January 2009 Vol
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Annual Subscription: Rs 50/- (India)1 Rs 1000/- (Foreign) The Path of Introspection •…¿ ¥…i…¬ +…{x……‰ i… {…Æ˙®…¬ I would like every one of you to be inspired by the call for Nation rebuilding. The heart of every citizen must bubble with National fondness, concern and resolve. We have no desire to rule the country, but we certainly wish the country to be ruled with propriety, ethics and fairness. Cast aside all skepticism and apathy. Do not shun the responsibility of bringing back the Nation on the right path. Go forward confidently. Even stones will melt; rivers will give way. This is the call of Truth. –– Swamiji January 2009 Vol. 44 No. 04 Narayanashrama Tapovanam Vicharasetu - January 2009 2 Contents Value Crisis and Redressal 03 Views of Leaders on Value Crisis 07 Perspectives on the National Summit – Bharat Wakhlu 13 Prabh¡ta-ra¿miÅ 167. Spiritual Aspects of the National Summit 17 Correspondence Sublime Effects of Guru-bhakti 20 Back to Eternity 1. R Dharmarajan 23 2. Savitri Ammal 24 News & Notes 26 Subscription Annual 3 years’ 6 years’ 12 years’ India Rs. 50/- Rs. 125/- Rs. 250/- Rs. 500/- Foreign (by Air) Rs. 1000/- Rs. 2500/- Rs. 5000/- Rs. 10000/- Bank charges Rs 35.00 to be added in the case of outstation cheques (within India). Narayanashrama Tapovanam Venginisseri, P. O. Paralam, Thrissur. Kerala - 680 575. India. Fax & Tel. (0487) 2278363 email: [email protected] Website: http://www.brahmavidya.org Vicharasetu - January 2009 3 Value Crisis and Redressal [Poojya Swamiji’s address at the Inaugural Session, National Summit on Values, 18 November 2008.] {…fil¥…“ ∫…M…xv…… ∫…Æ˙∫……∫i…l……{…: ∫{…∂…‘ S… ¥……™…÷V¥…« ±…i…Δ S… i…‰V…: * x…¶…: ∫…∂…§nΔ˘ ®…Ω˛i…… ∫…Ω˲¥… E÷Ú¥…«xi…÷ ∫…¥…Ê% {… S… ®…R¬ÛM…±…Δ ¥…: ** May the earth, water, air, fire and the sky, with their respective intrinsic properties, together with the Cosmic Intelligence grace you with felicity. Dear and blessed children of Bh¡rat: I am expected to give an inspirational speech. This means I We can change have to inspire the already inspired hearts and minds, to lead the the plight and National Value Restoration Movement forward with fate of our commitment, dedication and patriotic fervour. The inspiration country. that engulfs an ascetic like me, emerges from the core of our personality. Besides its national and societal pulsations, it bestows its own spiritual grandeur. This apart, the cultural and ethical compulsion our great value heritage instills, is something undeniable to all. I want all of you to imbibe and profess this inner affluence in abundant measure. We can then change the plight and fate of our country. Need for Value Education For any good human, enlightenment is the best persuasion in any matter any time. It stimulates the intelligence with rational compulsions, while arousing the mind with emotional impetus to take up any task with fidelity and tenacity. Every one in the country is a full-fledged National. I would How can any like all of you and the rest of our country to persistently ask National think of the question: How can any National think of hindering hindering Nation’s Nation’s growth and development? With great sensibility growth and and forethought we had selected our National Motto and development? the Tricolour National Flag. Our Constitution has also enjoined Fundamental Duties. The time-tested values of the Nation come within this basic triangle – National Motto, National Flag and Fundamental Duties. Every citizen has thus an irrefutable obligation to heed and adhere to our National Vicharasetu - January 2009 4 Values. Character and quality of each individual determine the national behaviour, as that of a cell in the aggregate body. Educational system is the crucible to mould and shape the citizenry at any time. But alas, even after 60 years of independence, we have not evolved a National value-enriching Educational process. As a result, the epidemic of greed and possessiveness has become widespread. Fissiparous tendencies are too rampant. Unless we arrest the trends by adequate curative and preventive steps, the Nation’s soul cannot be saved. Normally, it is for the democratically elected Parliament and the Government to educate and administer the people, making them strong, efficient and nationalistic. But the present value crisis is so Will the Nation’s grave and vast that the people in all walks of life have to children and address it in full earnestness and national vigour. grandchildren excuse us for our Present Crisis lethargy? See how much our people have been victimized by inner degeneration. In 1985 the then Prime Minister said that only an incredibly small percentage of project allocations was reaching the targets. Now, after 23 years, the political successors have stated that it is only a mere 5 percent. How disheartening and terrifying! Can the Nation’s conscience accept this distress with indifference and lethargy? Should we not be awake to the