Opinion Sri Sri Ravi Shankar writes: How to overcome fanaticism
It is time that we bring down the walls between cultures and civilisations across the world and recognise that we are a one-world family and come together in a spirit of celebration, spirit of love, compassion, and serving
Fanaticism fails to recognise that the divine loves variety and diversity; and that many different schools of thought can coexist in this world. (Representational Photo)
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The centre of every culture is love; the very core of humanity is love. Harmony in sound is music. Harmony in movement is dance. Harmony in mind is meditation. Harmony in life is a celebration! And, culture through art, music, dance, food, and dress is the thread that can weave harmony in a community.
Our knowledge and communication are growing, while our world is shrinking. We have no other choice than to honour diversity. It is now a necessity, not an option. In a world with rapid advancements in science and technology, a bigger spotlight must be thrown on culture. Every culture is a part of the world heritage and we have to preserve and protect all of them, if we want humanity to survive. This alone can bring a well-balanced development in the world. We need to water our cultural roots and broaden our vision to include one and all.
The polarisation and mistrust in the world today call for a humanistic approach, one that includes the well-being of all. This can only happen when every child knows a little about the wisdom from different cultures. Then the world would be a happier and more peaceful place. A sign of evolution is when we feel that all cultures, all civilisations, and all the different schools of philosophy, truly belong to us.
Now is the time to expand our vision, and our sense of purpose and connect to something bigger. Now is the time to recognise the universality of human values across cultures. Now is also the time to acknowledge what is unique to each culture and country. It is time to celebrate the differences.
You love to have food from every part of the world. You listen to music from all over the world. You don’t need to be a person of Chinese origin in order to eat Chinese food. You don’t need to be an Italian to go to a pizzeria and eat pizzas, nor a Danish to eat Danish cookies. One doesn’t have to be an Indian to listen to bhajans or sitar music. Similarly, we need to learn to accept knowledge and wisdom from every part, and this is what has been lacking in the world. We have to preserve our ability to assimilate all the cultures.
Unfortunately, prejudice stemming from limited understanding has been the greatest impediment to embracing diversity. The problem is one of limited and fragmented identification that has led to the proliferation of hatred, violence and war. Many are willing to go to extreme lengths to protect this identity, at the cost of humanity. We need to bring about an understanding in all people that they are, firstly, part of the universal spirit, and, secondly, human.
Fanaticism fails to recognise that the divine loves variety and diversity; and that many different schools of thought can coexist in this world. The only way to get rid of fanaticism in the world is through spiritual education that is broad-based, multicultural and multireligious: that which creates a reverence for diversity in nature. It is when a child grows up considering other religions or cultures as bad or with the notion that my idea of God is the only idea of God, that he or she is ready to give up his or her life for that cause; but when a child grows up learning a little bit about all other religions, cultures and customs, then there is a sense of belonging with everybody. I feel that when every child in the world learns a little bit about every other religion or culture, the child will not have inhibitions or hatred towards other
religions or cultures.
You have to communicate and embrace people from all communities and diverse cultures and religions as your own and celebrating each other’s cultures and practices is a beautiful way to make that communication happen.
Spirituality has always united people of all cultures and religions – it helps one transcend the differences to find common ground. It is the quality of the spirit that makes you more alive and beautiful: when the spirit gets uplifted, the body becomes stronger and free from disease; the mind is more focused and energised; the intellect is free from prejudice; and love blossoms in every heart. When the mind is open and the heart is free, hate cannot exist there.
When people come together in an atmosphere of togetherness and love, prejudices disappear. It is the starting point for any powerful transformation to take place in society. From regional consciousness to national and then to universal consciousness, this is the growth that the human race is looking for.
Today it is said “Sanghe Shakti Kaliyuge”– the power in this age lies in coming together. When many bristles are put together to make a broom, they are far more effective in sweeping a large hall than they would have been individually. If we move together, we can do something big.
It is time that we bring down the walls between cultures and civilisations across the world and recognise that we are a one-world family and come together in a spirit of celebration, spirit of love, compassion, and serving.
The writer is a spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, which is holding a three-day World Culture Festival at the National Mall in Washington DC from September 29 to October 1
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