Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Embracing the Global Family for a Sustainable Future
Wherever there is a discussion about family, two words derived from Sanatana culture are always remembered: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam."
Although these two words are brief, their essence can fill several pages. They possess such power because they originate from the eternal culture, where profound thoughts are expressed in just a few words. Even in "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," there is a deep meaning that may be beyond the capabilities of today's generation to comprehend. Nevertheless, let us make an attempt to understand it.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam means "the entire world is one family." Vasudha refers to the Earth, where humans reside, and Kutumbakam means a family whose connection exists with the inhabitants of this Earth. And every particle of this Earth is equivalent to a member of the family.
But has humanity excelled in establishing good relationships with its family members? Other members of the family treat humans well, but does humanity reciprocate in the same manner?
No!
Today, the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is gradually disappearing for humans. They do not behave with their family members in the way they desire others to treat them.
Humans want the female members of their family, Mother Earth, to produce good harvests, provide a place for them to live and a road to walk on, and in return, Mother Earth desires their protection. But is humanity capable of protecting the Earth? No! The same soil in which they used to play during childhood, the same Earth that nurtured them, today, they have buried it under layers of roads.
There is another member, Water, whom humans desire to quench their thirst, help clean their dirty clothes and houses, assist in the production of various commercial products, and, in return, water also desires the same as the Earth, which is its conservation. But is humanity capable of doing so? No! Well, water may be abundant in age, but there is another small member known as Soil-Water, which resides in the lap of the Earth, but human activities have also caused it to dry up. If the child is not spared, then who will spare the adult!
There is yet another member, Air, whom humans want to remain pure so that they can breathe easily, provide cool air when it's hot, and air also desires human protection. Then the same question arises, is humanity capable of doing so? No!
And these three members are included in the five elements that sustain this world, that is, these three members are part of the governing committee of this vast family, which has an impact on human life. But still, humans have not treated them well. Now the family is based only on two elements, Fire and Space. And that too is because humans have not caused them much harm. But how long will this last? We cannot say for sure! The extent to which humans can fall cannot be estimated.
The point is, when humans did not even spare those five elements on which the entire world is based, what will they leave behind!
If the entire world is one family, then every living being residing here also becomes a member of that family, but today, human hunger has increased so much that if they were told that eating a certain organism provides nourishment, or that consuming a particular creature is extremely delicious, then humans would readily prepare to eat it, without any question, because the question is hunger! Not only that, when it comes to covering the body, the skin of those very organisms is used to make clothing. Can anyone do such things with their own relatives!
Various types of birds are also part of the family, but so many mobile towers have been erected in the name of development that today, the survival of those birds has become nearly impossible, and many species of birds have become extinct. But humans are not affected by it. Today, humans have lost their humanity.
What fault was there in the mosquito that it is killed by giving it poison? What fault was there in the rat that it is killed in the field of medical research so that humans can survive? Why should one sacrifice another creature's life to save their own? What fault was there in the elephant whose tusks are used to make decorative products? And there are many such creatures that humans use for their benefit, whether they are alive or dead, it doesn't affect them.
Today, the question is not about humans but about humanity, it rests on the culture in which they live. But no one answers this question! And who will, after all, it is humans who raise this question!
If today we do not understand the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, then the day is not far when humans will eat each other because with time, their hunger will increase.
We need to ensure that this entire Earth is our family, and every living creature and every particle, including trees, air, space, Earth, water, soil, etc., are members of that family.
If this does not happen, then we all know the consequences!
- Krishnansh
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