| CATEGORY | CULTURE |
| SUB CATEGORY | INDIANS’ GLORY |
| How does Indian culture shape our character? |
| Once Eeshvar Chandhra Vidhyasagar happened to travel by train in a compartment with some English men. He sat between two of them. One of them asked: “Who is this donkey?” The other one asked: “Who is this pig?” A third English man asked: “Who are you?” Eeshvar Chandhra coolly replied: “I am a human being sitting between a donkey and a pig.” The two English men felt ashamed of themselves. They felt even more ashamed when they saw a large crowd of persons with garlands waiting to receive Eeshvar Chandhra when he got down from the train. The English men then realized that though Indians might appear simple they were inherently noble and gentle. Students! You should maintain the highest standards of Bharatheeya culture. Divine Discourse 23 Jan 1997 |
| What are the true qualities of an Indian? |
| When people from every part of the world have gathered here to rejoice in a great celebration, they are being described as “foreigners” and the residents of Prasanthi Nilayam as “natives.” Who are the natives and who are the foreigners? When this question is examined, it will be seen that wherever Truth and Righteousness are respected and practiced, the people there are to be deemed Bharatheeyas. By merely raking birth in Bharath, people do not become Bharatheeyas. Bharatheeya culture proclaims the two virtues- Sathyam vada; Dharmam chara (speak the truth; follow righteousness). Whoever practices these two principles is a Bharatheeya. Divine Discourse 13 Feb 1997 |
| What is the hallmark of Bharatheeyas? |
| Every Bharatheeya should develop the spirit of sacrifice which has been the hall-mark of Bharatheeya civilization. God can only be realised through sacrifice. All the scriptures and epics have extolled the supremacy of sacrifice. All religious practices without sacrifice are artificial rituals alone. God examines your feelings and not your external observances. Divine Discourse 22 Sep 1997 |