Role of Youth for Social Reformation

Today we are living in a society where the desires and greed are escalating unexpectedly. We are acquainted with our need but have no limitation. It's been rather tricky for us to comprehend how much we need. We have only one planet endowed with limited resources with which we all continue living. We have received a lot from the mother earth, yet we have continued to exploit her without the slightest fear of our unsafe future. Hence, the mother earth has become sick as well, and the ailing mother is crying. She is now desperately waiting for healing from her children. Can we become true children of the mother earth to serve her? The Bhagavad Gita says, " Those who follow the path of service, who have completely purified themselves and conquered their senses and self-will, see the Self in all creatures and are untouched by any activity they perform ". Can we feel the supreme self in every being and love it unconditionally and serve it very selflessly?

There are many possibilities to restore peace and heal the earth and many ways to get a right solution to give a new horizon to our next generation. Unfortunately, people who are selfish, narrow-minded and extremists are leading the world. One who has no self-control is controlling the world. What a great paradox! It has been crystal clear that politics without ethics leads the world to confusion, destruction, corruption and anarchism. More or less we are all undergoing through this experience. We are so much concerned about our peaceful future, as it seems the darkness of uncertainty and insecurity developed by bad politics seems to be enveloping the entire world. Let's be aware of ethics free politics. Politics itself is not a bad game, but becomes dirty while it is under the control of dirty hands.

In such an unpredictable situation we need youths who possess clear visions and right missions and always build up courage, patience, determination and dedication. At the moment we greatly require youths who exhibit true love for the world and for themselves, and who can roar like a lion. AATMANO HITAYA JAGAD HITAYA CHA (for self betterment and for the world's betterment, Upanishad). The youths can then truly serve the humanity and serving humanity is reckoned a true religion.

On such a great occasion of the confluence of minds of the people from such a wonderful Himalayan region of the world, what I would love to remind you all is that when Gandhi started his journey for social reformation, he was a youth. Likewise, when the Dalai Lama started his journey for spirituality and humanity and for the freedom of his country and people, he was a youth as well. He was just a teenager. Nothing will be impossible if the youths of today really take the right leadership with a beautiful dream of shaping their life and saving the world. Great are those who have beautiful dreams. We must not forget that we have two hands - one for ourselves and another for others. Therefore let's utilize our both hands for good causes with good intentions and gratefulness towards Him.

Our youths should understand what the society, in fact, is. Is it only the physical boundary or a certain geographical /political area? Actually, the society is a common abode where there are people who share the values, believe in love and trust and where they practice the culture and share their grieve and joy with each other. If we don't appreciate each other and share our grief and joy and follow our cherished values, we will then remain only in a crowd, but not in a society. So the youths need to reform the society by understanding the values, ideals, culture, history and the exact needs of the society. Talking about reformation alone will solve nothing. Yes, we can become so called leaders by talking, but we can become social workers or social reformers by serving society without any selfish motive. Sri Satya Sai Baba says, "Manav Sewa Hi Madhav Sewa Hai".

Human nature is quite mysterious; everyone wants his or her own safety, benefit, progress and pleasure. On the contrary a good youth should always think how he/she could contribute to the welfare of others. Living for one's own life is very simple but there is no meaning of such living that doesn't have any ideal purpose. So one should think that how he/she can offer more to others. It's the only basis and purpose of human life and it's the only Dharma as well. Dharma means SEWA, a very selfless service to others. SEWA HI PARAMO DHARMA. Buddha never thought of his own pleasure, but he dedicated for everyone's Nirvana or salvation. Therefore, Buddha resides in the hearts and thoughts of millions in the world.

A huge discussion is now going on all around the world regarding social reformation and political revolution. Actually we can achieve something quickly with the help of political power, but we can establish a sustainable society properly only through social reformation. We can change the government by politics, but we can change every individual's mentality and attitude only by social reformation. So far I have seen the youths have become only tools in politics but in fact the youths are the means and goals too. They are the present and future; they are the problems and solutions too. They are the hope and dream as well.

Therefore the time has come again to think sincerely. What do we need for social reformation? No doubt we need many things - finance, resources, right governance etc. But most importantly we need only a good youth. The youth who can think analytically and work creatively; the youth who can think globally but can act locally; the youth who can guide dynamically but serve very modestly and the youth who can judge seriously but walk positively. While working for society there, no doubt, might be many ups and downs. Also there could be many cases of failures in life, but one should not forget that his/her future depends on many things but mostly on himself/herself.

These days we do talk a lot about management. How could we have any type of management without a right Man? Management depends on Man, the first 3 letters of the word management. The Mahabharat also says that nothing is greater than human being. Therefore, we need Man, the youths, who light the candles according to their capacity rather than cursing the darkness. We must not forget that the journey of thousands of miles also starts by every single step. It's the only way of social reformation.

We do show our concern or worry towards the on going wars but we can't feel Oneness with our fellows who have depression or are fallen in terrible pit of violence. On one hand we are talking about healing, on the other hand we can't accept them who are misguided and trapped due to some reasons. How could we have peace without reformation and how could we have reformation without realization that God lives in every being? Therefore Jesus Christ has also said, " Forgive them Father! For they know not what they do?".