travesty and strive to redress it with a deep sense of national unity and accountability? Will the Nation’s children and grandchildren excuse us for our lethargy and indifference? I exhort you all to think about the crisis and come to some effective resolve in these two days. Infidelity, stealth and corruption have always intruded human minds. The spirited call of ethical and cultural values can alone touch and reform the inner personality with a strong national bond of inspiration and commitment. Fortunately, right from prehistoric times, India has well proven cultural values, disassociated from all religious tinge. Possible Redressal Do not blame the Government at all. Any Government is run by the people, and the quality and character of these people alone get reflected in the Administration. Government’s lapses are our own insufficiencies. Parliament is elected by us. Its failure is verily our own failure. Any value movement, to be effective, must have two parts: Inculcation and Vicharasetu - January 2009 5 enforcement. We must generate a national resolve to intensify both at all levels. How best can this be done will be the subject of these deliberations. Keeping the distressing plight the country is facing, FRNV proposes three fundamental steps. The thinkers, patriots, professionals and other experts assembled here have to consider these with sufficient forethought and concern, adding whatever they wish to. Step 1: As an inculcational step, a National Educational Syllabus to impart National Values disassociated from religion, right from primary classes, has to be instituted. This should be a Central effort encompassing the whole Nation. Values are eternal and contemporary. Our emphasis is on eternal values, bearing upon the human mind and intelligence. They consist of emotional persuasions and rational compulsions. Step 2: On the enforcemental side, let us institute a sovereign, autonomous ‘National Value Restoration Council’, with members from Government as well as Civic Society. Step 3: To act as the ‘Intelligence Eye’ of this Council, there must be an ‘Ethical Surveillance Corps’ with nationally selected individuals, whose minds will not swing for money, power, position or influence. It will detect and prevent value violations in the very offing. Ethical Surveillers will converse with all those concerned, to make their hearts bonded to National Values and take value-based decisions. Inadequacy of the Present System – its Consequences The Controller & Auditor General (CAG) at present does a posthumous audit of financial violations and presents a report to Parliament. It may have electoral repercussions, but is not able to penetrate into the inner stealth and infidelity of people and redress them. That is why violations continue, pushing the country down every year. Beginning from 1963, anti-corruption measures are on. However, they have not had the desired effect. In the ‘Corruption Perception Index’, we are 85th among 180 countries. Just in two years the Nation has slipped from 72nd to 85th. At the same time, our economic growth is acclaimed the world over. Landing the Moon Impact Probe with amazing precision and accuracy has credited India with scientific excellence. We do not lack intelligence and even will, where required. Why then this disgraceful note in our societal, national, administrative and parliamentary responsibility? Vicharasetu - January 2009 6 Whenever a bill is passed by the Parliament and put into effect, it implies the Executive’s commitment to enforce it faithfully. If anti-corruption law is not effectively implemented, should not the crisis be probed into and remedial measures effected? In such matters, if Parliament keeps quiet, it is for us, the Why this electors, like parents before children, to help and strengthen disgraceful note in the Government in mending matters. By that we would be our societal and making the Government and Parliament more creditable and national efficient. responsibility? Our Rich Heritage Let us see what our cultural history has to say in the matter. In 1835 Lord Macaulay testified to British Parliament that after travelling throughout India, he could not find a thief or a beggar. What more do you want? Yes we can still have such an India, if only we all generate and demonstrate the same individual will and National fondness. Our National struggle for independence was led by people with impeccable national fondness, fidelity and commitment. Do we not owe our existence to them? Should we not invoke a matching dedication and commitment? Call for Democratic Measures When enlightenmental efforts fail, then alone collective democratic, lawful demand and protest will have to be resorted to. In fact, eternal vigil from the people is the price for effective democracy. So I exhort all of you, and through you others in the country, to take up the National Value Restoration Move to the nooks and corners, and enrich the country with the power and inspiration of National Values.