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Inaugural Address by the President of India
the excessive influence of materialism, though as a result of latest researches, science itself seems to be overgrowing and surpassing the bounds of materialism and coming closer to a recognition of the spiritual forces. The situation which we are facing today, as a result of the invention of destructive weapons, is such, that in sheer self-protection, we are beginning to incline towards spiritualism. It is gratifying that in unchecked advance of means of destruction man now sees the ghost of his own annihilation and has thus been persuaded to look elsewhere, for a way-out of this quandary. The only way which can help him in this predicament is the way of Truth and Non-Violence. This alone can give man real peace and happiness.
Be that as it may, there can be no doubt that man can neither benefit fully from the advance of science nor escape his sure doom, without giving due place in life to religious or spiritual values. It is these forces which the Conference of Religions is keen to awaken and revitalise. It is on this foundation that it is going to raise the structure of a new human society..
There are certain facts in life which appear to be straight and simple and apparentiy within easy grasp. We see those things clearly and feel the truth of their existence, but for one reason or another, turn our back on them or are unable to accept them as such in actual life. It is difficult to say whether the fault lies with our surroundings or with human nature. What is beyond doubt is that to realise these simple facts, to have faith in them and to act up to them in life is the greatest blessing, one can imagine or aspire to.
Religion is the foremost among such facts. If we go into the intricacies of philosophy or metaphysics, it will be hard to define religion with all its subtleties and it would be difficult to derive guidance from it in every-day life. It would bo easier to define religion If we view it as man's inner experience and thought and belief. The finer form of Religion is concerned with man's Inner experiences, which, strangely enough, are also responsible for the birth of religious belief in human mind. Its outer form, on the other hand, is seen is one's behaviour and actions in every-day life. In a wider sense we could say that religion consists of those beliefs aad ideas which hold for us the key to the mysteries of the origin of life and the relationship between man and the Supreme Being. It is religion or Dharma which supplies the real basis for peace, for life's highest aspirations and for the knowledge of the great seers. It is also the ultimate goal of all devotees' and mystics' search no less than the aim of all literary endeavour. Religion thus is not only essential but Inevitable for man, as, an individual and as a member of society.
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Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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