(May Almighty illuminate our intellect and inspire us … · - Rigveda 3/62/10; Samveda 1462, Yajurveda 3/35, 22/9, 30/2, 36/3 Volume - 14 Issue - 3 May - June 2016 Date of Publication:

Akhand Jyoti May-June 2016 3

||O® bh¿rbhuva¡ sva¡ tatsaviturvareñya® bhargo devasya dhºmahi dhiyo yo na¡ prachoday³t ||(May Almighty illuminate our intellect and inspire us towards the righteous path)

- Rigveda 3/62/10; Samveda 1462, Yajurveda 3/35, 22/9, 30/2, 36/3

Volume - 14Issue - 3May - June 2016Date of Publication: 10.05.2016

Annual SubscriptionIndia: ̀ 100.00

Abroad: ̀ 1050.00

Amrit Chintan

The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed withoutchanging our thinking. - Albert Einstein

Two Ways toSelf-upliftment

Human mind is like a photographic film, which, when exposed, records the happenings ofsurrounding environment, events and thoughts, thus making impressions on the mindaccordingly. A person is basically neither wise nor fool, neither good nor bad. He is a verysensitive creature, and hence, is deeply influenced by the surrounding environment and getsmolded in the same pattern. This can lead him to heaven or throw him into hell, depending onhis surrounding environment. The most important thing needed for raising one’s personality toa greater height is a sustained thought process associated not only with spiritual wisdom, butalso with faith and one’s interest. This can be accomplished in two ways: One, long associationwith a spiritual master – a self-realized soul; and second, studying and imbibing the thoughts ofsuch enlightened persons. Under the prevailing circumstances, the first option seems very difficult;as such realized persons have become very rare now. Even if they are available, they are so busyin their spiritual pursuits that they can hardly spare any time. The second option is readilyavailable – and that is study and contemplation of thoughts of great spiritual masters expressedin their literature. Only through such study, a prolonged training of our mind can be done sothat the spiritual hunger becomes stronger than merely chasing after the means for fulfilling thephysical needs of bread, butter and shelter.

- Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

[Considering the significance of sustained thought process in one’s spiritual growth, we havegiven the quotes of eminent scholars on ‘thinking’ on all the text pages of this issue. - Editor]

Akhand Jyoti May-June 20164

Contents01. Amrit Chintan

Two Ways to Self-upliftment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------03

02. From Chief Editor’s DeskLet’s Resolve to Conserve Water and Inspire Others to do so --------------------------------------05

03. Shopping is an Art -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------09

04. Science and SpiritualitySensing the Future ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12

05. Prepare Yourself for Achieving Excellence -------------------------------------------------------------17

06. Odyssey of the Enlightened – 49The Round of Preparations -2 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------22

07. Let’s Learn to Forgive and Forget ------------------------------------------------------------------------26

08. Prana Therapy– 13Interfacing with the Subconscious Mind of the Patient ------------------------------------------------28

09. A Journey from Disorder to Harmony -------------------------------------------------------------------31

10. Youth ColumnIndian Youths are Opening the Gates of Global Progress ---------------------------------------------33

11. Talks on the Gita – 50Renunciation of the Fruit of Actions Leads to the Grace of the Lord - 3 ---------------------------36

12. Whether You Praise or Criticize, It Should Benefit Others -------------------------------------------39

13. Repent for the Past and Create a Bright Future -------------------------------------------------------42

14. Learn to Honor Your Work --------------------------------------------------------------------------------44

15. Amrit VaniGolden Refinement of Personality through Tapa -------------------------------------------------------46

16. Shantikunj News ---------------------------------------------- (Inner cover pages & back cover page)

Think any way you please, but know why. - Martin H. Fischer


From the Chief Editor’s Desk

No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking. – Voltaire

Let’s Resolve to Conserve Water& Inspire Others to do so

Yugrishi Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya in his earthly lifetime itself predicted and cautioned usabout the problem of water scarcity and the related issues of future. We can hear his voice ofcaution in his audio and video lectures. In that context, he said that Mother Nature, which isnurturing all living beings on Earth like the celestial cow Kamadhenu, will assume the fiery formof angry lion and commence the process of destruction. Hence natural disasters will keep occurringand will continue until man stops polluting this environment with his poisonous thoughts and actions.We can clearly see how what he foretold almost three decades ago is turning into a reality.

Our country is facing the fury of natural disasters like many others across the globe. Very often,some or the other region gets affected by drought, famine, floods or epidemic. Earthquakeshave also got added to this list. Some regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradeshconstantly face conditions of drought and famine every year. But when fertile lands of UttarPradesh and Uttarakhand did not receive rainfall last year, it was a cause of serious concern.The dark shadow of lack of water is spreading fast. In spite of our country being surrounded bysea on three sides and bestowed with innumerable rivers and lakes, water crisis is loominglarge. According to the studies of American organization ‘World Watch’, groundwater level isreceding by 1-3 m every year in India.

The water level in wells, dams, lakes and rivers in the country has drastically gone down. There isstruggle for water in the cities. Animals are struggling to find fodder and water. Farmers are gettingdisheartened. The merry songs of monsoons have become extinct. If we do not have good monsoonthis year, crops will be seriously affected. Seeing their crops dying, their investment vanishing andfamily suffering, it will not be a surprise if farmers resort to still higher number of suicides.

Scientists have also expressed concern over the changes observed in Himalayan regions. Thechanges in water and air and increased atmospheric temperatures are not being perceived asnormal conditions. Geologists working in the Himalayan regions for more than two decadessuspect that a frequent drought cycle has been kick started in the Himalayas. Renowned geologistSimon Klemperer predicts that the temperature of the Himalayas will increase further in thenext 50 years. This will cause drought or uncontrollable rains. With these changes set in motion,neither will the water stay on the Himalayas nor will snow accumulate due to melting glaciers.

Akhand Jyoti January-February 20156

Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting. - Edmund Burke

The geophysical scientists believe that melting of glaciers, snowfall and heavy rains are theinitial signs of a very serious drought cycle. This can bring in changes in the behavior of monsoons.Dr. Rasmus C. Thiede from Potsdam University in Germany has studied the interaction betweenclimate and tectonics of the Himalayas. He says that there is lot of geological activity there rightnow. Every year Indian plate is moving 2 cm deeper in the Himalayas. These findings are indicativeof new changes that can come in the external and internal portions of the Himalayas. The initialreadings indicate that the summer monsoons can be significantly lower.

In addition to this fact, it has to be realized that agriculture has a big part to play in the economicsof our country. While the government wants to take our economic system on the path of progressas soon as possible, there does not seem to be any strategy on how to deal with natural disasters.It is the flawed priorities of policy makers and lack of vision that the condition of drought hasreached its present state. Recently, the High Court of Uttar Pradesh had taken a detailed look atthis serious problem and advised the government to consult with experts and apply suitabletechnologies to ensure that nobody lacks water and electricity.

Who has taken heed of these warnings? It can only be said that in spite of many regions sufferingfrom drought, the states have not done anything to ensure water supply, fodder for animals,making seeds available to the farmers, or fixing up a minimum wage in the event of crop failure.So, all of us have to come together and think of what needs to be done to handle the catastrophe.We have to embark on the important task of recharging the water table and methods for collectingwater. We have to understand the value of each drop of water. We can solve the droughtcondition by managing our water resources better. Everyone has to understand this fact and comeforward to work on these lines. To succeed, we not only need the participation of the governmentbut also the involvement of the people. All forms of media should play an important role in spreadingthis message. Water conservation should also find place in the syllabi of schools and colleges.

In many other countries, the amount of water available per person is much less than that in India. Butthere is not as much hue and cry in those countries as it is here. Israel has presented a great examplein this context. Dearth of water has made Israel the foremost leader in water conservation, whereasIndians have not learnt the value of water because of which they are suffering from the lack of it.

In this era of materialistic glamor, even the villages have stopped using age-old and effectivetraditional methods of water conservation. Such methods of water collection in the form oflakes, tanks and streams have been lost due to using up those lands for farming. If we look atstatistics obtained through monitoring done by Central Ground Water Board, the situation ofUttar Pradesh is the scariest. For the past 12 years, water table is receding more than 25ft everyyear in the big districts of U. P. like Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, Meerut and dozens of


You and I are not what we eat; we are what we think. - Walter Anderson

others. If no practical steps towards proper water utilization are taken in the state, the situationcan go from bad to worse.

According to the master plan for artificial recharge prepared by Central Ground Water Board,daily per capita availability of groundwater in India in 1951was 14,180 liters which reduced to5120 liters in 2001. Considering the current rate of population growth and the depletion ofgroundwater, it is projected that the daily per capita availability in the year 2025 will be 3670 liters(which is just 25% of the base year). The above master plan said: ‘Rapid development and use ofgroundwater resources for varied purposes have contributed, though, in the expansion of irrigatedagriculture, overall economic development and in improving the quality of life in urban India, thegroundwater, which is the source for more than 85% of rural domestic water requirements, 50% ofurban water requirements and over 50% of irrigation requirements of the country, is depleting fast.’

Considering the predicament we are in, we must learn how we can survive in such situations.The traditional knowledge in India teaches us how to survive not just a year of famine but up tofive years. The dry lands of Rajasthan and Gujarat never have an incidence of suicide duringfamine till date. The traditional techniques of preserving fodder are safe there. Farming basedon greed and quick gains has cast a shadow on these methods. The conclusion is that peopleshould tune their lifestyles according to the average rainfall received in their regions. Thenneither floods nor famine can seriously affect us.

During times of less rainfall, instead of water-guzzling crops like sugarcane and paddy, weshould opt for those that require less water. Pulses and oil crops should be sown because theyrequire less water. If there is a specific requirement for crops that require water, choose seedsthat ripen in lesser time. Use gardening along with farming. Agricultural experts advise to bear inmind both climate and soil conditions before choosing the crop cycles. Change in food habits canalso help to some extent. Include those foods in diet that are seasonal and appropriate to the region.

We have everything. Crops that require less water, traditional life style, knowledge, forestlands, perennial rivers, millions of lakes and thousands of rivers. Ganga basin alone is spreadacross 86,140 sq. km and is capable of providing water to 47% farmlands and 37% of population.If we are able to use these resources efficiently, then there would never be an occasion to be distressedin drought. On paper, there is no dearth of statistics, project orders and blue prints. If all that is onpaper is converted into ground reality, there would be no cause for worry at all. But this is not thecase. Therefore, we should educate everyone about the value of water and its conservation.

To stay calm even in drought, two things have to be borne in mind – reuse of water andconserving each drop of water. If we properly purify used water and bring it to use again, then

Akhand Jyoti January-February 20158

Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.- John F. Kennedy

(Pranav Pandya)

average water consumption in industries and homes can be brought down by 60-70%. Rechargepit is a simple way of sending used water again to the womb of Earth. This can be practicallydone in each house in the village.

Whatever projects are undertaken for drought relief, geographical and natural aspects of thecountry should definitely be considered. It would be good if farmers are consulted while designingthese projects. This is lacking presently and hence the projects that are taken up are worsening thesituation than bettering it. Indian farming is getting largely influenced by foreign techniques. Itwould be better if we use our traditional farming knowledge and put its techniques to use. Indianperspective, Indian school of thought, the experience, tradition, knowledge and research have beenburied. We have to rejuvenate them all over again. What can be more shameful for us entering the21st century and celebrating it as cyber era while millions of men and women are dying of thirst?

Our parijans should come forward to educate others by practice about importance of waterconservation. Let’s take the example of Gujarat. Mansukh Bhai Subagia and Madhur Savanifrom Gujarat have practically educated 100 villages of Junagarh, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Jamnagarand Rajkot to become self-sufficient in terms of water. On Subagia’s advice, the people of Badiyabadvillage constructed 12 check dams in two channels at the expense of Rs. 1.5 lakh and were able tocollect water that can irrigate 300 acres out of their 2000 acre land with just one rain. Similarly,Madhur Savani of Soyal village in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat worked with other people andconstructed 210 dams in nearby rain channels. In spite of less than average rains, the water isoverflowing there. Similar projects have been executed in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. ‘TarunBharat Sangh’ is particularly active in conserving rain water in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

It is our turn now. All of us should strive collectively. We have to communicate to people thatthe small and traditional constructions and techniques will be the ones that will again restorewater self-sufficiency that we have lost in the last 3 decades. Educating villagers about watermanagement is as important as teaching them about cottage industries and bringing right pricefor their products. If Gayatri Pariwar members take an active role in their respective areas, thenwe can not only prevent migration of people from villages to towns but also stop suicides offarmers. This will be the best tribute to Param Poojya Gurudev, whose 26th Nirvan Divas isfalling on 15th June. Monsoon is just round the corner; let’s all collectively pray to Mother Natureto bestow the best of rains to our villages and towns and the country at large.With prayer-filled wishes to all our readers on Gayatri Jayanti / Ganga Dussera,


The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather thanwith their minds. - Will Durant

Shoppingis an Art

Shopping is a part of our daily life. However,sometimes this ends up being an addiction. Wethen go on a shopping spree even when we donot require anything and tend to splurge ourhard-earned money. Hence when we step outof the house, we need to ask ourselves whetherthere is anything that is really required forourselves or for the family or we areembarking on the journey of frivolousshopping. There are many stories of peoplewith shopping addiction.

One of the most popular stories is that ofLondon-based Emma. She was so crazy ofshopping that she ended up with more than 40lakh pounds in debt in order to satiate hershopping addiction. She loved shopping rightfrom her childhood. Her craze for shoppingkept increasing as she grew up. Until 2011, shekept shopping for about 2000 pounds everymonth. This means that she spent rupees 2 lakhevery month in buying clothes, shoes and bags.She tried hard to stop herself but barely could.With this rate of spending, 41-year old Emmaaccumulated a debt of 40 lakhs pounds. Herhouse was confiscated because of this debt andshe is still in debt as of today.

