Difference between 'Hindu Nation' and 'Divine Kingdom'

Difference between 'Hindu Nation' and 'Divine Kingdom'

   

H.H. Dr. Athavale founded Sanatan Sanstha with two goals in mind - Individual spiritual progress of seekers and establishment of the Divine Kingdom. Now, He has said that His efforts were directed at establishment of a ‘Hindu Nation’. Again, Yogarushi H.H. Dadaji Vaishampayan has said that ‘Divine Kingdom’ will never come into existence. From this perspective, let us understand what exactly is meant by ‘Hindu Nation’ and ‘Divine Kingdom’, difference between the two and how a ‘Hindu Nation’ is more beneficial in today’s context.    1. Hindu Nation : ‘Hindu Nation’ means a Nation of the followers of Hindu Dharma. In a larger perspective, it is the Nation of those who perform spiritual practice as per Hindu Dharma and abide by Dharma.   1A. Objective of establishing a ‘Hindu Nation’
   1. To root out the anti-national and heretic elements in the society and enhanceSattva component of the society : In the concept of ‘Hindu Nation’, it is implied that a favourable atmosphere will be created for the Hindus to perform spiritual practice, that they will not face any obstacles from the followers of other sects in practicing theirDharma and there will be no threat of conversion of Hindus. For implementing this, it is not enough to merely teach and get spiritual practice performed through the Hindus; it is equally important to nip in the bud the anti-social elements, effectively meaning the anti-national and heretic schools of thought. Only when this is achieved, the enhancement of Sattva component in the society can begin and consequently, a large scale cleansing of the atmosphere can take place. 
   1B. Since evildoers and selfish people are a role model of the present day society, there is no worthy goal before the society. Most people naturally adopt an inappropriate life-style because they hold a view that ‘This is how everyone behaves !’ Hence, the morality of an ordinary individual in the society keeps declining. Today, people need to be taught moral values. Even the so-called educated people have no qualms in deceiving others to serve their selfish ends. In such a situation, the process of teaching moral values to the people in the first place, impressing upon their minds and getting the actions done as per the teachings consistently will take several years. Concerted efforts will have to be made to bring about a transformation in the society. Then alone will we be able to witness a drastic change. Thereafter, elements in the society can progress step-by-step from being a gentleman to worker to a good worker and then to being a seeker.   
   1C. H.H. Dr. Athavale has been making efforts with some Saints for over 25 years to create such a society. As a result, thousands of Sanatan’s seekers are seen performing the true spiritual practice in society. It is through them that the intellectual and spiritual revolution in the society will be brought about, and the establishment of ‘Hindu Nation’ will take place in a few years time.  
   1D. Goals of ‘Hindu Nation’
   1. To mould a society that abides by Dharma in daily life, thereby making the Nation prosperous and regaining the lost glory of Bharat.
   2. To implement the penal code unequivocally, mete out harsh punishment to criminals and create fear in their minds with a view to making the life of ordinary citizens of Bharat fearless and allowing them to perform spiritual practice happily.    
   3. To inculcate pride in our own Dharma, own language and own Nation and transform Bharat into a ‘Hindu Nation’ of Bharatiyas with a high self-esteem.
   4. To protect Bharat and Bharatiya citizens from foreign aggression.
   5. To re-capture the land of Bharat which other countries have usurped forcibly.
   6. To transform the society from one that is involved in seeking materialistic pleasures to one that is deeply involved in seeking spiritual pleasures, meaning, acquiring Anand (Bliss), to create generations which will perform spiritual practice and be highly patriotic & Dharma-abiding.
   7. To spread spiritual knowledge throughout the universe step-by-step.
   2. Divine Kingdom : ‘Divine Kingdom’ existed only in Satyayug; because the entire society had a spiritual emotion of ‘Soham (I am That; God)’ and hence, there was no need for any external system of governance. The true meaning of ‘Divine Kingdom’ is a rule where there are no gross restrictions and where individuals and the society have sattvik behaviour, abide by all moral values willingly and progress beyond all restrictions, that is, they are liberated when still embodied.
