Shift in attitude

The way to spiritual perfection passes through mundane imperfection. In Advaita Vedanta, the journey to realising the superlative Brahmn cannot commence without embracing the simplest of everyday practices that foster physical, mental and moral purity. Therefore, collective effort, satsang, assumes significance. The same holds true at societal level.

A felicitous example from the world of healthcare helps demonstrate this principle. World War 2 marked the transition of many countries from a philosophy that saw healthcare as an individual concern to one of collective, social action. The principles that were set have ensured that the philosophy of 'health for all' is no longer seen as a high-minded ideal but an inalienable human right.

Many of us believe that character change alone can be the only lasting avenue for social harmony. But how do we achieve character change in the real world? Societal measures might accrue spiritual gains in at least 3 ways: first, by helping prevent the exploitation of at least a handful of innocent persons; second, by stopping the chain reaction of crimes that occur after a major criminal incident; and, third, by laying norms for our intrinsic standards of acceptable conduct over long term.


The soul is society's nucleus. It is in the fringes of mundane society where transformation must begin to effect lasting shifts in moral and spiritual attitudes.