Understanding Dharma: Can India's spiritual wisdom heal a fractured world?

As the world grapples with greed, conflict, and the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence, India's spiritual wisdom offers a message of hope and balance. Amplifying teachings of India's sages in the United States, Anil K Rajvanshi , director of the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute and a contributor to The Speaking Tree column in The Times of India Edit Page, delivered the keynote address at the Dharma in the Digital Age conference in Houston, Texas.

The three-day conference, attended by Indian-origin professionals from diverse fields across the US, explored how Dharma could find greater relevance in contemporary American society. It was followed by a two-day retreat at Galveston, Texas, where participants deliberated on ways to communicate and practise Dharma beyond India's borders.

Rajvanshi argued that many of today's global crises stem from the unchecked greed of political, economic and technological leadership. The antidote, he said, lies in spirituality. Drawing upon India's philosophical traditions, he emphasised that technology guided by spiritual values can help create a more sustainable, compassionate and harmonious world.

A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the Indian diaspora's search for identity. According to Rajvanshi, Indians living abroad remain deeply connected to their cultural roots, finding in them a source of psychological strength. Yet, over time, this connection often hardens into ritualistic practices and rigid religious identities, especially among prosperous immigrant communities seeking to preserve their heritage and pass it on to future generations.

Rajvanshi maintained that Dharma should not be confined to rituals or sectarian boundaries. Instead, he described it as humanity's timeless search for truth, rooted in India's profound spiritual traditions. He argued that the universal appeal of these ideas lies precisely in their openness, making them relevant across cultures rather than restricted to any one religion.

The conference also revealed differing perspectives within the diaspora. Some participants advocated adopting the more assertive methods to promote their faith in the US. Rajvanshi cautioned against such an approach, arguing that reducing Dharma to competitive religious propagation diminishes the universality of India's spiritual heritage.

He also addressed concerns that Indian philosophical ideas might be adopted elsewhere without proper acknowledgement. Such anxieties, he said, are misplaced if the ideas ultimately benefit humanity. What matters is not ownership but whether the wisdom contributes to human well-being.

Rajvanshi invoked the example of Swami Vivekananda , whose lectures in the US introduced Vedantic thought to Western audiences by emphasising the jnan marg. Vivekananda, he observed, inspired people through the intellectual and spiritual power of his ideas rather than through organised proselytisation. Rajvanshi suggested that this remains the most effective model for sharing India's philosophical legacy with the world.

He likened this approach to nature's own evolutionary process, where ideas survive not through confrontation but because they prove more relevant and adaptive. Superior philosophies, he argued, make weaker ones obsolete by their intrinsic strength rather than by defeating them.

The visit also provided an opportunity to interact with second-generation Indian-Americans. Rajvanshi observed that many remain deeply committed to academic excellence and professional achievement while retaining an interest in India's cultural heritage . He described this as a positive continuation of values that Indian families have successfully transmitted abroad.