Human Dignity

केचित् शोचंति धनात् मनुष्यगौरव:
केचित् पदात् प्रतिष्ठात् वा विद्यात्  |
सर्वे हृदये यः सन्निविष्ठः
स योगेश्वरः एव मनुष्यस्य गौरवः    ||

Kechit shochanti dhanaat manushya-gaurava-ha
Kechit padaat pratishThaat vaa vidyaat
Sarve hridaye ya-ha sanniviShTha-ha
Sa Yogeshwara-ha eva manushyasya gaurava-ha

Meaning: Some (kechit) think that man has value by virtue of wealth (dhana). Some think, man has value due to (high) position (pada), fame (pratishThaa) or education (vidyaa). But the Cosmic Power (Yogeshwar), residing in the heart (hrudaye) of every being (sarve), is indeed the one that bestows true dignity (gaurava) to mankind (manushya).

I wrote my thoughts on this shloka in 2010 on October 19^th. That day is very special—it is Human Dignity Day; also called as Manushya Gaurav Din in Indian languages. This is one festival that should be celebrated by each and every human being no matter what his religion, caste, creed, sect or nationality. It is for all humans.

Humans are always valued by society based on their adjectives, possessions or associations. I would be important if I have a lot of money. I would be valued if I hold an important position in some organization or a position of power. I would be important if I am famous (or even infamous these days) due to sports, arts or whatever other reason. I would be important if I am highly educated at Ivy League universities or the like, or if I am extra-ordinarily intelligent or skilled. I am important even if I am related to someone important.

People falling in all the above categories are but a small percentage of society. So what about the vast majority who have nothing to cling on for feeling important? What about their dignity? Doesn't every human have a right to feel important about himself or herself? But what external attribute or adjective would make them important if they have none? And do they need one to have their dignity? Even these external possessions, attributes and associations are not very long-lasting. What after they are gone? In this world of human-rights, has any one thought about this most fundamental human-right?

This matter was exactly and perfectly addressed by our ancient scriptures. The Upanishads proclaimed Tat tvam asi—That Thou art. The Bhagwad Geeta sang the song of Mamai vaansho—you are a part of Me. Even the Bible says, "It is not ye that speaketh but the Father within you". Bayazid from Bistun says, 'I went from God to God, until they cried from me to me, "O thou I"'. Yet another saying, "I live, yet not I, but Christ in me". Plotinus says, "Each being contains in itself the whole intelligible world." The Theologica Germanica states, "Goodness needeth not enter into the soul, for it is there already, only it is unperceived." Even my favorite Morpheus says, "you are The One". Every true philosophy across the world speaks the same language—that of the perennial philosophy. And that philosophy is Indwelling God.

I am important not because I have something, but because I am something. I am a part of that Supreme Power which governs the entire universe. What association could be more important than that of Yogeshwar? Yogeshwar is not the name of a God or a deity, but it represents the Cosmic Self that pervades the entire universe—the omnipotent, omniscient & the omnipresent power! Call it by whatever name that makes you love Him, Yogeshwar is that Divinity which bestows dignity to all beings just by being. I am, therefore I am important. I have the Lord with me, within me, and therefore I am second to nobody. And nobody else is second to me, because the other also is equally endowed.

This would seem like a great philosophy on paper but the reason we are celebrating Human Dignity Day is because this eternal philosophy has been brought down from the heavans & dusty old books into the lives of millions of people. There are hundreds and thousands of people ranging from the affluent to the penniless who have been empowered by this singular powerful thought—that God is within me & working with me. This silent revolution has been brought about by noted philosopher-scientist, Revered Pandurang Shastri Athawale, who is popularly called by his millions of divine brothers & sisters as Dadaji (elder brother). Tat tvam asi is a living, breathing & thriving philosophy, thanks to Revered Dadaji. Through his untiring efforts spanning his entire lifetime, Dadaji has brought about a change which the philosophers, thinkers & leaders of the world can only imagine & fantasize. Through his various experiments, Dadaji has given concrete working answers to all problems of individual and society, posed by the great thinkers of the ancient, medieval as well as the modern world. He did not just speak; he created a society which is empowered from within, not without—a society which does not need adjectives or possessions to be! A colorful, thriving, proliferating world called the Swadhyay Parivar, which is knocking every door, reaching out to every son of God to color him with His color.

We, in our elite little cocoons of the "developed" & "civilized" world, may not even know about this, but millions of people, and thousands of villages & towns across the world, are celebrating October 19^th every year as Human Dignity Day because it is that historic day when Revered Dadaji was born. Human Dignity or Manushya Gaurav was actualized and implemented by this great personality.

My salute to this magnanimous, awe-inspiring, colossal son of God who is amongst His most beloved. On this pious day, I send my best wishes to every one of you on your journey to the realization of your own Human Dignity.