Youth & Values

Youth & Values

The term values itself becomes questionable when we say “values are declining.” If they are truly values, they don’t decline—they transform. When we talk about Western culture, we assume that their values are falling. But if values are eroding in some places, they are also rising in others. For instance, the level of calmness and social harmony seen in some Western societies is not always found here. People there often engage in reading, enjoy peaceful environments, take proper 15-day vacations, even sunbathe and embrace nature in a holistic way. So, values are not declining everywhere —they are simply evolving differently.

But when we look at India, we seem to be getting consumed by constant utility. We've lost time for ourselves. Greed is on the rise. When we talk about earning 2 lakhs, our sights quickly shift to 4 lakhs — and so the chain continues. We’re struggling to recognize that the real purpose of life is inner peace. Why do we want more money? To feel secure. But we’ve turned wealth into a number game—just like students chase percentages, except their game ends at 100. In the case of money, there is no limit.

Consider greed with a simple example: food. Just as our bodies can only consume a limited amount of food, so too should our pursuit of wealth have some boundaries. It’s not that earning money is wrong—it becomes harmful only when it creates stress. That’s why balance is essential. If we're earning in a balanced way that doesn't cost us our peace, then it isn’t harmful. What we need is better time management.

Today, in India, we stand at a crossroads—we’ve destroyed many of our past values and now we need to revive and renew them. The problem is that we’ve blindly followed the West. If we had adopted their culture with understanding, this wouldn’t have become an issue. Intellectual discernment is crucial when following anything. Before adopting any idea, we must reflect deeply and consciously.