The Panel Conference
Universal Harmony
Dr Sean Sieglen of the Manav Kendra of Maine, USA discusses in depth the problems involved
Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
When addressing ourselves to the question of Universal Harmony, we must determine first what manner or style of harmony we are seeking in the world. Certainly mankind is agreed that harmony is wanted, is in fact desperately needed. It is commonplace by now to assert that unless international relations are made harmonious, mankind will destroy itself in various technological and political wars. Also becoming equally imminent is man’s lack of harmony with the very earth that sustains his physical life. Disharmony in this ages of ecology threatens to cripple civilisation, even wipe out large segments of the population within a century – some authorities say within decades. However, it is not my intention to elaborate upon these problems, since we are all familiar with the alarming dangers involved in these conditions; I will rather pose the question:
- What king of harmony can man feasibly pursue for himself?
- And how might man best obtain his goal?
One form that many persons have selected as the kind of harmonious relation they wish to carry on with other persons – or rather nations, or other religions, or with common words, ‘he and I will get on amiably if he stay out of my way, or if we have no contact whatsoever.’ Hence there arose in the United States a popular attitude that two subjects not to be discussed were religion and politics. Racial tension also has grown because of such disguised bigotry, and I call it this name because underlying such isolationist viewpoints are the convictions that I am separate from him and I am correct. But of course this conference by its very existence isolate one’s person, one’s religion, or one’s nation from the rest is at best an equivocal position to take.
A better pursuit of harmonious relations perhaps would view harmony as an acceptance through understanding of his neighbour’s way, or an acceptance because of respect for that other nation, or religion; in general respect for one’s fellow man. If such integrated style of harmony is preferable to the isolationist style of harmony that has been most rife in our various countries’ histories that is to say, if strong nationalism and chauvinism on any scale to religious, from vocational to personal are undesirable – then to what or to whom are we to turn for us to get a clearer understanding of just what sort of harmony I am indicating?
First comes to mind the United Nations; but well known that though certain valuable results have been attained, that organisation isn’t able to produce the sort of far reaching harmony – or Brother Love – for which we are seeking in this panel.
Then we are reminded of the many religious ecumenical conclaves which succeeded world war II. In the west Catholics, Protestants and Jews met to dissolve differences; in the east, Buddhist, Jain, Moslem, Sikh, and Hindu sat together to emphasise their Oneness. Everyone here is well aware of the achievements made on these line by the world fellowship of religion, presided over for so long by the sponsor of this conference, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj. Here some definite from before, come together to speak of Unity and harmony. Yet at this level of religions or institutions, full Unity has not been realised because each group again sought for the Unity of its own body, rather than for the integration of all groups to become united under God.
The harmony we seek here, then, must sought at the level of man not nations, not religions, not institutions. This brotherly Love is of a nature that embraces each individual and emphasizes similarities instead of dissimilarities. Harmony of this kind presupposes one God, one mankind. Every individual is only separate temporarily – that is, until he realises that he isn’t really separate at all. He then won’t choose isolationism or chauvinism or any ism, for that matter, since all isms tend to divide rather than bring together. So we can define Harmony as the congenial interaction of entities or groups of entities who all feel that they are portions of the same God, drop of the same Ocean of All-Consciousness. This joyful interaction or brotherly Love comes up because each person knows that though their bodies may be several, their souls contain the same essence; and that essence is greater than any prejudice or separation.
With this definition and ideal of harmony before us, lets approach the next question of how to obtain so difficult a goal, especially at a time in history when there exists a large percentage of mankind who accept only material values, ignoring or rejecting values of a Spiritual Nature. How is it possible to live so harmoniously that anger, jealousies, hatreds, injuries and wars diminish and cease altogether?
Such society and world living in that type of concord must be viewed as a utopian ideal. Practical utopias haven’t fared well in history. The celebrated brook farm of the nineteenth century, in which Emerson and Hawthorne participated, typically represent the main problem – dissension. The participants wrangled about leadership, duties, etc., and though equality was sought, none was found. Some of the best utopias comprise people whose lives are so simple that they have little cognisance that their community is ideal. One illustration is the hunzas, north of here in the Himalayas. Their vallyis a veritable Shangri la, and the reason seems to be that they do not stress material achievements. They have no high, no low, thought they respect the wisdom of age, all are equal in their group. They have a simple diet, exemplary morals, and a clean disciplined environment.
At present I help to coordinate a utopian attempt in the state of Maine in the USA, it is a man centre the Manav Kendra of Maine instituted for God service, man service, and land service, parallel to the two centres which exist here in India at Dehradun and Baroda. This centre seeks to establish a unique situation where an undetermined number of men and women live harmoniously without anger or dishonesty. They live chaste lives, and try to serve and love every one with whom come in contact. In simpler words, they try to do good, be good, and be One, not only with human beings, but also with animals and land service being of prime importance. Manav Kendra attempts to become a complete community in self sufficiency so that it may show the surroundings society how harmonious living may be achieved. But again the question: how is this goal to be obtained?
The answer is the heart of this presentation: Universal Harmony on the scale of which wave spoken is only to be achieved when personal harmony is first realised. At the level of man each person must admit harmonious ideals and practise into his own life, so that he radiates peace and contentment in all his activities and with all his associations. Three billion people need to overcome their emotions to the extent that they are in control of their faculties and senses. When a man’s mind is under his own control, driving the horses of desire that pull the chariot of the body, and the rider never lets any of these – body, mind, emotions – turn wild, he may be said to have Inner Harmony.
That man who keeps his mind like a tame elephant will be at ease in all situations and with all persons. He will not get angry even with those that abuse Him, nor will he be flattered by praise. Needless to say, that man will radiate harmony and infect all those around him with his joy. A man like that can affect and improve thousands, so that they too may reach that level.
We have seen illustrations of this kind of man in the lives of the Saints. Buddha evinced such great compassion that millions of people of thousands of years have tried to emulate him. – I am not speaking of Buddhism as such, but of the effect of the radiation of a Great Saint. Jesus preached eloquently of Love and has stirred men before two thousand years whether or not they all comprehended His message. Many followed His radiation and rose to great height of peace and understanding: Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, Jacob Boehme, to name a few. That radiation does not die with the body of the man. Guru Nanak produced a string of Masters Who affected countless numbers deeply in Their Spiritual Natures, just as the Prophet led to Great Sufis like Hafiz, Rumi, and Mansur. And of course we can name Mahatma Gandhi to demonstrate further the developments possible in men of God, men whose lives carry on the impulse that might have been first sent out thousands of years ago by someone who took the time to rein his desires and sought to promote harmony for mankind by first attaining it in himself.
What can the three billion persons do? What can we here do to achieve that harmony? Certainly no more religions are needed. We have quite enough religions, for all three billions have been reached by those faiths as they seek to gain more adherents and converts. One step would be to delve more deeply into the existing religions to find what Universal Truths lie there; another would be sit quietly and meditate in the closet of one’s body until the silence become vocal. Great peace derives from this practice; but someone who has achieved the mastery of it is required, by the very nature of the difficulties involved, to teach us how to go within and still our minds.
Some sort of quiet upon God is definitely needed; but very few men are at all conversant with God even if they have tried. Most don’t try, of course. They seek Him instead in outer ways, but they only get further entangled and drawn out. It becomes apparent that a strong quitting factor is needed.
This paper has arrived at three preliminary conclusions:
- That Universal Harmony must commence with personal Inner Harmony;
- that many Great Saints have not only achieved such a state, but have also radiated this calm to their followers; and
- that in the present we must find someone who has the practical capacity to give the peace and harmony that he has attained.