There is a need for institutions to create and promote a socio-spiritual education system as it has the power to eradicate deprivation and crimes from society, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj Ji

Social work has often  been looked at as a synonym of welfare. However, the term has a very loose meaning and may imply as different things in different jurisdictions of the world. Individuals and institutions which help the poor, the handicapped, and those  affected by a calamity are usually looked upon as doing great social service. However, if such institutions charge money for the work, it isn’t regarded as social service. However, one feels truly amazed when one finds that such other individuals and institutions as are sincerely and honestly devoted to the great task of final eradication of poverty, disease and crime from the society but whose mode of work does not require the distribution of money or materials are not regarded as institutions of social service.

This is because those, who react to such institutions with apathy and a lack of appreciation, fail to realise that the relief measures taken to provide them necessary materials, however important, touch only the tip of the iceberg or deal with only the surface problems. These measures do not actually rid the society of poverty or disease or the tendency to commit crimes nor do they attempt to prevent the suffering at its source. In other words, these people lack a proper perspective. They take only a short-term, surface-view of things. Second, not many know that most of the diseases are caused by anxiety, trauma, mental depression, bad eating habits, smoking and drinking. It is also because people don’t practice meditation and yoga, which could be as effective in treating or managing such problems as medicines. Likewise, it is not known to many that most of the crimes take place due to mental or criminal tendencies in a person. Even poverty is a result of an economic exploitation of the deprived by the rich, apathy of the society for the less-privileged and sloth of the poor. All this can be eradicated by a socio-spiritual education system, which strikes at the roots of these problems.

If facts and figures had been published to give people the awareness that the ancient technique of yoga gives hundred-and-one benefits simultaneously and is better and cheaper than any other mode of service, importance of social work done by institutions teaching meditation would never be under-rated. On the other hand, their work will be considered as social service par excellence.