New Delhi: When the country's netas don't
talk politics, the change is welcome.
This was evident at a book launch in the capital today
when Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, senior BJP
leader Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Congress leader Karan
Singh talked about a variety of topics related to
spirituality, as the audience sat engrossed.
From the continuity of Indian civilization to the
existence of cosmic consciousness, interspsed with lively
anecdotes and quotes from the Vedic texts, there was no space
for the mundane at the event which saw the leaders at their
wittiest.
The book titled "Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A
Yogi's Autobiography" authored by Sri 'M' traces the
metamorphosis of Mumtaz Ali Khan into an accomplished yogi
with profound knowledge of the Upanishads and "first-hand
experiences with higher levels of consciousness."
While Singh focused on the richness of the Indian
civilization with its ancient 'guru-shishya parampara', Joshi,
a former Physics professor, correlated science with
spirituality. Dikshit, on the other hand, chose to praise the
book, saying it would help people move from the mundane to a
different world altogether.
"How has Indian civilization survived for centuries
despite numerous invasions? It has survived because of its
continuous intellectual, spiritual and emotional contact with
its ancient past," said Singh.
He said he believed that "men and women who have achieved
spiritual attainment" had a vital role to play in the upkeep
of the country's "rich civilization".
"The whole of Indian civilization can be looked upon as a
series of reinterpretation of the truth quoted in our ancient
texts," said Singh, adding that the "guru-shishya parampara"
was the very essence of civilization.
Joshi, recalling his days as a Physics Professor,
correlated science and spirituality saying both are not
as "distinct" as popularly believed.
"Science and spirituality are not distinct. And so is the
existence of cosmic consciousness. We are one with the cosmic
consciousness," said Joshi.
Dikshit said that she was still trying to fathom the
essence of the book and quipped it as an "enriching journey"
that will "transport one from the mundane to a different world
altogether."
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 24, 2011, 21:49