INTEGRAL HUMANISM: AN ANALYSIS OF SOME BASIC ELEMENTS

by Deendayal Upadhyay

Acquisition to Sacrifice/ Offering (Yajna) Some people earn so much that if they were to consume it all, they will literally self-destruct. Therefore, it is emphasized that, if we have enough for consumption, the rest should be given away to the society. Perform yajna and give, consume what remains. Five hundred from the thousand we earn should be consumed and the other five saved for giving. Create wealth and save to multiply it. Save it for others. Think of the well-being of other creatures. Give a thought to nature. After taking care of others, consume what remains. This is what is called renunciation; renunciation does not mean giving away all or everything. Discarding your clothing is madness. Renouncing to fulfil others’ needs, staying hungry to feed others is renunciation. Similarly, saving to cater to future needs is also a kind of renunciation. That is because it helps take care of the future generations. There is a story that a king, on way to somewhere, met a gardener. The gardener was irrigating mango plants. On being asked about his age by the king, he said: “The sooner God takes me back to himself, the better it would be. ” On hearing this the king asked, if that is what you feel, then why have you planted all these mango saplings? When would these plants grow? Would you get to eat their fruit?” The gardener replied:” I have eaten of the trees planted by my ancestors. Those who follow me shall eat of the ones I have planted.