Because of this debt, she and her husband arepresently living in her mother’s house. Onasking her about her addiction, Emma says that

every time she goes out shopping she questionsherself if whatever she is about to buy isrequired or not. But her mind concocts someor the other argument to prove that she doesneed those things.

She wore her dresses just once and bought newones again. She said that she always got whatshe asked for right from her childhood. Henceher habits and stubbornness increased by theday. The situation now has got so criticallyserious that her family is getting her treatedby a psycho-therapist. In fact, many peoplestart doing shopping in order to get out of theirboredom or depression or loneliness. Womenwho stay at home are more prone to thisaddiction.

Experts advise that shopping be made an artand not an addiction. It’s very true that ifshopping is done wisely, it can become anintegral part of art of living. Those who wantto learn this art must firstly understand therequirements of themselves and their families.Once the requirements are clearly understood,it becomes very convenient to decide what isessential and what is not.

In order to avoid meaningless shopping, oneshould go for shopping with a plan in mind. Itrequires that a shopping list be prepared

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I like to think of thoughts as living blossoms borne by the human tree. - James Douglas

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beforehand and a budget arrived at so thatone can stay within a stipulated budget. If theysee their shopping getting out of their budget,it is time to review the shopping list andremove those items that are not required. Inthis way, they can achieve both objectives -shopping as well as fulfilling their familyneeds. It is seen that many people preferpopular branded stuff in big shopping malls.While it is lot of fun shopping in the malls,very soon we lose the habit of buying betterproducts that are available elsewhere atlesser prices.

It is not wrong to check out 2-3 different shopsor websites while looking out for a productthat is priced better and is of better qualitytoo. By doing this, we not only get a betterdeal but also feel happy with our purchase.There is a trend now for smart shopping. So,one has to develop the habit of comparing theprices of the products beforehand. There aremany websites on the internet that assist youin comparing the price of any product in themarket across different sellers with a click of abutton. It is advised to check for the productyou wish to buy from many websites. You canrefer to websites like www.mysmartprice.com,www.compareraja.com, www.pricedekho.com .

The coupons and deals that we get in thesewebsites help us save money. Some websitesgive promo codes and coupons that giveadditional benefits. If you are not getting acoupon for your preferred website, you canlook up for it in google. Also there are manywebsites that provide coupons, promo code andoffer deals. You can register at these websitesfree. They also keep sending emails related totheir new offers. Most importantly, it can becalled smart shopping when you buysomething only when needed and not becauseyou have a coupon for it!

You can also look up in social media for buyinginformation. Almost all the online stores havetheir social media account. They are active onFacebook and twitter too. If we ‘like’ theirpages, we could be entitled to some offers aswell. There are huge web stores like Flipkartand Amazon whose apps help us get deals fromdifferent sellers. In addition to the deals on

Governments are deemed tosucceed or fail by how well theymake money go round, regard-less of whether it serves any use-ful purpose. They regard it as asacred duty to encourage thecountry’s most revolting spec-tacle: the annual feeding frenzyin which shoppers queue allnight, then stampede into theshops, elbow, trample and some-times fight to be the first to carryoff some designer junk which willgo into landfill before the salesnext year. The madder the orgy,the greater the triumph of eco-nomic management.

- George Monbiot


The forceps of our minds are clumsy things and crush the truth a little in the course of takinghold of it. - H.G. Wells

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the website, there are additional benefits givenafter installing the mobile app. Thisconvenience is also provided for buyingliterature of Param Pujya Gurudev throughawgp e-store.

Ensure while shopping that your paymentoption is always through cash or debit card.Using credit card for a long shopping list cancreate a hole in your pocket. Financial expertssay that the credit card limit is far more thanthe cash we hold. This results in buying morethan what you can afford. It is often seen thatwe overshoot our budget while shopping withcredit card. Cash payment restricts you to staywithin limits.

There is a big attraction to the word ‘sale’ whileshopping. If you cannot resist the attraction,you end up overdoing your shopping. Thesellers use psychological methods to exploit thepeople. We should protect ourselves fromthese by searching for counter-psychological

methods. It is best for us not to get caught inthe snare of ‘free’ stuff while buying things. Inthe pursuit for freebies, we end up making thewrong choices of products. Similarly, weshould be cautious to check for the expiry datewhile buying anything. Also, remember to takethe bill and the manuals related to yourproducts.

The most important thing is that we should doas less shopping as possible. It is best todecrease our requirements than fanning the fireof desires. The money that we save should beused for helping and serving the needy and insocial welfare activities. We should put ourmoney to alleviate the suffering and pain ofour fellow beings. Always bear in mind thatmoney is for living a simple and noble life andnot for luxury and showoff. Hence we shouldall learn to put our money where ‘life’ is atstake. In addition to the art of shopping, weshould also learn the art of earning punya orgoodwill for our noble deeds.

Religion and politics are the two main factors influencing human life at large.One offers zeal and the other awes with authority. One influences the outerworldly life of the masses while the other has an effect on the very depth of theirinner being, thus giving them vision and direction. Both are immensely powerfulhaving an extraordinary influence in their own respective fields. The aforesaidcomparison is not meant to prove or disprove which one of them is weak orstrong, useful or useless. Both are in fact complementary to one another. Eachone of them can facilitate the success of the other even though they work intheir own discreet fields.

Humanity suffers when both of them happen to be at odds with one another.Harmony between religion and politics can indeed do wonders to the humanity.



Invest a few moments in thinking. It will pay good interest. - Author Unknown

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Science and Spirituality

Sensing the Future

Many of you might have experienced apremonition of would-be events, or a glimpseof the future sometime or the other, thoughwithout paying much attention to it at thattime. Such experiences might be related to yourpersonal life or might pertain to an event ofsocial or national importance. Though werarely comprehend the implications of suchprecognitive experiences, whenever we do,these could be of immense importance —especially in taking preventive measuresagainst a likely accident or natural calamity.

8th December 1978 – a chilled night in England!Edward Pearson was caught travelling withoutticket in a London bound train. He wasarrested and produced before the court.Replying to the judge, he explained – “Mr.Justice, I did not intend to travel without aticket. I have never done so in the past. I am adisciplined civilian. This time circumstance hadforced me to catch the train in emergency;when I reached the station, the train was aboutto depart. I got into it almost running; I hadno time to purchase a ticket!

When questioned about the reason for thisurgency, he replied – “In fact I have hadprecognition of important events and naturalcalamities on several occasions in the past.Yesterday, I had a premonition that a severe

earthquake will occur in Glasgow in the nearfuture – it may be tomorrow, or may be a weekor a month from now…! It could provedisastrous! I wanted to rush to the meteorologydepartment in London and convince theexecutives by explaining my experience in detail(which can’t be done over phone, as theywould not take me seriously). This way, theymight arrange for necessary warnings andsafety measures in advance”.

The jury found no justifiable or legitimateground in his defense. He appeared as a personmisleading the Railway Controller by falsestories. Moreover, the territory of England hadno history of severe earthquakes. Edward wasnaturally punished for this dual crime. Exactlythree weeks later, “Daily Courier andAdvertiser” published the news of a deadlytremor in Glasgow under the heading‘Prophecy of a Ticket-less Traveler’. As perEdwards Pearson’s premonition, this naturalcalamity had claimed significant loss of livesand property. This entire incident was alsocovered in detail in the book “The UnexpectedMysteries of Mind, Space and Time”. J. W.Dunne has described several such dreams inhis book “An Experiment with Time”. In oneof his own dreams, he had seen the eruptionof a volcano in the Crestar Island few weeksbefore the calamity.


Thinking is like loving and dying. Each of us must do it for himself. - Josiah Royce

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Recognizing the importance of research on theprecognitive powers of human mind,Psychiatrist Dr. J. C. Barker had founded theorganization “British Premonition Bureau” in1967 for a survey and registereddocumentation of precognitive experiences.Apart from research on the instances ofpremonition, this organization used to arrangefor precautionary measures in view of theauthentically recorded (in its office) premonitionsof natural calamities. Another organization called“Central Premonitions Registry” is engaged insimilar work in New York. It was founded byan American psychologist named Robert D.Nelson. He never believed in dreams andprecognition until he experienced the truth ofhis own premonition of a road accident. Being adoctor he also encouraged scientific validationand research into such experiences.

Spain’s El Escorial Palace is a masterpiece ofSpanish architecture. King Phillip II had got itconstructed in the memory of his wife MaryTudor. One of the halls in this monument wasdesigned for the burial of the king’s father andhis successors. An astrologer had then foretoldthis King that his family’s empire would lastfor twenty-four generations only. Because ofhis faith in the seer, the king arranged fortwenty-four graveyards in the said hall. QueenMaria Christina was the 23rd ruler of the sameroyal dynasty. She died in 1929 and was buriedin the same hall. Surprisingly, Alfonso – theprince designate since a long time, was finallysworn in as the King of Spain. Within two yearshe was dethroned and assassinated. With himthe empire of Phillip’s lineage had also cometo an end.

It was sometime during the peaceful freedommovement of India, when an elderly Americanwoman, Jeane Dixon (nick-name, Nancy) camehere as a tourist. She was a good friend of Mrs.Sarojini Naidu. Sarojini had organized a get-together to introduce her to some Indianfriends. Mr. Jinnah and his newly-wed, youngParsi wife were also present on this occasion.Nancy constantly stared at the couple forseveral minutes while being introduced tothem. After the couple had left, Mrs SarojiniNaidu asked Nancy about her embarrassingbehavior. Nancy replied –– “I could read it ontheir faces that within three years from now,they would be divorced. Afterwards, theyoung pretty woman (Mrs. Jinnah) wouldcommit suicide and Mr. Jinnah will become aking – the head of a state …”. All the othersaround including the host, laughed at thiswhimsical ‘prediction’. No one could haveimagined the couple’s separation, as Mr. Jinnahwas deeply in love with his wife. The possibilityof India’s freedom in such a short span of timeand Jinnah’s enthronement as the firstPresident of Pakistan sounded equallybaseless.

However, everyone witnessed that the nextthree years brought a drastic change in the fateof the country as well as that of the Jinnahs.They were divorced and Mrs. Jinnah endedher life in depression. With its independence,India was divided into two nations and Mr.Jinnah became the first head of the newlycreated state of Pakistan.

Mr. Zaidy, the then vice-chancellor of theAligarh Muslim University (India) had also


It is well for people who think, to change their minds occasionally inorder to keep them clean. - Luther Burbank

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heard about this prediction. He visited Londonsix years after the independence of India. Therehe called upon this foreteller – Madam JeanDixon (Nancy). While discussing about herclairvoyance, Prof. Zaidy casually asked herabout the future of India and Pakistan. She justlooked into the air and said – East of Pakistanwill be separated in a couple of decades.Indeed, her precognition came true, whenPakistan was divided and its eastern partemerged as an independent country –Bangladesh in 1970.

Intrinsic Quest & Vision of the Future:Our past and future are closely, thoughindirectly, related to our present. Exceptperhaps in childhood — when our neuronalnetwork is not fully developed and our ownlife is largely shaped by the guidance andsupport of our parents and teachers, our pastexperiences help our learning and planning inthe present. Our individual personality, ourinclinations and abilities contribute a lot tomaking our present. Although the presentphase of our life is most important, whateverwe envisage or plan to do now, always has aninfluence on the thought or expectation of thefuture.

The bodily experiences, pleasures and pains,knowledge of the surroundings, or theactivities of the people around –– fall in theperiphery of the present. The domain of mentalactivities is far wider. It embraces vision ofthe future as well in its folds. What the mindwants to acquire in the future triggers itsaspirations/ambitions today. This oftendominates its thinking and hence the activities

of the present. Noting the fact that theactivities of the present shape the future, wemay thus say that our imagination, aspiration,or planning for the future make most of theunfoldment of our life.

Ability to cultivate an attitude as per the newcircumstances to make the best use of one’spotentials is a sign of wisdom. A grasshopperadjusts its body to bear and turn the seasonalchanges in its favor – it becomes yellow like adry leaf in the summer and appears fresh andgreen like a newborn leaf in the autumn. It issaid that it adopts the color of what it seesaround. Adversity or favorableness of thecircumstances mostly depends upon how welook at them. It is our own attitude that makesall the difference. A little bout of hardshipmight make a coward faint with fear, whereasa brave and courageous person would face it,fight it, and grow stronger with suchchallenges and struggles in life. It is said thatthe trend of our life is usually a shadow of ouroutlook. What one would become tomorrowlargely depends upon what he aims at, thinks(and hence) does today. Man is thereforeregarded as the architect of his destiny.

Focused thinking and balanced attitude give acreative direction to one’s deeds in a givencircumstance. Ability to envisage the future vis-à-vis one’s potentials is as important as theappropriate use of the present opportunities.Formulating realistic and progressive goals,thorough planning for stepwise excelling in thatdirection and sincere endeavors, define the keyto success in every walk of life. Prudence andforesightedness, yearning, and focused


We spend our days in deliberating, and we end them without comingto any resolve. - L’Estrange

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diligence, together with purity of heart aretherefore most desired to ensure righteousand distinct accomplishments in life.

In general, anyone with average intellect wouldbe able to envisage the consequentialcircumstances in near future based on theanalysis of the present vis-à-vis his knowledgeand experience. Timely preparation before thechange of seasons is an example of rathersundry inferences of this kind. Preparation forthe exams, cultivation of the land before theseason of monsoon, sales and purchases as perthe favorable trends of market, etc are examplesof sensible actions based on past experience,and vision of the near future. Specialization incertain fields of knowledge, skilled talents, andprofessional expertise, usually go hand-in-handwith intellectual sharpness, clarity ofimagination, and reasoned decision making.An architect’s design of a monument, anengineer’s model of a sophisticated machine,etc, are well-known examples of this sort.

