Plenary, 15 Jun 2005
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Official Report
464KB pdf
Time for Reflection
Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection, which is led today by Acharya Medanipati Misra, priest of the Hindu temple in Glasgow; Mrs Shobha Nagpal, who is vice-president of the Hindu temple in Glasgow, will interpret.
Acharya Medanipati Misra (Hindu Temple, Glasgow):
(consecutive interpretation) Respected Presiding Officer and respected members of the Scottish Parliament, all humans desire comfort, peace and happiness. Not only we humans, but each living creature also desires comfort and happiness. Everyone can gain comforts, but few achieve real happiness.
We carry out a variety of actions to gain this comfort, such as higher education, business, politics, jobs and various professions, and we think that the more we earn the higher our standard of living will be and the more objects we can buy to give us physical comforts; in that way, we will gain more comfort and happiness.
Yes, all these do give some comfort: our desires are fulfilled, but are these true comforts? Is our mind at peace? Think about this. We have no idea how true comfort can be obtained. At a time like this, only faith is of use. Our scriptures state:
Asto ma sadgamaya—Maintain true thoughts. Keep moving from untruth to truth.
Tamsoma jyotirgamaya—Move from darkness to light. Worldly actions introduce darkness. Think towards the light of faith.
Mrityorma amritam gamaya—Move from death to eternal life.
Karm kuru—Continue doing your deeds without desire for rewards. Absolve yourself of worldly desires and meditate and pray a little.
If we keep these facts in mind, only then can that unbounded happiness be gained, those unlimited comforts be gained and that immeasurable peace be gained that is desired by each living creature.
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah—May all be happy. May there be peace on earth.