What if a country begins to lose it's soul...?

[Sunil singh]

 

 

All people, who share a common sense of belonging to India's soul, are some of those fortunate persons in this world who happen to realize the unique humanitarian spirit that India has been carrying successfully for so many centuries since the days of the Vedas and the Upnishads, of course with occasional setbacks. Those setbacks were in the shape of a growth of caste-system, the hideous face of untouchabilty, extreme emphasis on the ritualistic aspect of the faith, rise of a priesthood whose interest in the religion was just one of the interests, depletion of time-honoured values and relegation of spiritual aspects of the religion to the background. In spite of the above-mentioned things which I prefer to call by  the name of 'setbacks', throughout history, the essence of India remained rooted to it's wonderful spiritual heritage. Changes kept taking place but they had at most a peripheral presence. No invasion, despite involving massive bloodshed could ever reach to the core. India remained India.

Yet slowly but steadily, certain pressures kept building up. For the first time in history, the core started shaking, and within a span of a few hundred years, there are tell-tale signs that the core is in the process of caving in. Yet since the pace of this critical change hasn't attained a considerable momentum, it is by and large not noticed by the common people. The visionaries were and are aware of the process but they don't have means to stem the tide of steady degradation.

The soul of India is in distress. No amount of evasive interpretation and scholarship can hide the cracks behind the beautiful wall-papers of expediency and forced accomodation. 
I bear India in my soul but, as I increasingly find it, the age-old spiritual dynamics of this country have begun to be disturbed by a steady cultural invasion from outside and a sinister and overwhelming invasion of orthodoxy from inside. Unfortunately, both of them appear to be unstoppable. That's why, two of my recent tweets on Twitter are " If you talk of population control in India, you are communal ! If you don't, you are secular! If you whisper about it, you are intellectual ! " and " If population explosion in India isn't contained and the trends reversed, the world will lose the India it has been knowing for centuries ! " Surprisingly, it drew no attention and there was no comment on them on the site. Scared of being labelled as 'communal', the ' intellectual twitters ' decided to avoid tweeting or retweeting in response to a pedestrian twitter like me?

I still wonder, get sad and summon my inner resourses to stay calm when I find the biggest and the most multi-dimensional issue of our country left unattended in favour of some octopus-turned astrologer or a scholarly analysis of a football match ! The population in general and it's pace in particular sections of society is exploding, yet it's a non-issue and not mentioned or debated !
What's changing India from outside is a mixed bag of both good and bad but what's really changing India from inside is, in fact, not a mere natural phenomenon of change but an irreversible destruction of age-old cultural values ! India, that's so fondly borne in many souls, is in deep trouble today, and needs to be protected at par with the several endangered species of flora and fauna on this planet ! This great country can't be allowed to be eventually reduced to an unmanageable, sectarian and orthodox kind of huge crowd that loves to go ahead with it's secretly nursed and sometimes brazenly-displayed trans-national loyalties against the backdrop of a deepening poverty !
Can any country in this world sit like a sloth bear and tolerate such a silent destruction of it's soul ? The sad fact that's staring us in the face, day and night, whether we admit it or not, is loud and clear that India is no longer a spiritual land. At best, it's a religious place and, as the ground realities suggest, it's moving away from it's deeply spiritual roots/past as an awkward response to some unwelcome influences which are irresponsibly, joyfully and mercilessly gaining in numbers and strength.
My dear friends, sorry to be a bit strong-worded but the destruction of a country's soul can never be mentioned with a diplomatic smile. It has to be as unambiguous as truth.

[Motorcycle Hippy Al]

Good to see You here Sunil and to hear Your words of Wisdom. I have always been interested in the Spirituality of India and Yes Spirituality is in My opinion on the decline of most. In My Life it is growing, but I'm a minority here in America. There is a Spiritual presence out there and sometimes I see it in others, but is it just I, with My Spiritual senses that want to see it. I feel a lot of people are looking for it, but just can't change their way of being. Is it that they are being conditioned away from it. I remember in My younger Hippy days, Indian philosophy was all around and now it seems so rare, unless You find a New Age bookstore to find info. I wish that Spiritual Energy in the 60's & 70's was as present now, as it was then. So different now, but "Time will Tell" what the future brings. As for Me I will continue on My Spiritual Enlightening Path and will find the answer to this dilemma. Peace be with You & Yours and good to have You and Your messages here. Namaste, Al

[Paula]

Your words touched me deeply for their wisdom and their truth. It is a sad fact, as you put it, and using your own words, that "the age-old spiritual dynamics of India have begun to be disturbed by a ...cultural invasion from outside and ... orthodoxy from inside".
What could be good may in fact have a perverse effect and make a unique country lose its soul!
Namaste.

[Béatrice LATEUR LACROIX]

It is our "job" to live guided by spirituality, in every action, every thought at every moment.
If we are not the change, who will it be ?
If it is not now, when will it be ?
So let's do it ... all together !
Love and Peace for all Beings.

[Ned Hamson]

It is something not easily discussed because so many take real concern and then want to use/abuse it for political ends. Inter-religious violence in many countries illustrates this point. People claiming (not referring to the author here) to be concerned about the soul in many lands stir fear and hatred by claiming that another group is out to destroy them and/or keep them from getting ahead or even staying where they are.

