Staying grounded in a turbulent world
When one looks at the news, it is hard to make sense of what is happening in these turbulent times. Yet the more we focus on current events, the harder it becomes to see the bigger picture. Is there a deeper reason for this choppy sea we’re trying to navigate?
At the heart of today’s confusion is a growing tension between a Kali Yug mentality – which seeks to keep things fixed as they were in the past – and a Dwapar Yug consciousness that welcomes change, flexibility, and flow.
Think of a pan of water. When the energy is low, as in Kali Yug, the water freezes into ice. It can then be cut into solid cubes and easily separated. The world, likewise, becomes divided into races, countries, and cultures. But in Dwapar Yug, temperature rises and ice melts. Many of today’s headlines reflect this very process: the clash between old and new visions of what the world should be.
These rapidly changing times will demand a great deal of adaptability. AI is beginning to eliminate certain jobs – at present, primarily in software coding and other computer-related fields. And robots are already replacing manual labour in many areas. But the displacement of work will inevitably spread into many professions. Eventually, most jobs may be affected. What will happen to those whose sense of identity and self-worth is rooted in their position, income, or status?
Those of us who are spiritual seekers are especially fortunate. For years, we have been working to disentangle our identity from the material world and to recognise ourselves as eternal souls. In this respect, we are far better prepared to navigate these times than those whose identity is defined outwardly.
Paramhansa Yogananda, who shared the teachings of Kriya Yog around the world, brought teachings and techniques specifically suited to this age of energy.
The real challenge before us is one of identity . Do we choose to be Kali Yug citizens or Dwapar Yug citizens? Do we cling to the past, or do we step courageously into the future?
In a 1951 interview, ParamhansaYogananda was asked, “Would you like to give a message to the world?” From his response, we have distilled the qualities he said humanity must develop in these changing times – the essential qualities of a Dwapar Yug citizen. These are: God-centred identity; commitment to universal brotherhood; cooperative rather than competitive attitude; fourfold responsibility: 1. physically healthy, 2. mentally strong and educated, 3. financially secure, 4. spiritually awakened; moral courage and ethical leadership; redirection of war resources towards uplift of society; meditative life and divine attunement; universal spiritual vision: all are children of one God.
There is a saying – often attributed to an ancient Chinese curse – “May you be born in interesting times.” Well, friends, we have certainly been born in interesting times. Yet i see this not as a curse, but as a blessing. As seekers – and especially disciples of this great line of masters – we must help spread light, uplift the world, and guide it into a brighter future. Because we have chosen to expand into the light, we could hardly ask for better conditions for spiritual growth.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