Knowledge of the direction, or likelyconsequences of a particular action orcondition, etc., also helps in correct decisionmaking or planning for the future. Prescriptionsrecommended by a medical expert ormanufacturing and sales planned by an efficientproduction-manager illustrate this talent. Whocan beat an experienced farmer or a gardenerin deciding about the right time for plantationand irrigation as per the quality and type ofthe seed and the soil in different seasons?Vision and accumulated experience togetheraccount for such practical sense or expertise.Scientific researchers do not plan their

innovative experiments out of the blue or awhim. It is mostly their analytical thinking,thorough knowledge, unperturbedindustriousness, and above all their reasonedinsight that leads to remarkable discoveriesand inventions. The talents of writers, poets,and artists too are recognized because of theircreative imaginations and distinct expressions.

Natural tendency of the human mind to knowthe unknown is said to have evolved itsabilities of inferring, imagining, and envisagingthe future. This inquisitiveness has been thebasis of the remarkable scientific breakthroughswe witness today. Elucidation of Nature,accomplishments in the space missions,understanding of the complex body-functions,majestic use of the atomic and subatomicpowers, etc., have become possible by thepiercing vision, focused analytical thinking, andadept inferences of brilliant minds in ––drawing the facts from the figures, extractingknowledge from the observations, decipheringthe cause from the effects, conceptualizing, etc.

Intrinsic quest to know the future has givenbirth to astrology. Many people approach thepalmists, numerologists, tarot card-readers,astrologers, etc, whenever they are worriedor desperate about some future event, orgenerally curious when they hear about an‘expert’ foreteller. Computer-aidedformulation of horoscope and prediction offuture is also quite popular these days. “Howthe positions and motions of planets affect thebiomagnetism and hence the physical andmental conditions of a person?”; “How theseeffects are projected in the lines on the palm?”;


Thinking in its lower grades is comparable to paper money, and in its higher forms it is a kindof poetry. - Havelock Ellis

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“How do the radiation of crystals and gemsinfluence one’s psychology….?” It mightrequire understanding and researching adifficult branch of mathematics and finding themissing links in the lost volumes of the ancientscience of astrology or forecasting to resolvethese riddles. But one thing is sure that one’sfaith in such predictions plays wonders on hispsychology (and hence on the future course ofhis life).

It is a common observation that prediction ofa bright future or an auspicious time aheadinduces optimism, enthusiasm and a feeling ofjoy, in the believer and, depending upon hisambitions and zeal, he takes progressive,adventurous, or even risky decisions.Likelihood of adversities, danger, or attack ofdiseases, etc, generates contrary effects ofvaried intensities depending upon people’sbeliefs and mental strength. The believersusually go for anything to prevent or minimizethe ‘ill omen or hardships in the offing’. Atthe root of development of astrology andrelated discipline of predictive knowledge liesthe curiosity of human mind to know thefuture. Popularity of various methods of“fortune-foretelling” based upon thisknowledge blossoms mainly because of theinquisitiveness, hidden fears, and aspirationsof the human mind linked with uncertainty ofthe future.

Natural interest or eagerness of the mind topeep into the future should not be let lost withemotional tides or agile daydreaming. Itshould be viewed as a source of immensemental power that needs to be channelized

wisely. Many great thinkers, scientists, andvisionaries of the world have set ampleexamples in human history to guide us towardsrighteous use of this inner strength which couldenable us truly become adept architects of ourown destiny.

It is the ‘soil’ of mind where the crop of futurecreations and accomplishments is‘cultivated’.Trenchancy of vision, creativity ofimagination, acumen, and farsightednessaccount for distinguished faculties of the mind.Intellectual brilliance, maturity and wisdomtoo are often judged with respect to thesequalities.

Precognition, foresight, and clairvoyance arereflections of spiritual refinement andevolution of these potentials of human mind.The seed of these supernormal faculties existsin our minds as well. We should inculcaterighteous thinking and endeavor to sharpenand enlighten it every day to realize that thekey to unravel and also to carve our ‘unknown’future indeed lies to a great extent in our ownhands.

Everyone who is seriously involved inthe pursuit of science becomesconvinced that a spirit is manifest inthe laws of the Universe - a spirit vastlysuperior to that of man, and one inthe face of which we with our modestpowers must feel humble.

- Albert Einstein


The average man never really thinks from end to end of his life. The mental activity of suchpeople is only a mouthing of clichés. - H.L. Mencken

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Prepare Yourselffor Achieving Excellence

There is a famous proverb - “God helps thosewho help themselves”. A perfect corollary tothis is — “Nature ‘destroys’ those who areweak — who cannot struggle to stand upagainst its challenges”. The Gita also states –“Man himself is his own friend or foe.” Ahuman being has been given the freedom tochoose either a disorderly way of life andthrow himself in the abyss of decadence orcontinue to climb peaks after peaks of successby adopting an active, orderly and meaningfullife. The Gita further calls us to make anendeavor for self-upliftment, and not todisgrace our life by following a path ofignorance, inaction, and degradation.

All happiness, beauty and conveniencesavailable in this world have no meaning forsomeone who does not have the capacity toenjoy them. For example, for a blind personall beautiful sights of the world and objects ofbeauty are practically non-existent. On losingone’s sense of hearing one cannot listen to thespeakers, advisers, singers and musicians. Toa mentally deranged person, entire worldappears like a lunatic’s bin. With persistentdisorders of metabolic and circulatory systems,one can’t enjoy healthy life for long. If we wantto experience and enjoy the happiness, beautyand order pervading around, we must first getrid of our own shortcomings and negativities.

History of human civilization and growthshows that the path of progress has been madethrough persistent and systematic deploymentof resources (including the resource of skilledtalent) with prudence, foresight, and sincerity.This is essential for sustainable progress ofindividuals and the society. In the absence ofthese attributes, even those inheriting largefortunes, favorable circumstances, and ampleresources, would often miss the rightopportunity and/or appropriate action andmight be the loser in the end. It is true that,“Chance favors those who are prepared;” and“One carves one’s future by one’s own abilitiesand efforts”.

Strength of Courage:It is one thing to be stout, tall and healthy,but, it is quite different to be courageous. Ahealthy person appears attractive and is lookedupon with admiration. However, in the absenceof curiosity, determination, steadfastness,courage, energy (to take up the demandingtasks in hand), and endurance, the personappears discontented, troubled, apprehensiveand worried. Such a person makes a mountainof a molehill of problems/hurdles on the way,and is always in search of excuses to avoidfacing them. On the contrary, challenges andadversities prove as paper-tigers to acourageous, determined, and wise person.


Irons rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen;even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. - Leonardo da Vinci

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Physical appearances are often deceptive.Within an invisible, seemingly inert atom ishidden enormous atomic power, which, ifproperly channelized, can do wonders. Similaris the case with the power hidden inside ahuman being. In order to become truly strongand powerful, one needs only to activate thehidden inherent source of energy within his ownself. An average man utilizes only a small part ofthis energy in somehow taking care of his needsof food and family. On the other hand there areothers, who continue to draw from this innerenergy for fulfillment of higher-level aspirationstowards dignified goals, for which theyconsistently plan and prepare. Such determinedpersons, who, in terms of physical appearanceare indistinguishable with the masses, achievesuch great feats that astonish the world.

There is thus a world of difference betweenthese “super-humans” and others (the ordinarymortal beings). It is, however, not due to someextraneous factor or ‘boon’, rather, a naturaloutcome of their enlightened thoughts, evolvedaspirations and unflinching endeavors. Greatpersonalities mustering courage for big tasksmake unwavering endeavors and resolutelyresist impropriety. None of these acts areimpossible for anyone. However, only a fewhave the courage and determination to do so.Whenever the seed of progress sprouts withinthe inner-self of a person, it is expressed asnobility of his/her actions. Improvement ofone’s behavior and deeds is a sign and also aprerequisite of one’s ascent towards excellence.

Ignorance makes a ghost out of a bush and asnake out of a rope during the night. Cowards

get scared of even their own shadows. On thecontrary, courageous persons undertake longhazardous journeys without any companionswhereas timids dare not go out alone evenfrom their house during the night. Those whotread the path of progress and excellenceconquer many seemingly insurmountableobstacles. Our history is full of many suchimmortal beings. For example, in spite ofsuffering from multiple wounds and piercedwith arrows in the Mahabharata War,Bhishma Pitamah had, by his astonishingwillpower, kept death at a distance, tillUttarayana (summer solstice) began in thelast battle of his glorious life. VictoriousRajput king Rana Sangram Singh was inflictedwith over eighty wounds; still he foughtintrepidly with swords in both his hands tillhis last breath. Indeed, a brave dies onlyonce, whereas a coward sees numerousmoments of death in his life.

Significance of Orderliness:It is unfortunate that man uses barely 7% ofthe real power of his consciousness-force in hisentire life-time; that too, mostly in lookingafter his body’s needs and comforts; theremaining 93% of his consciousness-energy liesin a dormant, unknown and unexplored state.Then what right has he to complain or cry forhis deprivations? Why should one sympathizewith him? In fact, this is like — an owner of atreasure lamenting for his poverty, because hehas lost the key? Apart from ignorance,negligence, and lack of will and courage, theprincipal cause of this ironical state is — near-total absence of orderliness on most fronts oflife.


A sect or party is an elegant incognito devised to save a man from thevexation of thinking. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Orderliness is an integral part of the processof self-development. Though it may appear asan insignificant ‘quality’ to most people, thehabit of orderliness in every task, howeversmall or sundry it might be, is very importantfor cultivating organizational skills, efficiencyof planning, optimal and systematic use of timeand other resources, and overall managementof life. The significance of these qualities is wellknown for progress in worldly life. Apart frombrilliant skill and experience in his field ofexpertise, the head of an organization has tohave adept organizational/managerial skills.For example, an intrepid, patriotic, dedicatedsoldier may become Commander-in-Chief if hehas additional distinction of timely strategicplanning and management of the adversesituations on the war front. Success and risingprofile of an enterprise largely depend uponthe vision, planning, and excellence of itsmanagers. As evident from the word-meaningof “governor” (meaning: director, manager),effective governance and leadership alsorequires apt management of the system andthe people.

However, it should always be kept in mindthat these qualities alone do not account forglorious success and excellence worth thehuman-dignity. That way, even devilishleaders, terrorists, tyrants, mafia gangsters, etc,also are very skilled, sharp, courageous, andproficient managers. Then what is it whichtransmutes an ordinary human into apreeminent, great personality? It is thepurpose, aims and intentions for which thetalent is applied and the manner in which it isdeployed. It may also happen that initially

someone aims to use his talent(s) for a noblecause, but gets trapped in arrogance or false-pride after gaining popular recognition andrespect, or gets strayed by the agile passionsof the mind. All the talented persons desirousof excellence in life should be extra-cautiousagainst such delusive attractions and pressures.This cannot be achieved without thoroughintrospection, self-discipline, and cultivation ofphilanthropic outlook and life-style.

Virtues of Excellence:Self-less act of charity (d³na) is glorified as anoble activity in all religions. Motivating otherstowards constructive philanthropy and serviceshould also be regarded as sacred an act asgenerous distribution of alms. In this contextit should always be remembered that theminimum requirement is acceptance of simpleliving, say, like that of an average citizen ofthe country. Unless this is done, satiation ofthe desires and lust would not permit anyoneto perform even the minimum philanthropicactivities necessary for making adequate useof one’s in-born potentials and nurturing innerqualities and strength. The ravines of desireand lust are so deep that even after filling themwith maximum resources, labor and expertisein the small span of life, man cannot hope tolevel them. Unless one is willing to surrenderhis cravings and selfishness, it would not bepossible to achieve satisfactorily the highobjective of preeminence in life. Here again,the necessity of courage and orderliness isobvious.

There is no need to look for external meansfor developing one’s talent. Talent is made to


Thoughts, like fleas, jump from man to man. But they don’t biteeverybody. - Stanislaw Lec

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grow from within. However, it necessarilyrequires removal of those obstacles which offerformidable resistance to one’s attempts toachieve excellence. The moment one begins tocultivate courage and orderliness as naturaldisciplines, one opens the doors of an all-roundprogress.

No one knows whether and where the ‘P³ras’(the mythical stone for alchemy) exists, andwhether and how it turns everything into goldby mere touch. But it is an established fact thatluminaries tend to attract innumerablefollowers and associates. The biographies ofmost of the great persons show that with thehelp of their pratibh³1 (talent) and credibility inthe society, they got enormous strength,enthusiasm, and support from all quarters,surmounted mountains of obstacles, andreached the pinnacles of success. The impactof their character and personality itself wasable to make others accomplish such featswhich they themselves could not by their ownefforts. It is indeed like a beatifying gift of theAlmighty to attain such a divine/majesticpotential and make use of it to transform thehaphazard and strayed lives of many into well-organized and truly progressive ones.

In terms of Anatomy and Physiology, allmembers of the human species have more orless common features; their biological needsare also generally similar and so are theirnatural habits of food and requirements forhealthy survival. Nevertheless, while manyare found complaining about deprivations andlack of resources, with their elevated talentsand inherent excellence, a few rare ones are

able to become many times more successfulwith those very resources and opportunities.What might appear as formidable constraintsto others, those very circumstances become thecause or support for high rise for them. Onlybecause of their talent, at times, peopleaccomplish such remarkable feats and attainsuch great success, fame, and influence that itappears to the onlookers nothing short of amiracle.

