Not long ago I was giving a lecture to a general audience of Indians, with many Krishna devotees in the crowd. In the lecture, I raised the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or how “the whole world is one family.” Yet many devotees had not heard of this phrase before, which surprised me because I had heard this for years in the circles of my association. So, this is how I went on to describe it in my lecture, after which I received a standing ovation.
While studying Vedic culture, one thing I learned was how it had been adopted by other cultures around the world which appreciated or was influenced by it. I wrote a few books on this, which anyone can read. But an example of this connection is the similarity of the Vedic and Mayan fire ceremonies. This was especially illustrated at a conference I attended many years ago in Jaipur, which was called “Spirituality Beyond Religion.” There were delegates from over 30 different cultures and nations from around the planet, and it was very enlightening to share the many similarities that we all had in common within the traditions that we represented.
What happened was that the Mayan delegates from Central America performed their morning fire ritual next to a group of Indian Brahmins who were performing their Vedic fire ritual or havan. The Mayans had a small fire surrounded by flower petals and offered prayers into the fire, while the Brahmins were also offering prayers, mantras, and grains into their fire, which was held in a small fire pit or container.
While this was going on, the similarities between the two were obvious. There had to have been some common roots between the two traditions. But how could there be such a connection between two cultures that were a half a world apart?
Certainly, such cultural or religious similarities around the world are a testament to the glory of God. They are a bridge of connection with each other and between us. Any differences should not be a reason for divisiveness or for hating another religion.
If a religion, a process that is supposed to help you become closer to God, teaches to hate your fellow man, then how does that help anyone? How is that really of God? This feeling of superiority is what leads to the desire to conquer and convert. It is childishness. It is a sign of great immaturity. What must God be thinking when He sees this, that over the course of many centuries, people have displayed the utmost cruelty, torture, war, and the infliction of death on each other, simply because of the difference in the way we worship Him? This is insanity.
The point to consider is that the spiritual world is filled with love. God is filled with love. How do you think anyone will enter the spiritual world with a heart filled with hate? That is not possible. To think you can reach God with a heart filled with hate is simply an illusion. In fact, one of the reasons for the material creation is to keep all the haters in their place, away from the spiritual domain.
Then how do we make peace? Many people are still puzzled by this dilemma. But the means for that is what I call the 11th Commandment. We already have the Ten Commandments, but they are mostly simple moralistic principles. They are not higher principles of spiritual realization. Of course, without good morals to follow, this world would be completely crazy. But this next code for a new level of social spiritual development is based on a higher principle of spiritual consciousness, which is “Thou shalt recognize that all beings are a part of God, and that God is within all beings.”
Of course, a child of eight may understand this, but hardly a man of 80 can apply it in a practical manner. That is because it must be more than mere cultivated or memorized knowledge. It must be practically realized. You must raise your consciousness to be able to see this on a continual basis. Of course, this is why Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-gita (9.2) explains that this Vedic spiritual knowledge, along with the practice of bhakti-yoga and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, is the most secret of all secrets, the king of education, because it gives direct knowledge of the Self, the soul, by realization. That is what is needed. Then you will see how we are all spiritually of the same nature.
This is explained in the Vedic principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means “the whole world is one family.” We are all parts of God, the Supreme Father, so then we are all related, having come from the same spiritual source. But if you actually realize this, this would change so many aspects of your conduct. It would change the way you act toward others, the way you treat other beings, what you eat, the way you do business, how you treat nature and the environment, the way in which governments relate to each other, the way of international relations, and so on. It would also change the way we develop ourselves spiritually.
The development of civilization, which is the upliftment of consciousness, should not be a fight or even a competition between parties, but it should be a united endeavor for the improvement and continued means to reach our fullest potential for one and all, both materially and spiritually. This has always been the goal and motivation and purpose of Vedic Culture or Vedic Dharma.
The essence of religion is Truth, light, or Dharma. Hinduism or Vedic Dharma recognizes that Truth, or whatever portions there are of it, in all religions. That is why we, as followers of Vedic culture, can get along with most anyone. We are all on the path of seeking and ultimately attaining that Truth. Some are more serious about it than others. And Vedic culture holds multiple ways of reaching that Truth and recognizing God and His energies everywhere. We are all parts of God, but can be swayed by confusion or ego, and the desire for superiority over others, which leads us away from God.
Vedic culture believes in coexistence, that everyone should have the freedom to pursue their own course to Truth and self-realization. And if we can follow this principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, then we can all live peacefully together while engaged in our spiritual upliftment.
So, in this way, may we all move forward in harmony and help each other in mutual cooperation and respect, in the mood of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and live like the family we are. Out of so many Vedic principles we could present, this one Vedic principle alone, if followed properly, would change the course of the world.
Thank you very much and Jai Sri Krishna.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116606
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