Understanding Humanity from the Indian Culture

Before focusing on the Indian culture, let us first understand what is culture and what are the rising challenges faced by us in enjoying and evolving global culture of Humanity. Socially, Culture is learned behavior of a group of people that are considered the tradition of that people and are transmitted from generation to generation. 

Is this the only definition of culture? 

No. It also has its Psychological and Organic insights which are required to be understood well.

Psychologically, Culture is a collective programming of the mind. The tools practiced by culture in order to program the mind include:

Symbols (words, proverbs, gestures, pictures or objects) that carry a particular meaning in a particular culture. Symbols represent outermost layer of a culture.

Heroes (persons, past or present, real or fictitious) who possess characteristics that are highly prized in a culture. They serve as role models for ideal behavior.

Rituals (ways of greetings, paying respect, ceremonies, etc.) as collective activities in reaching desired objectives, considered as socially essential.

Values are at the core of any culture. Symbols, heroes, and rituals are the tangible or visual aspects of the practices of a culture. The true cultural meaning of the practices is intangible. This is revealed only when the practices are interpreted by the insiders. Values are broad tendencies for preferences while dealing with different situations and people in life. Values can be inferred from the way people act under different circumstances.

Ways to ensure consistent and frequent practice by masses cutting across all the layers of culture (Symbols, Heroes, Rituals and Values) creates the integrated impact in programming the mind. Because repeated actions create habits, habits influences character and common characteristics of majority of people creates culture.

The integrated manifestation of cultural tools at different levels of depth is summarised through a diagram here.

Is Culture just another socio psychological program made by few elites utilizing the tools to be enforced upon masses? 

No. Culture is macro mirror of how human masses are evolving over a period of time across the community segments, Naturally, Organically. Across cultures and countries, it has been observed that inorganic / artificial / centralized ways of changing culture proves to be short sighted and hence unsustainable. It will be the Organic Culture that will be sustainable. Hence it is vital that we understand the 5 key elements of Organic culture. 

Organically, Culture means collective behavior that

·         Protects environment

·         Minimize degradation, erosion and pollution

·         Reinforces Universal unity with individual responsibility

·         Reinforces human productivity with optimum development and utilization of human potential

·         Ensures continuity of the culture through decentralized and self sustainable systems made to last

The global challenge is in facilitating organic evolution of masses for humanity through effective application of cultural tools. Here is where we can learn from the India which serves as Organic Culture Leader of the world in past, present and future.

Let’s see few examples of how the Indian culture applies various tools for organic evolution of the Indian community;

The Indian culture to protect environment:

The Indian culture is well known for continuing its ancient faith in environmental forces treating them as God. List of environmental deities goes much beyond the five elements to cover rivers, mountains, trees, animals & birds. This include teams of species across the food chain (rat, cobra, peacock and eagle as one team AND bull, lion visualized to reside together as part of one family). The list also includes fruits, flowers, leaves, grass and even insects.  This is because one core values of the Indian culture is that every atom has life in it. This include stones, sand, constructions and basically every matter. And hence all matters require to be treated with respect and care.

With this background in mind, it is no wonder that this culture has contributed significantly in making the India a nation with very high bio diversity. Highest number of NGOs, volunteers and experts contributing to environmental causes are the Indians. 

Nurtured by the Indian culture, scientific inventors such as Dr Jagdish Chandra Bose made number of pioneering discoveries in plant physiology. He used his own invention, the crescograph, to measure plant response to various stimuli, and thereby scientifically proved parallelism between animal and plant tissues. 

Although Bose filed for a patent for one of his inventions due to peer pressure, his reluctance to any form of patenting (same as in case of many inventors from the Indian culture) was well known. To facilitate his research, he constructed automatic recorders capable of registering extremely slight movements; these instruments produced some striking results, such as Bose's demonstration of an apparent power of feeling in plants, exemplified by the quivering of injured plants. His books include Response in the Living and Non-Living (1902) and The Nervous Mechanism of Plants (1926) makes the reader Cultured in real sense as the reader starts being respectful in dealing with all.

There are number of daily rituals and annual practices that ensure participation by masses in respecting environment as the Indian.  The practices include daily practices such as Earth and Sun Prayer in Morning and annual practices such as nature based festivals at the beginning and end of every season.

In summary, it is the Indian culture that has helped the India retain environmental balance even after very high density of population residing in limited geography.

