Beyond Wealth: RSS Chief Emphasizes Giving Back to Community

Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, addressed a crowd in New York on August 30, calling for a shift in focus from private fortune to public service. Speaking at the Universal One‑ness event, he asserted that the authentic gauge of a life is the amount given back to society.

He reminded listeners that each individual's existence is intertwined with the efforts of farmers, workers, manufacturers, and countless unseen hands. "What we earn matters less than what we distribute," Bhagwat proclaimed.

Questioning the view that a profession should be a conduit solely for monetary gain, he pointed out that Indian heritage acknowledges material success but rejects it as the sole objective. Even the ancient Upanishadic teachings advise against an exclusive pursuit of liberation without attending to practical needs.

Bhagwat highlighted that nobody can claim to be completely self‑sufficient; we inherit our bodies from parents, food from growers, and clothing from laborers. The cessation of farming or manufacturing would instantly strip us of essential basics.

Using the example of his fondness for New York donuts, he illustrated how fleeting material pleasure can be. "I may enjoy a donut today, but that joy is temporary and can become harmful if overdone," he explained, emphasizing that material bliss cannot fulfill deeper aspirations.

He concluded by stating that our thought process decides whether we live for personal gain or for the welfare of others. Correct thinking brings one nearer to the divine, whereas misguided thinking drags one toward animalistic behavior. He called for collective responsibility, urging that each life should help sustain the broader tapestry of existence.