A journey from eternal wisdom to economic wisdom
<p>The Vedic wisdom of India says that spirituality
is something to be essentially
practiced, and the aim of human life is to attain
<em>moksha</em>. All the superior
and differentiating attributes that human has been endowed upon are meant by a divine design to achieve
this purpose alone. Otherwise there is
hardly much difference between human and the other living species. </p>
<p><br />
This wisdom
watered down over several centuries,
probably millennia, and today the majority has little time to look
towards the lofty goals of the life.
Commonly, man exhausts himself in pursuing the basic, or elemental, needs of survival or its finer
versions, say delectable food, glitzy
fashion accessories, and palatial house. Man’s ordinary wisdom
has limited itself to the pursuit of
what the title of a Manoj Kumar’s movie aptly describes, “<em>Roti</em>,
<em>Kapraa</em> <em>aur</em>
<em>Makaan</em>.” All these materials are nothing but simple
manifestations of money. So, it can be said
that money reigns supreme in the present times. </p>
<p><br />
Wisdom of some
says that once you are out of these
mundane affairs then only you can focus on the higher purpose of life.
Even Swami Vivekanand, the most luminous
scholar of Vedanta, once said that
spirituality is not for a hungry man. Does this imply that affluent
societies are better seekers or
practitioners of life’s higher goals? Do they now contentedly practice detachment, spirituality
and <em>aatmic</em> liberation?
This is barely evident to us. Those who have money seek more money
instead of relinquishing it having known
its limits. But this is a different discourse.</p>
<p><br />
Even the wisdom
of an ordinary Indian knows that riches
begets desire for more riches. But our definition of higher goals have changed. We don’t shy to accept
materialism over spirituality. Spirituality may
have nothing to do with religion, but we sweep away both under the
carpet branding them as a personal
affair. Materialism is a global phenomenon. Let’s celebrate it together. And we must accept
that it has to stay for our survival.
This material wealth vis-à-vis economy in the context of a country is
such a monster that if we don’t
feed it regularly, and come in the way of its growth, it would come upon us shadowing our survival.
So we have no option except to live with
it. It would be better if, at an individual level, we could strike a balance between the Vedic and modern
wisdom.<br />
But the wisdom of
country must ensure that economy grows
so that people feel secure, materially happy, and the progress in every field continues. India and China have been
the new growth drivers of the global
economy. Since the recession marred the US and the debt crisis bogged
down Eurozone, the steering of global
economic growth has come in the hands of Asia
Pacific region countries. These countries hold immense possibilities
and opportunities. If they work under a
shared vision, they can transform their
economic fate. <br />
Indopac Summit,
an international event participated by
world’s top economists, businessmen and politicians, sets up the
right agenda to create that
understanding and vision which can provide
trustworthy formulae to economic
development of the region and show a decisive light to the investing
community. The august summit would take
place on 26th November this year in New
Delhi. <br />
. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Venue -: The Taj Hotel,<br />
1, Mansingh Road,
New Delhi. 110011<br />
Contact -
Mr. Sanjeev Kalia <br />