Acharya Mahaprajna
There is a lot of talk about problems and we know them. I do not want to talk about them. I search for solutions of problems. What is the solution? We should concentrate on the solution because the problem is so universal that everyone knows it and can mention it.
What is the solution? We have been undertaking Ahimsa Yatra (a journey on foot to promote nonviolence) for the last six years and have visited many places. Having seen the situation a question arose in our mind, ‘What is the reason of one man enjoying great prosperity and another wallowing in poverty, deeply miserable leading an agonizing life? We thought about it. The first cause that came to our mind was a bad social system, the second was a bad educational system. In reality the root cause is a bad social order and under the pretext of circumstances the problem is being compounded.
Man himself is creating the problem. The problem in itself is not that big. We saw a big problem - the problem of hunger. When we talked with the state administrators about it, they said they were introducing a system in which no one would die of hunger. Right, the government sometimes yields, but the bureaucracy does not realize that there are millions of people in this country who are tormented by hunger. So the government evades it. The problem is not of dying from starvation. If that happens the government cannot survive. But the problem is that millions of people go to sleep daily with the acute pain of hunger and the government is absolutely silent on this problem. It regards its responsibility limited to ensure that no one would die of hunger. It does not do anything to remove the agony of hunger. It is clear that even the government has no solution.
The problem is two-fold - external and internal. The problem is due to circumstances as well as to intense emotions. Intense emotions are of many kinds. Some of them are inner like greed, anger, fear etc. and some are outer like hunger, poverty and dearth. I do no hesitate to say that today there is a big scientific society of educated people, but they are unable to control their emotions. They themselves are victim to intense emotionality. That’s why most governments in the world concentrate rather on retaining their authority than on solving the problems of the people.
We face innumerable problems. There is a scarcity of means of living. Moreover there are many other physical, mental, emotional problems. On deliberation we came to the conclusion that there can be no solutions until we integrate emotional solution into our system of education. Out of these three–physical problem or physical disease, mental problem or mental disease and emotional problem or emotional disease - the last one is the most important. Until we teach the students emotional control by combining emotional problem and education, the above problem will continue to exist. Conferences will be held, solutions will be sought and the new generation will continue to create problems. This will go on endlessly. The question is how to examine the whole thing. It is for this reason that we should deeply contemplate on education. I concede that conferences take place in my presence and in the rest of the world. I also put forward precepts and give lectures, but I consider precepts, lectures and conferences as the gross means. I do not consider them the main solution of the problem. The only solution of the problem is training in nonviolence, for until a transformation in our consciousness take place, the problem will continue to grip us. For, whatever we hear will enter our conscious mind, will certainly leave its temporary impression, but will not stay there permanently. We can talk about a solution only when the same thing goes into our unconscious mind through practice, because both the problem and its solution do not dwell in the conscious mind but in the unconscious mind.
According to the Science of the Mind, the unconscious mind is a veritable storehouse of problems, solutions, emotions, memories, headaches etc. The solution for everything is there. Without practice we cannot access it. Merely through lectures, speeches, deliberations, conferences and think tanks, it is not done. If we do indeed seek a solution its only method is dedicated practice. Listening, reflecting and constant or repeated contemplation is the way pointed out by the Upanishads. Without constant or repeated musing or meditation just listening and reflecting will yield no result. For listening touches the ears and the mind, but disappears after some time. Lord Mahavir gave a formula: listen, know critically, evaluate, and finally refute it and leave it. It is only through renunciation and self-restraint that a solution will be found. This alone is the formula, which leads to the first solution.
We discovered the root of the problem moving forward into the direction of solution. We have started the experiment of training in nonviolence for meeting the challenge facing us. Training is the key word. In the present, faith and food have become separated. How to bring them together again will be the main function of training in nonviolence. Let the government and educational institutions and those working in the field of nonviolence take a pledge that no student passing out of a college or university will remain unemployed. Education will not be without a guarantee of employment. This pledge will give a solution and the violence caused by hunger will decrease. This will be the second solution.
Today more than four million graduates, post-graduates and Ph.D. holders are deprived of employment and these now are the ones who are mainly responsible for the increase in violence. Nothing will accrue unless we attend to the basic problem. An uneducated person cannot match an educated person indulging in serious crimes if it comes to cleverly staging a bank robbery or robbering individual people with utmost efficacy.
Let all those who participate in the present conference put their effort towards starting trainings in nonviolence in their educational institutions. Your task comprises two things– first, how to bring about a transformation of consciousness, and second, how to train a student in skills ensuring employment. Let new dimensions of employment open out. We will perhaps come close to a solution if both of the above things are done.
There is an international university in Miami - Florida in the U.S.A. Two of our samanis are visiting professors there. After the students had completed lessons on nonviolence training and Preksha Meditation, they wrote to us that every student should undertake this training so that America may get rid of the problem of violence.
A large number of people have been sitting here listening to me for a long time. I shall finish the discourse with an interesting story. It will apply to us also who talk too much and hold conferences. It was the birthday of a wealthy merchant and everyone came to congratulate him. In Rajasthan there is a well-known caste, the members of which are in the forefront when it comes to reciting poems and lavishing praise over people. One Barhatji (member of the clan) also came to congratulate the wealthy merchant. Hearing his praise the merchant became very happy. He told the Barhath that it was a very good compliment and that he should come again the next day so that the merchant could reward him with forty kilos of grain. Next morning at sunbreak Barhatji came and saluted the merchant. The latter asked him how he came there. The former reminded him that he had asked him to come the following day so that he could reward him with forty kilos of grain. The merchant retorted by saying, “You pleased me by your words and I have pleased you by my words. So neither of us owes anything to the other.”
I want that the present conference on training in nonviolence should not end up merely as the transaction of discussions. We should do some experimenting, we should do some practice. And if we suggest a way of how we can benefit a whole generation by combining the practice with education, probably our dialogue would rise above being a mere transaction and become a positive method. It will be a practical way that will enable us to march forward.
