– answer to this problem lies in the scriptures

GUYANA is a very blessed and a very beautiful land but unfortunately, most of our people are living in fear and there is no peace for some people, this is the view of spiritual leader, Swami Anandaji.

What are the answers behind these fears and what are the solutions to these problems?

According to the Swami, everyone is searching for answers and for support, but in so doing each individual is casting blame on another and there is disharmony.

In an interview with this newspaper the Swami contends that the answer lies in the scriptures. In Hinduism, the stages of life are clearly defined and must be adhered to achieve maximum benefits.

These stages of life are as follows:

1. Bramcharya (student life)

2. Grahastya (family life)

3. Banprastha (retired life)

4. Sanyasa (monastic life)

He asserts that the student life which is before marriage, states very categorically that there must be absolute sense control and self control…In this stage of life there must be total dedication towards pursuing academic education, moral values and physical development that are essential for human growth.

He explained that when these qualities are fully developed and the student moves to the second stage — that is family life — then he or she is fully prepared to take on duties of the home, society and country.

Hinduism further states that there are four classifications of duties and these are in the following categories:

1. The religious leaders

2. The military, police, intellectual and political leaders

3. Business community

4. Working class

Each of these categories has specific duties to perform in society to ensure that there is peace, harmony and prosperity, the Swami said.

According to him, the religious leaders must epitomise austerity, peace simplicity, truth and sincerity in their own lives before they can teach this to others. When this is done, there is immense peace in society and the lives of these religious leaders can be emulated.

He added that the intellectuals, military and political leaders have to protect the society/country through their dedication to their specific responsibilities. If these persons exhibit any form of indiscipline in their lives, this will lead to fear and eventually they will never be able to function effectively in society.

The business community has to be honest in their ventures as these individuals are responsible for economic expansion of the country.

The working class also has to faithfully perform their allotted duties for the growth and development of their personal well-being and for the country as a whole.

It simply means that if every citizen in a country performs his or her duty according to the laws of dharma/righteousness, then indeed there is peace, happiness and prosperity.

On the contrary, there is a decline in performance of one’s respective duty, which is leading to unhappiness, fear and conflict, the Swami stressed.

What are the causes of this decline?
The spiritual leader attributes several reasons for the decline. Firstly, persons are not fully prepared for their respective responsibilities in life. If in one’s student life the required foundation of sense control and self control is not there, then there is no moral, physical and intellectual development.

Instead the negative qualities of greed, selfishness, lust, anger and hate have become predominant in one’s life, the Swami contends, adding that these are the qualities that lead to crime such as the recent massacres in Guyana. Secondly, many persons do not adhere to their swadharma — one’s own duty, instead they want to perform the duties of others. This also will bring out the negative qualities in human beings and will eventually lead to crime.

What is peace and how can we find peace?
According to the Swami, peace is not outside of the self but within one’s self. Divine personalities like Acharya Pranavanandaji Maharaj, founder of Bharrat Sevashram Sangha states “peace is not found in a lustful person or in the hearts of dishonest businessmen or immoral ministers, dictators or the so-called religious leaders. Rather, peace is in the hearts of the disciplined, courageous and in whose mind there is an absence of conflict”.

What is the most important element for the development of this country?
Swami Vidyanandaji posited that the future of this country lies in the hands of the youths. Youths who possess dynamic personalities are building blocks of the nation but there must be adequate training for their physical, academic and moral development in order to develop their self confidence.

Each individual is responsible for his or her own action which will ultimately lead to the development of the country.

“We have to help ourselves. We cannot expect persons from outside to come to die for us. We must be prepared to protect ourselves. Let us begin today. Take a good look at our lives and begin to improve for a better Guyana,” he reiterated