So we see anti-Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh violence and want-to-be-protectors killing and burning.

The natural order of things seems to be that after a generation or so of sustained economic stability, people begin to have fewer children and balance returns. The problem is that if people are prevented from taking part in that stability, they turn to pure materialism or to feeding on fear and hate toward those they fear or do not understand.

Another good example is how the Roma are treated in times of prosperity and want. When times are prosperous they are ignored and allowed to have the lowest jobs - when times are tight, they are persecuted for being different and taking the lowest jobs.

To maintain the soul - culture of India or any country/people, the people must be able to feed themselves and count on a secure future. When they are able to do that, the positive aspects of a culture are maintained.

[Imelda Maguire]

Hello Sunil,

It is such an honor and a pleasure to meet you.

I feel the pain and fear in your heart for India as a universal spiritual mentor for us all as well as for the individual who calls India home.

For sure I am not polished politically or for that matter current in world affairs. It is with great hesitation that I respond to your message for those reasons.

What is sure from my heart and depths of my soul is that the universe and all Divine source of wisdom is creating a place of intention and attention for each individual to stand tall gracefully reaching out with arms and fingertips spread wide to connect shoulder to shoulder with our neighboring souls in the light of Divine Love in order to heal what is ill here on our beautiful planet earth.

It is with a great sense that the connected heart is the healer for our planet removing history as we know it to prepare for a more complete sense of unconditional universal love.

Our teachings to date have come from the great souls that painted their thoughts, and life lessons since the begining of time to carry the awakened souls through this next universal energy vibration of conscious change to ensure a balanced future on planet earth for tomorrows children.

It is my belief that to bring hope to the hungry children of the world for a brighter tomorrow that the task is way too large to achieve by just a handful of influencial caring people. The differences amongst us all as individuals representing our nations are so great. Through many attempts by countries as well as individuals to bridge the differences amongst the religions, politicians and philosophers still a hungry child puts their head down at night, some without even so much as a canopy to protect them from the dark elements without a hope or even knowledge that life is beautiful and full of plenty.

Through trying to help individuals find relief in a world of plenty it seems that to help one we must first help the entire world. How can one do this alone? For so long defeat to reach a young and dark soul has kept the imbalance in the world.

Perhaps this is the time to concentrate on pure Divine Light to enter the individual soul lost in a dark place through universal collective effort of prayer and meditation in order to achieve a great and timeless healing for our world.

To study the great religions is for sure a personal life long achievable quest. To take that knowledge and experience to each and every one who desires change is a daunting task indeed.

What would the worth of our life be if we thought we failed in our personal efforts to help create a universal balance on earth for all?

With great honor and respect I bow to your courage to address this need for us all to reflect what is truly in the heart.

God Bless

~*LOVE ALWAYS*~

ps.

Humanity Healing and Creating a Better World are reaching out to the artists and creators of works of love to find funding to help feed and heal the hungry children of the world. I have personally donated all of my artwork for this venue. Should the light shine brighter and bigger than the darkness on earth it will come from the heart that gives it's love away freely... and then give it all away again... and then again as it joins together with other lovers.

[Qais M. Yousef]

I feel what you feel Sunil singh,

a nation without spirit in its soul, when its people lose the spirituals they become like a robots (Please excuse this word) just following the commands without meditation, and will no longer be a nation.

We should do something to help it to return to its spirituals, India هs one of the first nations in this world, If we lose it we will lose a large part of cultures, arts, nature and spirituals of our world.

Hope We return it before we reach a time, when the blame is useless.

[Sunil singh]

Thanks Qais for your comment on my blog. I'm happy to see that you, too, are disturbed by what's happening worldwide, specially what's eroding India's basic cultural identity. What's most noticeable in your comment is the sense of urgency you feel like me.

Qais M. Yousef said:

I feel what you feel Sunil singh,

a nation without spirit in its soul, when its people lose the spirituals they become like a robots (Please excuse this word) just following the commands without meditation, and will no longer be a nation.

We should do something to help it to return to its spirituals, India هs one of the first nations in this world, If we lose it we will lose a large part of cultures, arts, nature and spirituals of our world.

Hope We return it before we reach a time, when the blame is useless.

[Sunil singh]

Thanks Imelda for your comment on my blog. What's most encouraging for me is the broad perspective you placed my blog in, apart from sharing my concerns in your own way with a great intensity.

Imelda Maguire said:

Hello Sunil,

It is such an honor and a pleasure to meet you.

I feel the pain and fear in your heart for India as a universal spiritual mentor for us all as well as for the individual who calls India home.

For sure I am not polished politically or for that matter current in world affairs. It is with great hesitation that I respond to your message for those reasons.

What is sure from my heart and depths of my soul is that the universe and all Divine source of wisdom is creating a place of intention and attention for each individual to stand tall gracefully reaching out with arms and fingertips spread wide to connect shoulder to shoulder with our neighboring souls in the light of Divine Love in order to heal what is ill here on our beautiful planet earth.

