Acharya Shree Tulsi - A Legend Of Humanity: Anuvrat: A Moral Movement

India had just gained independence from British rule after a long, struggle for freedom. Acharya Tulsi knew that the joy of freedom could lead to an unrestrained and undisciplined society. The leaders of this nation were busy mapping the country's future infrastructure and path while largely ignoring the brewing crisis of immorality. He felt that at that juncture it was necessary to enlighten and guide the Indian people.

Thus in 1949 Acharya Tulsi started a moral revolution, the "Anuvrat Movement" with the aim of re-establishing a strong system of values, starting with individuals and how they can make a difference. 'Anuvrat' means 'small resolutions', one who accepts these vows is an 'Anuvrati'.

The Anuvrat movement seeks to use small, achievable steps to build character, purify life and develop and strengthen will power. It seeks to transform attitudes towards crime and corruption using the power of individual self-realization. Anuvrat seeks to bridge the gap between knowledge and conduct to build a healthy society based on the three gems - right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.

What inspired Acharya Tulsi, a religious leader to launch a movement aimed at social reform? Anuvrat was a popular and widely adopted movement which Acharya Shree believed was an aspect of faith. He believed religion was composed of two aspects - modes of worship which vary widely between faiths and a code of conduct for the community. The second aspect is universal and varies very little between faiths. Acharya Tulsi consciously chose to work on individual character and conduct. He felt that religious practices and discourses did not in themselves change mankind. In addition, morality was not addressed well in politics, academics, business or religion but was a sorely neglected area. This led Acharya Tulsi to devise Anuvrat, an innovative program, transcending religious boundaries that generates awareness of individual moral conduct for a better society.

Though many religions provide a framework for moral behaviour, ordinary people can find absolute resolutions like non-violence, non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession and truthfulness too intimidating to follow. Acharya Tulsi developed an ethics-based "code of conduct" that could be applied at a grassroots level to help individuals develop a higher moral calibre. Anuvrat was an achievable set of goals that transcended theological dogma.