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=== Simple Living Reflecting Sparing Use Of Natural Resources  ===

=== Simple Living Reflecting Sparing Use Of Natural Resources  ===

It is the desire of all human beings to enjoy life and secure happiness. However, the question is how to secure it - by increasing the wants or limiting the wants. The ancient Bharatiya acharyas opted for the latter and incorporated the same in the first verse of the Ishavasyopanishad. It reads,<blockquote>ॐ ईशावास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्। तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथाः मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्॥१॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D Ishavasyopanishad].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''oṁ īśāvāsyamidam̐ sarvaṁ yatkiñca jagatyāṁ jagat। tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ mā gr̥dhaḥ kasyasviddhanam॥1॥''</blockquote>Meaning: All we find in this ephermeral world is created by the Supreme Being. Let us use them sparingly and let us not snatch the wealth belonging to another.

It is the desire of all human beings to enjoy life and secure happiness. However, the question is how to secure it - by increasing the wants or limiting the wants. The ancient Bharatiya acharyas opted for the latter and incorporated the same in the first verse of the Ishavasyopanishad. It reads,<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>ॐ ईशावास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्। तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथाः मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्॥१॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D Ishavasyopanishad].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''oṁ īśāvāsyamidam̐ sarvaṁ yatkiñca jagatyāṁ jagat। tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ mā gr̥dhaḥ kasyasviddhanam॥1॥''</blockquote>Meaning: All we find in this ephermeral world is created by the Supreme Being. Let us use them sparingly and let us not snatch the wealth belonging to another.

Swami Vivekananda who rejuvenated and propagated the greatness of Dharma also declared that only 'Sacrifice' brings harmony and real happiness. The life of Mahatma Gandhi has been the manifestation of the above principle. He said,<blockquote>''Civilization, in the real sense of the term, consists not in the multiplication, but in the deliberate and voluntary restriction of wants. This alone promotes real happiness and contentment.''</blockquote><blockquote>''A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary, but above a certain level it becomes hindrance instead of help. Therefore, the ideal of creating an unlimited number of wants and satisfying them seems to be a delusion and a snare. The satisfaction of one's physical needs must meet at a certain point a dead stop, before it degenerates into physical voluptuousness. A man must arrange his physical and cultural circumstances so that they do not hinder him in his service of humanity on which all his energies should be concentrated.''</blockquote>Also, having seen the disastrous consequences of over exploiting natural resources, the world is awakening now. There is a great movement for preserving and protecting natural resources. And we have to fall back on the directive in the Ishavasyopanishad in order to ensure justice to posterity.

Swami Vivekananda who rejuvenated and propagated the greatness of Dharma also declared that only 'Sacrifice' brings harmony and real happiness. The life of Mahatma Gandhi has been the manifestation of the above principle. He said,<blockquote>''Civilization, in the real sense of the term, consists not in the multiplication, but in the deliberate and voluntary restriction of wants. This alone promotes real happiness and contentment.''</blockquote><blockquote>''A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary, but above a certain level it becomes hindrance instead of help. Therefore, the ideal of creating an unlimited number of wants and satisfying them seems to be a delusion and a snare. The satisfaction of one's physical needs must meet at a certain point a dead stop, before it degenerates into physical voluptuousness. A man must arrange his physical and cultural circumstances so that they do not hinder him in his service of humanity on which all his energies should be concentrated.''</blockquote>Also, having seen the disastrous consequences of over exploiting natural resources, the world is awakening now. There is a great movement for preserving and protecting natural resources. And we have to fall back on the directive in the Ishavasyopanishad in order to ensure justice to posterity.<ref name=":2" />

=== सेवा परोपकारः च || Service To Others ===

=== सेवा परोपकारः च || Service To Others<ref name=":2" /> ===

Great importance was attached to the quality of service to others. This value is brought out with illustration in the following verse:<blockquote>परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः | परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम् ||</blockquote><blockquote>''paropakārāya phalanti vr̥kṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ |'' ''paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārthamidaṁ śarīram ||''</blockquote>Meaning: The trees bear fruits to serve others, the rivers flow to serve others, Cows give milk to serve others; this human body is (also) meant to serve others.

Great importance was attached to the quality of service to others. This value is brought out with illustration in the following verse:<blockquote>परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः | परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम् ||</blockquote><blockquote>''paropakārāya phalanti vr̥kṣāḥ paropakārāya vahanti nadyaḥ |'' ''paropakārāya duhanti gāvaḥ paropakārārthamidaṁ śarīram ||''</blockquote>Meaning: The trees bear fruits to serve others, the rivers flow to serve others, Cows give milk to serve others; this human body is (also) meant to serve others.

It is this value that inspires every individual to serve the society through every profession or avocation. It impresses that, as rivers serve others, animals and plants serve others, and are not selfish; man being the highest form of life should not lag behind in serving others.

