Vedic culture ensures all-round growth

CHENNAI, MARCH 20. A question often asked is ``What is the purpose of life?'' and one method of answering it is by looking at nature itself. Among living beings, plants and animals seem to have the objective of attaining maximum growth and in the process provide for others also. If we try to emulate their example we should also ensure our full growth and contribute our mite to society. But, in the case of human beings it is obvious that they are far more complex.

For human beings physical growth is the easiest to attain with proper nourishment and by warding off diseases. Then we have to grow mentally and psychologically also to become resilient enough to withstand the pressures of life. The next is intellectual development which is the capacity to learn and gain knowledge which is unique to human beings. Knowledge is of two types. The first is objective knowledge which includes all that we learn about the world. This is necessary for leading a life in the world. The second type of knowledge is that of the Self (Atman) which is also termed as spiritual knowledge.

In his introductory lecture on ``Culture, Religion and Self- growth'', Swami Paramarathananda said that spiritual growth could be described as gaining knowledge of the Self as there could not be growth of the Self per se, as it was eternal in nature and was beyond birth and death. In the case of human beings it becomes apparent then that, besides physical growth, only when all aspects of the human personality - mental, emotional, intellectual, spiritual - also attain full growth can there be all-round development of an individual.

Then it becomes imperative to consider what are the requisites for the holisitic development of the human personality. It is common knowledge that appropriate conditions are necessary for the growth of plants and animals. It becomes obvious then that human beings also need a conducive environment to grow to their full potential.

Vedic culture envisages the right environment for the all-round growth of the human personality. The example of tissue culture which is providing the right medium to facilitate growth of cells (bacteria) in a laboratory, is apt to appreciate how a certain culture facilitates the growth of an individual.

Applying this analogy Vedic culture can be understood as the right medium for human beings to grow and actualise their full potential. Vedic culture is a religious one and unique, which equips an individual to realise both material and spiritual ends - the purpose of human life.

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