JOIN USWhy all these ills in society? It is because of unhappiness. A happy person doesn’t go and disturb anybody, he only spreads happiness. It is the unhappy people who create more unhappiness. We need to bring happiness in our society. And without knowledge, without wisdom, there cannot be happiness. But we need a change in our thought process, in our attitude, and in our society.
Spirituality is the field where reform can happen. Criminals also can be reformed because inside every human being there is beauty, and joy. We just need to invoke that and that inner wealth comes up. Then people forget all the wrong tendencies; they simply leave them. Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “Api cet su-duracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak. Sadhur eva sa mantavyah, samyag vyavasito hi sah.” However fallen someone is, the moment he comes to the knowledge, comes to meditate, and becomes spiritual, you should forgive them and forget their mischief because they have started walking on the right path.
There is a saying in Sanskrit, “Kavya Shastra Vinodena Kalo Gacchati Dheematam.” It means, an intelligent person spends his time in knowledge, music, literature, science, and in bringing people together. But the foolish always enjoy spending their time indulging in addictions (vyasanam), altercations and fights. We have so many intelligent people here. Only intelligent people can become spiritual. I tell you, people with less intelligence don’t come to spirituality. This is the criteria – who is an intelligent person? One who has a little bit of spirituality. If they don’t have that, then they are like a horse with blinders. They don’t have a broad vision. They don’t see their life. They don’t know who they are. We have this knowledge, this wisdom, to transform society. When you find some injustice, what happens? Anger comes. And when you’re angry, you’re not able to do what you want to because anger takes away much energy. But if you channel that anger towards creativity, and with compassion, you can change any situation and you all have that wisdom, that power.
That is where spirituality, or the inner strength, that you gain through meditation comes into play. Do you know why Krishna had a peacock feather on his crown? The crown of a King is always very heavy as it denotes responsibility. People who have the crown are not very happy. But the peacock feather indicates that the crown is light. It means you take responsibility but it is light and colourful as well. You’re not bogged down by the weight of responsibility. When you have wisdom, your crown will be feather-light! It means you are able to take responsibility without a sense of burden. We have responsibility for the nation and we are going to shoulder this responsibility without getting bogged down. First and foremost, you have to have the fire, the enthusiasm, the joy. With this joy you can achieve so much in society.