Zed asks people of India to shun excessive consumerism

NEVADA - Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has urged Indians not to blatantly copy west and avoid excessive consumerism in the name of modernity.

Consumerism had almost acquired the status of a religion for many of us, which had resulted in neglecting spiritual values that formed the roots of all the faith traditions, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out in a statement in Nevada (USA) today.

Excessive material acquisition, credit cards, shopping malls, brand names, fascination with everything western, etc.; which many Indians felt as progress; was very superficial. India was reinventing. In its forward momentum, let us take the “steps in right direction”, Rajan Zed suggested and added that Indians should be proud of the achievements of India’s ancient civilization.

Zed further said that opening theme of pre-BCE Hindu scripture Isha Upanishad was clutching to the Real and declining everything else-everything less real. Three opening words of Isha Upanishad: “tena tyaktena bhunjita” said it all-”By renouncing it {the world}, enjoy it.”

Rajan Zed argued: Instead of running after materialism, we should seek renunciation, which was an important doctrine of Hinduism, and which allowed one to focus on an inner search, realization of self, and work towards achieving moksh (liberation). Essence of ancient Hindu scripture Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord) was renunciation and it promised “freedom through renunciation”.

Zed stressed that freedom from desire was the greatest of all the freedoms. Hinduism told us that joy and renunciation needed each other and renunciation was not deprival, it was freedom.

Rajan Zed also agreed with remarks of recent past of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI- that in today’s consumerist society, money and success have become the new idols before which so many people prostrate themselves. Saint Augustine (Letter 211) said, “It is better to need less than to have more.” Zed stressed the need of working together on common goals for better future of the humankind.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. (ANI)