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Grand Inaugural of Global Summit-Cum-Expo on "Science, Spirituality and Environment", Message from President and Prime Minister of India
Abu Road: In the august presence of Honorable Home Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh; Honorable Chief Justice of India, Mr. Dipak Misra; Honorable Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Thawar Chand Gehlot; Joint Chief of Brahma Kumaris, Rajayogini Dadi Ratan Mohini; Founder and Director of Center for Environment Education, Padmashri Dr. Kartikeya Sarabhai from Ahmedabad; Television Personality and Actress, Ms. Marla Maples from USA; Executive Secretary of Brahma Kumaris and Program Organising Secretary, Rajyogi BK Mruthyunjaya; General Manager of Brahma Kumaris, Rajyogini Munni Behn; Additional Secretary General of Brahma Kumaris, Rajyogi BK Brijmohan; Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal, ‘Mother of Orphans’, Pune; the Global Summit-Cum-Expo on “Science, Spirituality and Environment” was inaugurated at Diamond Hall in Shantivan Complex, Abu Road, Rajasthan, with more than 6,000 guests from 140 countries.
Candle Lighting (Deep Prajavalan), Cake Cutting, Flag Hoisting, Release of Souvenir of Journey of Brahma Kumaris, Distribution of Prizes to the Top Artists of the National Painting Contest-cum-Workshop, Inauguration of a Beautiful exhibition on “Science, Spirituality and Environment,” and the presence of Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice of India, were other highlights of the summit. Along with paintings made by more than 500 renowned artists from all over India, the history of the Brahma Kumaris and the services extended to society over the last 82 years have been very beautifully displayed in the exhibition on Science and Spirituality. Renowned actress Gracy Singh staged a marvelous dance with her team, and Diamond Hall echoed with the applause.
A Message was sent by Honorable President of India, Shri Ramnath Kovind Ji, and the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, for the success of the summit.
Rajnath Singh, Home Minister of India, talked about mind, spirituality, science and Indian Culture in his 15-minute address. He said that Circumference of mind is directly proportional to the magnitude of happiness, the magnitude of bliss. In order to carry out a big task, one needs to have a big heart. A man with a small heart cannot do a big task. The bigger the heart, the more joy shall be in your life. A person does not become spiritual by merely praying in the church. As a person goes on doing big things, he continues to achieve the spiritual heights in his life. Along with offering prayers in temples or mosques, one needs to grow his heart. The bigger the heart, the more one would be spiritual. The Brahma Kumaris teach how to have a bigger heart. How big a heart would the Chief Administrator Dadi Janki and Dadi Ratan Mohini be having that they are taking care of such a big family. They have expanded the organization to 146 countries with the support of so many sisters. What a government is unable to do, the Brahma Kumaris are doing.
The Home Minister said that the United Nations has expressed concern over even small things. The organization is working on Cleanliness, Organic Farming, Solar Energy, Woman Empowerment. The organization is not only concerned about humans but also about humanity and living beings. On the 80th Annual celebration, the organization planted 80 lakh trees, sending a message of saving the environment.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the sages of our country discovered the zero and spirituality. Science, Spirituality and religion are contrary to each other; this is a belief of the western world. Bharat believes science and spirituality to be complements of each other and that they are one. Charak, Arohak, Sushupt, Aryabhatt were great sages as well as great scientists.
Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice of India, said, “I feel the sense of peace here. We want universal peace and each of you are a great ambassador of peace. Science tells you about what is happening in the universe. Physical morality matters the most, if we intend to have a clean, clear, unpolluted universe. If everyone in the world believes and practices physical morality, there will be prevalence of environmental morality. 80 lakh plants were planted by the organization; if you are planting a seed of morality, that is spiritual morality. Once peace is with yourself, there will be peace in the world. We want peace in the world, a good environment in the world and a scientific research-oriented spirituality which is going to advance the world on the path of peace. The effort of the Brahma Kumars is to make the world a place of belonging. All of us belong to this world, universe, so we need to be partners of construction, rather than destruction. You are Constructive in creating a peaceful world.”
“Desire gets into necessity, necessity gets into need. Need gets a Ph.D. when it is said ‘I want it.’ The moment I say I want it, peace of mind is gone and the sense of spirituality is lost. Science is absolutely relevant to conscious of mind, soul and heart. When Science and spirituality travel together with a philosophical approach, man can create wonders by transforming himself from ordinary man, by finding his true self with God. Science can grow with the aid of spirituality. God or Almighty loves all of us, looks after us. God never scares anyyone. When you surrender Ego, you can connect to God. Purity of this organisation is helping everyone move forward in spirituality,” he added.
Marla Maples, Television Personality and Actress, USA, said that America is facing many challenges these days, but the wonderful people and friends around us fill our lives with joy. That has happened because she has included Kundalini Yog, meditation of the Brahma Kumaris, and a vegetarian diet in her routine. While addressing the Global Summit, Marla said that all of us can progress, move ahead, stay together, many thanks to God for this. Marla said that she has tasted many types of food, but vegetarian food is the best among all. A non-vegetarian diet harms the environment too.
Padamshri Kartikeya Sarabhai, Founder and Director of Center for Environment Education, said that we need to follow our old traditions and go with the new technologies simultaneously in order to save the environment. A man feels that nature is at his disposal. This thought pattern is not right. Mahatma Gandhi said that we need to use nature as a trustee. Remembering the Founder of the Brahma Kumaris, Brahma Baba, he said that many decades ago, Brahma Baba saw the devastation caused by atomic bombs, nature and human conflicts by his divine vision; we are witnessing them practically now. In order to save the environment, we will have to take only that much from nature as is required.
Rajyogini Dadi RatanMohini, Joint Chief Administrator of the Brahma Kumaris, said that “all of us are children of God and hence brothers. Hence, we must co-operate with each other and make each other happy. We must never hold revenge, envy or jealousy for others. There was a golden age in Bharat where there was joy, peace and bliss everywhere. There was no trace of unrighteousness. We can again create a Golden world by making our actions divine.”
Executive Secretary of the Brahma Kumaris and Program Co-ordinator BK Mrutyunjaya said the organization is running a Cleanliness Drive all over the country between September 15 and October 2.
Thawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, said that the organization is making efforts towards materializing the visualization of Global peace, Vasudhev Kutumbakam, Live and Let live and motivating the masses to follow the righteous path. The reason behind an increase in anxiety and problems in the present world is due to our distancing from spirituality. Without adopting spirituality, the vision of Global peace, ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya,’ cannot be realized.
Dr. Sindhutai Sapkal, the Mother of Orphans, who is looking after 1,050 children in Bangalore, said that we need to always learn to move ahead in life, not to stop. We need to listen to our heart, a shroud does not have pockets, no one ever recommends death. One needs to learn to renounce.
BK Munni, the General Manager of the Brahma Kumaris, said, “I have learned from life to respect all, old or young. Take oneself to be an instrument. We need to have an attitude of benefit for all.”
BK Brij Mohan, Additional Secretary General of the Brahma Kumaris, said that RajaYoga meditation teaches us life skills. Thousands of brothers and sisters have experienced this.
The stage was well co-ordinated by BK Asha, Director of ORC, Gurugram.
Otaram Dewasi, Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly; Jagsi Ram Koli, MLA; Payal Parasrampuria, District Head; Anupama Jorwal, Collector, and other eminent personalities were present on this occasion.
