OUR ETERNAL VALUES

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OUR ETERNAL VALUES

 

Quest peace (om shanthi, shanthi, shanthi) and non-violence (ahimsa

paramo dharmah) pursuit of a co-operative way of life (om sahana

bhavathu sahanau bhunaktu sahveeyam karawawahe ma vidvishavahe)

looking at the whole world as one's family (vasudhaiva kutumbakam),

tolerance for diversity of views (ekam sat vipraha bahudha vadanti),

doing good to others (paropkarya idam shariram) trumph of good over

evil as exemplified by the story of Prahalad and the legends

associated with many festivals like Dussera, compassion and concern

for the poor and the oppressed (je ka ranjale ganjale tyasi jo manhe

aapule Tukaram) love for nature-flora, fauna, trees, rivers and

mountains (vrikshavalli amha soyri vanchare – Tukaram), performance

of one's duty with a sense of detachment (karmanyev adhikaraste ma

phaleshu kadachana) equanimity in response to success of failure,

happiness and sorrow in life (sukhduke same krutwa labha labhan jaya

jayan), sacrificing oneself for one's family and society

(tyrajetekamkulsyarthe gramasyarthukula-mthyehet), respect for

parents and elders as exemplified by the story of Sravana – these are

some of the eternal values of our society handed down over thousands

of years of civilization and enshrined in our scriptures and

literature produced by some of the greatest spiritual personalities.

 

(Courtesy: Bhavan's Journal – September 2001)