Sadhvi Vishrut Vibha
Truth and honesty are two facets of non-violence and the basic tenets of Anuvrat. Today, people often use unscrupulous means to achieve financial gain over others. Selling adulterated or low quality products and dishonest marketing are among the means commonly used to earn profits. Black-marketing and smuggling are commonplace, leading to turmoil and violence. Anuvrat invites people to give up their immoral practices. If the small vows of Anuvrat are accepted by people, corruption and violence will disappear from our society gradually and permanently.
There are situations when sectarian intolerance becomes the reason behind violent behavior. The dogmatic mentality has given rise to intolerance and enmity among sects. When negative emotions are high, common-sense, thought pattern and positive energies take a back seat. Acharya Tulsi believed that religion and sects are two different entities. Religion, he said, is the spirit, while sects are the embodiment. In some cases sects may help in developing and uplifting religious beliefs, but the two have no intrinsic relationship. Religion can survive without sects, but on the other hand, sects cannot exist without religion. Religion is an extension of the true nature of consciousness or soul. A sect is simply a conduit which people believe is needed to ritualize or create community around a particular set of beliefs. Purity, however, comes through practicing one's religion in daily life and through everyday behavior, conduct and character. Religion may prosper within the boundaries of a sect, but it can never flourish in a climate of sectarianism.
The Anuvrat movement began on the basis of a non-sectarian and universal outlook. It develops the feeling of religious tolerance - to understand and respect other sects. It has spread far and wide, surpassing initial expectations over the past fifty years.
