The land rests on its people. Progress is evident where the people are upright. Today’s youngsters are tomorrow’s citizens. We have to pay attention to moulding children’s mental development. Everything does not come from birth. Personality, in particular, assumes whatever shape which impart to it. No one knows everything. Even if such people exist, they are rare.
Learning has no end. Knowledge can be grasped only when the mind is open. It has no age barriers. An eagerness to learn is essential. The mind also has to be like a calm lake. There should be rosy dreams of discovery. The basic requirement for all this is awareness. As it lies dormant in us, awareness has to be aroused. Personality development camps are the devices that impart such catalysis and extend the boundaries of awareness.
Those who treat life as a game learn and constantly as they fight their way through, accepting whatever comes to their lot. Victory and defeat are always there. The taste of victory or defeat; how they come about; how to deal with them; how to find solutions to problems that crop up are issues that one learns to grapple with as a pupil in camps that impart moral knowledge. Firm resolve is essential to accomplish this.
If children learn the right lessons, they merge with the mighty river of culture and the nation grows strong. Awareness programmes can help to instill the right qualities in them. Certain other qualities can be sown in them by influencing their minds. It is possible for influential individuals and institutions to make an impact on young minds. We have been conducting many camps with this conviction and we have been running them without a break.
The farmer collects seeds carefully for sowing. ‘Like mother, like daughter’ is a popular adage, as is ‘Pupil take after the master’. Accordingly, we are attempting to shape accomplished ‘sculptors’ with the belief that to impart samskara, which is the duty of the seat of learning. It is a fact that these programmes are striving to impart cultural values to children. Coaching in self-realization is essential for anyone to be virtuous and cultured.
We must assimilate samskara well. If grass is processed, it yields paper and if sugarcane is processed, it yields sugar and jaggery. A stone lying on the ground turns into an idol for worship if a sculptor chips away at it and lends it a shape. These camps are necessary to ride us of our coarseness and process us into good citizens. We have to shed bad habits and evil thoughts and live like humans.
Accounts of experiences and responses are heartening through these camps. You have expressed that you have imbibed general knowledge, rationality, generosity, harmonious feelings and other qualities. Retain and nurture this self-belief and lead an honourable life. It is evident that the camps have succeeded in awakening knowledge that was lying dormant in you. Apply the lessons learnt at the camp in daily life and live a life of virtue. Help your neighbours also to lead a similar life.
Awareness has to be raised among our people. The vast moral and religious force in them has to be awakened. He must be helped to live and to allow others to live. India is a land of villages. As such, village development is synonymous with national development. The people are beset with illiteracy, poverty and ignorance. Speeches and lectures are no remedy for this.
India has an abundance of spiritual, religious and cultural wealth. The people have to imbibe these aspects. Let everyone be good; let no one be unhappy. Such a society should be created where the welfare of the whole world is the aim and where harmony prevails. The people should be able to live in mutual affection. Besides, clean environment, daily exercise, healthcare awareness, knowledge of the government’s welfare measures and good conduct, prayer, bhajans and good conduct that promote belief in God and religion are all essential.
Good thoughts dwell where there is good teaching. Where there are good thoughts we find newness; a rich crop of culture, a sweet basket of good outcomes. Thus, from the seat of learning to the seat of power, to the abode of democracy, it should be possible to propagate culture. This glorious land thus shines with the incessant stream of culture. A mighty wave of dharma can then sweep up; a flood of knowledge spring up. The nation’s fortunes would turn and assume a glorious brilliance. It is our wish and hope that this happy situation comes about.
This article is an ‘Ashirvachana’ given by His Holiness Sri Balagangadaranatha Mahaswamiji, 71st Pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahas stana Math