News: Rohini Shenoy and Jayant Shanbhag

Udupi, Dec 27: Doing good deeds was the mantra at the one-day convention on 'Youth and Spirituality' held at Sri Mahalasa Narayani Devi Kshetra on Sunday December 25.

Speakers from different spectrums of society took part in this convention, ranging from young political leaders from parties such as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party and young professionals from sectors as varied as IT, medical and education.

Guruji Shri Suresh J Pai summed up the youth convention in his own inimitable words he said where we see God, we will get him, do not criticize other religions and we should not be narrow minded or pessimistic.

BJP’s youth leader Vilas Nayak, an MBA graduate and entrepreneur, stressed on the dignity of labour. He started by giving his own example that when one day two waiters in a restaurant which he runs did not turn up, he himself started serving the customers. Seeing it his friend, a highly qualified person sharply reacted.

Vilas finished his MBA and got a job in one of India's top IT firms he eventually resigned and decided to join the family business and venture on his own.

He said that it was not his inability to do a job in renowned company the reason to join the family business. He further said that these kinds of instances are enough to de-motivate a youth of today.

Vilas raised an important issue of youth turning towards white-collared job and little interest is shown in farming. He also said in Udupi itself many farms are lying barren due to lack of labour. He said we should channelize our energies by contributing to the development of our surrounding towns or villages.

Prashant Bhat, a computer professional and entrepreneur left his cushy job in the US to return to India to serve the society, said that we have to set goals and that should be honoured.

Prashant, who is running Manipal Dot Net, stressed that spirituality is the core of all religions.

He urged people to make the foundations of nest generation strong from beginning itself because in spite of rapid progress, the shastras still hold water.

Giving an example, he said he was highly influenced by the bhajans of Anup Jalota whose narration along with bhajan made it more beautiful and reading our sacred scriptures like Bhagvad Geeta and other books definitely gain insight to life.

He said a person should try to imbibe three things in life to keep a commitment and never step-back, have a goal in life and concentrate on it completely and be level-headed and have self control (sayyam).

Prashant also unveiled many myths about life abroad he said he was never lured by temptations may be because of the strong values imbibed in him by his parents. Nowadays things are much better abroad if you say you don't eat meat nor drink or smoke it is not looked down upon or condemned.

"When one makes things clear in the beginning itself it is appreciated and accepted," he added.

Shobha Kamath, a social and spiritual worker said whatever activity gives us peace that activity is good and vice versa. Every person has a different opinion of life, how one sees this world depends on his/her mind encouraged all realize the inner self.

Shobha said whatever good deeds we do in this world through practices like 'satsang' and 'sadhyaya' is carried forward to the next birth.

Amruth Shenoy, a respected social worker and a prominent leader of Youth Congress echoed Vilas and said we must do good deeds. Amruth also stressed that a family life is essential, all relationships in life are essential.

He made it clear that money is only essential for living in the present world, but spirituality holds a higher position, taking a cue from Prashant, Amruth said people abroad are more in touch with their parents than those who are here thanks to internet and where us we don't find time even to speak with neighbours living next door.

He also expressed his grief that earlier people use to meet and celebrate festivals collectively, where as now they are happy sending SMSes for same.

Dr H Dyaneshwar Nayak, a medical professional and Karnataka vice-president of Ramdev Patanjali Yog, spoke about Ayurveda and yoga, stressing that the latter helps in eliminating negativity.

Yoga doesn't mean only asanas it means a certain discipline which one should imbibe to have a healthy life.

Veena Shenoy, an educationist said that God has to be feared only if one has done anything wrong.

Summing up the day-long convention which was also attended by many young vaidiks and priests from Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other states Dharmadarshi of Shri Mahalasa Narayani Devi Kshetra Guruji Shri Suresh J Pai, said that Dharma is just the beginning and Moksha is the end.

Guruji Pai stressed that in life one should have balance and good should be always capitalized. He also stressed on personality development and said spirituality is the best way to make personality.

He also advised that children should be involved in spirituality, elders should preserve holy books like the Bhagvad Geeta so that the children get curious and they also develop keen interest in spirituality.

Replying to a question from one of the delegates, Guruji said that a mother plays an important role in laying the foundation for the child’s all-round growth.

He also said that youth should focus on a goal and concentrate on achieving it.

Others who spoke at the convention included young educationist Savitri Kini, entrepreneur and spiritual activist Damodar Nayak and a senior RBI official Namdeo Shanbhag, who took VRS to attend to the call of Guruji, God and Dharma.