Sadhguru: When we say youth,we are talking about a life, which is still in the making,
which (Laughs) is still in a state where it is not too conceited and lost, a life which
suggests hope, a life which suggests seeking and wanting and longing to know life and the
truth about life.
When I say truth about life, the word truth has been used in so many ways.
When we say truth, most people think it's some other worldly stuff.
I want you to look at it this way.
What truly works is truth, in any sphere of life.
You want to walk, is it better to walk on your feet or is it better to use your head,
to walk?
You want to walk on your head?
No, you will end up being bald.
It is not a good way to walk, feet are better.
Like this, I'm making it too simplistic for you.
But this is the essence of what truth means.
In different dimensions of life, what is it that really works?
Seeking this is seeking for truth.
This is a culture, we as a nation, this Bharat has been a culture, which has always been
a land of seekers, never a land of believers.
Essentially what this means is this, either you have assumptions about everything, you
have concretized ideas about everything, or you are willing to seek, ‘What is the truth
about any aspect of life,’ because you are interested that it happens in the best possible
way.
Now we have a fortune on our hands that nearly fifty percent of India's population is below
twenty-five years of age.
No nation on the planet has this fortune right now.
But to make this into a true fortune and not a disaster, the youth should become seekers
of truth.
Not at getting adhered to some ideology, some belief system, some philosophy, no.
You must be seekers of truth.
This is what being youth means that you are not willing to settle for false things.
You want to find out what is it that really works.
On the level of your body, what is it that works?
On the level of your mind, what is it that works?
On the level of your emotion, what is it that works?
On the level of your life energy, what is it that works?
On the level of your relationship with the rest of the world, what is it that works?
In every sphere of life, what is it that works at its best and allows this life to function
in its ultimate possible way?
If this search and this seeking is given up, then you are no more youth, you have become
old, you have settled.
Preparing for the grave you have settled down.
Which year were you born does not decide whether you are youth or old.
Have you made conclusions about life or are you still open and longing to… and seeking
to know the nature of life?
This is what makes you either youthful or old.
It is important that every life stays youthful, especially youth of this nation and the world.
It is very, very important you are seekers of truth.
It is time the populations of this world, particularly the youth, move from religion
to responsibility.
What you make out of your life is one-hundred percent your responsibility.
It is not the responsibility of the stars or the planets or the powers above.
It is in your hands to create this life the way you want it.
This is the fundamental of being youthful, that you are willing to take responsibility
for everything that you are.
You have not become a vain life who is looking up at the stars, as to why am I miserable,
why am I not successful, why am…why is my life not beautiful?
You are not looking up, you are willing to look inward and seek answers.
That means you are in pursuit of truth.
Youth must be seekers of truth, only then they will remain youthful.
If you make conclusions, if you identify with belief systems, philosophies, ideologies,
you will become old when you are young.
It is my wish and my blessing that on this day, when Swami Vivekananda many years ago
said, “You give me one-hundred youth who are truly committed, I will change the face
of this nation.”
Are we so impotent that we cannot produce this one-hundred youth?
We must be able to produce millions of youth who are truly committed to know what is the
truth about our existence, what is the truth about our success, what is the truth about
our failures, what is the truth about the beautiful aspects of our life, what is the
truth about the ugliness of our life.
If you do not seek, then you are not a youth – don't become old when you are young.