The Indian culture to Minimize degradation, erosion and pollution

Since ages, The Indian culture is sensitive and wise to offer inspiration and guidelines to prevent and minimize degradation, erosion and pollution happening around humans in various forms (natural, social & individual). The Indian scriptures pay respect to Avatars such as Varaha Avatar and Matsya Avatar saving world from environmental imbalances created by mis deeds of human race. 

To minimize natural degradation, the Indian rituals adore many specific environmental protectors (specific trees such as Neem, Banyan, coconut, Ficus religiosa – The Buddha tree and specific plants such as Basil) ensuring their place in most of the Indian households and villages across the country. The India was the first one to find use of cow’s dung and urine in protecting environment from degradation at microbial level. 

Most of the Indian farms carry out indigenous methods of regenerating soil health through organic compost supported by the Indian rituals encouraging live stock with most farmers. The Indian festivals include Innovative ways of preserving local variety of seeds and live stock  making India the country having highest variety of food seeds and live stock species. The India is also a country having very less use of agro-chemicals and hybrid seeds. 

To minimize social degradation, the Indian culture has gifted the community with highly developed model of community life. Series of community based festivals reinforces the joy of togetherness and sense of belonging among the Indians. The Indian culture is unique in its inclusiveness celebrating multi religional festivals (Navaratri, New Year Eve and Holi) with equal grandeur and massive participation by millions of Indians across religious preferences. The Indian culture provides detailed guidelines with modern flexibilities to nurture Indian Family system that respects individual roles. 

It is easy to see children carrying out moral responsibility of parents in old age and men with chivalry towards women as essential to be accepted in The Indian culture. This aspects of Indian culture contributes in lowering erosion rate across various parameters of social degradation including divorces, single people beyond age of 30, infertility, abortions, senior citizens having to live away from family in old age homes, sexual abuses, suicide and people suffering depression and psychological disorders (most of which are rooted in sense of alienation).

To minimize individual degradation, Indian culture is leading in innovating natural solutions based on physical, psychological and spiritual sciences and practices. Ayurveda, Yoga, various methods of meditation and alternative medicines including energy science and techniques based on human thoughts and vibrations are just a few examples of the same. 

To top it all, Indian culture gave the therapy of non violence and fasting across centuries (preached and practiced by many including Vedas, Buddha, Mahavira, Mahatma Gandhi and Anna Hazare) as a tool for bringing social revolutions and self purification practiced by millions of Indians even today. The Indian values of vegetarianism, self control, non accumulation and fasting helped controlling health issues such as obesity to very low level among Indians. 

As a country, India has won hearts of all its invaders with its tolerant and inclusive culture. It is the Indian cultural value of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is One family) that has ensured that it never degraded or invaded any country across centuries setting new standards in world peace and social rejuvenation. With very low carbon footprint, energy and water consumption per person, Indian culture provides hope to the world for simpler and natural ways of community living minimizing degradation of life resources.

The Indian culture to reinforce Universal unity with individual responsibility

While many people know about Om, Swastika and Caste system of India, it is very useful to learn about its origin, meaning and relevance in today’s life for sustainable development of Human-Unity also known as Humanity.

Om symbolizes the spirit of Oneness. In simpler words, let us remember OM as short form One Me.

In Ancient times, Viraat Swaroop of Lord Shri Krishna demonstrated the oneness (with entire universe) giving cultural message for every human being to realize the oneness within them with complete sense of responsibility towards the universe.OM symbolizes the same. Doctrine of Advaita (there is none other), Aham Brahmasmi (I am God), Soham (I am Thee) are all shades of the same universal responsibility. 

Religiously, newer religions originated in Indian Culture reinforced the universal responsibility with appropriate improvisations to address changing needs of humanity. Ahimsa of Buddhism and Paryushan of Jainism, Ek Omkar of Sikhism, Religious fusion of Din –e- ilahi and Oneness with God celebrated by  Sufism are Spiritual milestones of Indian culture.

Historically, India has been the biggest example of unity in diversity (ethnicity, religion, social systems, languages and so on). India is biggest democracy with parliamentary powers in hands of Lacs of people representatives spread upto each village level. This makes India a clear example of decentralized culture of the people, by the people, for the people.

 

Simple rituals such as greeting gesture of Namaskara symbolizes the fact that even though the palms of two hands appears to be coming from opposite directions, the thumbs and the fingers matches each other once they meet each other with openness. Similarly, even if the other person appears to be different from distance, when we open the palm of our perspective fully to understand the others perspective fully, then reciprocity establishes total harmony, compatibility and consensus. As said first in Indian culture, after all, we all are One.

