February 4, 2009

"Neelakantha Namaamaha" ~ Salutations to the Blue Throated One

Our knowledge of the universe has grown manifolds. This was made possible because of the unprecedented breakthroughs in the field of science and technology. Satellites orbiting in space are constantly providing us with a feel and view of every nook & corner of the universe. Advancement in the field of computer science and telecommunications has made it possible for everyone to get close to each other sitting in different corners of the earth. It has also given us the freedom to access the information and knowledge accumulated over centuries, sitting cozily in the most remote place of the world. This process of transformation of local or regional phenomena into global ones is what we call today as Globalization. It can also be described as a process by which the people of the world are unified into a single society and function together or in other words a combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural and political forces.

Unfortunately this trend towards globalization, which had the prospects of bringing about global peace and shared prosperity, has instead greatly increased inequality, injustice, economic disparity and exploitation. The secular culture ushered in by science has broken the unity of existence and has replaced co-operation and interdependence with competition and the struggle for survival. It has ignored Socrates teachings that “Knowledge is Virtue” and replaced it with its own, “Knowledge is Power.”

This whole process of globalization completely ignored the aspect of divinity of the human soul and it gave rise to a chain reaction which has been set in motion, that of alienation from reality, from nature and from our own self. Every individual, in the present day, has lost sight of the higher aspiration of “Unity in Diversity” which can be reached through compassion, love and democratic equality. This truth has been proclaimed by our sages centuries ago as “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning we are all from one family.

Today we are in a helpless and chaotic surrounding, facing a total crisis which was never there before. A serious conflict has arisen between the secular values and faith, between generations, between religions, between reason and dogmas, between human beings and nature. Wars, civil unrest, riots based upon religious prejudices have become everyday occurrences.

Against this backdrop of bleak and fearful developments, Vivekananda’s words become more relevant today than ever before. He once again sprinkled upon us and the society the essential teachings and message of Vedanta, the message of oneness of existence, unity of faiths, non-duality of the Godheads and divinity of the soul.

For spiritual seekers of all faiths and backgrounds, those who seek an alternate vision and yearn for solutions to the ideological conflicts that threaten our world today, Vivekananda’s message gives us hope for the future, a message of love, compassion and spiritual unity of humankind. His love for all beings gave him the mandate for his message, and his innate purity gave him an irresistible power that nobody could match. The same love that was born as Buddha-The Compassionate One, once again assumed in true sense a global human form as Swami Vivekananda.

2 comments:

  1. very insightful. Your view of globalization deserves an applause...!!

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  2. Every content in this blog spreads only love and positive energy for the readers.
    To relate the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna , Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda to the current world requires special grace and power.I see that in this article "Neelakantha Namaamaha" ~ Salutations to the Blue Throated One . I wish more readers get inspired by this blog to lead a great life as it does in my case.

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