Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
As we gather here today from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, we share a collective longing for a future where peace, coexistence, dialogue, and solidarity flourish at every level. This shared vision unites us in our audacity for peace.
In this transformative journey, let us explore a profound aspect of our human experience—the concept of embracing frailty. In a world that often idolizes strength and invincibility, we may overlook the inherent beauty and wisdom found in vulnerability. Today, I implore each one of you to harness the power within your own fragility and unearth the strength that lies therein.
But, what is frailty?
Frailty is a condition of physical or emotional fragility, often associated with the natural decline of strength and resilience that comes with age or challenging circumstances. Frailty can manifest in various ways, including physical weakness, vulnerability to illness, emotional sensitivity, and a reduced ability to cope with stress or adversity.
In a broader sense, frailty can also refer to the recognition of our human limitations and imperfections. It is the acknowledgment that we are not invincible and that life's uncertainties and challenges can affect us deeply.
Embracing frailty means accepting and understanding our vulnerability as an essential aspect of being human. Rather than seeing it as a weakness, embracing frailty involves finding strength, wisdom, and compassion in our vulnerabilities, connecting with others through empathy, and discovering the beauty and resilience that lies within our imperfections.
My book, "In Love with Death," talks about the importance of keeping death in our consciousness at all times. It serves as a poignant reminder that we are travellers passing through the departure lounge of life. Embracing the impermanence of our existence allows us to cherish every moment and live with authenticity.
While the length of our stay on this earth may remain uncertain, it is the quality of our stay that truly matters.
There are some insightful stories in Indian scriptures. Travel back in time with me to ancient India, where King Janaka, a ruler and seeker of truth, embarked on a profound journey.
Janaka was a powerful king but longed to understand the nature of existence and find inner peace.
Despite his old age, he was filled with vitality and a thirst for spiritual wisdom. He sought the counsel of the great sage Ashtavakra. When he met Sage Ashtavakra, he asked him, 'How can I find contentment in my old age and embrace the inevitable changes of life?
Ashtavakra looked into the king's eyes and said, 'O noble king, just as the sun rises and sets, life too has its cycles of birth, growth, and eventual decline. Embrace each phase with detachment. The secret to finding peace lies not in clinging to the past or fearing the future but in living fully in the present moment.
The sage continued, 'You are not your body, nor are you defined by your age or status. You are the eternal soul that resides within, untouched by the passage of time. Realize your true nature, and you will find that old age is but a passing cloud in the vast expanse of the sky of your existence.'"
The sage's insights unveiled the true meaning of contentment, rooted in living fully in the present, detached from the weight of the past and the anxiety of the future. Thus, finding contentment in old age requires living each moment in the now.
Another essential facet of life is GRIEF.
Grief, painful as it may be, confronts us with the fragility of life. In these moments of vulnerability, we embark on a journey of self-reflection, questioning, and the pursuit of deeper truths about ourselves and the nature of existence.
Within grief lies an invitation to introspect and examine our attachments, desires, and the ephemeral nature of worldly pursuits. As we navigate through the depths of our emotions, we come face to face with the impermanence of material possessions and the transient nature of physical existence.
Through detachment, we evolve spiritually, recognizing the temporal nature of the physical world and embracing the eternal essence of the soul. Also, when you detach yourself, you gain control over your thoughts and learn to reign your mind. This is essential, as diseases enter through your mind and manifest in your body. To attain inner happiness and remain disease-free – detachment is the first step followed by control over your thoughts and a positive outlook.
If there is one thing that we all chase in our lives, it is money. Money holds the key to unlocking the world's marvels and experiences. But let's remember, money isn't our ultimate destination; it should never be.
Drawing from the wisdom of ancient Indian scriptures, I realized that money and material possessions are fleeting. We are nothing but dust, and all worldly experiences shall eventually fade away. Once that happens, the true essence of our being is revealed—the immortal soul.
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to relinquish the illusions of ownership and possessiveness. Embracing our vulnerability and keeping death in mind liberates us from the false sense of "me and mine," paving the way for lasting peace and happiness.
Life itself is a continuous cycle of death and rebirth.
Each day, we die to the old and awaken to the new. The inevitability of death should not be feared but taken as a profound truth that allows us to experience life's beauty and mysteries. Without death, we would be trapped in ageing and diseased bodies forever, caught in an endless cycle of suffering.
As we navigate the complexities of life, let us embrace our frailty with courage and acceptance. Embracing frailty is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a testament to our humanity and our capacity to find strength in vulnerability.
Let us celebrate our imperfections, for it is through our fragility that we connect with each another, forming bonds of empathy and compassion that transcend time and distance. Embracing frailty is an essential part of the human experience, a poignant reminder that we are all on this journey together.
In conclusion, embracing frailty leads us to the essence of life and the profound meaning of existence. Peace awaits those who are audacious enough to accept their vulnerabilities and the inevitability of death. As more hearts discover inner peace and happiness, global peace becomes a natural outcome. Let us show audacity in embracing our imperfections, for therein lies the path to lasting peace.
Remember, we are mere travellers on Earth, and death marks the journey's end. Since this is an International Meeting for Peace, this is a good time to remind us that we are all visitors on this planet and will take nothing back with us, so, why run after power, wealth, name and fame - for they have absolutely no value once we depart. Why not live in peaceful co-existence, love and harmony – the essential food for the purity of our souls.
Wars often strive to create legacies, but let me use this platform to send a message to the world—Coexist Peacefully. In the end, creating a legacy won't matter as you will be leaving everything behind!
May the audacity of peace guide us towards a brighter, more harmonious world.
Thank you.