Acharya Tulsi
Today is the age of computers and robots. The proliferating network of computers in the cities, has now also stirred the consciousness of the rural youth. Outside India, in many foreign countries, thousands of robots are already at work. There is also the talk of such super-robots coming into being in the future as would be capable of thinking and making poetry. The evil effects of a little error in the development of the comp tars are coming to the fore. Yet a man thinks of entering the new century with the firm establishment of robots in human culture. Whether such dependence on machines will blunt or help to flower man’s capabilities, is an issue worthy of serious consideration.
Religion is not meant to put obstacles in the path of development, but it is also not desirable that man, ignoring his spiritual powers, should come to depend entirely on science and technology. The greatest need of the age is a harmonious development of spirituality and science together. The celebration of the "Welfare Year" is a small step in this direction. lt is our intention to ally our religious organisation with modernity, even while preserving our originality. It is not that we have become alive to this need only now-the whole of the past of the Terapanth Dharma Sangh is a symbol of the pilgrimage of development. The progress we have made during the past five decades is open to the public view. Despite continuing progress, however our goal is yet far off. It would be an exaggeration to say that we shall reach our destination during the "Welfare Year". Our aim is to reduce our distance from the goal. We are determined to fulfil this objective, because all our activities are directed to this end.
That the sun should hold a parley with the morning, is nothing unusual because the moment the sun appears on the horizon, the morning is already there to greet it. Similarly, there is nothing surprising about the experiment of creative endeavour in the TerapanthDharamSangh, because the constructive approach is the very foundation of Terapanth. Acharya Bhikshu dedicated every moment of his life to creation. The tradition of creativity is our inheritance. We have always been utilizing it. During the "Welfare Year", we are going to make an effort to awaken the creative consciousness of every member of our religious organisation.
On the "Welfare Year", all eyes are fastened. Not eyes alone—the whole community seems to be charged with curiosity and eager expectation on.that account. Many people imagine that something spectacular would come to pass during that year.
l think nothing peculiar is going to happen. Only that will happen which is bound to happen. What is required is that each and every individual of the community should be imbued with the urge to become something. In order to become something, one has to do something. In the possibility of achieving something without making any effort, I have no faith whatever. I want the whole of our community to work diligently with joy, to give a new turn to the plain monotony of everyday living, to stimulate the slow moving current of life. For progress, this is very necessary.
About two years ago, this idea of the "Welfare Year" was still a dream. To dream is man inherent nature. Some dreams come to us in a state of half sleep, and there are dreams which we dream while wide-awake. The dreams that one dreams in the state of slumber may also come true if they partake of awakened wisdom. Every dream of the wandering monk, who has disciplined his passions, comes true. The secret of this Agam saying is latent in the awakening of wisdom. All incidents of premonition are related to it. The truth of the dreams that come In the State of wakefulness is related to human effort. The dreamers, who have faith in hard work, turn their dreams into reality. The tradition of valour is very much alive in the Terapanth Dharam Sangh. To further develop this tradition is also one of the objectives of The Welfare Year. Through our valour and hard work, we have to create an ark of enlightenment. By means of this ark, crossing the current of the age, each and every member of our religious organisation should make a meaningful effort to awaken his wisdom, and sharpen his intelligence in the illumination of the Festival of Wisdom, strengthen his will-power, fortify his decision—making capacity, and dedicate himself to the task in hand.
Look at everything in the light of wisdom: That is the intention behind the observance of the Welfare Year. Mere worship of knowledge does not bring about awakening-of wisdom. From this point-of-view, along with the worship of knowledge, vision and character have an important role to play. Vision is intimately related to man's faith. In order that the sharp arrows of logic do not pierce the soul of faith, one must wear the armour of wisdom. Conduct is the medium through which faith and knowledge express themselves. The purity of conduct is the basis of the longevity of a religious organisation. We want our Dharam Sangh to live long, to be invested with glory, and while preserving its originality, we want it to conform to the needs of the age. Therefore, we must conduct ourselves so as to preserve each particle of hope and to utilize every moment of the Year of Welfare.
