Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Vinesh Chandrasegaran, a member of the Scottish Interfaith Youth Council, the Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation and the Art of Living Foundation.
Vinesh Chandrasegaran (Scottish Interfaith Youth Council, Sri Sathya Sai Service Organisation and the Art of Living Foundation):
Presiding Officer, members of the Scottish Parliament, brothers and sisters. It is wonderful to be here, sharing my experiences and what I have learned from the Sathya Sai Service Organisation and the other organisations with which I associate.
We all need time for reflection. In my reflections, I have learned that we are one in creation—children of the one and only God. In our interactions, we can be a shoulder to cry on or make a person jump for joy. If we went further within, we would find that random acts of kind service that are rendered unexpectedly and selflessly bring us the greatest joy and bring the receiver perhaps a tear of joy or bliss. True happiness is experienced only in sharing what we have.
"Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray."
When one part of our body hurts, the whole body feels it and takes steps to heal. Likewise, any pain in society is felt by all. Education in the human values of truth, love, peace, right conduct and non-violence allows us to feel that oneness and to wholly correct that pain. God and the laws of the universe and of creation are simple, although everything else may be complex. In summary, we say, "Love all, serve all" and "Help ever, hurt never."
If we walk into a dark room, we do not try to eliminate the darkness—we switch on the light. If a child is holding a knife, we do not try to take the knife away—we give the child a chocolate, to induce a loosening of their grip. Similarly, problems in society can be addressed by providing an alternative, value-filled lifestyle, and not by focusing on problems. Mother Theresa understood that very well when she said that she would not attend any anti-war rally but would travel miles to attend a pro-peace one. Over the years we have used the modalities of education, song, drama, cartoon competitions and courses to spread that message of human values and selfless service. That—brothers and sisters—we pledge to carry on.
In the current economic climate, what we need is inner strength and faith in ourselves and the Creator working to and through us. Happiness and peace surround such a person of faith at all times and under any circumstances, further manifesting themselves in health, wealth and abundance to share and collectively enjoy with everyone.
If we help someone up the hill, we are closer to the top ourselves. If we based our actions and decisions only on what is right, sincerely benefiting and blessing all with abundance, such we would have. If success is our birthright, service to all is our supreme and only responsibility. A child who was brought up in an environment in which 10 languages were spoken would effortlessly learn to speak them. Likewise, a child who was brought up in an environment filled with human values would naturally imbibe them all. Together, we can fill our homes and schools with human values, but that has to start with us in our own homes and we must do it right now.
If there is righteousness in the heart,
There will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
There will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
There will be order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.
But, brothers and sisters, if the mind of man is not purified, all the plans to reform the world will be futile.
"Politics without principles, education without character, science without humanity and commerce without morality are not only useless, but positively dangerous."
I leave you with another beautiful saying:
There is only one religion, the religion of Love;
There is only one language, the language of the Heart;
There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity;
There is only one law, the law of Karma (the universe);
There is only one God, he is Omnipresent.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak here today. I wish you all the very best in your service to society.