 

The Indian culture to reinforce human productivity with optimum development and utilization of human potential

To optimize productivity, Indian culture developed social innovations such as Ashram Dharma (Role changes as per Stages of human life) dividing 100 years of individual life across four different roles. First 25 years of age is culturally allocated for Brahmacharya ashram (Time to study).Between 26 to 50 years of age, Grihastha ashram (time to start, develop and manage a household).Between 51 to 75 years of age Vanaprastha ashram (time with Nature and provide need based mentoring to younger members). Between 76 to 100 years of age Sanyaastha Ashram (time to introspect, detach and develop balanced perspective towards ups and downs of life). This Ashram Dharma provides relevant guidelines on how to live life even in today’s times. 

Another social innovation called Varna tradition (function based caste system and function based approach to professionalism) was developed in Indian culture for optimizing human productivity and potential. The Varnas were broadly divided into four functions namely Brahmans (Education and R&D), Kshatriyas (Defense and politics), Vaishyas (Business and economics) and Kshudras (those providing support services).

All four Varnas (functions) were given equal importance with same dignity of labour. This system was designed and promoted as an organizational structure in line with human anatomy. The scientists and educationists were visualized as Head of the body. Defense personnel and politicians were visualized as lungs and heart. Entrepreneurs and economists were seen as abdomen (digestive, regeneration and excretory organs). Service professionals were recognized as limbs (hands and legs) without whom the entire body will be handicapped. 

The caste system has always been based on profession and Not by birth. The Indian culture offered complete individual freedom to choose any profession of choice irrespective of their family profession. Family profession was offered as natural first option considering its inherent advantages in talent management for self, family and the profession itself as described ahead. 

Varna tradition offer following key contributions to Indian culture viz;

·         Effective talent management (acquisition, development and retention)

·         Professional excellence with optimum risk management and high ethical standards

·         Advance adaptations and alignment with the Varna whose time has come to rule the humanity

Now let me explain each of the above contributions in detail;

Effective talent management (acquisition, development and retention): 
The function based caste system is uniquely effective in talent management over generations of families in similar profession. The system ensures that the new generation gets functional exposure, aptitude development and induction in the function at quite an early stage of life. This also serves as practical reason for parents to provide due attention in grooming career of the child with detailed attention to their education and strengths as the child will be very likely to act as their professional successor at the age of 26. 
This system also enables professional excellence to reach new heights of achievements with every generation. This also serves as practical way of ensuring that professionals are not wasting their highly productive years of performance in trial and error or reinventing the wheel. Instead, they are given decisive role to lead during their most productive age group of 26 to 50. Need based guidance and timely mentoring of seasoned senior professionals is also available in the same family. This also serves as practical reason for respecting elders serving as business consultants and professional mentors. 

This arrangement of working with family and relatives in same / similar business also helps in sustaining work life balance. This is because it integrates professional and personal life as one. Wherein you are able to be with your family and relatives for more hours in a day in spite of putting long hours at work (with them). Better work life balance achieved through this route has also helped in putting Indians among the top most citizens in terms of longer and much odder hours of professional work without similar rise in burn out ratio of Indian professionals. This in turn contributes to the fact that such Indians are less likely to change their family profession and more likely to retain their functional specialization as part of social identity and cultural heritage. Indian culture grooms people to Work Hard and Smart and simultaneously also Play Hard and Smart.

Professional excellence with optimum risk management and high ethical standards:

The big risk of massive unemployment in India is addressed by Varna system providing cultural career options in appropriate vocations to most members of the Indian society.

Over and above the advantages of function based families, function based communities also have unique advantages of functional sharing, learning, timely pre warning, social psychological and practical support by the community to the family and the professional individuals. 

This professional networking and support system in the form of social community is most effective in preventing and managing risks and converting the risks into professional opportunity to learn and grow together. Indian economy is robust enough to manage any economic crisis thanks to the vast yet closely knit social network of individual entrepreneurs supported by their large (joint) families and community who can empathies with the individuals more accurately due to their relevant professional understanding and similar pain areas.

To substantiate above fact, there are many examples of global scientists, famous kings, artists, economists, businessmen and role ambassadors in support services indicating professional excellence and innovation milestones created by them based on centuries of research, development and social support system across generations.

The system has also made Indian professionals more ethical in business conduct with inherent pressure from family and social community belonging to the same profession. Considering the collective risk of reputation loss not only for self but also for family and community in same profession, the long term risk of violating ethical requirements becomes much more costly than the short term advantages offered by unethical short cuts.

