The pictures are indeed revealing. These are the pictures and topics that take precedence in cover pages of important magazines and confronts every youth in India.
India Today is famous for various reasons such as software markets, Indians ability to speak english, bollywood, cricket, growing economy etc etc. India is being recognized for everything but for its spiritual culture. Today, there are as many spiritual practices as there are stars in the sky. Due to lack of proper spiritual knowledge the youth of India have completely rejected its importance and have turned themselves towards the western world and western minds. At the best we can find people with a sentimental ritualistic approach towards the concept of philosophy and religion. This indeed is a sorry state of affair and a bane of globalization.
While as Indians we are supposed to educate the whole world on spiritual ways of life, we have forgotten our roots and have become addicted to temporary cheap pleasures of life. Excessive indulgence in subjects such as cable TV, movies, mundane politics, culture of shopping, frivolous sports, internet surfing etc etc are some of the socioeconomic indicators for mundane aspirations.
Who is to blame for this current spiritual crisis? Is it the government for having the lack of foresight to educate young children, the schools, the leaders, or the parent? It can be any one reason or combination of many. But at the end of the day, the onus is on the individual. It is the individual person’s sincere desire to seek the true meaning of life and not waste it on temporary and mundane subject matters. Then the supersoul within will guide the individual to the right place. If, however, our seeking is not determined and committed we can easily be detracted to the sidelines.
If it is an individual’s responsibility, how is it that being an Indian is special? Being an Indian is special for the following reason
bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra
CC Adi Lila 9.41
One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport, the highest benefit or gift one can give to anyone is the gift of Krishna Consciousness or God Consciousness. If one Indian (Srila Prabhupada) at the age of 70 could spread the glorious message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Vedic culture worldwide and influence millions of lives, imagine what the youth of India can do?
From the day we are conceived to the day we die, we follow so many rituals. All these rituals were originally intended for just one purpose – bhakti to God. The scriptures say this is true knowledge. As Indians we have the first hand privilege to this knowledge. It is our utmost duty to perfect this knowledge and give it to others and this is the request of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.
India Today should be famous for just one reason and that is to show the world how to practice bhakti towards that Supreme God! There is no other knowledge or occupation supreme than this!
Hare Krishna.
India Today is famous for various reasons such as software markets, Indians ability to speak english, bollywood, cricket, growing economy etc etc. India is being recognized for everything but for its spiritual culture. Today, there are as many spiritual practices as there are stars in the sky. Due to lack of proper spiritual knowledge the youth of India have completely rejected its importance and have turned themselves towards the western world and western minds. At the best we can find people with a sentimental ritualistic approach towards the concept of philosophy and religion. This indeed is a sorry state of affair and a bane of globalization.
While as Indians we are supposed to educate the whole world on spiritual ways of life, we have forgotten our roots and have become addicted to temporary cheap pleasures of life. Excessive indulgence in subjects such as cable TV, movies, mundane politics, culture of shopping, frivolous sports, internet surfing etc etc are some of the socioeconomic indicators for mundane aspirations.
Who is to blame for this current spiritual crisis? Is it the government for having the lack of foresight to educate young children, the schools, the leaders, or the parent? It can be any one reason or combination of many. But at the end of the day, the onus is on the individual. It is the individual person’s sincere desire to seek the true meaning of life and not waste it on temporary and mundane subject matters. Then the supersoul within will guide the individual to the right place. If, however, our seeking is not determined and committed we can easily be detracted to the sidelines.
If it is an individual’s responsibility, how is it that being an Indian is special? Being an Indian is special for the following reason
bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari' kara para-upakāra
CC Adi Lila 9.41
One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhārata-varṣa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport, the highest benefit or gift one can give to anyone is the gift of Krishna Consciousness or God Consciousness. If one Indian (Srila Prabhupada) at the age of 70 could spread the glorious message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Vedic culture worldwide and influence millions of lives, imagine what the youth of India can do?
From the day we are conceived to the day we die, we follow so many rituals. All these rituals were originally intended for just one purpose – bhakti to God. The scriptures say this is true knowledge. As Indians we have the first hand privilege to this knowledge. It is our utmost duty to perfect this knowledge and give it to others and this is the request of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada.
India Today should be famous for just one reason and that is to show the world how to practice bhakti towards that Supreme God! There is no other knowledge or occupation supreme than this!
Hare Krishna.
2 comments:
You said it all and you said it so well. It's such a pleasure to get onto the Internet -- to a Google search with the keyword "Prabhupada" and come across writing such as yours. Brilliant commentary -- incredible insight -- you are obviously highly spiritually evolved and I hope your words reach millions. Why is common sense -- compassion -- willingness to hear from bona fide Vedic authority -- such a rare thing? Could it be we are living in very decadent and matarialistic times? Imagine how much worse it will all get as the Kali yuga progresses. Time to get out of Dodge.
Hare Krishna!
Swarupa Das
Santa Cruz, California
Hare Krishna
My dandavats. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your encouragement. I believe the same - we live in such material times that it is very difficult for people to hear from any authority let alone Vedic. Our only hope is the chanting of the Holy names!
Thank you.
Hare Krishna
ananda
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