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In another age, Arjuna questioned his friend and teacher, Krishna, with regard to the purpose of life.  Krishna answered that the purpose of life was higher consciousness which could be realized through the path of yoga.  But there was one important prerequisite for the aspiring yogi.  The yogi would first have to subdue all desire for material sense gratification (i.e. nishkama). Only then would he achieve success in his pursuit of higher consciousness.

Every once in a while, the world produces a leader that embodies this philosophy.  Mohandas Gandhi could have chosen a lucrative career as a barrister.  Instead, he chose to serve his people in whatever manner he could without care for monetary reward.  He expressed his philosophy in plain terms “Simple Living. High Thinking”. 

Obama shares many similarities with Gandhi.  Like Gandhi, Obama appears to be a deeply spiritual person and often quotes scripture in his speeches.  Moreover, he too passed up a lucrative career as a lawyer and elected to render assistance to displaced workers in Chicago.  In philosophical terms, Obama is treading the path of seva and nishkama, which will undoubtedly lead to higher consciousness.

I believe that Obama’s message has resonated with millions of Americans because America is witnessing an unprecedented flowering of consciousness.  American conservatism, which is based solely on the belief in self-interest, will perhaps recede into obscurity in the coming years.   

Today, people like Obama constitute less than one percent of the general population.  But in the coming years their numbers will grow.  And they will change the world.

Meanwhile, let us take inspiration from the great exponent of Vedanta, Swami Vivekananda   ”Those alone live who live for others.  The rest are more dead than alive!”

Raju Agarwal