Advance adaptations and alignment with the Varna whose time has come to rule the humanity:

Certain professions in India (including celebrities, artists, teachers, politicians, defense personnel, family owned businesses and agriculture) are followed in the families across generations. There is steadily rising trend of leading business management schools from all across the world studying and teaching how to manage family owned businesses. This is happening because of success and sustainability of Indian family business houses in fast changing uncertain business environment.

The secret behind success of Indian professionals across functions and across the globe resides is in their preparedness in advance and ability to adapt to newer ways of being professionals with need based professional support from the family and relatives.  

Varna tradition (here taken as 4 different approaches to any work or anyone) has helped Indians prepare towards changing their behavioral approach in line with the corresponding values of particular Varna whose time has come. Thousands of years ago, changing importance and influence of Varnas were predicted in Indian culture. As many Indians followed the cultural predictions and prepared their attitude accordingly, they were more prepared to grab more opportunities, adapt and succeed in line with the changing times. 

As per the predictions, globally, the Varnas have been ruling the world of humans in same sequence of its mention in Indian culture. Indians were among the nations which responded to each of these changes in much better ways as compared to most other countries that were caught totally unaware at the level of masses. To understand the same, let us observe the socio professional world over last few centuries. 

Toward the end of 19^th century, Global Brahmans (Education and R&D) Scientists and educationists played most influential role causing series of path breaking discoveries, innovations and industrial revolution. The core values of Brahman Varna are learning attitude, simple living and scientific approach to life. India changed its gear by accepting English as global language for its talent to produce numerous educationists and scientists during this period. 

In first half of 20^th century, Kshatriyas (military leaders and politicians) played decisive role. This was the time wherein world wars on battle field and cold wars on political front influenced human lives including professions and social challenges across the world. The core values of Kshatriya Varna are courage, generosity, power and forgiveness. Indians were among the first courageous nations that participated extensively as peace keeping force during world wars. Like a hard core Kshatriya, India showed generosity and forgiveness towards invading armies of neighboring countries giving won over land back to them even after victory of Indian military power.

In second half of 20^th century Vaishyas (Businessmen and economists) started ruling human culture through liberalization, globalization and capitalism with growing materialism across countries. The cold wars were replaced by hot waves of corporate wars. Nations were made smaller by larger powers of MNCs. Individuals were made more calculative and money minded in majority aspects of life. India scored as among the biggest economies that opened its doors very fast for globalization with high levels of transparency to consider all ethical businesses for inclusion in economical development.

21^st century has started with Kshudras (those providing support services) playing decisive role in revolutionizing Service sector. Kshudra Varna symbolizes the core values of service attitude substantiated by openness to do any kind of labour as per requirements with agility, mobility, adaptability and versatility. India’s performance in IT sector across roles from inventor to programmer from maintenance to call centre has been most remarkable across continents. This clearly indicates preparedness of its masses (with family background from different Varnas) to adapt to Kshudra approach to work very constructively, professionally and with total commitment.

In short, with clear guidelines and values practiced over generations, Indian culture facilitates optimum development and utilization of human potential as per changing requirements of human life stages at micro level with talent qualities required at macro level.

The Indian culture to ensure continuity through decentralized and self sustainable systems made to last

Key cultural concept across different religions developed in India (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism & others) is that of Karma and re birth. Karma approach (as you sow, so you reap) is the principle of causality where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. Karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth wherein karma in the present affects one's future in the current life, as well as the nature and quality of future lives.

In other words, Karma provides total empowerment and internal locus of control to individuals in designing individual future through present intensions and deeds. This approach is followed with deep rooted conviction in its high accuracy and timeliness of results. The faith is also put on the hope that the results will be delivered for sure at the most appropriate time and manner within or  across lifetimes for optimum well being (Win – Win) of the concerned stakeholders.

The idea of rebirth significantly reduces escapism from present life (one main reason behind low rates of suicides) and reduced intensity of worries related to ill health, old age and death. At the same time, it significantly enhances individual responsibility to have good intensions and perform good deeds for betterment of own lives with highest levels of humility and respect for all.

Karma creates the bed rock of Indian culture wherein Indian masses are governed by self analysis and course corrections in order to gain and sustain inner alignment with goodness in thoughts, words and actions. The Indian culture ensure continuity of the culture through such decentralized and self sustainable systems made to last.

