INDIA—A POTENTIALLY SPIRITUAL COUNTRY

First of all, we have to re-build good traditions in individual minds. We have to bring about a change in people’s thinking, so that we may build a society based on sound ethical principles. This again requires a nonviolent struggle, in the complete sense of the phrase. Then, we need to build a nation reinforced by these principles—a nation, which knows the difference between peace and violence, a nation that knows the difference between the spiritual and the nonspiritual. Individuals are the social constituents that make a nation. And a nation armed with the spiritual power of its individuals, is in a position to inculcate spirituality in international life. India, by revitalizing, can change the whole world. Let us work for this noble cause. Why is India a spiritual power? This is traceable to its long spiritual tradition. Where the western world was engaged in technical activities in previous centuries; India, throughout those same centuries was engaged in spiritual activities. While the western world was producing material experts in the form of physical scientists, India was producing spiritual scientists, in the form of Swamis and Sufis. It is this factor, which has been mainly responsible for the difference between India and the western world. India might be a developing country, in the material sense, but it is a developed country, in the spiritual sense. In an age wrecked by violence, the entire world craves peace. It is here that India has a chance to play an important role. India can show the world the path to peace and spirituality and thus emerge as a spiritual superpower. Swami Vivekanand was a great soul of India. He was quite right in predicting that, after independence, India would emerge as spiritual leader of the world. In spite of all the material progress that has been made, the world is in search of spirituality. Indeed, spirituality—a national asset of India—is the real identity of our country. For centuries, the lofty Himalayas have served as an abode of spirituality. Its message flows eternally in the water of the Ganges and the Jamuna, while tall green trees provide spiritual solace, and beautiful birds warble the songs of peace. This rare combination of spiritual greatness is to be found only in India. This is what makes it a spiritual superpower. It is in this sense India is potentially a superpower. It should be our aim to bring about a spiritual renaissance in the second decade of the 21st century. o India can show the world the path to peace and spirituality and thus emerge as a spiritual superpower.