PEACE, SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH
A Three Point Formula
HEALTH, Spirituality and Peace are linked to one another. Health means a sound physical body; Spirituality purifies one’s soul and develops one’s personality, and Peace is an essential ingredient in building a healthy society.
All religions give emphasis to these three issues. The Prophet of Islam once said that a strong believer is better than a weak believer, because a strong believer can shoulder all responsibilities in a far better manner. Spirituality has been called rabbaniyat in Islam, which means to turn one’s materialistic thinking into spiritual thinking. This creates high human values.
Peace is essential for every society. No progress and development takes place without peace. This is the reason why Islam enjoins peace, even at the price of unilateral adjustment. Therefore, a three point formula of being healthy, being peaceful and being spiritual is best for all of us.
All the religions including Islam are subject to change, not in terms of revision but in terms of reapplication. Religion is an eternal truth. But the social framework in which religion is required to be followed is an ever-changing phenomenon. It is change in society and not in the religion itself that needs reapplication to the given situation.
Every religion, including Islam represents a set of values. These basic values are eternal by their nature. But at the time of change, it requires a new kind of adoption and assimilation. It is this process through which human civilization continues its march in history.
This process of change or reapplication applies to all human disciplines like politics, media and the market (economics). For example, in ancient times, politics was based on kingship, so religion found ways of adjustment with this political power. But in modern times political structure is based on popular democracy, so we can see that every religion has sought adjustment with a democratic political system. So is the case of other aspects of human life. In every situation religion is bound to play its much awaited role in establishing peace and harmony throughout the world.
As far as Indian society is concerned, it is deeply rooted in religion. Almost all the major religions have their roots in India. Indian society is a multi-religious society. Religious values are intact among Indian people perhaps more than in any other country. Any planning in India must take account of this social reality.
India is rapidly heading towards modern material development but at the same time India’s roots are strong and there has been no degeneration in its spiritual prowess. Religious traditions are deeply connected to peace, tolerance and spirituality. This is unique to India and perhaps there is no other country in the world which is so greatly oriented towards peace, tolerance and spirituality. India is truly a representative of the positive spirit of religion.
If it is unique to this part of the world, it is mainly because Indians possess the rare quality of adjustment. They readily adopt modernity without abandoning the healthy religious traditions of the past. India was fortunate to become an abode of different cultural and religious traditions. This international interaction was a great plus point for India. It enhanced the developmental activities in India and also through this process the country was able to develop a kind of multi-religious civilization.
The future picture of religion seems to be a bright one. The process of give and take between politics and religion is quite visible and we can say with a considerable degree of certainty that religion will continue to play a very constructive role in the development of human civilization.
Indian society is a multi-religious society. Religious values are intact among Indian people perhaps more than in any other country.
Let us understand this in a correct historical perspective. During the previous centuries, religious people—for whatever the reason— engaged themselves all too frequently in violent action. This presented an obstacle to religion playing its destined constructive role in shaping national and international life, but after the emergence of the United Nations in the 20th century, the scenario has changed altogether. The United Nations is helping to create a new world where peace becomes a compulsion rather than a choice. In such a situation, religion is bound to play its much awaited part in establishing peace and harmony throughout the world.
India has been fortunate in its having become the abode of different cultural and religious traditions and it is thanks to this that it has been able to develop a multi-religious civilization. This in turn has underpinned and promoted ongoing international interactions which has been a great plus point for India, as it has served to facilitate and enhance the developmental activities in India today.