I sometimes wonder where the youths are heading now-a-days. It seems that they have speed but no control over it. They have dream but no dedication at all; they have enormous desires but no balance in life. And, many are frustrated, puzzled and tired!!! They have tension but no creation; they have demands but no determination; they have criticism but no optimism. Therefore, the world is suffering from HIV /AIDS, drugs, social conflicts, violence, crimes, alcohol etc. This is how our society is loosing the beauty of spirituality and changing only into a visionless crowd where a mighty kills others and forgets the ALMIGHTY. So the youths should step forward very sincerely by utilizing every single moment and being quite aware of their emotions, thoughts and feelings. As Mother Teresa has said, "I will join the procession in favor of peace, not against of war". The youths should dedicate themselves only for good causes and path. We must remember that our means should be as sacred as our goals are.

The world is undergoing through many problems. Many burning questions are threatening us - global warming, the gap between haves and have nots, terrorism, racial and religious hatred, the degradation of environment, selfishness and consumerism. Who will save the world? Shall we hope that an angel will appear from the heaven to save us or will a hero come out by breaking the earth? I strongly believe that youths are the only saviors. As in the Geeta Lord Shri Krishna says, " I will reincarnate to restore the Dharma". Yes, He will reincarnate again but through you and through me in the form of an ideal youth.

While we are talking about social reformation, we should think deeply of the process of social reformation. I think that process is equally important as our purpose is. So social reformation starts from education but only from value based education. I believe that education is not only for information but also for inspiration, not only for news but also for views, not only educating but also enlightening, not only for the degree but also for the dignity, not only for making our life successful but also more meaningful and joyful. Only the value based education system, which believes in holistic approach to education, can produce the whole human who can actually reform the society.

In this modern world the two things have become quite powerful - economics and politics. We need both to have a prosperous and peaceful society. But unfortunately, the economy has spoiled the ecology and the politics is only for power. There is no purity in service. So the world is dreadfully wounded by hatred, jealousy and war from time to time. A part of the world is worried as they have too much, but another part is dying day by day, as they have no grain. The world's various reports say:

The world has become quite complicated; the truth has hidden somewhere; materialism and militarism have swallowed up the beauty of human heart; over mechanism has made human like a machine. Therefore, youth should understand that -

Actually one should ask himself/herself what kind of life one should live. Unfortunately, materialism has become an evil necessary, which has proved to be an insurmountable problem. This is how we loose our deep connection with Supreme Self and with our Self. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa says, "A poor devotee points to the sky and says, 'God is up there'." An average devotee says, "God dwells in the heart as the Inner Master". The best devotee says, "God alone is and everything I perceive is a form of God". As we ignore God we ignore our reality, and we loose the purity of heart and life, then comes the situation of hatred, jealousy and war.

We have been talking about PEACE for the last many decades. The world needs PEACE. But, how could we have peace without having a true feeling of love and how could have true love without knowing Him, and feeling Him? There is a wonderful saying – "Know God Know peace, No God No peace ". One, who knows and feels Him, gives up the ego immediately (because He can't inhabit in the heart which is already filled with EGO); and as he gives up his EGO, he feels peace naturally and creates peace automatically.

We have many problems, but we have many ways of solutions to these problems as well. So, why should we fear? Actually all the problems are here to make us stronger and make us more united to walk together by breaking all the barriers made by ourselves in the name of caste, creed, sex, sect, nationality and community. If we want to change the world, we should change ourselves first. And, we should go ahead along with the Mantra of

Aasato Ma Sad Gamaya,Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya
- Upanishad
(Oh God! From the unreal, lead me to the real; from the darkness, lead me to the light; from the death, lead me to immortality.)

I feel that a lovely sun is rising up and embracing all the children of the earth, and that a song is spreading with the message of Oneness and that the birds are flying up with no any fear. We still have time to tune ourselves deeply with nature, with culture and with every being. And, we should start our journey. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, it is the only thing that ever has". So from where our tiny steps should move forward:

Therefore, the youths are hope of our society. They should, rather than being worried to avoid the darkness, feel happy and confident to light the candles and hold it till the end of their life. We need more and more torch barriers but not the warriors. We need money, power and weapons for Revolution; but we need only a true heart accompanied with a clear vision with a right mission for Social Reformation. We need youths to create a healthy society and the society needs happy youths to enjoy every moment of their life. A society exists on its able, competent and caring youths and the future of youths depends on their true contributions to the society they live in. It's the high time to understand that if we save and reform our society, we will then shape our life as per our decent wish and can enjoy the life thoroughly.

- Dr. Chintamani Yogi Principal, Hindu Vidya Peeth-Nepal (HVP) Founder, Shanti Sewa Ashram (SSA) Patron, Youth Society for Peace (YSP)

P. O. .Box: 6807 Kathmandu Nepal Tel: 00977- 1- 5527924 / 5527925 www.hvpuk.co.uk

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