The whole world is looking at the Bharateeya spiritual tradition with the hope of finding answers to the problems faced by them.
— Shri Mohan Bhagwat
“By combining the two streams of knowledge (material science and spiritual science), we should evolve a new way. The responsibility of this has come on our shoulders so we cannot run away from it. So it is our duty to support all such endeavours which will pave the way for a new world of happiness and plenty,” urged RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat while inaugurating the newly constructed research centre and a guest house at the Thanthra Vidya Peedham (The Kerala Tantra Shastra Research Centre) in Aluva, Kerala on December 29, 2015.
Praising the spiritual tradition of Bharat, Shri Mohan Bhagwat said that we have uncovered many truths through the spiritual knowledge that science did not know till recently. We must be well versed in material science but we should go beyond matter. He said that our Upanishads enunciate that the truth is beyond material. So we must look inwards and attain that ultimate truth. He discouraged the present trend of snubbing ancient knowledge and Vedic wisdom without proper scientific evaluation. “Nowadays it has become a fashion to call everything invalid and obscure especially the things which is Swadeshi and indigenous to our culture. A mindset is prevalent to rejecting everything traditional without any pariksha. It is often heard people say, ‘Don’t talk about Vedas, this is a scientific era, so talk about science’,” he said. Spirituality is also science, one cannot rule out its veracity without experiencing it. For their conviction, each individual should experience it before condemning it, he reiterated
Addressing the imperative of moulding tantric acharyas, he said, “Like material technologies, Tantra is a spiritual technology. We should shape persons who have accurate and detail knowledge in Shastras and Tantra. They should be well trained so that they will be able to answer the questions of new generation. And I think Tanthra Vidya Peedham has been doing that job very nicely with dedication.”
He also noted that the whole world was looking at Bharateeya spiritual tradition with the hope of finding answers to the problems faced by them. He observed that the whole world was changing its approach after realising that we should go beyond materialism; otherwise there would be no answer to the problems the world is currently facing. So he necessitated that the endeavour of teaching our tradition must be supported by the society as a whole.
Recalling the contributions of late Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja of Travancore Royal Family in nurturing several spiritual institutions in the State, he said, “Today is an era of democracy. So the public opinion matters. I will request all those who are assembled here that don’t consider that this job is assigned only to Thanthra Vidya Peedham. It is our job too, infact everybody’s job. We have to show the world how we can achieve it.”
On a serious note, the Sarsanghachalak called for a serious approach towards education. “Learn whatever you want, but be serious about it. If you want to learn the music, then go to the bottom of it. You must become a very good vocal musician. Otherwise don’t touch music. Such serious education is needed in our tradition. And Vidya Peedham hopefully will create such Acharyas. They will be able teach to the fullest extent, teach minutest detail and preach with the authority of experience. This is needed for the welfare of the country, for the welfare of the world,” he said.
Thanthra Vidya Peedham was an initiative of the renowned late P Madhavji. It was formally launched with the blessings and financial support of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, on June 23, 1972, in the Thirunavaya Brahmaswam Mattham Veda Paattha Saala. –Ganesh Krishnan R
