Doesn’t it remind us of “Fratelli Tutti?” One World Family!

 

By  Sri Sri  Ravi Shankar 

in Hindustan Times 

19 July, 2011

 

This piece, actually, appeared in the Hindustan Times years ago. It was written by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Doesn’t  it appear just like a photo copy of Francis Pappa’s  “Frattelli Tutti” (all of us just brothers and sisters only!)? It is precisely for that, it is reproduced here – to make all of us just sit up, think and act!

Yes, just think of what is happening right under our nose: here in Kerala, in India with all the nation-wide strike of Farmers who make up the bulk of India, in the “so-called Great nation on earth the US”? Division, division, division, anything but Unity and Peace of a Family setting?

Not digestible?

Is it that a too profound, inscrutable and a mysterious thing to understand and digest for each one of us – male or female, young or old, rich or poor, educated or illiterate  — all so different from each other? and therefore constitute the BIGGEST WONDER in the world, as there is none like you or me in the whole world and therefore singular and superior/inferior to all else in some respect?

That means each one of us have some thing to teach others and many things to learn from others, therefore totally interdependent, but inseparably tied together by the bond of LOVE! Unity in necessary things, diversity in unnecessary things and charity, love, in all other things! Snehamanu Akilsarm Uzhiyil  (Love alone is the sum & substance on Earth!)

It doesn’t mean each one has to have an attraction for one’s neighbour, it only means, “there is no island of affluence in this sea of misery! Think of Kerala or US! Any unity or peace?

Conflict Resolution!

In any case each, has to act independently even with the neighbour whose convictions are in total conflict with ours  – a living contradiction – since the ultimate rule is, each has to obey one’s own COMMANDING CONSCIENCE, not any universal law, drafted by others. There each will be a square peg in that round hole!

Equally ULTIMATE inbuit in all of us is: YOU SHOULD NOT become a THREAT to your neighbour: THOU SHALT NOT KILL, become a threat to your neighbour — though separated wide apart like North and South poles! But then, that is the axis on which the whole universe goes round smoothly!

Two persons, one Truth!

In spite of all these self-evident TRUTHS, we are all in constant FIGHT! The only TWO persons in the world, who constantly remind us seem to be FRANCIS in the tiny Vatican and Biden the dawning star in US – both hammering on these twin inseparable TRUTHS for unity and peace!

And what about TRUTH? There is no such thing, is our last discovery! Even the most enlightened/illiterate Jew called JESUS, could not answer: What is TRUTH? He was illiterate par excellence, didn’t even cross any portals even of an LKG, didn’t write even a single word, called a ‘Bastard, Son of a bitch’ to which he rebelled and ran away from home at the age of 12.

None self-evident Truths?

Yet so many words of wisdom came from his mouth,  called himself just ‘Son of Man’, brother to all, a Good Samaritan to the one left  wounded on wayside, so he is my greatest GURU! Aren’t all these ‘self-evident truths’,  of course not the WHOLE TRUTH!

How to make all these meaningful to all my brothers and sisters? It is my biggest dilemma! Who among you can help me a ‘know-nothing’ to become a little more wise? Some of you surely can, I feel certain! So please do your ‘little bit’ or ‘great bit’, is my humble request. Let us all hang together to avoid the RISK of hanging separately! There is no island of affluence in our present ‘Sea of Misery’!

One World Family, impossible?

Can’t we all stay together as ‘One world Family?’ We surly can! Let bygones be bygones! Let us begin again, since CHANGE is the only constant to GROW UP, which is sky-high! james kottoor, editor ccv. 

 

 Please read below Sri Ravi Sankar!

There is an underlying unity in all the cultures around the world. We should realise that we are a one world family and find the common thread in different religions and cultures. I remember my father used to say, the world is full of people and mistakes. Love the former and forgive the latter.

We need to forgive the mistakes, forget the wrong doings of people and bring everyone together in a spirit of celebration, spirit of love, compassion and serving. Bringing all the cultures of the world together, and stringing them in a beautiful garland; this sense of belongingness, that we belong to one global family in spite of different colours, languages and food habits, has to be developed in all of us and in our children and youth. Let's enjoy the diverse variety of creation by honouring, respecting and loving them all.

 

We no longer live in an isolated world. We have no other choice than to honour diversity. It is a necessity, not an option. It is in our nature, and it is a sign of intelligence and evolution when we feel that all the cultures, all the civilizations, all the different schools of philosophy, belong to us.

 

Unfortunately, prejudice based on ignorance is the greatest impediment to embracing diversity. The time has come to love each other's religion as one's own. Certain things are same, and there are certain other things which are unique to each culture and country. It is time to celebrate the differences and celebrate life on this planet.

 

We have to create a society for our children, which is better than what we inherited. Today it is said "Sanghe Shakti Kaliyuge"– only unity has power in this era. 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. Come what may, whatever the circumstances, everyone must keep his spirit high and realise the dream of seeing the world becoming one family.

 

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.