The radiance of pratibh³ also creates a strongfield of personal magnetism and charisma thatnaturally pulls large number of friends,associates, and followers. Who had travelledaround to invite and organize the “bears andmonkeys” (who became the strong army of Ramin his victorious war against Ravana), the“Gopa-Gopis” (associates of Krishna), Bhikkshusand Parivrajaks (followers of Buddha), andSatyagrahis (patriotic participants in the non-violent freedom struggle under the leadershipof Mahatma Gandhi)? How do the butterfliesand honey bees sense the presence of flowersand rush towards them from odd places? Thelives of great personalities, though hard andfull of testing adversities, have such anattraction that numerous persons are foundeager to emulate them and endeavor toestablish high ideals in the society.

The grandeur, beauty and prosperity found inthis world have not come into existence simplybecause of wealth and materialistic resources.Hidden behind each outstanding achievementin this world is the will of some creative geniusand visionary who conceptualized, planned,took initiative at an appropriate time, efficiently


As prosperity is promoted, thinking is demoted. - Martin H. Fischer

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took care of all aspects, and finally made hisvision/dream materialize by putting in his fulldedicated effort. This is what defines grandsuccess. One does not have to beg or wait forsomebody’s mercy or help to achieve it.

If a person constantly introspects and makesperseverant endeavors to sharpen andaugment his intellectual and physical faculties,tries to refine and strengthen his mind, andprogressively shoulders and fulfils greaterresponsibilities, then by virtue of his increasedand refined potentials and efficientmanagement skills, he is crowned with successin all his efforts, wherever he goes. This is likea divine gift which can turn an ordinary personinto a luminary. This pratibh³ is no less thanwhat would lead to attainment of Riddhi-Siddhi– supernormal powers.

Ifthe level of thoughts, character, intrinsic faith,wisdom, courage, and managerial capacity ofa person are high (evolved), the effect andconsequences of these attributes will notremain confined only to him. Directly orindirectly, they will also contribute to the

upliftment and motivation of many others whocome in his contact. The invisible aura of suchan illumined person expands and spreads thespring of its positive attributes wherever itreaches.

In a nutshell, excellence accounts for holisticgrowth of the individuals as well as the society.Sagacious texts also convey that a distinct talentor extraordinary faculty is adorable only if itis also guided by awakened Conscience. Self-discipline and self-refinement are regardedhere as essential for nurturing talent andexcellence. Cultivation of unflinchingdetermination, courage, orderliness,punctuality, integrity, motivation, diligence,positive and prudent thinking, compassion andphilanthropy, is identified by savants asintegral to the process of self-refinement.Expansion of these qualities augments andilluminates one’s talent. Like the legendaryKings Bhagirath and Harishchandra of pre-historic times, the excellence of thoughts,character and deeds of such an illuminedperson continues to inspire and elevate the livesof many over generations to come.

Recognize things when they are at their best, in their season, and know how toenjoy them then. The works of nature all amount to a peak of perfection; up to itthey wax, beyond it they wane. Only in matters of art have a few gone to thepoint where they might not be improved. It is the mark of cultivated taste toenjoy everything at its best. But all may not do this, and not all who may, knowhow. Even the fruits of the spirit have their moment of ripeness, and it is well torecognize this, in order to value it properly and attend to it.”

- Baltasar Gracián


Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not havingany opinion at all. - G.C. Lichtenberg

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Odyssey of the Enlightened – 49

The Round of Preparations -2

The successors of Dr. Annie BesantDr. Annie Besant expired 1933 but thecontroversy that was generated in her time stillpersisted. A branch of Theosophical Societywas opened in Agra; and there alsoreverberated the echo of that controversy.Shriram was very much familiar withTheosophical Society. The activities ofTheosophical movement were not very visibleas this was not an active organization. Shriramagreed with its philosophy but, from the pointof view of activities, he was more near to AryaSamaj. In politics, he was on the platform ofCongress; and in the cultural field, he was onthe platform of Arya Samaj. In 1934,theosophists became active in Agra. Earlier toothere were a few members of this society, butafter the death of Annie Besant, they startedexpanding the work.

A Sadhak named Pandit Anant Narayan Jutsitook charge of Theosophical Society in Agra.He organized a festival in September, 1934.Probably it was the period of Ashvin Navratri.It was a Sadhana - shivir (camp) of four days.Twelve Sadhaks participated in it. Apart fromDhyan - Dharna, there used to be Pravachans alsoin the afternoon and evening. Jutsiji persuadedShriram to participate in the camp. Throughdiscussions and discourses, Shriram gotacquainted with the thoughts and beliefs of the

Theosophical Society. In this interaction, thecauses of disintegration of the society were alsomade known to him.

Selection for specific experimentsThe controversy that hurt Theosophicalmovement was concerned with a brilliantyouth named J. Krishnamurthy. Due to someinborn virtues in Krishnamurthy (born inMadanapalle, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh),Annie Besant and her colleague C. W.Leadbeater, took him under their protection.They had already taken Krishnamurthy’s elderbrother earlier under their protection, but theirhope rested more on Krishnamurthy.

Annie Besant believed that if some specificorientation / training were given to this child,he could become a messiah for propagating themessage of spirituality to the world. Shearranged the best possible education forKrishnamurthy. She took him abroad and kepthim in the proximity of sadhaks of Theosophyin London. Full attention was paid to him interms of food, living, learning environment andculture. This preparation was done for aboutfifteen years. Annie Besant also gave somelectures on the mission and purpose of birthof Krishnamurthy. The essence of thoselectures was that Lord Buddha, prior to hisMahanirvan, had promised his disciples that he


All sorts of reflections of this nature passed through my mind—for as I grow older I regret tosay that a detestable habit of thinking seems to be getting a hold of me... - H. Rider Haggard

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would take birth once more; and after 2500years, his consciousness would make someonehis vehicle. At that time, he would again showthe correct path to the way–lost humanity. In1926-27, Annie Besant made a tour of severalplaces in Britain and America and keptKrishnamurthy with him. In the publicmeetings, she would introduce him and saythat once again Lord Buddha would give hismessage to humanity through this youth.

In those meetings, Krishnamurthy also usedto speak. His lectures used to be centeredaround two themes – ‘Appa dipo bhava’(meaning: Be your own source of light) and‘Sarvam dukham dukham’ (meaning: There is painand sorrow everywhere). After addressingseveral meetings, for almost two years, inBritain, America, France, Itali, Japan, etc, AnnieBesant returned to India. Krishnamurthy was

also called back. As soon as he returned toIndia, there arose a controversy. His parentsasserted their right over their son. Earlier alsothey were doing so, but as Krishnamurthy wasliving abroad, no legal action could be taken.In 1927, as soon as he returned to India, theyfiled a case against Theosophical Society (TS)in Madras High Court. They charged, ‘AnnieBesant and Leadbeater kidnapped their son inthe childhood; they enticed the child,frightened him and brought him up in adifferent culture.’

The case was fought for a long time. Duringthe trial, several types of charges were labeledwhich hurt Annie Besant deeply. For a person,who was President of ‘Indian Home RuleLeague’ – a socio-political organization, thecharge of kidnapping a boy itself was a sourceof unbearable hurt. Apart from that, the chargeof destroying the character of the child shookher still more deeply.

Krishnamurthy’s FranknessA situation came during the hearing whenthere was need of Krishnamurthy’s testimony.At that time, he was a young man of thirtytwo; and due to his association with TS, hewas commanding a great respect. In hisstatement, Krishnamurthy declared himself tobe separate from both – his biological familyand the TS. He didn’t complain against anyone;he also didn’t show any attachment to either.The end of the legal proceedings was strange.The verdict didn’t go in anybody’s favour. ButAnnie Besant could not bear the shock. She fellsick; and after a prolonged illness passed awayin 1933.

Every aspect of Nature reveals a deepmystery and touches our sense of won-der and awe. Those afraid of the uni-verse as it really is, those who pretendto nonexistent knowledge and envisiona Cosmos centered on human beingswill prefer the fleeting comforts of super-stition. They avoid rather than confrontthe world. But those with the courage toexplore the weave and structure of theCosmos, even where it differs pro-foundly from their wishes and preju-dices, will penetrate its deepest mys-teries.

- Carl Sagan


Thoughts are like an open ocean, they can either move you forward within its waves, or sinkyou under deep into its abyss. - Anthony Liccione

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This controversy was also a matter ofdiscussion in the Sadhana- Shivir organized inAgra. People expressed their sympathytowards Annie Besant and Leadbeater.According to them, whatever spiritualawakening had occurred within Krishnamurthywas due only to the efforts of those twopioneer theosophists. He should not have leftTS. Instead, he should have expressed hisgratitude. It would have been still better if hehad remained in the same movement and givenit a new direction.

Where was the lapse?It was the third day of the shivir. Sadhaks weretalking that Krishnamurthy had set up his ownorganization and that he would workindependently. Like everyday, that day alsoShriram got up at 3 AM and was engaged inJapa-Dhyan. By the time Dhyan was complete,there was some spark of realization. This wasrelated to the discussions at TS camp. By 7:30AM he was ready and arrived in the shivir toparticipate in the collective sadhana. The topicof the day was – ‘Invisible guidance availablein the path of spirituality.’ The invited guestto speak on this topic was Swami Nikhilanand.Swamiji had his own Ashram. He was verymuch influenced by the philosophy of TS.

Beginning his Pravachan (discourse) he said –“It is enough even to resolve to move onto thepath of sadhana. After taking the resolve, theliberated souls rush to sadhak for help. As theevil spirits push a person onto the path ofdecline; in the same way elevated spiritsintensify the desire for salvation in resolutesadhaks.” As soon as the Pravachan ended, a

sadhak named Yogendra Mathur asked aquestion – “Swamiji! If the liberated spiritshelp, then they must also be looking after thesadhaks very well.

Swamiji said – ‘Certainly’. Then the nextquestion of Mathur was – ‘If this is true, thenwhy Krishnamurthy deviated from the groupin which he grew up?”

Swamiji had no answer to this question. Hewas taken aback. Then he composed himselfand said honestly – “I have no answer to thisquestion. If any one of you wants to saysomething, he is most welcome.” Sadhaks werelooking at one another; but no one had theanswer to this question. Shriram raised hishand and after getting the green signal fromSwamiji he got up. He started saying – “Resolvealone is not enough. It requires sadhana too.Without this, what to talk of invisible spirits,even God is unable to help. In bringing upKrishnamurthy, there was one lapse on the partof the great Annie Besant and other siddhascholars. That lapse was that they themselvesdid the sadhana that was to be done byKrishanmurthy. This raised the level ofKrishnamurthy but he could not assimilate theenergy of sadhana. Therefore, when theresponsibility of spiritual growth of others wasto be entrusted to Krishnamurthy, he deviatedfrom it. He refused to take the responsibility.”

Swami Nikhilanand felt that Shriram wasgiving the answer from his experience or innervision. He asked – “Is it true that theconsciousness of Lord Buddha was to descendin his personality?” Shriram said – “Certainly,


One cannot think crooked and walk straight. - Author Unknown

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because the great adepts of theosophicaloccultism like Annie Besant and others wereworking hard on his spiritual growth forsixteen years. This endeavor was to makeKrishnamurthy a fit medium for that descent.”Swamiji asked – “Then where was the lapse?Why didn’t the spirit of Buddha descend inhim?”

“Because, Krishnamurthy didn’t preparehimself for it. Had this preparation got doneby him, then the experiment of Annie Besantwould have been successful.” – Said Shriram.After a pause, he again said – “But that

possibility is not altogether ruled out. That isstill valid. The consciousness of Buddha willmake someone else his medium.”

“Can you tell me when would that rightmoment arrive? Will we be the witness to thatincident?” asked Swamiji. Shriram said – “Ifone opportunity is lost, then second shouldcome quickly. In fact, this is the right time. Icannot say which body Tathagat would use ashis medium, but it is also possible that he maydo so in the near future. That medium will notneed any evidence / proof. The world willautomatically recognize him.”

There was a boy, who was smart, talented and handsome. However, very often he gotangry and said hurtful things to people around him. The boy’s parents got concernedabout his bad temper; and one day the father had an idea. He called his son andgave him a hammer and a bag of nails. The father said: ‘Every time you get angry,take a nail and drive into that old fence as hard as you can.

The fence was very tough and the hammer was heavy; nevertheless the boy was sofurious that during the very first day he had driven 37 nails. Day after day, week afterweek, the number of nails was gradually decreasing. After some time, the boy startedto understand that holding his temper is easier than driving nails into the fence. Oneday he came to his father and told about his achievement.

Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long, pull out one nail. - suggestedfather. Much time had passed. At last the boy was proud of himself as all the nailswere gone. When he reported this to his father, the latter told him: ‘You did a good job,my son, but pay your attention to the holes that were left from the nails. The fence willnever be the same. The same happens when you say hurtful things to people, as yourwords leave scars in their hearts like those holes in the fence.’ The boy comprehendedthe message that he should treat people with love and compassion.


Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.- Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare

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It is never easy to forgive, either others orourselves. Every time a mistake is committed,a strange sadness, pain, anger or fear getsingrained in mind that lingers and growswithin. Our mind keeps wandering back againand again to the incident that caused usbotheration and difficulty, or resulted infailure, or caused us deep anguish. Our mindfeels a bit relieved on recounting the incidentbut its pain does not subside.

Due to recurring reminiscences, we do not findit easy to forgive whoever we feel isresponsible for the incident, whether that is theothers or our own selves. This hurts us butwe cannot take any meaningful correctiveactions nor are we able to share our feelings withothers. We are not able to forget others’ or ourown mistakes, and even if we ignore thesemistakes, we do not forgive whole-heartedly theperson responsible. We may say that we haveforgiven, but in the heart of heart we do not.And this causes guilt to linger on that we havenot truly forgiven someone or our own selves.

