Harmony

The Mother says...

Surely we must always want peace and harmony and work for it as much as we can - but for that the best field of action is always within ourselves.Look for the inner causes of disharmony much more than the outer ones. It is the inside which governs the outside.

For all to agree, each one must rise to the summit of his consciousness: it is on the heights that harmony is created.

Beyond all preferences and limitations, there is a ground of mutual understanding where all can meet and find their harmony: it is the aspiration for a divine consciousness.

Internationalism

'Internationalism ' is a popular concept in today's world. It is a perfect saleable commodity in the educational world. In the business world it is globalization. And the saddest part is that we Indians belief that 'internationalism' is a borrowed philosophy from the west.

Let us sit back and think... Who taught us about it ? What is its actual meaning?
Internationalism is the attempt of the human mind to break free from the national identity in the larger interest of mankind.What inspires this is the idea of humanity as a single race and with a single goal.

Why does man break free from the narrow feelings of nationalism? It is because nationalism ties him down and binds him with prejudice, narrow mindedness , oppression and arrogance.

There is a definite difference between patriotism and narrow nationalism. A true patriot is a one who loves his own nation and at the same time respects the feelings of nationalism of others. To him 'love for the nation' is an universal value that he cherishes and never violates.

However, the patterns of human life today are more in favour of INTERNATIONALISM as the threads of communication are drawing humanity closer together. Science and knowledge are perhaps the two strongest reasons for the world closing in as one community.

Coming to the question as to who taught us about internationalism?
Swami Vivekananda in his Chicago Address spoke about internationalism:
"Sisters and Brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. l thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects. My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration.I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. ...."

The very first line tells about the principle of universal brotherhood, love and tolerance. Yet Swamiji's patriotism and devotion to the motherland has been one of the strongest in human history.

Patriotism is complementary to internationalism.They are not diametrically opposed to each other. Who teaches brings out feelings of love in a newborn? Is it not the mother?

Yes like Swamiji we are all proud to belong to a nation that has taught the world love and tolerance.And at this moment of grave danger when terrorism is rocking the world and more so our nation, we shall proudly claim to the world that we still belief in the ideals of Swamiji and we will never cease to do so. It is only then that we can fight fanaticism and violence. Let us not boil in the wrath of vengeance , let us not take lessons in violence, let us not generalize. Let us not ask the Indian Musalman to again and again prove his patriotism. We must remember that people who breed violence have no religion at all.

But how do we achieve all this? How do we show a ray of hope to the victims of fanaticism?

It is by believing in the goodness of humanity. It is by identifying ourselves as part of a greater community- a world community where every nation shares the burdens of another, where every nations transmits its knowledge to the other.

This world community cannot be alone built on economic well -being or socio-cultural influences. It has to be built on the foundations of a universal religion of man that worships the human spirit and promotes human dignity.
Whose responsibility is it to build this religion?

'It is mine and mine alone.'