Global Unity Begins With Individual Peace
Author by Gurudev Shri Amritji (Yogi Amrit Desai)
We stand at the dawn of a new age. Political, religious, social and racial conflicts on the planet have become a catalyst for an awakening of planetary awareness. More and more, people are becoming conscious of the crucial need for a change in values.
Ancient wisdom tells us “the world is one family”
It is possible to save our planet from environmental crises, riots, war, starvation and disease. We only need to reach a level at which a critical mass of global civilization displays an undisputed dedication and service to one another and to the planet. The yogis knew this many years ago. According to the ancient wisdom of the path of “eternal truth” (Sanatana Dharma), the highest value is “the world is one family” (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). This statement is more than an adage has many implications in a modern context.
Until the advent of mass media, it was impossible to know what was happening in other parts of the world or have a relationship with other cultures. Experiencing the world as one family existed on a village rather than global level. Today, technological advancements have shrunk the globe making it possible to engage with each other in real time.
Unfortunately, the sophisticated equipment that is capable of bringing us together is also capable of creating disturbances between us. The process of uniting with others begins with the relationship with ourselves. We must first become conscious of our own experiences to see clearly how we create the problems we face.
Is more actually better?
Is more actually better?We live divided lives. On one hand, we try to make our lives happy with more conveniences, comfort and technology. We ask science and industry to support our ongoing need for faster, better and bigger. Even with modern life, we feel divided, and unfulfilled. We tell ourselves that if “this or that changed, then I would be fulfilled.” Fulfillment is not the result of a satisfied desire; it is the experience of connecting to the source of love in the present moment.
Desires come from tensions; the root of those tensions is fear and insecurity. When we fail to realize the true source of our discomfort, we look outside of ourselves for solutions. These perceived needs spring from the belief that if we get what we want externally, it will reduce our internal stress. No matter how much we achieve externally, there can be no lasting happiness, because we have not addressed our true inner yearning for peace.
It is not what we have, but who we are, that makes the real difference
What each individual is ac tually looking for is one self. Reality is nudging us progressively toward the underlying spiritual values that deeply nurture life. As a result, many turn to personal growth, which invariably leads to the foundation of the global family.
It is not realistic to expect all nations to function under a single government or religion so that we exist in a utopian dream. The fact that we are citizens of different nations born into different cultures is not a limitation. Within the diversity is an underlying unity.
Yoga and selfless service are practical methods to achieve global unity
As yoga has become popular, its original spirit has deteriorated. Practitioners find the physical postures beneficial so they assume the external form of Hatha Yoga is the total experience of yoga. But yoga is much more than physical discipline.
The meaning of the word yoga is “union” and its real purpose is to awaken one to the internal integration of the individual soul with the cosmic soul. Real Love is discovered through yoga and it is given through selfless service, whereas love on the personal level is often is confused with attachment. The key that truly unlocks our heart is hidden in the heart of another. To retrieve the key that opens our own heart. we must love others so that they can open theirs. It is in the giving of love that we receive it.
The time has come to unite all humanity and let go of artificial, manmade boundaries. By standing on a common platform with a common intention we can create a vision of global unity and turn it into the experience of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the prophecy of the rishis.
About the author
Gurudev Shri Amritji (Yogi Amrit Desai) is an internationally recognized authority on yoga and holistic living. The founder of one of the largest yoga and health centers in America, author of 6 books and 45 CDs, Yogi Desai has received the rare Vishwa Yoga Ratna, awarded by the President of India. For more information, visit www.amrityoga.org.
