Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्।
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥

which, according to Wikipedia, literally translates to

One Is A Relative, The Other Stranger,
Say The Small Minded.
The Entire World Is A Family,
Live The Magnanimous.

I find this quote to be really beautiful, but I feel that the translation doesn't fully capture its depth, which is why I wanted to share my own perspective. The translation makes it sound like a prescription for wisdom — as though declaring the world your family and hugging everyone will somehow lead to englightenment.

To me, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is more of a cautionary tale against adopting rigid

for/against stances. Historically, nothing good has ever come out of a with-me-against-me mentality, and this seems even more relevant in today's socio-political setup. Time and time again, compromise has been the foundation of peaceful coexistence.

So, to me, the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not about hugging everyone we meet. It is about recognizing the complexity within us all — understanding that there is both good and bad in every individual, and that we're all trying our best. It's about acknowledging that there is always another perspective to be considered and that it deserves just as much respect as our own.