The commitment to continuously move ahead in life is the final value of Indian culture. This can be observed in the form of symbols such as Swastika in Hinduism, prayer wheel in Buddhism and Pradakshinas (circumambulation of sacred places) in Hindu, Jain or Buddhist context. Common aspect of all three symbols is the fact that all of them are guided to be moved in clockwise direction only. Clock wise direction is indicative of going in line with the universal plan for progress and further evolution for all. Once aligned with WIN Win plan of the universe, the followers are designed to succeed. Anti clock wise Swastika / Backward Swastika as used by Nazi party of Hitler indicated attempt to reverse the evolution cycle of human evolution and hence was designed for failure.

Values of Karma and symbol of Swastika both indicate that life will shape up as per our intentions and deeds hence we need to make our contribution in line with macro plans of inclusive progress for all.                    

What is Humanity?

From my perspective, Humanity is an integrated recipe of benevolence containing compassion, humaneness, kindness,understanding, tolerance, gentleness, leniency, mercifulness,  generosity, magnanimity, care and dignity.

What is Indian Culture?

The Indian culture is the biggest, most diversified expression of living the Humanity.

If we want to learn more about how to practice humanity, then we should meet more Indians who will demonstrate the oneness through their compassionate behavior PROVIDED we can reciprocate to Namaskara of the Indian with open palms to explore the magic of oneness of humanity.

Happy to be Indian Human!

Shilpa Savant offering Namaskara to you for your culture and humanity                   

Aura Scan - The Energy Mirror

We are all beings of light as realized by Albert Einstein. This is because we are Bio– photonic beings. 'Bio' is Life and ‘Photon’ is smallest particle of light. Synonyms of life is liveliness, vitality, vigor, buoyancy and in simpler words Energy. This article is about reflecting on own life in the energy mirror also known as Aura Scan.

What is an Aura?

Generally we refer & visualize Aura as shining halo circling heads of gods and saints in religious calendars. The fact is that it is an electromagnetic field that emanates from all matters living or non-living. Aura, in its basic form, embodies seven layers powered through seven energy centers called Chakras. It is energized by the Kundalini, situated at the base of the spine, which is the storehouse of vital energy for healthy life. Aura is the energy field that envelopes the physical body within and around. This energy field can get torn and punctured leading to illness and diseases.

The factors affecting the energy field can be external or internal. External factors include virus, bacteria, pollution and internal factors such as our thought processes with relation to our own self, others and life in general. Hence it is vital to study our energy field regularly for preventive health care. 

What is Aura Scan?

Aura Scan indicates the present state of energy field with respect to the scanned person/object. Aura Scan pictures gives a colorful graphical representation of energy field within and around the physical body. 

Importance of scanning our Aura

Aura not only reflects the distinctive personality, but is also a barometer of energy fields within body, warning us of impending trouble (physical as well as psychological diseases) well in advance. This helps us take immediate steps for preventive health care for ourselves and our loved ones. A stitch in time saves nine. 

Aura Scanning Process 

In a nutshell, it includes photographic session against a matte-finished white wall containing a full-spectrum light, which mimics the sunlight wavelength distribution pattern. There is a special purpose camera attached to a laptop consisting of advanced software called Bio field Reader BFR. The spectrum of light is turned on to create an electromagnetic field and the person is required to enter the field wearing minimal clothing. When the rays fall on the body, they interact with the energy field and there is an absorption as well as reflection of light, which is imaged by the camera with the help of the software. The scanning process including a set of multiple photographs of various body parts from various directions. The entire photographic session takes only 10 minutes. Energy Interpretations are made based on specific colors indicating different states of person’s health. The colors highlight healthy areas of the body, congested or stressed areas, signs of energy leakage likely to generate physical problems in the future. It also indicates life based impacts on the energy field including recent past, how one project oneself to others, what the person is hoping for, their goals and aspirations and what one is creating for oneself in the near future.

 

In short, the energy interpretations reveal specific improvement areas for due attention and care to sustain better health both physically and psychologically. The interpretations are followed by customized health tips from Energy Expert. These are the tips that can be practiced by the individual independently for healthier life ahead.

Aura Scan is the energy mirror that reflects how good we are in managing our physical and psychological energies. It gives us vivid insights in how we feel and how it impacts our life. As said by Ernest Holmes ‘Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it’. 

The Institute of Energy Research and Study, Pune, India invites you to experience this insightful learning preparing you for a healthier life. 

Trustee of the Mirror, 

Shilpa Savant