Whenever our mind gets stuck upon a mistake,we keep feeling anguished by recounting themistake and this creates distress. By notforgiving we know that we are committing amistake and that this will become a huge loadaround our necks; yet, we feel helpless when

Let’s Learn to Forgive and Forget

there is a need to forgive. The reason for thisis our ego, which forces us to become rigid andinflexible towards others or ourselves. Everyonecommits a mistake sometime or the other inone’s life. Sometimes these mistakes occurunintentionally and cannot be prevented.Pardoning such mistakes alone can reduce theburden from our minds and bring some succor.

If mistakes are not forgiven, the person whohas committed them gets burdened with guilt,while the person who has not forgiven alsosuffers distress. It is necessary to atone forerrors, but it is also necessary to forgive ourand others’ mistakes that have got committedunintentionally. Only then can we feel at peaceand then these instances get faded out fromour memories quicker. Otherwise, mistakeshave a tendency to get strongly engraved inour subconscious minds and it becomes verydifficult to erase these impressions.

It is true that it is not easy to return goodnessin response to evil. But it is also not good tokeep recounting errors or hurts, that weourselves or others may have inflicted upon usand keep reliving the pain. Even if we may havefaced injustice or partiality, only by pardoningothers can we adopt the right outlook, earnstrength to move on in the right direction andincrease our capacity to think and act wisely.


No amount of energy will take the place of thought. A strenuous life with its eyes shut is a kindof wild insanity. - Henry Van Dyke

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Forgiveness has immense benefits and it isgood to know these. Knowing them will makeit easier to forgive others! The first and theforemost benefit is – seeking forgiveness andactually forgiving others improves our ownhealth significantly as the mind feels light andhappy. This causes quick recovery from illnessestoo. Secondly, by forgiving, our way ofinteraction with others improves significantly.Thirdly, our mental state shows a markedimprovement after we forgive others, andfourthly, our mind becomes fearless and calm,helping us to mix with others freely again. Thisgives us another opportunity to reformourselves and lead a better life again.

When we forgive others, and then take arelook and analyze old mistakes, we oftenlearn many new dimensions. We begin to knowpeople better than earlier, understand why themistakes got committed, what the possibilitiesof their recurrence are, and what theadvantages of overlooking them or notrepeating them are. Our expectations of othersbecome more realistic too.

If we keep high expectations of others or ofour own selves and when we find that ourexpectations have fallen short, we begin toregard ourselves or others guilty and find itdifficult to pardon the failures. But we mustunderstand that we all have limited capabilitiesand strengths. We cannot work beyond these. Ifsomeone expects more, we can try but there canbe no assurance that we will definitely succeed.

We must always bear in mind and put inefforts to recognize our and others’ limited

capabilities before harboring greatexpectations. It is natural that mistakes mayhappen when tasks taken up are beyondcapabilities. This should not result in guilt;instead, we must try to enhance our strengths.By pardoning ourselves and others, all thebitterness gets washed away, cleansing themind once again. When one’s mind hasbitterness, he cannot behave positively withothers as he remains disturbed internally. It isvery necessary to wash away bitterness andcleanse the mind, which is possible only byforgiving others or ourselves.

Life becomes calmer and happier by forgivingothers. All the feelings of anger and animosityget washed away. It is important to introspectbitter instances of life, identify people due towhom we have suffered or felt aggrieved orgot hurt and pained. After remembering thecircumstances and the people involved, we mustpardon them whole-heartedly. On the otherhand, if we have hurt others, we must nothesitate to go and seek forgiveness of them. Thisprocess is the only way by which we can freeourselves from the bindings of errors.

Yugrishi Param Pujya Gurudev used to call thisas ‘Nishkasan Tap’ and considered it asmandatory before starting any sadhana. He saidthat harboring mistakes, shortcomings and sinsin our mind burdens it and gives rise to anumber of mental ailments. Accepting mistakesand forgiving others for having committedthem is a method of atonement whose aim isto rid the subconscious mind of all the dirt andblemishes and to refine the personality.


Believing is easier than thinking (and) hence (there are) so many more believers thanthinkers. - Bruce Calvert

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It is theoretically possible to condition thesubconscious mind to act for healing the bodyby “brainwashing” the conscious mind.However, while treating a patient, the therapistdoes not have enough time and opportunity touse the methodology of prolonged motivationfor transforming the mindset of the patient. Insuch cases, the therapist may use the methodof affirmations for sedating the outer consciousmind of the patient and then interface with hissubconscious mind for healing.

In this method, the patient is asked to beseated comfortably in front of the therapist anddirected to relax the body. If the patient hasbecome very frail due to sickness, let him/herlie flat on the bed with the head raised a little.Ask the patient to straighten his body and relaxit as much as possible. Restraining the bodyfrom any movement let it lie on the bed totallyimmobile like deadwood. Ask the patient tovacate the mind as well of the myriad chainsof thoughts. Let the patient look at you (thetherapist) with half-closed eyes and imaginethat in an immense void of space, only yourhead is seen. Within a short time, the patientwill begin to feel drowsy. If the patient desires,he/she may close the eyes, but even with eyeskept shut, only the head of the therapist shouldremain on the canvas of the mind. In this way,within five to ten minutes, in the state of

Interfacing with theSubconscious Mind of the Patient

Prana Therapy - 13

drowsiness, the external mind of the patientwill become tranquil and fall into sedation. Itdoes not matter if the patient does not feelsleepy. Relaxation of the body to maximumpossible extent would also serve the purpose.When the patient thus becomes totally relaxed,a mantra is used for communicating with thesubconscious mind of the patient.

(In the context of Prana therapy, this mantra is anaffirmation spoken by the therapist. It is a command,directing the subconscious mind of the patient towork for healing. The acceptance of the commandmakes the subconscious mind direct the body to actfor healing.)

A little practice and advance preparation isrequired for enunciation of the mantra. Thetherapist should clearly remember the scriptof the mantra word by word so that he/shedoes not waver or pause while speaking itduring the treatment. The entire mantra shouldbe enunciated slowly, clearly and firmly -giving emphasis on each word. It should bespoken in continuity from beginning to end.Any faltering, deviation from the text orharshness in voice would not create the desiredimpression on the mind of the patient. Ifpronounced with feelings of love, cheerfulness,conviction and firmness, the mantra willbecome extraordinarily effective. While


A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is aninvisible labor. - Victor Hugo

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speaking the mantra, in the beginning the toneis kept extremely low, lest it startles thepatient. Later the pitch could be raised a little.After becoming familiar with the above aspectsof pronouncing mantra, bring your mouthwithin a foot of the right ear of the patientand speak the following affirmation:AFFIRMATIONYou have become fully relaxed. You are feeling peacefuland happy.

On being relaxed, all muscles of your body areresting.

Your trustful mind is faithfully following thedirections being given by me. The words being spokenare going to act on your receptive body.

As seeds sown in a fertile field sprout making itappear full of vitality, these commands will act onthe organs of your body and make you hale and hearty.Your digestive system is becomingstronger….stronger….stronger.

Now, at this very moment, it is beginning tofunction properly.(Pause)The blood in your body has become full of vitality. Warming up with great energy, it is now vigorouslycirculating in your veins, nerves and arteries, curingeach cell of your body and making it active.(Pause)Now I am transmitting energy to your tired organsand giving these new health, strength, capabilityand vitality.

You are immediately going to feel improvement,progress and peace.

The good wishes of happiness and recovery which Iam introducing in your body are going to remove allyour suffering.

Keep on thinking again and again about this bliss,comfort, peace, pleasure, health and beauty; sincethe environment all around you has been filled withthese things.

Mind is like the roots of a treeThe Gita compares man with a fig tree having its roots above and it branches and leavesbelow. The branches and leaves are clearly visible but the roots - being hidden underground- are invisible. Nonetheless, the visible part of the tree reflects what those seemingly invisibleroots crucially do for the rest of the tree. When the roots of a tree don’t get water, thebranches and leaves would start to wilt and wither away. On the other hand, when the treehas its roots deeply burrowed into the ground enabling them to get plentiful of water andnutrients would make the tree grow quite well.

Man is also in a similar situation. Thinking happens to be his roots. The quality of thinking,core beliefs and aspirations of an individual create corresponding outer situations for him.For example, the inner deprivation of an individual becomes manifested as insufficiency oremptiness in his outer life. The lack of knowledge and wisdom only reflects the lack ofcuriosity. Whoever trains their mind to be content with and wisely utilize whatever they haveare destined to enjoy happiness and contentment in their life.



Few minds wear out; more rust out. - Christian N. Bovee

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Keeping in view religious sensitivity of thepatient, end this affirmation by sweetlypronouncing “O-o-o-mmm Aanandam”. Onpronouncing these words, paranormalfrequencies of sound are produced. Thesesound waves have a miraculous effect on thebiological rhythms of organs in the body.

Note:1. The affirmation is required to be repeated

a number of times. Generally it would besufficient to pronounce it three times.

2. The therapist may use the aforementionedwords or compose some other affirmationhaving a similar concept. The words beingused in the affirmation should be fullycomprehensible to the patient. If required,a suitable translation of the aboveaffirmation, with little or moremodification, may be used. Simply speaking“Your disease, pain and suffering willvanish” will also serve the purpose. Thesewords would also create an image ofwellness on the subconscious mind of thepatient.

3. Remember to use only those words whichhave a curative effect.

Keep sitting beside the patient, till he/sheregains the normal state of consciousness.

When the patient returns to the fully awakenedstate from the relaxation of drowsiness,soothingly stroke his/her head with your handwith a smile and pat it gently.

Give repeated assurances by speaking suchsentences: “Now you are looking fine. Don’tyou feel more peaceful than before?”

The abovementioned procedure or some similarmethod can be used for reforming the mindsetof the patient.

If feeling oppressed because of some guilt-consciousness; on account of reaction of somebad habit or depressed because of recollectionsof past mishaps, the patient may be encouragedto perform some act of virtue like giving ofalms. It would relieve the stress. However, ifthe patient is temperamentally a miser, andthe thought of losing money in this way islikely to have an adverse effect on his peace ofmind, the suggested act of virtue could be lessexpensive, while appearing beneficial, for alarge number of living beings. For instance,placing a fistful of sugar or flour near thedwellings of ants, feeding monkeys with nuts,or fish with grains of food, would also havethe desired effect on the psyche of the patient.Depending on the emotional state and state ofdisease many other techniques for reformingthe mindset of patient can be developed.

Three Simple Rules in Life:1. If you do not GO after what you want, You will never get it;2. If you do not ASK, The answer will always be NO;3. If you do not STEP FORWARD, You will always be in the SAME PLACE.


What a blessing it is to be alone with your thoughts when so many are alone with theirinability to think. - Robert Brault

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Suppression leads to disorder - subtle orphysical. The latter may lead to disease whichmay induce an unending process ofdeterioration, if not taken care of properly.Thus, the end result of suppression is alwaysdisastrous. This is a process which never comesto an end, because whatever is suppresseddoes not totally cease to exist, but continuesto persist in a dormant form. The suppressortries to continue the quelling to prevent it fromovercoming that state. Otherwise, theconsequence may be entirely different and theformer could completely eliminate the latter.The solution lies in transformation.

Suppression of thoughts is very dangerous.Ideally, they should be transformed. But,instead of this, if they are merely suppressed,they give rise to a sort of psychologicalpressure. When this pressure becomesintolerable, it causes such a buildup that afteranalyzing the damage caused, it is felt that itwould have been better had they been let out.It is the inherent nature of the mind that itbecomes curious to think in the directionrestricted for it. For instance, when peoplemeditate, they try to contemplate only on piousthoughts. But, if this is done by subduingmalicious thoughts without inculcating purityfrom within, then these thoughts begin tocreate a psychological pressure and are later

expressed as useless imaginations, whichdistract the concentration. If someone isprevented from eating sweets, then he wouldcrave for them even more. Similarly, when kidsare prevented from doing something, theybecome impatient for doing it.

The process of suppression has a similar impacton everyone. When the threshold limit isreached, the suppressed feelings and thoughtsget expressed in an aggressive manner. Thenit really becomes difficult to control the floodof emotions. Suppression is not only harmfulfor the mind, but even adversely affects thebody and its various biological processes.

The physiological processes have a limit. Forinstance, hunger could be restrained only uptoa certain limit, beyond which, one begins toingest anything he gets. Then he would notthink whether it is hygienically proper to eatit or not. Then no exposition could stop theperson from eating even impure things. So, itis rightly said thatone cannot pray with anempty stomach. The same rule applies to allother somatic processes.

The suppression of emotions proves to be themost harmful. This is because expression is theirnatural tendency. Prevention of this expressiongives rise to various psychological disorders.

A Journey fromDisorder to Harmony


Opinion is that exercise of the human will which helps us to make a decision withoutinformation. - John Erskine

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In fact, suppression of emotions is the rootcause of mental disorders. Revered Gurudevhas even said that mental disorders are the ill-consequences of suppressed feelings.

The sole remedy lies in transformation.Transformation means complete change like theseed changes into a tree and the waste becomesthe fertile manure. But, this remarkable changeoccurs in the life of a person only when onehas intense devotion and dedication for theAlmighty. This is the process, which leads tothe reformation of one’s personality.Repression involves unnecessary employmentof force, while transformation only requirescontemplative devotion to God. The former leadsto deformities, while devotion and dedicationchange them to power. For example, lustful lifeleads to decline, but after its positivetransformation to devotion it leads to upliftment.

The spiritual reality of life lies in itstransformation rather than suppressingthoughts and creating distortions. Suppressioncauses the divine to lose its divinity, the pure,its purity and the worthy, its worth. There is adividing line between suppression andtransformation. One side of this line hasdisorders and distortions, while on the otherside lie refinement, amelioration and purity.

