Wishing you are a very Happy Republic Day which is observed on January 26th each year since 1950. Republic day follows Independence Day on August 15th each year since 1947. These two are the major National festivals of Bharat which is India, as per the constitution.
These are interrelated. Let me give you some ideas about the significance of these and how we can educate people on these national festivals. Our concept of freedom should not stop with shouting slogans..... Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara or Inquilab jindabad !!
Freedom is our nature as given by our sages. Not knowing the importance of this many call it as a birth right. The freedom is called as independence with respect to geographical boundaries , governance and expression of our thought and deed. But when you look at the Freedom, it is much more, as it is also Inner freedom and a small little expression of it is the geographical or political freedom.
Every child grows into this freedom and every growth is the expression given to this freedom step by step. From the early step of turning on tummy, to sitting and watching, to developing the skill to walk, all are the expression of this freedom. That is the excitement you can find in the child and it is this freedom we are celebrating. Even coming out of the mother's womb is also an expression of this freedom. This freedom is such a precious thing that every organ with its development gives us the taste of it.
According to the upanishads, knowledge is freedom. Therefore every moment we are experiencing the freedom. It is a lifelong celebration of freedom. It is not something that we celebrate only one day in a year !!!
Freedom has several aspects, we can think of economic freedom, geographical freedom, intellectual freedom, personal freedom and environmental freedom. Some of the examples are the bird flying in the sky or the fish dancing in the water, etc.
What comes from the heart can be celebrated whereas what is thrusted from the outside is not a celebration. Anything for that matter cannot be a celebration if it is forced externally, especially freedom cannot be forced from outside to celebrate. The person who is forcing this freedom from outside does not basically understand what is freedom or Swatantra because the ‘SWA’ is missing !!!
More than political or geographical freedom, True Freedom is deep within our nature - deeper than our breath or heart beat !!!! We need to experience in every cell and every idea nothing but freedom . That Swatantra is the nature of our consciousness or self. This is what America recognised as Liberty.
In this country, we thought that British ruled us and before that Mughals ruled us therefore we have lost our freedom and once they left us we have freedom. But unfortunately what happened was so different. Earlier we were ruled by others now we are being ruled by people with our own skin color. Earlier at least we could ask them to go back to their country but it is not possible now. Which only shows that the slavery did not go away from mind and heart. Unless that happens, real freedom has not happened.
When we say freedom, slavery should go away from the heart and mind. One whose heart is free from slavery, one who lives his whole being with the fragrance of freedom, how can such a person think of taking away freedom of others around him?
But unfortunately we come across people doing what so ever they can for enslaving others. If you have money you can ask someone to do something against his will. If you have wealth it is useful to make people to work for you . Look at the way a wealthy man walks on the road. This same thing reflects, if you have a car you will care less for the smaller vehicles, and if you have a vehicle, the person walking on the street has to care for you.
Power & position can add to your strength which ultimately is used for enslaving others. If someone has a position in a specific department then all his lower level people are treated as slaves by him. If one has a political power he believes that he is God omnipotent. Though he does not help you in any way but he can make all the people as slaves under him .
Another interesting thing is that people also want to be slaves because freedom also indicates that we should take our own responsibility, we should take charge of our life. You should be able to take decision and own the decision. You are the decision maker because you are now an independent person. But ironically, we always come across people saying he misguided me or she mislead me , etc. Being a slave is a comfort zone, and they don’t want to leave it. They don’t have to think and they don’t have to take any risk. But they don’t realize that without taking risk, you don’t expect growth to take place in your psyche. It is basically the fear of death, not ready to do sacrifice makes one a slave mentality, non-risk mentality, lack of adventurism. This was the communistic model where you are only taking orders and delivering and no original thinking.