It is with a great sense that the connected heart is the healer for our planet removing history as we know it to prepare for a more complete sense of unconditional universal love.

Our teachings to date have come from the great souls that painted their thoughts, and life lessons since the begining of time to carry the awakened souls through this next universal energy vibration of conscious change to ensure a balanced future on planet earth for tomorrows children.

It is my belief that to bring hope to the hungry children of the world for a brighter tomorrow that the task is way too large to achieve by just a handful of influencial caring people. The differences amongst us all as individuals representing our nations are so great. Through many attempts by countries as well as individuals to bridge the differences amongst the religions, politicians and philosophers still a hungry child puts their head down at night, some without even so much as a canopy to protect them from the dark elements without a hope or even knowledge that life is beautiful and full of plenty.

Through trying to help individuals find relief in a world of plenty it seems that to help one we must first help the entire world. How can one do this alone? For so long defeat to reach a young and dark soul has kept the imbalance in the world.

Perhaps this is the time to concentrate on pure Divine Light to enter the individual soul lost in a dark place through universal collective effort of prayer and meditation in order to achieve a great and timeless healing for our world.

To study the great religions is for sure a personal life long achievable quest. To take that knowledge and experience to each and every one who desires change is a daunting task indeed.

What would the worth of our life be if we thought we failed in our personal efforts to help create a universal balance on earth for all?

With great honor and respect I bow to your courage to address this need for us all to reflect what is truly in the heart.

God Bless

~*LOVE ALWAYS*~

ps.

Humanity Healing and Creating a Better World are reaching out to the artists and creators of works of love to find funding to help feed and heal the hungry children of the world. I have personally donated all of my artwork for this venue. Should the light shine brighter and bigger than the darkness on earth it will come from the heart that gives it's love away freely... and then give it all away again... and then again as it joins together with other lovers.

[Sunil singh]

Thanks Ned for your comment on my blog. It's understandable to realize your bent of mind on the issue. Not a bad logic. Perhaps you are looking at the issue from a purely academic angle. Sometimes, geographical distance from the place of occurence distracts us from reaching the heart of the matter, although it's not easy to admit this limitation. The pain and suffering are seldom fully appreciated from a mental and geographical distance. One has to be there, right there in the eye of the storm. They say, only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches, and it's the ultimate in practical wisdom. No doubt, cultural assimilation is taking place everywhere in all kinds of societies but you can't always welcome it if it amounts to the wiping out of the very soul of a society. There is a very thin line that separates a composite culture from the emergence of a crowd in the name of a nation ! All religions and their respective faiths must genuinely respect each-other, put all others on an equal footing and inspire confidence in the bona fide of each-other. If a religion in any society refuses to assimilate and be assimilated in the ethos of the homeland, the basic character of all societies will be flooded with alien ways of life. Obviously, that's not a healthy growth. That's why, unity in diversity is the only credible answer, provided one rapidly growing community doesn't wipe the slower one out by the sheer force and momentum of uncontrolled numerical strength ! Love and peace must have strong legs to stand up ! Anyway, thanks again for sharing a different point of view. Difference doesn't mean a lack of brotherhood or friendship. A healthy exchange of views must go on in a cordial atmosphere if a suffocating uniformity is to be avoided.

Ned Hamson said:

It is something not easily discussed because so many take real concern and then want to use/abuse it for political ends. Inter-religious violence in many countries illustrates this point. People claiming (not referring to the author here) to be concerned about the soul in many lands stir fear and hatred by claiming that another group is out to destroy them and/or keep them from getting ahead or even staying where they are.

So we see anti-Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh violence and want-to-be-protectors killing and burning.

The natural order of things seems to be that after a generation or so of sustained economic stability, people begin to have fewer children and balance returns. The problem is that if people are prevented from taking part in that stability, they turn to pure materialism or to feeding on fear and hate toward those they fear or do not understand.

Another good example is how the Roma are treated in times of prosperity and want. When times are prosperous they are ignored and allowed to have the lowest jobs - when times are tight, they are persecuted for being different and taking the lowest jobs.

To maintain the soul - culture of India or any country/people, the people must be able to feed themselves and count on a secure future. When they are able to do that, the positive aspects of a culture are maintained.

[Sunil singh]

Thanks Al for your comment on my blog. I'm happy to see that you share my concerns, and look upon the entire issue with maturity.


Motorcycle Hippy Al said:

Good to see You here Sunil and to hear Your words of Wisdom. I have always been interested in the Spirituality of India and Yes Spirituality is in My opinion on the decline of most. In My Life it is growing, but I'm a minority here in America. There is a Spiritual presence out there and sometimes I see it in others, but is it just I, with My Spiritual senses that want to see it. I feel a lot of people are looking for it, but just can't change their way of being. Is it that they are being conditioned away from it. I remember in My younger Hippy days, Indian philosophy was all around and now it seems so rare, unless You find a New Age bookstore to find info. I wish that Spiritual Energy in the 60's & 70's was as present now, as it was then. So different now, but "Time will Tell" what the future brings. As for Me I will continue on My Spiritual Enlightening Path and will find the answer to this dilemma. Peace be with You & Yours and good to have You and Your messages here. Namaste, Al