Devotion and dedication towards the Almightybring a complete change in our thought process.Then we find nothing to be antagonistic orloathsome. This is because who is a beast atone end becomes the Omnipotent at the other.Spiritually, there is no difference between thetwo. They are just two different ends. Thus, abarbaric beast could be developed andtransformed into its creator. This is not animagination, but a reality, because within theanimal, Divinity lies in a hidden form. Whenthe outer covering is removed, the divinity isunleashed and the animal attains the status ofGod. Once a person understands this truth,then suppression and strife becomeirrelevant to him. Then he realizes that noone could be happy by splitting himself intopieces. He understands that the process ofsuppression could only cause pain, but itcannot take us to the eternal source of bliss.Further, it makes us arrogant rather thanhumble and wise.

Undulating devotion and dedication towardsGod is the sole medium through which hatecould change into adoration, distortion intodevelopment, decline into progress andsuppression into transformation.

The human body resonates at the same frequency as Mother Earth. So instead of onlyfocusing on trying to save the earth, which operates in congruence to our vibrations, I thinkit is more important to be one with each other. If you really want to remedy the earth, wehave to mend mankind. And to unite mankind, we heal the Earth. That is the only way.Mother Earth will exist with or without us. Yet if she is sick, it is because mankind is sick andseparated. And if our vibrations are bad, she reacts to it, as do all living creatures.

- Suzy Kassem


Some people do not become thinkers simply because their memoriesare too good. - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

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India is a country of youths. No nation otherthan India has so many young people. Ournation, which is known to the world as theyoungest nation, is now prepared to make amark even on the business front. Our youthhave brought a new radiance to the commercialsector and made a special place in varioussegments like finance, management,production, import-export, etc. Today, theyhave not only entered into businesses that wereuntil now considered to be the preserves forthe grownups and the experienced, but haveeven acquired a prominent place in these fields.The sector is currently reaping the fruits of theirskilled leadership.

According to the experts, today’s youths havea mature mindset and sophisticated skills. Theyare quite different from their counterparts wholived a few decades back. This is so becausethe productive ability of the former hasintegrated traditions with modernization.They believe that if there is courage, prudenceand the zeal to do something new, nothing isimpossible. Our industrious youths deserveappreciation because they have taughtthemselves the art of achieving even theimpossible.

According to a study conducted oninternational employment, companies spreadacross various sectors of our economy haveexperienced a decline in the average age of theirleadership. Today, young people between theages of 30 and 40 years are heading variousbusiness enterprises. The experts whoconducted the study have said that during thepast five years, this average age has reducedby about nine years. This data is surprising andit clearly shows the pace with which our youthsare acquiring the ability to lead. This trend isprimarily visible in the IT, banking and financerelated service sector.

The study further revealed that the year 2006witnessed a sharp decline in the age of theC.E.O.’s in the banking and financial service

Youth Column

Indian Youths are Opening theGates of Global Progress

The secret message communicated tomost young people today by the societyaround them is that they are not needed,that the society will run itself quite nicelyuntil they - at some distant point in thefuture - will take over the reigns. Yet thefact is that the society is not running itselfnicely… because the rest of us need allthe energy, brains, imagination and talentthat young people can bring to bear downon our difficulties. For society to attemptto solve its desperate problems without thefull participation of even very young peopleis imbecile.

- Alvin Toffler


Men can live without air a few minutes, without water for about two weeks, without food forabout two months — and without a new thought for years on end. - Kent Ruth

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sectors. But there was no such trend in 2001.Experts are considering it as a positive signindicating the bright future of our country inthe twenty-first century. Similarly, in the fieldof technology and software related servicesectors, the average age of the C.E.O.’s hasbeen further reduced this year. This is animpact of their zeal and the firm will-power tocomplete the tasks they take up.

The experts of the commercial sector believethat there is a deep co-relation between thisdecline in the average age and the growingdemand of the working professionals. They arein great demand especially in the I.T., B.P.O.and the finance related services. Analysts thinkthat even when the average age of the chiefexecutives is decreasing, yet there is an increasein the maturity level across various sectors.These changes occurring in the Indian servicesector, point towards bright prospects at theglobal level in the near future.

The world renowned Forbes magazine, whichis published from New York, has revealedsurprising data about our youngentrepreneurs. The magazine comes out with

an annual list of 500 most successful peoplebelow the age of 30 years, who are thetrendsetters in various fields. This year, in thislist, it has included 45 Indians or people ofIndian origin. These people have emerged asthe most successful youth professionals ofAmerica. They have been related to varioussectors like manufacturing, FMCG, technology,education, media, construction, law and ethics,social sector, science and art.

The Forbes magazine mentions the name of the27-year old, Lily Singh. She is an Indo-Canadian, who has employed her skills anddiligence for the popular internet website,YouTube. She is a Hollywood andentertainment segment writer, comedian andthe creator of Youtube. Another young Indiantalent in this list is Karishma Shah. She worksfor the Goggle Apps of Alphabet Inc. She isonly 25 years old and is the youngest employeeof the company. Sampriti Bhattacharya isanother young talent, who has glorified hername in the list of Forbes. She is 28 years oldand is the C.E.O. of Hydroswarm Company.She surprised the world by designing theunderwater drone.

That same night, I wrote my first short story. It took me thirty minutes. It was adark little tale about a man who found a magic cup and learned that if he wept intothe cup, his tears turned into pearls. But even though he had always been poor,he was a happy man and rarely shed a tear. So he found ways to make himselfsad so that his tears could make him rich. As the pearls piled up, so did his greedgrow. The story ended with the man sitting on a mountain of pearls, knife in hand,weeping helplessly into the cup with his beloved wife’s slain body in his arms.

- Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner


The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly themost valuable of any we have. - John Locke

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The commitment, perseverance and hard workof our young talents have enabled them tomake such incredible accomplishments. This isbecause of their talent, which could accomplisheven the impossible. It is a special endowment,which if channelized towards constructive andpositive pursuits, would ensure success andprestige. In this context, next comes the nameof Divya Nittimi, the 29 year old youngwoman, who has also made it to the Forbeslist. She is an investment analyst at the bankingglobal investors. This responsibility which shegot at such a young age is no less than a pleasantsurprise. The 27 year old Nila Das is includedfrom the field of finance. She is the Vice-presidentof the City Group. In this bank, she deals withthe secondary market, which involves thetransaction of millions of dollars every day.

The 22-year old Ritesh Agarwal has also beenhonored by Forbes. He is the founder and C.E.O.of the Oyo Rooms. The magazine mentions thatOyo has created a network of 2,200 small hotelsin 100 cities of India, at a time when the country is

experiencing a shortage of the budget-hotel chains.Next comes the name of the 28-year old VishalLugani, who is a senior associate at the Grey CraftPartners, a company in the Venture Capitalsegment. The 27 –year old Amit Mukherjee is asenior associate at the New Enterprise Associates.Previously, he was the member of the internetand the digital media investment banking teamof J.P. Morgan. Similarly, the 28- year old AnishaSingh is working in the Law and policy segment.She is the privacy and public policy advisor atFacebook.

Our young blood has the power of turningIndia into a commercial and economic superpower. The youths of all sections of our society,are moving ahead rapidly on the basis of theirtalent and diligence. Their commercial wisdomis remarkable. This is an incredible andinvincible resource of our country. This is thereason why the biggest of the big commercialenterprises of the world are giving priority tothe Indian youths. The multi-dimensionality oftheir thought process is their biggest strength.

One man decided to reach for his dream. But he didn’t have enough strength to do it. So he turned tohis mother: ‘Mother, help me!’ ‘Darling, I would be glad to help you, but I don’t have it. And everythingI had, I already gave to you. - Replied mother.He asked a wise man: ‘Master, tell me, where can I get strength?’ ‘It is said that, it is on the Everest.But I couldn’t find anything there, except the snowy winds. And when I came back, the time wasirretrievably lost.’ - Said the wise man.He asked the hermit: ‘Holy Father, where to find the strength for realization of my dream?’The hermit said ‘In your prayers, my son. And if your dream is false, you will understand it and findpeace in your prayers.’ The person asked everyone, but the only result of his searches was confusion.‘Why are you so confused?’ - asked an old man passing by.‘I have a dream, good man. But I don’t know where to find strength for its realization. I asked everyone,but there was no one who could help me.’ - Said the confused man.‘No one?’ – A light flashed in the old man’s eyes, - ‘And did you ask yourself?’


Men who borrow their opinions can never repay their debts. - George Savile

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The Triple State of the Realized OneAll the activities drop off in the final stage ofa jnani. But this does not mean that in the finalstate there would necessarily be completeabsence of activity; activities may take placeor they may not. This final state is extremelyfascinating and sublime. The jnani is notconcerned about what is taking place in thisstate. That would invariably be pure, good andbeneficial. The jnani stands at the zenithof sadhana. There he would be untouched byall the actions even while doing them. He mayeven destroy, and yet he is not the destroyer;and even if he does good, he is not the doer ofthe good.

The final state of moksha is the zenith of sadhana.In this state, sadhana becomes natural andeffortless. Then there is not even the thoughtthat ‘I am doing something.’ This final state ofrealization (Siddhavastha) is not a state ofmorality. A child speaks truth, but it is not amoral act, as he has no idea of untruth. To speaktruth while being aware of untruth is a moralact. In the final state, untruth does not exist;truth alone exists. So there is no question ofmorality. What is forbidden, what is worthabjuring comes nowhere in the picture. Earsdo not hear what should not be heard; eyes donot see what should not be seen. Only that getsdone which ought to be done; one does not

Renunciation of the Fruit ofActions Leads to the Grace of the Lord - 3

Talks on the Gita – 50

have to do it consciously. One need not haveto avoid consciously what is worth avoiding,but it does get avoided. It is in this culminationof sadhana, when it has become natural,amoral—or you may call it supra-moral—thatmorality reaches its supreme height. We maycall this a state of sattviksadhana wherein sattva has been transcended.

How is one to describe such a state? Just asone gets indications of the coming eclipse, thereare indications in this state that moksha is tofollow the death of the body. Experiences ofthe state of moksha begin even while thephysical body is still in existence. Words fail,language falters while describing this state.Howsoever violence a man in this statecommits, he does nothing. How to judge hisactions? Whatever is done at his hands willbe nothing but sattvik karma. Even when he nomore does any activity, he shows the right pathto all in the world. This grand vision makesone speechless.

This final state is three-dimensional. One ofthem is the state in which we find sageVamadeva. His declaration is famous: ‘All thatis there in this universe, that am I.’ Ajnani becomes completely egoless. He loses anysense of identification with the body. Hisactivities cease. Then he attains a special state


What luck for rulers that men do not think. - Adolph Hitler

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of consciousness. In this state he is no moreconfined to a single body. This state is not astate of activity. It is a state marked withintense and pervasive emotions and feelings.All of us can have experience of this state on asmall scale. A mother takes upon herself thevirtues as well as vices of her child. The child’ssorrow makes her sad and his happiness makesher happy. But this state, this experience ofidentity in the case of a mother is limited toher child. She takes upon herself the child’sfaults. A jnani takes upon himself the faults ofthe whole world. He becomes a sinner by thesins of the world and the virtues of the worldmake him virtuous. And yet he is absolutelyuntouched by the merits and the sins of theworld.

In the Rudra Sukta in the Veda, the sagesays, ‘Yavashcha me tilashcha me godhoomashchame’ (‘Give me barley, give me sesame, give mewheat.’) He is continually demandingsomething or the other. How big is hisstomach? But then he, who was demandingall this, was not one contained in a singlephysical body measuring three cubits and a half;his Self had become one with the wholeuniverse. I call this ‘Vedic vishwatmabhava’ (TheVedic attitude of identification with the wholeuniverse) as we find this sense of identity atits height in the Vedas.

Narsi Mehta, the Gujarati saint, says, whilesinging the Lord’s praise, ‘Bapji pap mein kavankindha hashe, nam letam taraun nidra aawe’ (‘OLord! What sin have I committed, that I shouldfeel sleepy while chanting your Name?’). WasNarsi Mehta feeling sleepy? No, it was those

who had assembled to listen to him who weresleepy. But Narsi Mehta had identified himselfwith them; he was in a particular state ofconsciousness. This is the state of the jnani.The jnani, in this state, may be seen doing allconceivable virtuous and sinful acts, and hewould himself concede it. Does not the Vedicsage say, ”I have done a lot of things thatshould not have been done, I am doing suchthings, and will continue doing them.” Whensuch a state of consciousness is attained, theSelf begins to soar high in the sky like a bird.It transcends the limitations of earthlyexistence.

Just like this state of consciousness, the jnani hasalso a state of activity. What sort of activitieswill the jnani do naturally? Whatever he willdo will be nothing but sattvik. Although he isstill bound by the limitations of the humanbody, his whole body, all of his organs havebecome sattvik; so all his activities are boundto be sattvik. If you look at it from the point ofview of practical affairs, his behaviour willreflect the ultimate perfection ofthe sattvik nature; if you look at it from the pointof view of vishwatmabhava, he appears to bedoing all the sinful and the virtuous deeds inthe universe, and still he is untouched by them.It is so because he has peeled off and flungaway the body stuck to the Self. It is only whenone flings away this worthless body that oneattains the state of identification with thewhole universe.

Besides the state of consciousness and the stateof activity, the jnani has a third state too. Thatis the state of jnana, the state of knowledge. In


[Thinking is] what a great many people think they are doing when they are merelyrearranging their prejudices. - William James

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this state, he can neither bear with sin norvirtue and flings aside everything quickly. Heis ready to set fire to the whole universe. Heis not prepared to undertake any action. Itsvery touch repels him. In the final stageof sadhana or in the state of moksha, these threestates are conceivable for the jnani.