It is this value that inspires every individual to serve the society through every profession or avocation. It impresses that, as rivers serve others, animals and plants serve others, and are not selfish; man being the highest form of life should not lag behind in serving others.

=== TYAGA - SACRIFICE ===

=== त्यागः || Sacrifice<ref name=":2" /> ===

This is another cherished value of our national life. Subordinating smaller or self - interest to a larger interest, even at the cost of some inconvenience and suffering is Tyaga. This principle is found incorporated in Hitopadesha.<blockquote>त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् | ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ||</blockquote><blockquote>''tyajedekaṁ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṁ tyajet | grāmaṁ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pr̥thivīṁ tyajet ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Sacrifice/subordinate, individual interest to that of the family. Sacrifice/subordinate, family interest to that of the village Sacrifice/subordinate, the interest of the village to that of the nation. Renounce all worldly interest if you want your soul to rest in peace.

Tyaga is another cherished value of our national life. It refers to 'Subordinating smaller interest (or Self-interest) to a larger interest', even at the cost of some inconvenience and suffering. This principle is found incorporated in Hitopadesha. It says,<blockquote>त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् | ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ||</blockquote><blockquote>''tyajedekaṁ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṁ tyajet | grāmaṁ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pr̥thivīṁ tyajet ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Sacrifice or subordinate individual interest to that of the family, family interest to that of the village, the interest of the village to that of the nation; And renounce all worldly interest if you are inclined towards atmatattva.

The last one is adhyatmik and concerns those who believe in Swarga and Moksha (liberation) from rebirth. But the first three concern life in this world.

The last one is adhyatmik and concerns those who believe in Svarga and Moksha from rebirth. But the first three concern life in this world. That is why this value has inspired individuals as well as national life.  

Swami Vivekananda recounted that renunciation and service have been our main national ideals. In this regard he said,<blockquote>''The National ideals of India are renunciation and service. Intensify her in those channels, and the rest will take care of itself.''</blockquote><blockquote>''The Indian nation cannot be killed. Deathless it stands, and it will stand so long as that spirit shall remain as the background, so long as her people do not give up their adhyatmikata.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Aye, a glorious destiny, my brethern, as far back as the days of the Upanishads we have thrown the challenge to the world''</blockquote><blockquote>''न धनेन न प्रजया त्यागेनैक अमृतत्त्वमश्नुः | na dhanena na prajayā tyāgenaika amr̥tattvamaśnuḥ |'' </blockquote><blockquote>''Meaning: Not by wealth, not by progeny, but by renunciation alone immortality is reached.'' </blockquote>We have to resurrect this ideal. Every individual works hard and takes all trouble, not with purely selfish interest but, to secure the happiness of all those who depend on him - his wife, children, aged parents, sisters and brothers. Because, he feels for them and considers that he has a duty towards them; that their interest is his own interest. Similarly, if an individual is also made to realise that all his fellow citizens also belong to his larger family of a nation and that he has the duty to serve them, he is capable of making enormous sacrifice for the nation as well. This leads us to the next important value in Bharatiya Parampara, the value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam ie. World is one family.

 

Swami Vivekananda recounted that renunciation and service have been our main national ideals. In this regard he said:<blockquote>''The National ideals of India are renunciation and service. Intensify her in those channels, and the rest will take care of itself.''</blockquote><blockquote>''The Indian nation cannot be killed. Deathless it stands, and it will stand so long as that spirit shall remain as the background, so long as her people do not give up their adhyatmikata.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Aye, a glorious destiny, my brethern, as far back as the days of the Upanishads we have thrown the challenge to the world''</blockquote><blockquote>''न धनेन न प्रजया त्यागेनैक अमृतत्त्वमश्नुः | na dhanena na prajayā tyāgenaika amr̥tattvamaśnuḥ |'' </blockquote><blockquote>''Meaning: Not by wealth, not by progeny, but by renunciation alone immortality is reached'.'' </blockquote><blockquote>''Race after race has taken the challenge up, and tried their utmost to solve the world-riddle on the plane of desires. They have all failed in the past –the old ones have become extinct under the weight of wickedness and misery, which lust for power and gold brings in its train, and the new ones are tottering to their fall. The question has yet to be decided whether peace will survive or war; whether patience will survive or non-forbearance; whether goodness will survive or wickedness; whether muscle will survive or brain; whether worldliness will survive or adhyatmikata.''</blockquote><blockquote>''This is the theme of Indian life-work, the burden of her eternal song, the backbone of her existence, the foundation of her being, the raison d'etre of her very existence –the spirituaization of human race. In this her life course she has never deviated whether the Tartar ruled or the Turk, whether the Moghuls ruled or the English". (India and Her Problems - pp.lO, 12-13)''</blockquote>We have to resurrect this ideal.

=== Vasudeva Kutumbakam (WORLD IS ONE FAMILY) ===

=== Vasudeva Kutumbakam (WORLD IS ONE FAMILY) ===