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Social, ethical and intellectual revolution — how? (Samajika, Naitika Evam Bauddhika Kranti Kaise?): Vangamaya Vol-65

The progress of science and technology since past few centuries has indeed been revolutionary. It has drastically changed the shape of our lives. World today is blessed by multifarious comforts and facilities, which were beyond imagination a century ago… Science fiction of the past appears to have become a reality today. If a man of 300 years ago descends here, he may not recognize whether it is the same world he once inhabited! The enormous boons of science and technology have helped culmination of human civilization to ever-new heights… However, despite this enrichment and advancement, the goal of global peace and happiness still appears to be far from sight….
Man of today, generally feels more lonely, more privative, more deprived, more dissatisfied, more insecure, more worried, more tensed and weaker than his great grand parents. The human society today, appears to be challenged by unprecedented arduous problems and facing negative evolution of – bodily health, mental stability and peace, moral development, familial amity, financial security and satisfaction, social goodwill and cooperation, inner bliss and enlightenment…..
Acharya Sharma sees the misconceptions and misdeeds of people’s shortsighted, extrovert thinking at the root of these man-made threats to the very survival of humanity. “Folly of wisdom” would be a more appropriate representation here to summarize the illusions and mistakes of human intellect. Blind race of single-tracked materialistic advancement has disturbed the harmony of the ecosystem on the one hand, and has severely hindered the natural flow of humane sentiments on the other. This has put the cultural growth of the highly advanced civilization on an edge of extinction.
The present volume focuses at the depth and grandeur of the selfish attitude, prejudiced thinking and evil mentality, and measures their adverse consequences in different dimensions of life. It also discusses the major issues and approaches concerning reversal or diversion of the morally inverted and ethically perverted thinking of people and elucidates practical approaches to enforce ideal use of the power of science and technology…. It sketches the basis, prudent philosophy and modalities for materialization of intellectual civilization in perfect consonance with righteous expansion of social and ethical revolution – emanated from the limitless source of spiritually refined thoughts and sentiments…
Power of thinking is greatest of all the powers of Nature and its conscious component. Prudence of pure intellect enables ideal use of this immense power. It is the arousal of righteous thinking, which educes spark of life in the otherwise dead education and thus enlightens the latter with the glow of vidya (ref. vol. no. 49 of this series). The nectar of vidya induces the vital charge of divine values in the ‘materialistic’ intellect of man and activates the hidden force of his soul. Then, there remains no place left for malice, mistakes, fear, tension, sorrow, despair, weakness or scarcity in any domain of life…. Life blossoms with immense bliss and brilliant success there after….
Prudence is a virtue of spirituality. It arouses with the piety of intellect and sentiments. Revolution of thoughts cannot proceed without its arousal in people’s minds. The fundamental elements of Gayatri and Yagya, and the gamut of Indian cultural values derived from them, encompass all that is necessary and sufficient for this revolution to take place in the present circumstances of life…. Initiation and expansion of this revolution (Vichar Kranti) has been the major objective of Acharya Sharma’s “Gayatri Pariwar” mission.
The distinctions of the Indian cultural system and the need, possibilities and scope of resurrection of this culture, are elucidated in the present volume in the context of the ethical (moral), intellectual and social revolution by Vichar Kranti. This volume also discusses the philosophies and impact of other revolutions, which have been significant in the history of modern civilization.
Acharya Sharma suggests a comprehensive approach involving collective participation of people across the globe. In his views, the process of moral and intellectual refinement should begin at personal level and expand at familial and social levels in a natural way. He has guided, practical solutions and psychologically appealing methods – for prudent refinement of personality, which can be adopted by each one of us for gradual progress right from today onwards…. Rather than emphasizing ascetic disciplines of high spiritual elevation, he advises easily adaptable modes for changing our attitude, our direction of thinking, which is most essential for inspiring moral rise as a natural impulse of our mind…
His trenchant analysis – of the natural tendencies of human mind, and the influence of thought waves generated in its internal and external domains, is so complete, that, it would make us feel, as if, it is a projection of a thorough analysis of our own selves; as if, he has known every aspect of our lives and sensed every vibration of our thoughts and sentiments….
While discussing the trends of ethical and intellectual developments on the social front, the author remarks that – “some misconceptions, untoward tendencies, and unwise notions, have so firmly entangled with our social customs, that we don’t even notice their influence on our lives, neither do we realize the need to analyze their applicability or harms in general….”.
For a meaningful review of the moral character of a society of the modern times, we should find out how many of its citizens could be regarded as morally elevated on an average scale, and why? Even going by the most ‘pragmatic definition’ of a morally refined citizen, we will have to set some norms compatible with the ethics of humanity. Those, whose selfish intellect sees nothing else except what suits their vested interest, aplomb, luxuries, lust and ego, and who never bother to care for the society or anyone other than their near and dear ones…, cannot fit to be called morally aroused or ethical by any norm.
