Page 136 - SocialHarmony

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Creating a Healthy Society

(Aarogyaraksha Havan Arpanvidhi, Anti-tobacco Day,
Balwant Rai Mehta Hall, Kankaria, Ahmedabad.
May 31, 2003)

We are facing so many problems only because we are
looking for answers away from the original philosophies
of our country. We have forgotten Lord Rama as a symbol of
reverence, we do not follow his example and thus we invite
AIDS. We then have to plan campaigns to avoid AIDS. Our
ancient philosophy says that God is present in everything, in
the entire world and in every living being. Because we have
wandered from this philosophy and stopped seeing life in trees,
we chop down trees mercilessly. For thousands of years, we
had no environment-related problems. Now, by leaving the
natural life behind us, we have spoiled the delicate balance.

Once upon a time, our ancestors used to eat at home and
go out for nature’s call. Today we go out to eat and use the house
only for answering nature’s call. We have turned our life upside
down – Ganesh Bidi, Vivekanand Maternity Home – could this
be imagined earlier? The main underlying reason is that we
have forgotten the true objective of life. When the objective is
lost, delusions appear. By welcoming delusions, we are
welcoming destruction. Forgetting our values is at the root of
all our problems.

The news media is very effective in this day and age. One
of my friends works for a TV channel in Delhi. I always find
him chewing tobacco. I often tell him that in spite of working as