food, clothing, shelter and medicine are minimum requirements. And to
acquire these basic necessities education for employment should be
guaranteed. That means a correct socio?economic philosophy must be adopted
constitutionally to insure the survival of the human body.
Now let us take a closer look at the existing socio?economic philosophies
on our planet today. There are basically two. Adam Smith explained the older
philosophy in detail in his book "The Wealth of Nations" which is still
available in bookshops. In his book he gives all the principles upon which
economic systems are based today with a few exceptions. My purpose here is
not to explain economics. I want us to analyze the basic motivation of these
economic movements. Adam Smith says that the reason that our society is
"progressing" is because of greed and selfishness. Greed and selfishness are
the motivating factors for economic growth and increase in the standard of
living. He also says that this characteristic should not be controlled in
any way, especially by government. He calls this "laissez faire".
I have stated that the goal of life is liberation of the Soul and selfless
service. However, this economic system advocates greed and selfishness. If I
follow this philosophy as it is, I go against the purpose of spiritual life.
I either abandon my spiritual practice altogether or change the system so
that it suits my objective.
In reaction to the misery and suffering of the labor class in Europe at the
time, Karl Marx proposed a "new" economic system based on state ownership.
He blamed private ownership as the cause of people’s sufferings. Actually
the main difference between the philosophy of Adam Smith, Capital?ism, and
of Karl Marx, Commune?ism is the concept of ownership. However, Karl Marx
did not solve the problem of greed and selfishness.
In the past leaders of communist countries were usually old and died in
office. In the communist economy, economic privileges came with the post. A
party official got a house, car, swimming pool, special shopping privileges,
etc. because he/she had a certain position in the government or party.
However, when the party official was removed from office, he/she got lesser
privileges and some were totally removed. So the person did not want to lose
anything. They wanted to hold onto what they had. Communism in motivation
is the same as capitalism. Both are motivated by greed and selfishness, only
the style differs.
As I have said earlier, greed and selfishness are contrary to our spiritual
pursuit. If a person goes to the bus station in Napier to catch a bus to
Wellington, but instead boards a bus going to Auckland, I would call that
person foolish. But throughout the world today people of various countries
and religions are doing just that. On the one hand they teach that we should
be sacrificing, loving, compassionate??service above self. On the other,
they are busy competing with each other in the race to accumulate more and
more, depriving thousands and thousands of their basic requirements of life.
Physical wealth is limited, only Divinity is unlimited. Physical wealth must
be shared rationally.

COLLECTIVE SOCIAL SPIRIT

In every scripture of the world it is mentioned that there is only one God.
Now there are some differences in the name of God, however we all accept the
fact that there is only one. Now if there is only one God and everything in
this universe was created or born out of that one God, then I am related to
each and every other entity as we all come from the same Father. We are all
brothers and sisters. When I sit down to the table to eat in my home, I
naturally share the food I have with all my family members. I also make sure
that my fat brother and skinny sister get a nutritional meal so that they
can be equally healthy.
This is contrary to what happens in the dog society. If I throw some
leftover food to a group of dogs, I see that the strongest dog will stand
over the food eating to his heart's content growling if any other dog tries
to come near to satisfy its desire. In today's "society" I can see how
various "strong dogs" stand and growl over the limited resources and are not
bothered if thousands of innocents are torn apart by the sharp teeth and
strong jaws of their greed and selfishness. But then we are not dogs!
There is in every living being a thirst for limitlessness. A Limitless Goal
can only satisfy this thirst. If we are to establish World Peace on this
planet, then we must propagate the principle of One God and the practice to
attain Him. It will not do to sit idle, waiting for some miracle to occur to
change the situation or wallow in our own spiritual view of life. Divine
grace is pouring down upon me like a monsoon. I am simply to utilize it.
Radio, Television, cinema, video, billboards, etc. are chanting the mantra
everyday in every house that greed and selfishness are the real moral
principles and that dollar is the only God. Spirituality is neither a
convenient escape from stress and strain nor a commercial venture where God
and man strike a deal for mutual benefit like businessmen on the stock
exchange. Man, Money and Material are all being harnessed in a terrible
effort to propagate the new god (Money) and the new morality (Greed &
Selfishness).
Participating in a social forum or voicing my opinion once a year in a
public gathering, doing my own individual spiritual practices in the privacy
of my own home or group, although personally helpful, need to be brought to
the external world. Peace is the result of a continuous, sustained effort to
improve the quality and standard of life by a moment-to-moment struggle to
establish Divinity in the temple of my mind and an environment friendly to
the purpose. Can I be satisfied to say on my deathbed that my achievement in
life is a University degree, a good family, a house, a car and a personal
computer, that I was able to personally over come stress and disease? Is
that to be my legacy to our Universal Family?
Spirituality is not a utopian ideal, but a practical way of life that
demands commitment. By our meditation, our sacrifice and our selfless
service we propagate the real goal of life "Liberation of the Soul and
Selfless Service to the World". Spirituality, and the proper use of God’s
property, not ownership of it, will bring peace to the earth. May we all be
successful in our endeavor!

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