   2A. A society which grossly lacks any kind of self-esteem cannot digest the direct aim of ‘Divine Kingdom’, hence, as a first step, it is enough to teach it only moral values, abiding by Dharma and a bit of spiritual practice, and provide it with strength to tread on this path - this is possible only through the creation of a ‘Hindu Nation’ : In the present 6th Kaliyug in the cycle of Kaliyugs, there will be no ‘Divine Kingdom’ in the Satyayug that is going to last 1000 years; it will instead only be a ‘Hindu Nation’.
   The reason is that in the ‘Divine Kingdom’, only those individuals reside who perform spiritual practice for God-realisation and whose life revolves around only one aspect - spiritual practice. This is not going to be possible in the ensuing ‘Hindu Nation’.
    The reason is that most individuals today are not aware that the main goal of human life is God-realisation. Since they do not abide by Dharma in day-to-day life, they lack pride in Dharma. Hence, they have pride neither for their own language nor for their Nation. Such a society has no supreme goal to achieve and hence, it leads life in a worthless manner. If we present such a weak society with the direct goal of a ‘Divine Kingdom’, it will not be able to digest it. 
        Again, it will not take any action on the issue either; because today’s society is heavily mired in degradation. As the first step, it needs to be taught only moral values, abiding by Dharma and a little bit of spiritual practice, and provide enough strength to tread on the path of Spirituality. If they are able to do this now, as and when the ‘Hindu Nation’ is founded, they will be able to continue with their own as well as others’ spiritual practice.
   2B. Divine Kingdom from the perspective of H.H. Dr. Athavale : H.H. Dr. Athavale expects that the entire society  be obsessed with the goal of God-realisation, that maximum number of people tread on this path swiftly and achieve this goal in this life itself or at least they should permanently come out of the cycle of birth and death. This has already become possible in the case of those who are performing good spiritual practice, and this will also be possible in future.
   2C. H.H. Dr. Athavale gives spiritual experience of ‘Divine Kingdom’ to seekers in this hazardous Kaliyug : If Sanatan Sanstha is considered to be a Nation, H.H. Dr. Athavale (Founder of Sanatan Sanstha) is the father of the Nation, where the system of governance is Pitrushahi (Paternal governance - as by the head of a joint family). In a way, He is the king of the ‘Divine Kingdom’. Through His own example, He has demonstrated to the seekers and the society what Pitrushahi or ‘Divine Kingdom’ is all about. Many seekers have experienced this and are continuing to experience this.
    Depending on the intensity of spiritual progress of the seekers, they will be able to get spiritual experience of  higher subtle regions. When this happens, they will be really in the Divine Kingdom. This means, due to the Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) in them, the atmosphere around them will become like the one in a particular subtle higher region. They will have the spiritual experience of that particular ‘Divine Kingdom’ (that is, sagun-nirgun, nirgun-sagun and nirgun), and will later go beyond the realm of time.
   3. Difference between Hindu Nation and Divine Kingdom : ‘Hindu Nation’ is the foundation of spiritual practice and the ‘Divine Kingdom’ at the nirgun level is its last stage. Hence, seekers should also perform rigorous spiritual practice, progress spiritually and proceed to the ‘Divine Kingdom’ at the nirgun level, that is, they should achieve the goal of God-realisation. This is what H.H. Dr. Athavale implies.
   4. Sanatan’s seekers making efforts for establishment of the Hindu Nation for the sake of the entire Hindu society : From the beginning, Sanatan’s seekers have been performing spiritual practice at the level of Kal (Time). They do not need a ‘Hindu Nation’, nor are they emotionally attached to this concept. If they are striving hard for establishment of the ‘Hindu Nation’, it is for the sake of others, that is, for the entire Hindu society. The Hindu society should benefit from this, perform spiritual practice and become worthy of living in the ‘Hindu Nation’.
    I pray unto the Holy feet of Shrikrushna that the Hindu society gets enough strength to make such efforts !
- Mrs. Rajashri Khollam (Ashwin Krushna 1, Kaliyug Varsh 5113 [13.10.2011])