How is one to imbibe this state of no activity,this last state? The way is to train ourselvesnot to take upon our shoulders the burden ofbeing the doer of the actions we do. We shouldkeep reflecting, ‘I just happen to beinstrumental. I am not really the doer ofactions.’ We should first assume this standwith humility. This, of course, will notimmediately result in the complete eradicationof the sense of being the doer. It can happenonly gradually. Let us first feel that ‘I amnothing, I am just a puppet in His hands. He ismoving me.’ The next step is to feel that ‘theactivities do not touch the Self; they are of thisbody. But I am not this transient and mortalbody; I am full of divine consciousness.’ And,meditating over this feeling, you should remaincompletely untouched by the fetters of thebody. When this happens, the state of jnani willbe attained wherein connection with the bodyis as if completely severed. This state will bethree-dimensional as we have already referred.In the state of activity, wholly pure and perfectactivities will be done at the hands of the jnani.In the state of consciousness, he will have thefeeling that he is the doer of all the sins andthe virtuous deeds in the universe; yet he willremain untouched by them. In the third stateof jnana, he will not let any karma touch him andwill burn it down. A jnani can be described in

terms of all these three dimensions of the finalstate.

‘Thou Alone......Thou Alone’Having said all this, the Lord then asksArjuna, ”Have you listened to all this carefully? Now ponder over it fully and then do whatyou think right.” The Lord thusmagnanimously gave complete freedom toArjuna. This is a unique feature of the Gita.But then compassion welled up in Him and Hetook back that freedom. He told Arjuna, “Giveup your will, your sadhana; give up everythingand come to Me; take refuge in Me.” Whatthis means is that you should not have anyindependent self-will; you should do what Hewills you to do. Let His will prevail. With fullfreedom, you should feel that you need haveno freedom. Reduce yourself to zero. Let therebe the Lord, and the Lord alone, in theuniverse. The goat, while alive,bleats ‘mee.....mee’ that is, ‘I....I....’ But when itis dead and its guts are made into strings forcarding cotton, the strings, as saint Dadu says,give the sound ‘tuhi ......tuhi’ (‘Thoualone....Thou alone....’). Now there is nothingbut ‘Thou alone.....Thou alone.....’

(This is the concluding part of this serial. -Editor)

[Reproduced with kind permission ofParamdham Publication, Pavnar from Chapter18 of ‘Talks on The Gita’ by Sant Vinoba Bhave,16th edition (Jan 2005)]


For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices oncein a while. - Luther Burbank

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An individual personality is the permutationand combination of various traits put together.These traits may be either positive or negative.Some of these traits dominate a person’spersonality and are clearly visible. Anindividual is appreciated or criticized accordingto this dominating quality. On the basis of thisprominent trait an individual is recognized andcategorized accordingly.

Whether You Praise or Criticize,

It Should Benefit OthersAppreciation is an opinion expressed in sweetwords regarding an individual for his actionin a situation or the trait he possesses. Itcreates good impression on the person heinteracts with as well as the observers. Praisingand listening to praise give contentment andinner peace to both. The moral of the fortunateone who is appreciated is boosted so that heworks tirelessly to enhance the trait beingpraised further. The ones who appreciate thetrait are impressed and in the long run wish toemulate the person they admire. This workspositively on everybody.

If a person praises himself, it sounds ego. Onewho becomes habitual to listen to appreciationor works only for listening the sweet wordsin praise slowly turns to be an egoist. Beautyof the trait appreciated is lost and the pride ofthe trait evolves into an egoist through it.Every individual is quite aware of himself atheart. Other’s observation / remarks come asappreciation. Listening to appreciation is alsoaddiction. An addicted person gets entangledin it. He then works only to receiveappreciation. This fuels his ego further andresults in his decline.

There is an anecdote revealing the worth ofappreciation. Once the sage Vishwamitra, whowas a Maharishi (sage of higher rank), became

There lived a lonely old man in the vil-lage. In the evenings the local boys used to playclose to his house. The games were accompa-nied with loud cries.

The old man was done with it, so one eveninghe invited the boys into his house. He told themhow much he likes listening to loud childrenvoices, and promised to give each of them Rs50/ if they promise to come again tomorrow.

The boys came and played even morecheerfully and loudly. The old man paid themand promised to pay again the next time.

But the next evening instead of Rs. 50/, the boys got only Rs 20/.

On the third evening the old man paidthem only Rs. 10/ and explained that he’srunning out of money.

‘Dear children! Would you agree tocome again tomorrow and just play?’ – He asked

Extremely disappointed, the boys saidthat they won’t come anymore. Is it worth losingso much energy for free?


How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of makingprogress. - Niels Bohr

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very ambitious. He wished that the title ofBrahmarishi (sage of the highest rank of thewhole universe) be conferred on him. Heundertook great penance to please LordBrahma to get the title as a boon. Lord Brahmawas pleased; he appeared before him butconfessed his inability to do so. He said, ‘Onlysage Vashishtha can confer this title on you.’’Maharishi Vishwamitra strongly dislikedMaharishi Vashishtha. He organized a fireritual (yagya). In this event, he invitedeverybody except sage Vashishtha. SageVashistha’s sons sensed the situation and wereannoyed. In retalliation they tried to spoil theevent but were destroyed by Vishwamitra’spower of penance. Still he was not satisfied.One day he went to sage Vashishtha’s cottagein disguise intending to harm him. He heardthe conversation between sage Vashishtha andhis righteous wife Arundhati. He wasastonished because the sage was singingpraises of Vishwamitra. He felt ashamed anddeeply sorrowful. Overcoming all his ego, heat once fell on Vashishtha’s feet forforgiveness. He confessed his ignorance anddeeply ingrained sense of vengeance towards

the sage. Maharishi Vashishtha forgave himand also addressed him as ‘‘Brahmarishi”. Bynow Vishawamitra had lost the desire for thistitle which he received surprisingly.

A well-known Hindi poet and saint, GoswamiTulsidas wrote: ‘‘It’s not that only good traitsreceive appreciation but it’s the distinctness ina trait that receives praises.” For instance, avery small quantity of nectar can save lives ina short span of time. A drop of poison candestroy lives of thousands of people in amoment. Nectar is praised for its life savingquality whereas poison for its life destroyingquality.

A person or thing is appreciated andrecognized for its distinct quality. The amountand intensity of appreciation is directlyproportional to the amount of the visibility ofthe distinct trait. For instance, a rose flower ispraised for its beauty in terms of theprominence of its fragrance, color, size, ordelicacy, whereas a thorn is judged for thequality of length, sharpness and intensity ofits prick, since it is the protector of the rose

First deserve then desireTo make the conditions favorable for our progress, we need not beseech anyone. Andunless you deserve it, asking anything from the gods is futile, as they are bound by theirpolicy of helping only the ones who deserve.As we all follow some rules in our lives and never transcend them, so do the gods. They toofollow some set rules and never trespass on them. One such rule is for the bestowal of theirgrace - Grace is reserved only for the one who has performed the most arduous task ofrefinement of his character and personality. This task, to take oneself to task, is one of themost severe penances a person can perform.Wherever this primary condition is satisfied, there the grace and system of God automaticallykicks in and help comes pouring in from all the sides. The history of our civilization is awitness to this phenomenon. - Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya


You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. - Author Unknown

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flower. Appreciation is for both the traitspositive as well as negative. It is related to itscharacteristics.

Praise is sweet sounding and welcomedwholeheartedly by the listener. On the otherhand criticism is harsh to and generally dislikedby the hearer. Many times it is not toleratedand is instantly responded more forcibly. Yetcriticism has a quality that cannot be ignored.In general, criticizing others and listening tothe criticism of others are warmly welcomed.This also makes a good topic of gossip. Ofcourse, such gossips do not cause any impactnor are they of any use to anyone. Criticismshould be seen as a mirror image of a personreflecting his shortcomings and areas that areto be worked upon for betterment. Those whotake criticism positively gain from it. Theymake the necessary positive changes and turninto better persons. They learn from thecriticism meted out to them, analyze it, acceptthe truth and move ahead reforming themselvesinstead of being hurt by it. This leads them inthe right direction.

A renowned Indian poet and saint Kabirdasadvises in his couplets that a critic should bewelcomed warmly and be always kept nearby,because he is a true well-wisher and a reformer.He is a cleanser and a guide who helps us makeourselves better persons.

Criticism too has its limitations. It doesn’twork when you want help from anyone.Here only words of praise play magic. Thatis why when prayers are sung to theAlmighty in the form of verses or hymns,that is all praise. This creates a totallypositive impact on both the listener andone who recites. The positive atmospheremakes the mind relaxed, mood joyful andfree from all the worldly worries.

Appreciation is praise but it is of two differentkinds - true praise and false praise. True praisealways casts a positive effect on a person; butsometimes false praise can also produceunbelievable miracles. A person with hiddentraits is uplifted by it. The words of praise helpovercome his fears and motivate him to makethe right changes in his behavior. Finally thepersonality is transformed and a new personevolves.

So it is good to develop a habit of appreciatingthose who deserve it. Appreciate in slow,sweet, steady and true words for the rightimpact. It will definitely affect the speaker, thelistener and those who wish to learn andbenefit from it. Some may carry an urge to bepraised the next time. Their deeds will bedirected towards it; so praise wholeheartedlyand for the benefit of others.

If everyone realized the value of life, the world would be peaceful. The meaning ofthese words, “Do unto others as you would have them, do unto you,” would beunderstood: It would be practiced.” - Ellen J. Barrier


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He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who daresnot is a slave. - William Drummond

Past is an integral part of our life. Whateverwe do in our present would become our pastin the due course. What is now history wasonce our present; but it is now our past. Yet,we have to face whatever we have done in thepast. All our previous thoughts and actionswould come before us in some form or the other.One may think that his previous actions wouldhave no connection with him as the life beyondis totally new. However, he should know thatthe deeds of our past are like the foundation, onwhich rests the mansion of the present.

If a person has done noble deeds in the past, itmeans that he has laid a firm foundation. Nowit is easy for him to construct a strong andbeautiful building. However, if he has donewicked and evil deeds, he has built a weakfoundation, on which no durable andworthwhile structure could be built up. Here,the structure symbolizes one’s happy andharmonious life.

If we have done wrong in the past, it meansour foundation is shaky, decrepit and stinky.So, in the present, we need to demonstratebenevolence to ward off the ill-effects of ourmalefic acts. Further, noble deeds should bedone to build a new foundation in the voidcreated. Our present is the only platform,where we could repent for our past mistakes.

Repent for the Pastand Create a Bright Future

This is the only way of improving on the past.What has happened could not be changed, butnoble deeds could be done in the present totruly repent for the past mistakes.

People often forget their past. But, their pastdoes not leave them even for a moment andkeeps on clinging to them always. In fact, it isour past which decides our present and evenour future. If one is worried about his future,then the best thing to do is to improve hispresent. This is because, in due course, hispresent would become his past and play acrucial role in shaping his future.

Our past is not confined only to our presentlives, but even extends to our previous births.No two people share a common past and henceno two people are the same. Scriptures say thatone’s past deeds not only cause one to takebirth, but also play a vital role in determiningthe course of one’s life and showing the wayforward. Thus one’s own deeds are responsiblefor the so-called impact of planets on him/her.Based on this, they take various benefic andmalefic placements in one’s horoscope. This cancause good or bad periods in one’s life. If it ispossible to know in advance such predictions,one can take precautions to overcome themalefic effects of planetary configurations andreap the benefit of benefic ones.


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Good books are like teachers who impart life-transforming teachings without caning oradmonition. – Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

We can only see the present, while the pastremains concealed. It is like the iceberg whichthough remains hidden, could break down andsink even mighty ships. It is too strong andhard to be broken. Similarly, our past, thoughinvisible, has a substantial impact on our life.It is the cause behind various events andcoincidences taking place in our life. Our pastis like that film which has already been createdand thus, cannot be changed.

If one wants to change his past and repent forthe sins he committed, then the only way todo it is by improving his present. If someone’spast is very glorious, then definitely he wouldget fame, success, happiness and good fortunein the present. But, if it is not so, it means thatthere have been flaws in his past.

Some of our present actions show their impactimmediately, but the result of some of them isassociated with our past actions. There is astory which explains how firmly theconsequence of our past deeds remainsassociated with us and shows its effect whenthe time comes. A person used to suffer from

severe stomach-ache. He vomited outeverything he used to eat. He underwent manytreatments and took many medicines. But,there was no improvement. One day he sharedhis problem with a renowned saint.

The saint used his divine powers to explore hispast. On doing so, he found that the person hadkilled many birds in his previous life. In fact, itwas his hobby to shoot the flying birds. It is dueto the ill-effects of this hobby that he had severestomach-aches in his present life. So, the sainttold him that the sole remedy to get rid of hispain was to nurture birds. He should feed themand look after them, only then the merit of theseactions would reduce the malefic impact of hismisdeeds and thus, his health would improve.There is no other way out.

Similarly, if we would not fill up the hole wehave dug in the past, surely, we will fall in itin future. Therefore, it is essential for all of usto do noble deeds and practice spirituality andrepentance for the misdeeds we ignorantly didin the past. Only then can we ensure a brightfuture.

In the Mahabharat war, between Pandavas and Kauravas, all the kings aligned themselveson one side or the other. The king of Udupi however chose to remain neutral. He spoke toKrishna and said, ‘Those who fight battles have to eat. I will be the caterer for this battle.’

The battle lasted 18 days, and every day, thousands of soldiers died. So the Udupi king hadto cook that much less food, otherwise it would go waste. The amazing thing was that everyday, the food was exactly enough for all the soldiers and no food was wasted.

