"How much we earn is not important. How much we distribute is important. You think of a career. Is a career only money? Is career only material happiness? It is not denied. In the four Purusharthas, Artha and Kama are two important Purusharthas related to material life. Even our Upanishads tell us that you don't go only after liberation; you have to achieve material success also if the world has to go on," he said.

"What is our duty? 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.

"The diaspora has a duty to their Karma Bhumi. They must fulfil that. They should be loyal to their Karma Bhumi. 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 Karma Bhumi, it is not prohibited," he said. 

"Human beings can manage the dualities of life. It is the balance that sustains everything at once, simultaneously. And simultaneously, everyone can progress," he said.

"It is not that societal progress will happen only when individuals are suppressed, no. It is not that society has to be suppressed to make individual successes, no. Individual, society, and the environment, they have to proceed together, progress together. Your body, your mind, intellect, they have to proceed together, progress together," he added.

"This principle which unites everything, which upholds everything, which doesn't cause a rift," Bhagwat said.

"In spite of our different bodies, different attire, different worship, everything being different, like the beads in a necklace woven through a single thread, this Atman is in everybody, and it connects us all. And that is the source of permanent, unfading happiness. At the same time, it tells us another thing: that you appear different, but you are not," he said.

"Human beings possess the capacity to think, and that quality is a blessing, a boon. But there is another rider: you can think, but in what way do you think? That is important," he said.

"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.

"What is the destiny given to Bharat? Bharati is there. To realise, and from time to time, make the world realise this unity in diversity. We are one. And due to diversity. That oneness is decorated. So diversity, diversity has to be celebrated," he said,
 

"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," RSS Chief said.

"Nations, however, are not merely geographical entities. In the grand design of the universe, each nation is bound to carry out a specific duty. As Swami Vivekananda famously noted, every single nation has its own unique destiny to fulfil," Mohan Bhagwat added. 

180 religious leaders from 30 countries announce five point action plan to take responsibility for future. Global religious leaders reject use of religion to justify hatred, humiliation, dehumanization, or violence. 'One world One Humanity' 'call for action' resolution commit to… pic.twitter.com/qt5PSYSEBU

— RSS (@RSSorg) August 29, 2026

Watch live: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks at Madison Square Garden in mega event.

Rudra Dance Group bringing energy, passion, and unforgettable moments.#UniversalOneness #RakshaBandhan #NYC pic.twitter.com/5uP3vgzcQe

— Universal Oneness Celebration (@Uni1ness) August 29, 2026

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat will soon speak at New York's Madison Square Garden. Tune in to watch live here.

#WATCH | Manhattan, US | Ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's address, a member of the Indian diaspora says, "Once Swami Vivekananda came to US and addressed the world on what Hindutva is, I think it is a refresher on it... Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life..." pic.twitter.com/jQzyBlpRQ0

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's top quotes from multi-faith dialogue in New York on Saturday:

1. If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths lead to the same (goal). And every human has dignity. There is no difference between human beings. If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat (India), he will not remain a Hindu.
2. Where there is "me" and "mine," there is no solution. "We" and "ours" are the solution.
3. Diversity is a decoration for our unity. It has to be accepted. It has to be respected. It has to be protected. As I protect my own specific nature, I have to protect others also.
4. Truth is one. There are many religions. In today's world, religious work is largely defined by rituals. 
5. And to bring in a religious discipline, and to create that path to divinity, this discipline of rituals is also necessary. But what is there for a religion? It is leading us to. So, if I indicate something to you, see there, that light, which is a little bit different. You will see my finger pointing, and then you will see the light. But if you ignore my finger, you will never see the light. The purpose is defeated.
6. In Bharat, people of all denominations live. By tradition, Bharat has given shelter to everybody. Those who could not find a safe place in the world came to Bharat, where they found their place.
7. We should create at our own place the models of the world we want, and we should connect.
8. We (RSS) are serving. While serving, we don't see discrimination. Whoever is in need, we are serving. One lakh thirty thousand service projects are being run by our Swayamsevaks with the help of society. They served everywhere and served equally.
9. Two planes collided in Dadri, Haryana (1996). Both planes were from Muslim countries. Most of the passengers were Muslims. After the collision, our Swayamsevaks reached there first. And they served. All passengers were dead. Our Swayamsevaks arranged the funeral, and when their relatives came, helped in identifying them. We don't have the thought that they are Muslims.
10. Religious leaders have to impart this eternal wisdom from time to time, keeping in mind that in the present situation, it will be a laborious task.
11. After 2018, after my speech in Delhi, there were many people responding. And they called me for dialogue. So we started that dialogue, mainly with Muslims and Christians of Bharat. And step by step we are doing dialogue. Dialogue is the first step. Service is another. Not one step after that. It had to start simultaneously. That's how we've been doing it, right from the beginning. We are serving, and by serving we don't see this discrimination. Whoever is needy, we are serving.
12. Things cannot be achieved through politics alone. Sorry to say, but the fact is that politics has now become a game of self-interest. Our experience in Bharat is that we have to start with society, and we have started it.
13. We have to act in society, and we have to act locally. We need to create pockets of such selfless service and such an atmosphere of unity. Dialogue should continue, and through this dialogue, we will connect people. Then we should grow. When people see and experience this, they will change. We should create, in our own place, the model of the world we want.

#WATCH | New York, US: At the "One World One Humanity" event, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "... If we do not keep educating the society, then the deflections creep in, and somehow it happened in the course of history. I cannot point the moment. After that, our society, our… pic.twitter.com/GJeIRDbTFe

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026

"I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one. That truth is one truth, but it is described in many ways according to the describer. Because as human beings, we are prisoners of the software that has been created in our heads," says Mohan Bhagwat.

#WATCH | New York, US: At the "One World One Humanity" event, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one. Truth is… pic.twitter.com/ZRJOIG9FHh

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2026

Talking about RSS' work during the 1996 plane crash in Haryana, Mohan Bhagwat said, "Most of the passengers were Muslims. After that calling, our Swayamsevaks reached there first. And they served, serving treating the wounded, there were very few, all others were dead. Recovering their bodies. Arrange for the funeral rites. When their relatives came, helping them in identifying. We never thought at that time that these are Muslims."

"We want to change, influence the policies before they happen, influence them in right way. We want to stop wars, want to do all these things. Therefore, we want to actively influence the politics. We have to some at some point of time," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same. And every human has a dignity. There is no difference between human beings. I had a lecture there. And Muslim brothers were also there. And they asked me a question: You are a Hindu organization, you say Hindu Rashtra, what about us Muslims? Would you drive us out? I said no, that is not Hindutva. If any Hindu thinks that there should be no Muslim in Bharat, he will not remain Hindu," Says Mohan Bhagwat.

"Politics has now become a game of self-interest," says Mohan Bhagwat.

"I was watching something sometimes, and somebody asked him a question, what do I get if I join the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh? Very valid question if you want to join something, right? You know it's the answer? If you think you're going to join us to get something, don't join us. If you want to join us, come to serve, then there is a place for you. Imagine that if each one of us can take that as our ethos, as a living example," says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat.

🔴LIVE | RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Addresses At New York Eventhttps://t.co/q5SI1y6Vah

— NDTV (@ndtv) August 29, 2026

Ahead of his Madispm Square Garden Speech, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks at Faith Leaders Conference.

Images of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were projected on billboards in the heart of Times Square ahead of his address to members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden in New York.