________________
structive side. Then how do we explain this?
Swami Vivekananda, in his introduction to Raja Yoga, which has become very popular in the west as well as in the east, has put the whole of religion in a nutshell. What is that? You are all potentially divine, each soul is potentially divine. It is potential. Therefore, the goal is to manifest that divinity which is within. It is within everyone, even within animals. But, of course, man is different to the animals because of his extraordinary intelligence. A thousand years back, even the tiger or lion lived only in caves. What about man? He has advanced so much that he is able to build skyscrapers, highrise buildings. It is wonderful indeed.
Therefore, man has conquered the external world. Swami Vivekananda says that alone won't do. If man has to attain real peace he has to control his internal world also. That is why he says, “The goal is to manifest the divine which is already within, by controlling nature, external and also internal." Now, we have not done that. The mind, the internal world or the mental world, consists of good things like love, beauty, mercy, philanthropy and unselfishness, on the one hand. But, on the other hand, in this mind, we find the opposite of these qualities, hate. We don't love our fellow man, and today that is the problem. Man is not loving man. That is the tragedy of the modern world, of the modern man.
Now what is the solution? To manifest this divinity. If you can manifest this, then you will feel that you are one with all. Swami Vivekananda's message is but the message of Vedanta. Vedanta proclaims in all its glory, it thunders, Tat twam asi, you are that, you are all Brahman, that is unity. Therefore, when you realize Brahman, you become one with others. You cannot hate others, you cannot but love them. Why? Because, as Brahman, others are not different from you. If you develop this idea, then you will always do good to others. This is how the spiritual message of Vedanta can help modern man. It can help man to really love others.
How to achieve this? That is the question. There are many yogas. Each man is different from another. Yet there are some universal qualities also among mankind. Therefore, you cannot offer the same thing to all. You cannot offer the same food or the same dress to all, because men are constituted differently. Swami Vivekananda says there is no harm in our being dif
27
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