It looks like a general rule that the way to ensure and enjoy my freedom is by enslaving as many as possible by what so ever means. In yogic sense it is not freedom but “arrogance of freedom” which is much more dangerous than slavery itself. I see even in a simple place like a household, where two helpers are working, and once the owner goes out, immediately the senior one takes charge and makes the junior one a server and bullies the junior:)
As long as one is still enslaving people, he is only formally celebrating the Independence Day but they are not really living the independence in their heart. In enslaving there is brute force and no heart. Therefore in my view if we start working from heart level in our transactions with people then this process will not be one of violence and suppression.
This leads us into the second important part, which is Responsibility. That is why the process which started with Indian Independence Day August 15th has been finalized on January 26th which we celebrate as Republic day. Independence leading to responsibility !
Another important freedom Indian philosophy emphasises is the freedom from the forces of our senses. Most of our problems have their root to the slavery of our senses. These are connecting us to the world outside. External world is required for our nourishment, for example we need food for nourishment. But if we are too attached & we don’t stop, we become addicted. Like this all our senses can drive us crazy. Further this addiction will also result into anger hatred jealousy and depression. That is how we become slaves to outside world. More important thing is we have ego for functional purposes which is an important tool, but we don’t use our ego for functional purpose we get easily caught up and that makes our mind agitated depressed , etc., this is another type of slavery or the most important slavery.
According to Indian wisdom, freedom is always associated with responsibility in the creation. Mother bird realizes the little one cannot fly, so goes round to feed the little one and feels as its responsibility. Nature has arranged that the mother takes responsibility of growing the child in her womb for nine months until the child grows to be independent. Then mother has to push the child out to give birth. Nature works on responsibility, and the scriptures say that the human being has the highest degree of freedom compared to the other species, so it is human beings responsibility to take care of the others just as it is your responsibility to take care of the plant in your house or the pet animal in your house. These pet animals also feel responsible & take care of us when needed. For example, we have a pet dog which is now old and finds it very difficult to get up and move. In spite of the disability whenever there is a sound at the front door he feels responsible to alert us, report to us and goes to front door with great difficulty. Nature is designed with responsibility. We human beings also have to work on our responsibility because freedom comes with responsibility.
Same way when once we have the freedom ,that independence is complete only when we define our responsibilities. This has given rise to our constitution. Our constitutional masters are extraordinary wise people who gave us a constitution which spells out rules and laws but together also gave responsibilities. We don’t have to know constitution but it may be from a very simple idea such as driving on the side of the road to enable the opposite vehicles to pass smoothly, to paying taxes and respecting state properties , etc, are all our responsibilities. Everyone tried to find our rights but not much is followed in the form of responsibilities unfortunately. If we feel the responsibilities towards our own parents, siblings, family members, neighbours and friends then we can create and provide a harmonious joyful environment not only for us but for the children. Whenever I talk about the glories of Gita or similar texts they are excited and immediately next comment comes we should have been taught in schools or the government should introduce in schools , etc. They forget it is their responsibility.
Entire constitution may be vast for an individual to know but we have to know what we should follow in simple way. I see early morning people are crossing the road to go to park for morning walk. Traffic lights are showing red for vehicles but they don’t stop. I see educated people doing this. Such people celebrating Republic day is only an apology. It is the vision of constitutional pundits that every citizen will take the responsibility as a citizen and make the country progress. But unfortunately our present leaders have the focus on rights only and not responsibilities. And take the maximum advantage of what they can get from the country than thinking whether they need it or not. Hence the rat race started that the other has it or the other gets it so we must get it. These rat racers have become unfortunately our role models. Enough we have spent our precious time after the freedom and republic. Let us open our eyes to see there are people around us who are givers than takers, who can be set as role models for us. It requires courage to change the course.
Therefore while Independence Day, August 15th is a day of celebration of independence, what we need to realize is..., not only political freedom but also freedom from the senses and their demands, Republic day observed on 26th January is a day of recognising our responsibility and not just fighting for rights.
Therefore it is necessary that first we should feel the freedom from within so that we don’t make others slaves by our money, power or position or intellectual power, and secondly we should also recognize and take a pledge to adopt one of the responsibilities on us voluntarily.
