VAMAN AVATAR: A Civilizational and Psychological Repositioning by Bharateeyas—Part 2

VAMAN AVATAR: A Civilizational and Psychological Repositioning by Bharateeyas—Part 2 By Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji (Feature address delivered at Varsha Pratipada Sansad, 2023)

Bharat repositioning itself economically on the global stage is not our topic. However, this repositioning provides us Bharateeyas, with an unprecedented opportunity to reposition ourselves psychologically and from a civilizational standpoint. And for the sake of ourselves, but for the welfare of the world. This has been the eternal and only mandate of dharma.

Being a civilization which gives great significance to tithi, here it is—the opportune moment to effect change. While Bharat is striding across the globe Bharateeyas have obtained an unsought but not unforeseen opportunity—yadrchhaya upapannam—to reposition ourselves psychologically and civilizationally.

There is the ascendance of Bharat from an economic and political standpoint. But the ascendance of a nation politically and economically does not automatically translate in good for the world unless the global  strides are accompanied by the right values, or right bhaava. Bhagvan tells Arjuna to fight and by all means conquer but the accompanying bhava should be loka sangraha—the benefit of humanity and madarpanam—dedicated to Me!

America, Britain, Germany, Russia and China have all ascended politically and economically but there is hardly any lasting value they have added to humanity which promotes longevity and perpetuity of the civil (Dharmik) society. None of these have been value based civilizations. We cannot lift ourselves by stepping on others. The philosophy of Bhagavan Ram is to lift yourself by lifting others. Atmano mokshartham jagad hitaya ca.

Guided by the survival of the fittest mentality, other civilizations have only promoted others’ welfare only when there was something in it for them.

Look at the types of civilizations we are dealing with. Recently one television station in America had to pay $787 million for advancing a string of sustained lies. A civilization where half the population relegates fact and truth to the wilderness and install the reign of hyperbole, propaganda and lies. Where is that civilization where there is prana jaayee baru bachan a jaayee? Britain it is said took no less than $45 trillion from India in its 200 years of dominance. Slowly European powers are showing some semblance of owning responsibility for atrocities committed and some are returning stolen items. Germany mercilessly murdered Jews and caused a world war. China went back on its word in Hong Kong, is getting multiple nations in debt traps and pushing around its helpless neighbors in the South Pacific while building up military bases in contested island. These are the so-called world powers we are dealing with.

Bharateeyas are proud to say that Bharat has never engaged in any of these types of nefarious actions against others because we are a civilization rooted in values, most importantly the value of seeking the welfare of others. Tulsidas ji says para hita sarisa dharama nahi bhai. There is no dharma higher than seeking the welfare of others. This is dharma! The avatars come to save and promote dharma only! A civilization that has such a world-saving mantra at its core can never dominate anyone by force. Such a civilization ought not to be feared, suppressed or slandered. Rather it should be protected, nurtured and propagated.

The world will be better off if it were to imbibe the Bharateeya ethos. This is where we Bharateeyas come in. Whether we belong to the 35 million in the diaspora or to the most populous 1.4 billion in Bharat itself, we have an opportunity to once more awaken

Bharateeyata—the ethos of Bharat—in OURSELVES and be exemplars to the world. Do we want to be another economic power that rises onto the international arena and bring the same type of savageness to the world order or do we want to infuse Bharateeyata in the world order. Material difference can only come when every Bharateeya digs deep inside and evokes Bharateeyata to embellish the world order……..to be continued….

(Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji is a direct disciple of world renowned Swami Chinmayanandaji. He is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana with responsibility for the Chinmaya Mission’s works across the Caribbean and Latin America)