by Swami Krishnananda Life, ancient as well as modern, is
generally calculated and assessed in the light of what we regard
as civilisation and culture. We usually, and often, speak of
India's civilisation as highly advanced, and its culture as
superb in every way. But a cultural or sociological study of
history is not the proper way of getting a little deeper into
the basic impulses that make culture the essential value of
life. Why should anyone be cultured? Unless this question is
answered, it is difficult to say what culture is. It is another
way of asking, "Why should anyone be good?" We are very fond of
saying that we have to be civilised, cultured and good, but have
we found time to think of what consequences would devolve in our
lives in the absence of this value? A highly comfortable life of
physical satisfaction and social security, with friendliness
among the constituents of a society in the manner it is
interpreted at any given moment of time, may be regarded as a
highlight of civilisation and cult