-Yogashri N.V.Raghuram
Founder, Yogabharati
These are interrelated. Let me give you some ideas about the significance of these and how we can educate people on these national festivals. Our concept of freedom should not stop with shouting slogans..... Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara or Inquilab jindabad !!
Freedom is our nature as given by our sages. Not knowing the importance of this many call it as a birth right. The freedom is called as independence with respect to geographical boundaries , governance and expression of our thought and deed. But when you look at the Freedom, it is much more, as it is also Inner freedom and a small little expression of it is the geographical or political freedom.
Every child grows into this freedom and every growth is the expression given to this freedom step by step. From the early step of turning on tummy, to sitting and watching, to developing the skill to walk, all are the expression of this freedom. That is the excitement you can find in the child and it is this freedom we are celebrating. Even coming out of the mother's womb is also an expression of this freedom. This freedom is such a precious thing that every organ with its development gives us the taste of it.
According to the upanishads, knowledge is freedom. Therefore every moment we are experiencing the freedom. It is a lifelong celebration of freedom. It is not something that we celebrate only one day in a year !!!
Freedom has several aspects, we can think of economic freedom, geographical freedom, intellectual freedom, personal freedom and environmental freedom. Some of the examples are the bird flying in the sky or the fish dancing in the water, etc.
What comes from the heart can be celebrated whereas what is thrusted from the outside is not a celebration. Anything for that matter cannot be a celebration if it is forced externally, especially freedom cannot be forced from outside to celebrate. The person who is forcing this freedom from outside does not basically understand what is freedom or Swatantra because the ‘SWA’ is missing !!!
More than political or geographical freedom, True Freedom is deep within our nature - deeper than our breath or heart beat !!!! We need to experience in every cell and every idea nothing but freedom . That Swatantra is the nature of our consciousness or self. This is what America recognised as Liberty.
In this country, we thought that British ruled us and before that Mughals ruled us therefore we have lost our freedom and once they left us we have freedom. But unfortunately what happened was so different. Earlier we were ruled by others now we are being ruled by people with our own skin color. Earlier at least we could ask them to go back to their country but it is not possible now. Which only shows that the slavery did not go away from mind and heart. Unless that happens, real freedom has not happened.
When we say freedom, slavery should go away from the heart and mind. One whose heart is free from slavery, one who lives his whole being with the fragrance of freedom, how can such a person think of taking away freedom of others around him?
But unfortunately we come across people doing what so ever they can for enslaving others. If you have money you can ask someone to do something against his will. If you have wealth it is useful to make people to work for you . Look at the way a wealthy man walks on the road. This same thing reflects, if you have a car you will care less for the smaller vehicles, and if you have a vehicle, the person walking on the street has to care for you.
Power & position can add to your strength which ultimately is used for enslaving others. If someone has a position in a specific department then all his lower level people are treated as slaves by him. If one has a political power he believes that he is God omnipotent. Though he does not help you in any way but he can make all the people as slaves under him .
Another interesting thing is that people also want to be slaves because freedom also indicates that we should take our own responsibility, we should take charge of our life. You should be able to take decision and own the decision. You are the decision maker because you are now an independent person. But ironically, we always come across people saying he misguided me or she mislead me , etc. Being a slave is a comfort zone, and they don’t want to leave it. They don’t have to think and they don’t have to take any risk. But they don’t realize that without taking risk, you don’t expect growth to take place in your psyche. It is basically the fear of death, not ready to do sacrifice makes one a slave mentality, non-risk mentality, lack of adventurism. This was the communistic model where you are only taking orders and delivering and no original thinking.
It looks like a general rule that the way to ensure and enjoy my freedom is by enslaving as many as possible by what so ever means. In yogic sense it is not freedom but “arrogance of freedom” which is much more dangerous than slavery itself. I see even in a simple place like a household, where two helpers are working, and once the owner goes out, immediately the senior one takes charge and makes the junior one a server and bullies the junior:)
As long as one is still enslaving people, he is only formally celebrating the Independence Day but they are not really living the independence in their heart. In enslaving there is brute force and no heart. Therefore in my view if we start working from heart level in our transactions with people then this process will not be one of violence and suppression.
