Jammu, June 07: “Modern-day human beings think and act to make their own self secure, comfortable and happy. Their natural instinct of self-preservation makes their behavior this way. But they become truly human only when they try to make others secure, comfortable and happy,” said Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Shri 1008 Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj on Wednesday.
He added, “To go beyond one’s own self and serve others is social service. From birth to death, an individual man goes on receiving things from society. He is indebted to society.”
Accompanied by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, Swami Ji visited Goshala and Kanshipuri Dham at Gadigarh.
Addressing the devotees, Jagadguru Shankaracharya said the teachings of saints have relevance in the present time and a real tribute to such personalities is to follow the path laid down by them. “The teachings of great saints are universal in nature and promote self-realization by devotion, service and love of mankind. Dharma encompasses all forms of duty that an individual is supposed to perform,” he said. “We must strive to carry out our responsibilities in all our capacities as parents, children, siblings, spouses, workers and leaders. We must also repay our debts to God, the holy men, the ancestors, the society and the lower forms of creation.”
“Family as the basic unit of society performs various functions to keep social processes in place making it the most important unit of society. We often do not understand the significance of the family as a unit of society in protecting Dharma and keeping its principles alive,” Jagadguru Shankaracharya said.
He also said that if the environment of the family is good, it becomes very easy for the younger generations to get attached to the Dharma. “If a family initiates, then others will join the movement,” he added.