Training in Nonviolence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Anuvrat Global Organization

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Training in Nonviolence
our way of thinking, our vision. We like a garden where different types of flowers bloom and which has many varieties of plants and trees. If all the flowers and trees are of the same type, the beauty of the garden will also diminish. What pains me most is that we change what is beautiful into violence and antipathy. Is it not the incomplete mentality of our thinking? Let us also ponder over this question.
Let us have self-introspection, self-criticism. We must not only think about others. On this occasion, let us review the past and look back to examine how our past year was. Let us not only look back on the year that has gone by, but also look forward to the coming year with auspicious thoughts, and pray for an auspicious future. Let us introspect and examine what we did in the past and what we are going to do in the future. The talk of peace will remain incomplete till the review of the past, the thought of the present and the vision of the future are in harmony with one another. I wish that we abandon all epithets and think of an existence devoid of epithets. Our consciousness is not free from any label; our sect, our caste and our colour influence it. Let us put religion into practice. Let us not regard religion as a mere testimony or symbol.
Acharya Tulsi said, “Man should set an example of morality, truth and integrity in his life." Religion should not only be confined to places of Worship, it should manifest itself in markets and offices as well. The religion enshrined in scriptures and sects should make its way into the places of work. If religion doesn't integrate into business and offices, and we only over-emphasize its principles, I cannot say to what extent it would really mean religion. We have to think of the changes that are necessary in the form of the religion that is in vogue today. If we do not think of changing the outmoded customary practices and insist on following dogmas, it doesn't bode well for humanity.
Let us always think of something new. We must not merely carry the burden of old beliefs, but we should also learn to unburden our mind. The present age lacks an environment of openness. The tension that we see today might not have existed to this extent in the past. The main cause of the tension that we see today lies in man's infatuation with wealth. Man is seized by his lust for wealth, which degenerates into deep infatuation. As a result, he is ignoring morality. This economic infatuation gives rise to crimes and unethical behaviour. All these problems emanate from man's greed for wealth and from his straying away from the world of higher consciousness.
We are all sentient beings. Every human is a sentient being. He has knowledge, but the difficulty is that he doesn't associate as much with those who have a state of higher consciousness as he does with the material objects. Therefore, it is imperative that we talk of ahimsa for the sake of peace, and think of limiting our consumption and accumulation of material objects for the sake of ahimsa. If these ethical norms become a part of our life's daily routine, the dream of peace may come true. What are the causes of tension, diseases and depression? The answer to this question lies in the fact that man is drifting away from his own existence and is getting associated with material objects. Without finding out a solution for this
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