A Pope of Hope
When a world leader of such global influence -influence over policy as well as over individual choice – emphasizes so emphatically the imperative of inclusion, equality and fair distribution of resources, a positive shift seems inevitable.
The World Is One Family
In the quotation above, Pope Francis commands us to take shared responsibility for others and for the world. Not just Christian others. All others. This is a direct and beautiful parallel to the Vedic tenet of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam,” or “The World is One Family.” Pope Francis has also specifically stated, “We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family.” In a family, no one eats all the chapatis (bread) on the table. No one drinks the taps empty. No one claims ownership over every room in the house. Everyone inherently understands that all family members are entitled to their equal share of the plate of chapatis (bread), of the water from the tap and of the rooms of the house. Further, in a family, regardless of how extravagant or elegant the meal, no one could enjoy it if other family members were on the brink of death in the next room. No walls are thick enough to block cries of hunger, cries of pain and cries of misery. Anyone would feel compelled to put down his/her fork and tend to the crying family member before continuing with dinner.
My Guru, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, and I speak frequently about how our world is suffering not from a global food shortage, water shortage, or land shortage, but rather from a global consciousness shortage. If people lived with the consciousness of Oneness and responsibility for each other, there would be no need for anyone to suffer or die due to lack of food or lack of water.
Pope Francis has so beautifully underscored this point:
“It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient, yet millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This, dear friends is truly scandalous. A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.”
It is clear then, that today, to be not only a good human, not only a dharmic human, but specifically to be a good Christian requires one to make choices in line with justice, fairness and respect for all those with whom we share the planet and all those to whom we will bequeath it.
