Let’s make a promise to reflect our best thoughts, words and actions because when we change, so will the world, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj Ji
As we enter another year, there’s a lot of anticipation about what it holds for us. People celebrate the New Year with much fanfare as if everything in the world is going to change for the better the next day. With such high hopes and dreams, we exchange greetings, party hard and make resolutions hoping to bring about a positive change in our life. Interestingly, New Year resolutions also commonly include things like treating people better, making new friends and paying off debts. It’s been the same since ages. The Babylonians would return borrowed objects. Jews seek and offer forgiveness. The Scots go ‘first footing,’ visiting neighbours to wish them well. How does all this social “resolving” connect to survival? Simple, we are social animals. We have evolved to depend on others, literally, for our health and safety. Hence, treating people well is a good way to be treated well.
Over the years, New Year celebrations have become more extravagant, unruly and louder. People spend a lot of money to participate in singing, dancing, wining and dining on its eve and often end up getting drunk and sick on the very first day of the year. Many miss their work because of the late night parties they attend. Often these parties make the inebriated youth indulge in misbehaviour, dangerous driving and even criminal activities. The media and the markets create a lot of hype and glamour around the turn of the calendar. There is a frenzy around selling and buying gifts and entertainment tickets. The news channels churn out yearly reviews and flashbacks while the soothsayers and fortune-tellers are in demand for doling out predictions for those that put a lot of stake in their stars. All in all, New Year means a lot of memories, dreams and business for different people in the world.
If we think about it deeply, does it really bring any newness in our lives? We all are very much aware that the world we live in has become old, dilapidated and vicious where we have so many big and small problems that seem to have no lasting solution despite all efforts by humans to create better means to improve their lives. But with so much violence going on in the world, do we really have any good reason to celebrate the onset of another year?
Practically speaking, only when we give up our old habits and behaviour and wear a new attitude of compassion, co-operation, harmony and respect, can we expect a new era to begin. Before that really happens, how can anything be celebrated as new in this old world? Does it really make sense? Not really. It is like selling old wine in a new bottle, because nothing in this world can be truly new as all human souls and elements of nature have become very old, impure, weak and destructive. On the contrary, everything in the forthcoming golden age will be brand new, wherein not only the sanskars or traits of human souls will be renewed but also the entire nature and its elements will be rejuvenated to its original pristine quality. There will be nothing of this old world in the golden age. Even the human bodies will be pure and pristine — free from any disease. Remember, the world becomes new only when human souls are completely pure in the present by eliminating the vices and sin within themselves. So in the coming New Year, let us all take a determined step forward to change our negative attitude and share only positive energy of peace, joy and love. Let each one of us make a promise to reflect our best thoughts, words and actions because when we change, so will the world.