PEACE, SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH

India is rapidly heading towards modern material development but at the same time India’s roots are strong and there has been no degeneration in its spiritual prowess. Religious traditions are deeply connected to peace, tolerance and spirituality. This is unique to India and perhaps there is no other country in the world which is so greatly oriented towards peace, tolerance and spirituality. India is truly a representative of the positive spirit of religion. If it is unique to this part of the world, it is mainly because Indians possess the rare quality of adjustment. They readily adopt modernity without abandoning the healthy religious traditions of the past. India was fortunate to become an abode of different cultural and religious traditions. This international interaction was a great plus point for India. It enhanced the developmental activities in India and also through this process the country was able to develop a kind of multi-religious civilization. The future picture of religion seems to be a bright one. The process of give and take between politics and religion is quite visible and we can say with a considerable degree of certainty that religion will continue to play a very constructive role in the development of human civilization. Let us understand this in a correct historical perspective. During the previous centuries, religious people—for whatever the reason— engaged themselves all too frequently in violent action. This presented an obstacle to religion playing its destined constructive role in shaping national and international life, but after the emergence of the United Nations in the 20th century, the scenario has changed altogether. The United Nations is helping to create a new world where peace becomes a compulsion rather than a choice. In such a situation, religion is bound to play its much awaited part in establishing peace and harmony throughout the world. India has been fortunate in its having become the abode of different cultural and religious traditions and it is thanks to this that it has been able to develop a multi-religious civilization. This in turn has underpinned and promoted ongoing international interactions which has been a great plus point for India, as it has served to facilitate and enhance the developmental activities in India today. o Indian society is a multi-religious society. Religious values are intact among Indian people perhaps more than in any other country.