“Trinidad is a blessed land but we need to focus on the positives to ensure the rich legacy of our forbears lives on,” advised SWAHA’s Spiritual Head, His Holiness Paramacharya Pt. Hardeo Persad, as he delivered the feature address at the annual Indian Arrival celebrations held at the JFK Auditorium at the University of the West Indies recently.
“Blessedness – The Fruit of Gratitude” was the theme of this year’s celebrations that marked the culmination of a month-long festival of cultural activities, highlighting the talent at various SWAHA institutions. Stage presentations focused on the theme as the many locally composed songs reflected on the intense selfless sacrifice of the early ancestors 169 years ago and the priceless lessons they bequeathed to a people for sustenance and uplift. The occasion also saw the presentation of awards to outstanding performers in areas of performing, creative and visual arts.
Paramacharyaji made a stirring plea to the hundreds of guests present to rise from their slumber and seriously consider the impact of their choices on the level of blessedness and beauty of the nation. He emphasized the need for the collective effort of all citizens in ensuring that principles, values and moral behavior are firmly upheld. In quoting from Shri Ramcharitramanas, Paramacharyaji presented the recipe for sustained blessedness for a people and country. He outlined the key ingredients in such a recipe as follows:
- Practice of intense devotion should be carried out by the citizenry.
- Material wealth must be dispensed in charity.
- The intellect must be engaged in the work of enlightened activity.
- Sincere regard and respect must be accorded holy ones.
- The administration of justice must be initiated by leaders.
- Honour and dignity must be bestowed upon all mothers, sisters and daughters.
He laid bare the many benefits of carrying out the above principles as well as the negative effects accrued by the failure to abide by them. According to him, “Every religion speaks of devotion and in our country of religious diversity, the flow of sincere and intense devotion from all sides will certainly redound to the benefit of the entire nation. Cessation of this flow in its pure form, however, stagnates the quest towards civility, respect and regard for each other.”
He continued, “Truth and straightforwardness must be the watchwords of all leaders. Religious leaders are the watchdogs of society yet many have fallen because of unprincipled behavior. Some wear the garb but do not live up to their roles genuinely. Principles must never be compromised if we are to attract sustained blessedness in our lives.
“Even our wealth acquires increased value when it is used for constructive purposes and for the benefit of others. However, with the mad rush to build material resources, everything today is measured in dollars and cents. In the rat race of life, greed appears to far outweigh man’s need today.
“Enlightened activity is conducive to prosperity, hope and wellbeing. However, when egoistic attitudes take precedence over principles, the result is degradation, disgrace, exposure and loss.
“We need to exercise the right options and do our part in adding to the blessedness of this land that was fertilised by the sweat, toil and rich heritage of our ancestors.”