Those, who choose to live a simple life with minimum necessities, or having comforts comparable to that of an average citizen of their nation, and who consistently endeavor for enhancing their virtuous potentials, integrity, piety of character, refined thinking, and sagacity, are morally elevated indeed. They cannot live without contributing their level best for the moral rise and altruist support of the fellow beings…. Gradual purification of their sentiments, clarity of mental vision and broadening of attitude naturally expands the domains of their amity…. It is this category of intellectuals, social reformers and other citizens, who should set the ideals of ethics in the human society today. They would, as per the prudent deliberations and foresighted reasoning of Acharya Sharma, be the architects of the 21st century and receive glorious recognition and honors in the years to come….
The philosophy of life and mode of living based on the ideals of humanity is indeed the righteous and foresighted choice in the present era of ethical crisis. It is pathetic to note that, in today’s advanced society, many of the highly successful industrialists, other professionals and intellectuals often prove to be failures in their personal lives. Excellent managers of the external and materialistic phase of life often perform so miserably in the internal world of emotions and personal interactions, that depression, tension, psychosomatic disorders, aggressive and suicidal tendencies, etc., become predominant features of their lives…. Increasing trends of these kinds have raised the alarming need of judging emotional qualification along with intelligence in the industrially developed, technologically advanced countries these days. The growing use of EQ along with IQ is a visible sign of this effect.
The edifice of advanced civilization cannot stand if the foundational support of human values is shaken….. Acharya Sharma’s vast literature, his oral deliberations, and the creative programs of Vichar Kranti inspired by him, aim at arousing the divinely pure, humane sentiments of love, compassion and altruist service… The principle objectives of the ethical revolution proposed and propagated by him include – training and generation of morally refined talents and dedicated, duty-bond citizens, who are endowed with the spiritual serenity and vital charge of the above sentiments. Precious collection of his distinguished ideas and motivating guidance on this unique revolution of our times is presented in this volume.
In Acharya Sharma’s views, the major cause of India’s under-development and poverty lies, not so much in its poor economic condition, as in the mental backwardness of its people…. An average Indian mind is captured by varieties of superstitions, blind faith and lethargy in the name of religion and ‘theism’, and artificial life-style adopted under the false notions of social status and prestige. Narcotic drugs, other kinds of intoxication, craze for name and fame, fashionable showoff, excessive possession of luxuries and wealth, tensions, broken families, licentious practices of free-sex, uncontrolled reproduction, declining physical and mental health, etc, – are the other visible offshoots of the anarchy, malice and negative evolution of people’s mentality across the globe…
Uprooting the basic cause of the maligned mentality and unhealthy tendencies of mind is targeted under what Acharya Sharma refers as intellectual or mental revolution. This revolution also aims at simultaneous enlightenment of people’s faith and righteous and creative orientation of their thoughts. Removal of religious misconceptions and rigid faith, and unification of the prudent principles and philosophies of all religions – with the noble purpose of divine arousal of humanity – are the other important facets of this revolutionary endeavor, which, the author affirms as essential for progressive survival of the human civilization and its cultural dignity…. How this should and could be achieved, is eloquently described here. Authentic examples from modern life are also presented to illustrate the feasibility of such revolutions today.
Several volumes of this Vangamaya series have discussed different aspects of Acharya Sharma’s ideas and endeavors of social reformation and revolution. The present volume deals with those pertaining to the notions, philosophies and convictions of – the leaders of religious, social and intellectual organizations and the celebrities, who largely influence and shape people’s opinions and social trends and customs. Here, he emphasizes eradication of those misconceptions and untoward notions and theories, which propagate inequality, separation, prejudices, social disparity and which nurture the rigid tendencies that are neither just nor suitable in the interest of the entire society.
Acharya Sharma suggests excellent substitutes in place of pernicious customs and habits. Because, without doing so, no ideology, howsoever prudent and useful it might be, can come into practice. This novelty and practicality of his approach has been among the secrets of the popularity and success of his mission. … He discusses feasible projects of co-operative societies and larger families, constructed on the basis of mutual trust and fair sharing of responsibilities, benefits and losses. He also advocates propagation of social culture driven by prudence and foresighted and scientifically justified practices.
At the outset, the idea of moral and intellectual refinement of over six hundred billion people of the world sounds imaginary like a utopia. But, those, who have witnessed and experienced the supernormal intellect, divine personality, absolute spirituality and clairvoyance of Acharya Sharma, and who have participated in the reformative and constructive activities of his mission, would not have any doubt in the reality of his visions…. We all would also be convinced of the possibilities and success of the ethical, intellectual and social revolution envisaged by him as we move deeper into the details of this volume.