“Awareness through the Himalayan Wisdom”
The concept of the Himalaya Awareness Archives(HAA) is to observe and consider human society through the Himalayan wisdom, which is different from customary viewpoints dominant in our society.
The usual meaning of “Archives” is “a place in which public records or historical materials (such as documents) are preserved : a repository or collection especially of information.” The HAA defines it as “a special action to record, preserve, release and make various precious words and actions accessible so that everyone in current and future generations can use them to transform societies.”
We hope the archives can contribute to an awakening to a “consciousness of citizens of the earth” dormant in each person’s hearts.
The Himalayan Wisdom is the general term for Veda, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism and so on, which have been cultivated in the Himalayan region and guides for many people’s lives since ancient times. HAA selects three common important elements from the wisdom and makes them the viewpoints to consider human society: Those are the following “WHOLENESS” “NON-VIOLENCE” and “REVOLUTION.”
HAA communicates a wide variety of information in categories through the viewpoints.
”WHOLENESS”
Himalayan Wisdom
"NON-VIOLENCE
"REVOLUTION"
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WHOLENESS
“Everything is connected." ”We are waves of the ocean. Superficially each wave looks independent but fundamentally they are from the same source and are connected each other.”
"Everything is connected"
“Wholeness“ is the basis of the viewpoints. It’s summarized as follows: “Everything is connected and related.” The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most prominent Hindu scriptures, which Mahatma Gandhi used it as a important guide for his life and action, says, “One who perceives in comparison with the self, all living entities equally, in happiness and distress; such a one perfected in the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the UltimateConsciousness is considered the highest. “ Dr. Albert Einstein, who loved Gita, left behind the famous proverb: “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” So, the Himalayan wisdom and the state-of-the-art science share the same idea of “Wholeness” that we are waves of the ocean and superficially each wave looks independent but fundamentally they are from the same source and connected each other. Unfortunately, according to Dr. David Bohm *1, one of the most significant theoretical physicists of the 20th century and had an essential knowledge of Indian philosophy, the large majority in the modern world hardly understand the principle of “wholeness” and dogmatic thought of “separation” and “fragmentation” are decisively dominant there, whose bad influence penetrates throughout the society such as health problem, environmental pollution, political and economic turmoil and so on. In addition, Mr. Satish Kumar, a prominent Indian social activist practicing Gandhi’s nonviolence and ideaof self-reliance in this contemporary world, says, “Without reverence there can be no ecology, and without spirituality there can be no sustainability. Unless we are prepared to make a radical shift in our thinking and act accordingly, we will not be able to bring equilibrium between conflict and harmony, and attain wholeness.” Considering the contemporary world from the viewpoint of “Wholeness” the basis of the Himalayan wisdom will also lead to rethinking the essential and today’s meaning of “WA” the spirit of Japanese harmony cultivated in the climate of Japan created through the deep relationship with the Himalayas.
【From right: Albert Einstein; David Bohm; Satish Kumar】
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NONVIOLENCE
“More superior is one who with spiritual intelligence acts equally towards affectionate well-wishers and enemies.” “Be an uncompromising opponent of violent methods even to serve the noblest of causes.” “The method of non-violence is not in any shape or form a passive or inactive method.”
"Beyond Violence"
The Himalayan wisdom including Bhagavad Gita unexceptionally preaches “ahimsa” (non-violence, non-killing). Gandhi named his non-violent resistance movement based on ahimsa “Satyagraha.” The Sanskrit word Satya means "truth" and Agraha means "insistence" or "holding firmly to." Therefore, “Satyagraha” roughly means "insistence on truth" or “truth force.” It is a way to embody Truth in both individual and society through the practice of non-violence. In other words, it’s the way like the following: People never resort to a violent means and try to achieve their goal through appealing to others’ conscience, convincing them by benevolence and self-sacrifice. Many mistakenly believe that Gandhi’s non-violent resistance movement is the passive one that people just grumble and make representations, putting their hands in the air in front of others’ power. It’s actually a very active non-violent resistance based on Truth, clearly showing disobedience. Gandhi’s non-violent method’s superiority to violent methods has been proved by various movements across the world: The civil-rights movement spearheaded by Dr. Martin Luther King Junior in U.S.A.; Mr. Nelson Mandela’s racial reconciliation policy in South Africa; The Revolutions of 1989 in Europe and so on. “ Gandhi in every case preached `reconciliation of conflict. ` He strongly believed everybody is essentially equal and comes from the same Absolute fundamentally. That is, Gandhi viewed the world including religion, race, country, etc. from not the viewpoint of `segregation/separation` but the viewpoint of `wholeness.` This is the very essence of `ahimsa`.” (Noro, 2006) *2 Today (2019) when climate change is rapidly becoming the greatest threat to the entire human race, Extinction Rebellion following Gandhi’s non-violent method is carrying on a climate campaign to overcome climate crisis.
【From right: Mahatma Gandhi; Martin Luther King Jr.; Extinction Rebellion logo】
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REVOLUTION
“We must not attach ourselves even to the truths we hold most securely.” "A reformer cannot afford to wait till others are converted; he must take the lead and venture forth alone even in the teeth of universal opposition." "You must be the change you want to see in the world."
"Rejecting Blind Obedience and Bondage"
More than 2000 years ago Buddha expressed his sharp disagreement with the caste system, which has ruled people and still remains deeply rooted in both Nepalese and Indian society, and clearly preached the equality of
all people. Buddha cites ” Brahmin (The Holy Man) ” the top of the caste as an example and says, “Not by matted hair, nor by lineage, not by birth does one become a holy man. But he in whom truth and righteousness exist – he is pure, heis a holy man." Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a prominent Indian social reformer, was one of the devotees of Buddhism. He was born into the “untouchable” caste but became Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India. To fight against the social discrimination against Untouchables and conquer the dominant conventionality of the caste system, Ambedkar converted to Buddhism with over half a million his followers and started the Buddhism revival movement in India. The event gave an enormous number of aggrieved people courage and hope. He said, "Religion is for man and not man for religion.” Ms. Malala Yousafzai, a genuine Muslim and the youngest Nobel peace laureate embodies the Himalayan wisdom, never relenting to the terrorism of Islamic fundamentalists. Through speeches at various places including the UN, She has condemned “sexism” “child abuse” “religious misuse” “terrorism” ” injustice” etc. flourishing throughout the world, emphasizing the significance of education, and furthermore Malala calls on people to change their consciousness radically: “No one can stop us. We will speak for
our rights and we will bring change through our voice. We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the world.” “We must work… and not wait. Not just the politicians and the world leaders,
we all need to contribute. Me, you, we, it is our duty.” Gandhi left the pregnant words condensing Malala’s words: “We must be the change we want to see in the world.” Now (2019), this Himalayan spirit is inherited by Ms. Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist who has started the School strike for climate and the younger generations all over the world inspired by Greta.
【From right: Gautama Buddha; B. R. Ambedkar; Malala Yousafzai; Greta Thunberg 】
*1: Dr. Bohm propounded his unique view of the world through his longtime scientific research and dialogue with Asian philosophers especially Jiddu Krishnamurti a prominent Indian philosopher. His famous book Wholeness and the Implicate Order is highly praised even as a “bridge” between science and religion.
*2: Hiroshi Noro 2006. A Study of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-violence: Examining the Root of Gandhi’s Ahimsa