This leads us into the second important part, which is Responsibility. That is why the process which started with Indian Independence Day August 15th has been finalized on January 26th which we celebrate as Republic day. Independence leading to responsibility !
Another important freedom Indian philosophy emphasises is the freedom from the forces of our senses. Most of our problems have their root to the slavery of our senses. These are connecting us to the world outside. External world is required for our nourishment, for example we need food for nourishment. But if we are too attached & we don’t stop, we become addicted. Like this all our senses can drive us crazy. Further this addiction will also result into anger hatred jealousy and depression. That is how we become slaves to outside world. More important thing is we have ego for functional purposes which is an important tool, but we don’t use our ego for functional purpose we get easily caught up and that makes our mind agitated depressed , etc., this is another type of slavery or the most important slavery.
According to Indian wisdom, freedom is always associated with responsibility in the creation. Mother bird realizes the little one cannot fly, so goes round to feed the little one and feels as its responsibility. Nature has arranged that the mother takes responsibility of growing the child in her womb for nine months until the child grows to be independent. Then mother has to push the child out to give birth. Nature works on responsibility, and the scriptures say that the human being has the highest degree of freedom compared to the other species, so it is human beings responsibility to take care of the others just as it is your responsibility to take care of the plant in your house or the pet animal in your house. These pet animals also feel responsible & take care of us when needed. For example, we have a pet dog which is now old and finds it very difficult to get up and move. In spite of the disability whenever there is a sound at the front door he feels responsible to alert us, report to us and goes to front door with great difficulty. Nature is designed with responsibility. We human beings also have to work on our responsibility because freedom comes with responsibility.
Same way when once we have the freedom ,that independence is complete only when we define our responsibilities. This has given rise to our constitution. Our constitutional masters are extraordinary wise people who gave us a constitution which spells out rules and laws but together also gave responsibilities. We don’t have to know constitution but it may be from a very simple idea such as driving on the side of the road to enable the opposite vehicles to pass smoothly, to paying taxes and respecting state properties , etc, are all our responsibilities. Everyone tried to find our rights but not much is followed in the form of responsibilities unfortunately. If we feel the responsibilities towards our own parents, siblings, family members, neighbours and friends then we can create and provide a harmonious joyful environment not only for us but for the children. Whenever I talk about the glories of Gita or similar texts they are excited and immediately next comment comes we should have been taught in schools or the government should introduce in schools , etc. They forget it is their responsibility.
Entire constitution may be vast for an individual to know but we have to know what we should follow in simple way. I see early morning people are crossing the road to go to park for morning walk. Traffic lights are showing red for vehicles but they don’t stop. I see educated people doing this. Such people celebrating Republic day is only an apology. It is the vision of constitutional pundits that every citizen will take the responsibility as a citizen and make the country progress. But unfortunately our present leaders have the focus on rights only and not responsibilities. And take the maximum advantage of what they can get from the country than thinking whether they need it or not. Hence the rat race started that the other has it or the other gets it so we must get it. These rat racers have become unfortunately our role models. Enough we have spent our precious time after the freedom and republic. Let us open our eyes to see there are people around us who are givers than takers, who can be set as role models for us. It requires courage to change the course.
Therefore while Independence Day, August 15th is a day of celebration of independence, what we need to realize is..., not only political freedom but also freedom from the senses and their demands, Republic day observed on 26th January is a day of recognising our responsibility and not just fighting for rights.
Therefore it is necessary that first we should feel the freedom from within so that we don’t make others slaves by our money, power or position or intellectual power, and secondly we should also recognize and take a pledge to adopt one of the responsibilities on us voluntarily.
-Yogashri N.V.Raghuram
Founder, Yogabharati