“Satanic forces always have division on agenda”

I am very happy to know that ‘Life Watch’ is bringing out a special issue on the subject of ‘Co-Existence’. I have been told that the issue is related to Almustafa University’s two-day seminar on the subject of peace and co-existence in various religions, to be held in IICC, Delhi.
The subject you have chosen is extremely important in the present day context. Like minded people, feeling the need of the hour, have started working on re-propagating the forlorned context and values related to Peace and Co-Existence. Sane voices are coming together and those on the wrong are themselves getting exposed; it is a good sign and beginning.
Peace and co-existence have been a legacy that we Indians have always been proud of. Indian society has always been peace-loving. Innumerable faiths and believes have co-existed at one and the same time, since times immemorial. Various religions, cultures, languages and races have been living amicably, even when such concepts were unheard of in Western countries.
Lately, a small section of society, due to its own vested interests, be it political or otherwise, have tried to create a wedge between various communities not only on the basis of religion, but also on the basis of sects, regions, languages, castes and creeds. If you look deeply, it is not only a Hindu-Muslim issue. Satanic forces always have division on agenda in contrast to the forces of unity, referred to in Quran, as the followers of Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (the straight path).

Saiyed Hamid
IAS (Rtd.) and Former VC-Aligarh Muslim University

Try turning the senses inward

One of the great neurologists, W. Grey Walter of Bristol, in his book ‘The Living Brain’ refers to this fact that all the animals, pre-human species, have been there for millions of years, they have not altered their environment; they have been shaped by their environment. Only the human being has a capacity to alter the environment, alter it for good or for bad, later it even to destroy it and destroy himself. Man alone has that capacity because man is still conditioned by the external world by only sensory knowledge and information. He is often turning to destroying the environment or even destroying himself. That is man today.

This is because we have not tried turning the senses inwards as yet. Like in animals, the senses go out; we eat and rink and handle the world, and we think ourselves also as part of that world: that we are an object. The Katha Upanishad gives a profound description to this situation:

‘The self-existent (God) has rendered the senses (so) defective that they go outward, and hence man sees the external and the internal self. (Only, perchance) some wise man desirous of immortality turns his eyes in, and beholds the Atman.”

The whole of Vedanta says that right during the course of human life, in the course of our work, in the course of human interactions in society, we can develop that inward penetration. We need not do it separately. In the midst of life and work, this inward penetration can go on by training the mind, making it purer.

Vedanta says, mind exist in two forms – the impure and the pure. The impure is when it is subject to the pressures of the sensory system. The pure is when it is released form the pressure of the sensory system.

If you achieve this, you are in for a tremendous experience. This is what Buddha achieved on that blessed night. You discover your own true dimension; you discover your own infinite nature.

This is the truth that is waiting to be understood and implemented by man in this modern age. If he does so, there will be peace and co-existence, all around!

Swami Rangathananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai