World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 934

which upholds the people, brings people together irrespective of religion, race sex and creed. It is basically the principle, the discipline, the way, which helps to sustain the life of individual and life of society (Dhāranāt dharma ityāhuh dharmo dhārayati prajāh. -Mahābhārata). Vedic religion (Hinduism) proclaims that we are all children of one Divine pureconsciousness, the Supreme Being, the God (Amrtasya Putrāh). The God or Supreme Being is one; It is called by different names and worshipped in different names and worshipped in different forms (ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti-Rgveda). The divinity, pure consciousness is inherent in everything and every being. So every one is essentially divine. There is no meaning in quarrelling each other in the name of religion or God. It also speaks of unity of minds, hearts and actions. It tells us to come together, talk together and act with one mind for the benefit of mankind. The Rgveda, one of the oldest Scriptures of the mankind gives great message to human beings in the following way:
"Meet together; talk together, may your minds comprehend alike. Common be your actions and achievements. Common be your thoughts and intentions, Common be wishes of your hearts. So may there be union amongst you."
[Sangcchadhvam samvadadhvam sam vo manānsi jänatām.
Samanīvah akutih samānā hrdayanivah. Samānamastu vo mano yathā vah susahāsati Rgveda .x. 191.2-4]
The sense of sepesrateness brings conflicts, grief and sorrow, while unity of minds brings peace and calmness of mind. Iśāvāsya Upanisad - the one of the oldest Upanisadic texts tells us 'to see one's own self in everything and everything in one's own self. Practicing this you will not hate anyone" (Yastu sarvāni bhūtāni ātmanyevānupuśyati. Sarvabhūtesu cātmānam tato nu vijugupsate. Isopanisad. 7] Its message is that loving others we love ourselves; by hating others we hate ourselves, because same divinity, same divine consciousness resides in every one and everything. "Real seer is he, who sees all as his own self”, is the message of the Bhagavadgitā sātmaupamyena sarvatra samam pasyati yo arjuna, sukham vā yadi vā duhkham sa yogi paramo matah. Gītā. VI. 32,29,30 and XIII.27]. The Golden rule taught by the Hinduism is: "One should never do that to another which one considers undesirable for oneself [Ātmanah pratikūlāni paresām na samāscaret-Mahābhārata V. XV. 17]. Hinduism also speaks of one family on earth. Everyone is sisters and
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