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There is nothing mysterious about the abundance in developed nations. The historic
fact is that the people of these nations—the G8 as they are called—believed over many
generations that they must live a good life in a strong and prosperous nation. The reality

became aligned with their aspirations.

I do not think that abundance and spirituality are mutually exclusive or that it is wrong to
desire material things. For instance, while I personally cherish a life with minimum of
possessions, I admire abundance, for it brings along with its security and confidence, and
these eventually help preserve our freedom. Nature too does not do anything by half
measures, as you will see if you look around you. Go to a garden. In season, there is a

profusion of flowers. Or look up. The universe stretches into infinitude, vast beyond
belief.

All that we see in the world is an embodiment of energy. We are a part of the cosmic
energy too, as Sri Aurobindo says. Therefore when we begin to appreciate that spirit and
matter are both part of existence, are in harmony with each other, we shall realise that it is
wrong to feel that it is somehow shameful or non-spiritual to desire material things.

Yet, this is what we are often led to believe. Certainly there
is nothing wrong with an attitude of making do with

the minimum, in leading a life of asceticism. Mahatma
Gandhi led such a life but in his case as in yours it has to
be a matter of choice. You follow such a lifestyle because it
answers a need that arises from deep within you. However,
making a virtue of sacrifice and what is forced upon

you—to celebrate suffering—is a different thing altogether.
This was the basis of my decision to contact our young.
To know their dreams and tell them that it is perfectly
all right to dream of a good life, an abundant life, a life
full of pleasures and comforts, and work for that golden
era. Whatever you do must come from the heart, express

your spirit, and thereby you will also spread love and joy
around you.

My first such meeting took place in a high school in
Tripura. It was a gathering of 500 students and teachers.
After my talk on the second vision for transforming India
into a developed nation, there were a series of questions, profusion: a large quantity of

two of which I would like to discuss. The first question something
was: ‘Where do we get a role model from, how do you get a embodiment: a visible form of an
idea, quality or feeling
role model?’ asceticism: severe self-discipline
and avoiding of all forms of
indulgence

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