Self-reliance

By H H Maa Purnananda

“Uddyamena Hi Siddhyanti Kaaryaani Na Manorathaih; Na Hi Suptasya Singhasya Pravishanti Mukhe Mrigaah.” – (Hitopadesh)

The child is born and the parents nurture the babe in the arm. The child is dependent on the natural instincts and the parents. As it grows, sooner or later its ego starts developing. The growing child becomes independent little by little to some extent, while it still remains the responsibility of the parents to nurture the child. As it grows up further, the child develops its own mental likes and dislikes; that is when the parents start losing their hold and any say over their own child. The child by then is an egocentric individual. It seems as though the child has now become independent!

Is the responsibility of the parents towards their child yet over? So looking at their young and grown up child the parents wait for the young one to stand on his own feet; and they would exclaim that they would be relieved from the responsibility of their son/daughter, once he/she stands on his/her own feet! This young grown up child would have developed his independent mind long time back; of which, the frequent frictions amongst the family members would have been the effects. The society accepts this as “independence”!

Every young person wants to enjoy “independence”; but, very conveniently, the youth forgets the importance of “self-reliance”. Apart from the activities of their own interest, the people do not want to work to fulfil their various responsibilities towards the family, the society and towards the world around. In fact, in spite of being completely dependent upon their family, the society and the world around, they claim to be “independent”!

But, from the instructions given in the couplet given above and from some of the verses from our Scriptures, such as “Uddharet Aatmanaatmaanam Naatmaanam Avsaadayet; Aatmaiv Hyaatmano Bandhuh Aatmaiv Ripuraatmanah.” from Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, one comes to understand that first one has to become “self-reliant” (“Aatmnirbhar”), and after that only one may even aspire to be “independent”. “Independence” enjoyed without “self-reliance” brings destruction in the world, disharmony in the society and discomfort to the family.

A human being is supposed to develop the ability to think beyond his selfish motives, to grow out of his conditioned and emotional mind and thereafter enhance his rationale. He has to be an efficient and focused performer, a hardworking and helpful person and most importantly, a responsible and reliable individual indeed. It is imperative that such a human being would be “independent” from the slavery of his own mind and would confidently progress towards “self-reliance”. It surely is the responsibility of an individual to uplift oneself by one’s own self as the given Shlok from The Geeta suggests. Else, you become your own enemy due to being an irresponsible and dependent individual.

At different stages of life, the meaning of being “Aatmnirbhar” also differs though without losing its essential meaning. When a small kid starts walking, when a child eats on his own, when a youth studies on his own, when a young man earns his own livelihood and when a man looks after his family, they are all called self-reliant, though on different basis, due to being at different stages of life. Similarly, a family, a society or a country being “self-reliant”, would mean differently due to their different stands. But then, is it not that individuals make families, families make societies and societies make a country and when countries are put together, it makes a world? Therefore, it is important for any individual to be “Aatmnirbhar” and thus, in turn, a country could ultimately become “Aatmnirbhar”.

Yet, from the Spiritual point of view, the one who has developed “Nitya-anitya Vastu Vivek” (power of discrimination between the Real and the unreal), would definitely not depend upon the unreal world; instead, would have complete and unswerving faith in the Real (the True Self or Aatman), and hence would take ultimate refuge of the Aatman, and would exclaim “Nirbharonirbhayosmyaham!”- (I completely depend only upon the Aatman alone, and therefore I am completely fearless!” In the ultimate sense, this indeed is to be “Aatmnirbhar”!

During the forthcoming festivals of Navraatri and Dushehra, may all be blessed with the courage and ability to become “Aatmnirbhar”.