I am glad to know that there will be a Conference on Hindu Religion. Incessant self-renewal from the Vedas to the Upanishads, to the Gita, to the Acharyas and the modern bhaktas has been assuming different emphases. They all stress the aspects, which are regarded by them as relevant to their particular generation. The same process of renewal is happening today and Hinduism is getting modified from within.
This does not mean that Hinduism gives up its fundamental feature, which are personal encounter with the Supreme as the essence of religion, the spirit of renunciation and the service of humanity. Hinduism has always stressed the open search for truth and never clung to the, defence of the tradition.
The spirit of renunciation does not require us to give up our body or life. One need not, give up the world The Divine is everywhere and we have to take the trouble to discover it. It recognises the great hunger of mind and thirst of soul in every individual.
Renunciation is not an end in itself. It makes individual a better man and thus helps to raise the level of society.
We can paraphrase the Upanishads verse “Remember Him who is One, Who is indistinguishable through class or colour, and Who, by His varied forces, provides, as is necessary for the needs of each class and of all. Let us pray to Him, Who gives wisdom to unite us all in understanding.”
-S. Radhakrishnan