Address at the Inauguration of Times Foundation & i-I Academy

ADDRESS

I am indeed delighted to participate in the inauguration of Times Foundation and i-I (individual to Infinity) Academy. Times Foundation I understand is a convergence between Government, industries and NGOs. My greetings to members of Times Foundation. I am happy to note that they engaged in propagating positive living, personality development for deprived children, community development, environmental conservation and promotion of women empowerment.

Message from Tawang

A few months back, when I was visiting Arunachal Pradesh. I happened to spend a day in a Buddhist Monastery in Tawang, which has 400 year old history, located at an altitude of 3000 meters - a beautiful spiritual environment. There, I met a gathering of monks, students, teachers and political leaders. I saw bright young faces with an urge to learn with creativity. A unique peace was engulfing in the monastery and surroundings. It appeared to me that some message was echoing in that divine environment. What is that message? I was asking myself. Who can enlighten and explain the message? I sought the help of the chief of the monks at the Tawang Monastery. I asked, 'Your Holiness, can you explain the message, with your vast experience in this Monastery, the most important part of learning - particularly in the present environment of our country and the other planet". The respected Buddhist Monk told me, "India is a nation of peace. India will live as a spiritual and peaceful nation. Peace should engulf our nation. This monastery spreads: when you remove 'I' and 'ME' from your mind, you will eliminate ego; if you eliminate ego, hatred towards fellow human beings vanish; If the hatred go out of our mind, violence will not spring from human mind and the society, then peace and peace and peace will blossom. I bless my nation". This divine message -how to remove violence from society, was born in Tawang Monastery.

Divine Connectivity

Friends, during my visit to Bihar last month, I went to the religious centres and met almost all religious leaders there. I sat in the place where Buddha got enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, I also sat in the place where Bhagwan Mahaveer lived and attained Nirwana at Apawapuri. I was with the descendents of Swami Sivananda in the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger. I was also with the Sufis and heard discourse of Maulvis and interacted with Madarasa students in Khanquah Rahmani, which was a very important place during independence movement. I was also in the divine environment of Takht Sri Harmandirji, the birthplace of 10th Guru Gobind Singhji. After visiting all these divine centres, what did I learn? I was asking myself and thinking for the last few days. I deeply went into emotions. A scene appeared in front of me. It was the Kurukshetra war and Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, "sandhaehathma vinashyathi". Another scene came in front of me, that was Jesus Christ's crucifixion and after resurrection He tells, "Oh humanity, I have glad tidings for you". Then came to my mind, the revelation of Al Quran to Prophet Mohammad; the sura says, "Lakkum dheenakkum valiyatheen", which means whatever you get is the result of your own action. The crown of all the three divine sayings comes from Mahakavi Bharathiar: "Nambinor keduvathillai, nangumarai theerpu". That means, God will not let down if you believe Him. I realize, every religion is a beautiful and happy island. If these islands can be brought together through divine connectivity, the unity of minds will blossom resulting in a happy society.

I had visited Jammu & Kashmir last week. My programme included visit to Police Units, Army Units, Air Force Establishments, University of Jammu, Regional Research Laboratory, Software Technology Park, Saboo Village in Leh. In addition I also visited Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Hazartbal Dargah in Srinagar, Pathar Saheb Gurudwara and a Buddhist Monastery in Leh. I addressed children at Jammu, Srinagar, and Leh. Overall, what I found was, the people of J&K are extremely good. They love India, they have a beautiful mind and heart. Again I find every religion is a beautiful island. Love and divine connectivity can only bring peace and happiness in the society.

Conclusion

A few of my friends had launched a web site in my name. I normally exchange views particularly with the young within the country and abroad. I had putforth two points in the web site for the young to share their thoughts. The first point I had putforth was, "India is a developing country for more than half a century. What you will do to make it Developed India?". The second one was, "When can I sing a song of India?". There is a connectivity between these two. There were more than 100 responses. I thought of sharing with you four important suggestions that I received. One student from Meghalaya had responded, "I will become a teacher since I am good in, as well as I enjoy teaching. Since I believe that one of the best ways in which to serve any nation is to be either a Professor or a soldier among many other professions". A twenty year old boy from Goa has responded, "I would become an electron and like an electron in the orbit, I will work ceaselessly for my country now onwards. With reference to the second point which I had putforth, a young man from Atlanta says, "when India builds the capability to put sanction against any country, if needed, then I will sing a song of India". What the young man meant was: Economic strength brings prosperity accompanied with national strength. Another young girl from Kerala says, "single flower makes no garland. I will make my countrymen to love the nation and work for garland, that is developed India". What a powerful thought to ignite the minds.

I have met more than 200,000 school students during my visit to 22 states in the last one year. Uniformly, I find the children of our country want to live in a happy, peaceful, prosperous and secure India. Let us march towards achieving this vision and make the young to live in 'Developed India'.

My best wishes to the Times Foundation and the i-I Academy.