RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said unity and diversity are ingrained in the "DNA of the people of Bharat," as he addressed the Indian community at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Addressing the Universal Oneness Celebration at the iconic Manhattan arena, Bhagwat drew a comparison between the idea of pluralism in the US and Bharat's principle of unity in diversity.
"When discussing the United States of America, one word that frequently comes up in conversation is 'pluralism'. On the other hand, when referring to Bharat, the phrase most often discussed is 'unity in diversity'. For the people of Bharat, both this unity and this diversity are ingrained in their very DNA," he said.
Bhagwat said nations were not merely geographical entities and that every nation had a specific duty to fulfil.
Citing Swami Vivekananda, he said every nation has its own unique destiny. Bhagwat said Bharat's role was to realise the principle of unity in diversity and help the world understand it.
"We are one. And due to diversity, that oneness is decorated. So, diversity has to be celebrated," he said.
The RSS chief said the Indian community had a duty towards their karmabhumi (place of work) and must remain loyal to the country where they live and work.
"You are in America. You live in America. You earn in America. So you are America, and you should behave true to America," he said.
Bhagwat said India remained the janmabhumi (place of birth) of the community, and they could contribute to it after fulfilling their responsibilities towards their karmabhumi.
"The diaspora has a duty to their karmabhumi. They must fulfil that. They should be loyal to their karmabhumi. Because Bharat is their janmabhumi, if they have an urge to do something for it, and they can do that after fulfilling their duty to their karmabhumi, it is not prohibited," he said.
Bhagwat said material happiness was temporary and could not provide permanent satisfaction. Using the example of eating doughnuts, he said a person may enjoy them in abundance at one point but eventually lose interest, only to desire them again later.
"The doughnut is the same. What changed?" he said, adding that the abundance of material happiness could also fail to bring satisfaction.
The RSS chief said the way human beings think determines their spiritual direction.
"If you think in the right way, you go nearer to God. If you think in the wrong way, you go nearer to the animal kingdom," he added.
Bhagwat said that despite differences in bodies, attire and forms of worship, all human beings were connected by a common spiritual principle.
He compared humanity to beads in a necklace woven together by a single thread, saying the Atman connects everyone and is the source of permanent happiness.
He also stressed the need for balance between individual progress, societal development and the environment.
"It is not that societal progress will happen only when individuals are suppressed," he said, adding that the individual, society and environment must progress together.
Bhagwat also said the importance of a career should not be measured solely by earnings or material happiness. "How much we earn is not important. How much we distribute is important," he said.
He added that material success was not rejected in Indian philosophy and referred to Artha and Kama as important Purusharthas related to material life, alongside the pursuit of higher goals.
