A journey from eternal wisdom to economic wisdom

by Joseph Martin SEO

The Vedic wisdom of India says that spirituality is something to be essentially practiced, and the aim of human life is to attain moksha. All the superior and differentiating attributes that human has been endowed upon are meant by a divine design to achieve this purpose alone. Otherwise there is hardly much difference between human and the other living species.

This wisdom watered down over several centuries, probably millennia, and today the majority has little time to look towards the lofty goals of the life. Commonly, man exhausts himself in pursuing the basic, or elemental, needs of survival or its finer versions, say delectable food, glitzy fashion accessories, and palatial house. Man’s ordinary wisdom has limited itself to the pursuit of what the title of a Manoj Kumar’s movie aptly describes, “Roti, Kapraa aur Makaan.” All these materials are nothing but simple manifestations of money. So, it can be said that money reigns supreme in the present times.

Wisdom of some says that once you are out of these mundane affairs then only you can focus on the higher purpose of life. Even Swami Vivekanand, the most luminous scholar of Vedanta, once said that spirituality is not for a hungry man. Does this imply that affluent societies are better seekers or practitioners of life’s higher goals? Do they now contentedly practice detachment, spirituality and aatmic liberation? This is barely evident to us. Those who have money seek more money instead of relinquishing it having known its limits. But this is a different discourse.

Even the wisdom of an ordinary Indian knows that riches begets desire for more riches. But our definition of higher goals have changed. We don’t shy to accept materialism over spirituality. Spirituality may have nothing to do with religion, but we sweep away both under the carpet branding them as a personal affair. Materialism is a global phenomenon. Let’s celebrate it together. And we must accept that it has to stay for our survival. This material wealth vis-à-vis economy in the context of a country is such a monster that if we don’t feed it regularly, and come in the way of its growth, it would come upon us shadowing our survival. So we have no option except to live with it. It would be better if, at an individual level, we could strike a balance between the Vedic and modern wisdom.

But the wisdom of country must ensure that economy grows so that people feel secure, materially happy, and the progress in every field continues. India and China have been the new growth drivers of the global economy. Since the recession marred the US and the debt crisis bogged down Eurozone, the steering of global economic growth has come in the hands of Asia Pacific region countries. These countries hold immense possibilities and opportunities. If they work under a shared vision, they can transform their economic fate.

Indopac Summit, an international event participated by world’s top economists, businessmen and politicians, sets up the right agenda to create that understanding and vision which can provide trustworthy formulae to economic development of the region and show a decisive light to the investing community. The august summit would take place on 26th November this year in New Delhi.

.

Venue -: The Taj Hotel,

1, Mansingh Road, New Delhi. 110011

Contact - Mr. Sanjeev Kalia

+91-9811420446