Once upon a time, in the heart of a bustling village, there was a wise elder who often spoke of the importance of living a balanced life. He would gather the children and their parents under the ancient banyan tree and share the timeless wisdom of the Vedas. “Those who live in ignorance dwell in darkness,” he would say, quoting the YajurVeda. “And those who seek only material gains are blinded by their pursuits.”
The elder explained that life is like a river, flowing smoothly only when it is guided by the banks of material and spiritual progress. “Spirituality,” he said, “is the reality we must embrace daily. It makes righteous living simple, while ignoring it makes life seem like a difficult art.”
He emphasized the importance of learning universal values, or dharma, from a young age. “Parents,” he would advise, “must subtly and informally instill these values in their children. Schools, too, once played a crucial role by weaving inspiring stories into their lessons.”
Sanatan Dharma, the elder explained, is deeply rooted in the Vedas, the oldest scriptures known to humanity. “Veda means knowledge,” he said, “and Hinduism is a knowledge-driven faith. Education helps us achieve the four aims of life: dharma (righteous living), artha (righteous earnings), kama (righteous enjoyment), and moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).”
The elder would often recount the ten principles of dharma as defined by Sage Manu: patience, forgiveness, self-control, non-stealing, purity, control of the senses, wisdom, true knowledge, honesty, and non-anger. “Without dharma,” he warned, “humans are like animals, driven only by basic needs.”
He stressed that education without ethics is merely knowledge, which in the hands of an evil person can be destructive. “Dharma,” he said, “empowers us to regulate our lives at all levels—personal, familial, societal, national, and global. It embodies the spirit of vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the world as one family.”
The elder would often quote Thabo Mbeki, the former South African President, who once addressed students with these words: “Come together, talk together, let our minds be in harmony. Common be our prayer, common be our end. Common be our purpose, common be our deliberations. Common be our desires, united be our hearts. United be our intentions, perfect be the union among us.”
He believed that teaching dharma could transform schools into nurseries of virtue, where children would grow up anchored in righteousness and contribute to the welfare of society.
“Religion,” he explained, “comes from the Latin word religare, meaning to unite. Yet, history shows that religion has often been a cause of division and conflict. We must remember that there is one God who created and sustains the universe, and who administers the Law of Karma.”
The elder concluded his teachings by reminding everyone that World Religion Day is a time to reflect on our duty to instill dharma in the hearts and minds of our children. “By doing so,” he said, “we lay the foundation for future generations to be truly humane, blending material and spiritual knowledge to create a peaceful world.”
And so, under the shade of the banyan tree, the village learned the timeless wisdom of living a balanced life, guided by the principles of dharma, and united in their quest for a harmonious existence.
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