After a few days, someone asked the king of Udupi, ‘How do you manage this?’ the kingreplied, ‘Every night I go to Krishna’s tent. Krishna likes to eat boiled groundnuts in the nightso I peel them and keep them in a bowl. After he is done I count how many nuts has he eaten.If it’s 10 peanuts, I know tomorrow 10,000 people will be dead. So the next day when I cookdinner, I cook for 10,000 people less.


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Character, not brain, will count at the crucial moment. - Rabindranath Tagore

One individual differs from another due to hisway of thinking. Thought is the only basis ofpersonality differences. It develops the wholepersonality of an individual. One’s view ofjudgement is totally influenced by one’sthoughts. In fact, an individual is a byproductof his thoughts, actions and deeds.

Our life is judged by our outlooks towards thework we perform. It’s very important how weview the work taken up and how we plan toperform it. No task should be categorized as bigor small, worthy or unworthy. The emotionaland mental involvement in its execution isresponsible for all the difference. Our skill andexpertise add to the quality of performance; andthe end-result is excellent and self-satisfying. Andthat’s most important as it becomes a part of ournature and develops our personality.

Vinita Narayan, the former executive of IBMcompany expressing her individual opinionabout performance of work said, “Every littlebit of work, however insignificant it mayappear, when handled carefully pays successin its refund.’’ She further added that sheenjoyed works like cooking, cleaning, moppingat home with the same enthusiasm as she didthe work on her desk in the office.

Former President of America, Mr. Johnson toofollowed the same philosophy of life. At thetender age of mere nine years he polished shoesto earn his living. Later he worked in cotton

fields and also was a bus driver. In a restauranthe was a waiter. As President of America he oftengave his opinion about life saying, “The works Idid in my earlier life and later as President werenot much different.” His aim was the same in allinstances “Work be accomplished wholeheartedly and skillfully that’s the only rule”. Thiswas his key to success.

Another ex-President of America, AbrahamLincoln also viewed life similarly. Here is anincident of his life illustrating his outlook. Oneday a youth came to Abraham Lincolncomplaining about his luck and failures in life.Out of frustration he believed that spreadinghands for begging was the only alternative hewas left with to earn his bread. He complained,“God hasn’t given me anything. How can Iearn my living? Sir! It’s only you who can helpme.” Lincoln observed the youth from tip totoe and at once said, “I’ll lend you twothousand dollars give me your two legs.’’ Theyouth was astonished. He replied, ‘I can’t’.How will I walk then?’

Lincoln said, ‘Alright then you may give meboth hands. I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars.’The youth at once replied, ‘No, sir even if youpay me twenty five thousand dollars I won’tspare my hands.’

Lincoln carried the deal forward saying “Keepyour hands; give me your eyes for one lakhdollars.” By now the young man was totally

Learn toHonor Your Work


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Millions said the apple fell but Newton was the one to ask why. - Bernard M. Baruch

taken aback. Confused he fumbled, ‘I can’t getyou. Sometimes you ask for my hands,sometimes my legs, and eyes. How can onegive away body parts?’

Lincoln, taking the opportunity, exclaimed,“Look lad, the Almighty has blessed you withsuch precious and valuable gifts. Why do yousay you have nothing? Go at once and beginyour work. Spread your hands only in front ofthe Lord while you work, everything will gowell. I myself was a daily-wage worker oneday but by the power of determination anddedication today I lead a contented life,achieving all that I desired.” The young manbeing assured of a successful life at once left towork with full zest and zeal.

As a rule we should learn to respect our work.The psychologist, Charles Spillburg says, “A manwho respects his work develops excellent traitslike kindness, generosity, dedication. He is asensitive person with good understanding andstrong determination”. All these traits uplift hischaracter and personality on the whole. In factthese traits should be developed in the growingchildren so that they benefit from it lifelong. Thiswill inculcate and instill a new outlook towardswork in the younger generation. One day theywill serve society with zest and zeal and thusmake themselves pride of the nation. The childwho is taught to respect his work is far wiserthan the other children. He is full of enthusiasmat work and at the same time patient whileexecuting it and remains cool about the result.He is good at anticipating result more accuratelythrough the lessons learnt through hard workand expertise gained since childhood. Beingaware of the fact that hard work is always

suitably rewarded he enjoys the work andhonors his own decisions. The outcome on thewhole is a dignified and confident personality.

Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagorebelonged to a well-to-do family. His fatherowned many horses and chariots butRabindranath was sent to school on foot. Hewould walk a long distance to school with hisschoolmates. The aim was to instill in him goodtraits like respect for hard work, to achieve bydoing, team spirit and respect for all. He alsolearned the crucial lessons of life likeunderstanding others’ feelings, sorrows andlending helping hand to others in need.

Ronald Reagan, ex-President of America alsoappreciated the same kind of life philosophy. Heworked in ordinary places like a circus, as alifeguard he saved seventy seven lives fromdrowning, as a waiter cleaned tables in acafeteria. Meanwhile he also focused on hisstudies and steadily moved ahead and finallyreached the highest position in America. Healways recalled his past and utilizing the lessonslearnt from it moved ahead boldly. He was neverashamed of his past but took pride in declaringthose events which helped him frame his future.

Our revered Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma,Acharya also believed, “Do all the work thatcomes your way. Learn as much as you can fromit. Learn to clean your house and premises andalso toilets. When one performs small taskswillingly then worthy tasks of the outer worldautomatically go well. Work should be honored.”This is the true key to success. Don’t categorizework as worthy or unworthy. Just do it. All thework should be done in the spirit of worship.


The powers of mind are like the rays of the sun dissipated. When they are concentrated, theyillumine. - Swami Vivekanand

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Sisters and Brothers,

Once, during a discourse, Lord Buddha askedhis disciples — ‘Despite his intellect andenormous potentials, why a man degradeshimself and (morally) falls?’ To illustrate thepoint, he threw his ka®aÃalu (mendicant’s pot)in the water of a nearby pond. It startedfloating. This was nothing new to the disciples;they knew that the pot being light wouldnaturally float! Then Buddha made a hole inits bottom and again threw it in the same pond.As expected, soon it got filled with water andsunk. Then he explained that a hole in the potso easily sinks it; similarly, the ‘holes’ in one’scharacter lead to his decline and fall. Hefurther explained that if a milkman milks a cowin a broken pot or a pot with cracks in it, thenirrespective of how efficiently he milks andhow much amount of milk is squeezed, the netcollection of milk in that ‘defective’ pot will bealmost zero.

(Translation of a discourse given by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on the topic “Tapakar Kundan Banane ki Prakriy³?”)

Let us begin with collective chant of the Gayatri Mantra:

“Om Bh¿r Bhuva¡ Swa¡, Tatsaviturvareñya® Bhargo Devasya Dhºmahi, Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachoday³t ||”

This is what happens in human lives if we letloose our defects, weaknesses, bad habits,laziness, etc. One way or the other, these‘holes’ will drain out the prosperity, potentialsand attainments of talents and other resourcesfrom one’s life. Therefore, you must rememberthat — it is important to continually improveyour capabilities, talents, resources, etc, acquireprosperity, and strive for progress. For this, itis essential to restrain and remove theweaknesses of your cravings, your passions forinstinctive pleasures, shortcomings of yourbehavior, etc. How would you do it? Howwill you close the ‘leaks’ that are invisible butprominent causes of draining out your vitalenergy, zeal, and mental trenchancy, andretarding your dignified ascent and success?How to refrain from passions for instinctivepleasures?

How to control the sensual impulses and otherweaknesses, and untoward tendencies? A time-tested method for doing this is to observe four

Amrit Vani

Golden Refinement ofPersonality through Tapa


A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas have endurance withoutdeath. - John F. Kennedy

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types of tapa that we guide to inculcate in theparticipants of the s³dhan³ courses here1. Self-determined devout endeavor of self-restraintis called tapa. Ascetics also begin withdisciplining the sense-organs and graduallyendeavor higher levels of tapa. Self-restraintover the cravings of sense-organs is necessaryfor every human being who is aspiring forhappiness and progress in life. The four typesof tapa, which are essential for checking outthe ‘in-built’ obstructions in self-refinementand ascent, are — Indriya Sa®yama, Vich³raSa®yama, Samaya Sa®yama and Artha Sa®yam.

Indriya Sa®yama means self-control over thesense organs. Our sense organs are sowonderful and perhaps the most advanced‘instruments’ of perception that they practicallycarry out all the interactions of our mind-bodysystem with the external world. However,these marvelous gifts of life ought to be usedwisely; else, these would prove hidden enemiesthat squeeze out all our resources andpotentials and gradually weaken us in allrespects. You can easily imagine, what happensif a horse-rider leaves the bridle of the horseloose? How will a camel-rider traverse thedesert if he forgets to put the rein-stringthrough the camel’s nostrils? Will one not falldown if one rides an angry elephant whosegoad has slipped down? These examplesshould suffice to help you imagine the risks ofbeing careless and letting yourself be drivenby your undisciplined sense-organs.

Of all the sense-organs, it is most important tocontrol the tongue and observe chastity. Thetongue serves for two vital faculties —taste

and speech (voice). As you all might be aware,greed of the tongue for taste, if leftunrestrained, is most powerful and nearest foeof health. Not only that, it also catalyzes theagility as well as the untoward/negativetendencies of the mind.

During your s³dhan³ in this Ashram, you aregiven simple and even taste-less (without saltand sugar) food to eat; you are also disciplinedto strictly avoid food and cooked eatable fromoutside. Though your mind is reluctant initially,after a while true hunger wins over it. Thisamounts to tightening the bridle of the agilehorse of your mind. Immediate advantage ofrestraining the greed of the tongue is that youeat only that much as your body really needs.Usually people eat for the taste of the tongueand tend to overeat whenever there is somelavish food or anything that they find tasty.Unchecked food habits disturb the naturaltuning of their metabolism. As a result, thedigestive system is weakened, people oftensuffer stomach-upset, or gain excessive fat andaccumulate many harmful substances in theirbody. In any case, it takes a toll on theirphysical health and consequently affects theirmind, behavior, and actions as well. [Risingcases of diseases and disorders, especially theso-called ‘life-style diseases’ like diabetes,obesity, hypertension, etc, today, are foundcorrelated with unhealthy metabolism].

As far as self-restraint is concerned, we couldlearn a lot from the wild animals. Unlesssomeone disturbs the ecosystem of their haitat,the wild creatures live as per Nature’s Lawsfor them and enjoy naturally healthy life. In a


You don’t have to have lessons to express yourself. - Carlos Rodriguez

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natural forest, they would die only naturaldeath or due to predators’ attack. It is onlythe ‘most intelligent’ and evolved member ofthe animal kingdom, viz., human being, whofalls ill, invites sickness and varieties ofailments and sufferings due to his uncheckedgreed of the tongue. Nature has graced lifewith enormous opportunity. Even if we havelost our health due to un-restrained tongue wecan revive it gradually and regain our loststrength and health by strictly following thedisciplines of healthy diet and eating habitsalong with adequate exercises to lend thedesired support to the digestive system.

Beware! Not only the physical health, but thetendencies of your mind also get affected bythe quality and quantity of what you eat. [Theprocess of digestion, as explained bybiomedical sciences pertains only to how andwhat the body-components (including) theblood, gains from it. As elucidated by thespiritual science of mind, the subtle tendencies(guñas) of what we eat also augmentcorresponding tendencies of the mind.] Thesaying “Jais³ Kh³yeó Anna, Vais³ Bane Mana”—the quality of your mind is shaped by yourfood —aptly conveys this fact. For example,consuming t³msika stuff, such as meat, stalefood, wine, etc, would augment tamoguña inyour mind; its drowsiness, ignorance andpassion for comforts and cozy life will increase.Unless you have a strong will power,accumulation of tamoguña will make it extremelyhard for you to convince and control yourmind. If a container of water is heated fromthe bottom, in a few minutes, the water in itwill start boiling and rise high. Similar is the

effect to rajoguña. Your mind ‘flows’ like water;its agility is accelerated and it rises high byconsuming r³jasika food (e.g. spicy or oily stuff,intoxicating drinks, etc). You should thereforebe aware, alert, and prudently disciplinedabout the quality and quantity of what you eat,when you eat and how you eat.

While talking of sa®yama over the tongue, wemust recall the other very powerful faculty ofthis sense organ, which makes possible theutterance of spoken sound/voice and hencespeech. We all know the significance of properuse of this faculty in our importantcommunications and day-to-day behavioral/social experiences involving conversation. Thetone and pitch of our voice, the words we use,the standard of our language matter a lot inour impression upon and our relationship withothers. If one is harsh, uses abusive orsubstandard words, who would be willing tobefriend him? Instead he would invite scornand animosity of others. Soft voice, clear andpolite language augment one’s chances ofsuccess through his oral communications, andearn friendly attention and cooperation ofeveryone with whom he interacts. This fact isconveyed so effectively in the couplet of“Ramcharit Manas” — Vaïikaraña Yah MantraHei, Tajiye Vachan KaÚhora.

Right from their early age children are taughtin every cultured family and primary schools,not to use bad words or speak loudly or withanger, etc. In your childhood, you too musthave been given the example comparing harshcrowing of the crow versus melodiouswarbling of the cuckoo. Do you really


The distance between heaven and earth is no greater than one thought. - Mongolian proverb.

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remember it? Quite often, even otherwise soft-spoken and cultured people also lose controlover their speech when they get impatient ordriven by anger. This should be avoided.Keeping quiet for sometime is the best policyon such occasions. Like many others, youmight know it, but you often fail to apply it atthe right moment. This could be because youhave not put-in your best efforts to control yourtongue. Till you achieve this, learn to sincerelyexpress your apologies for your unruly speechat earliest possible time afterwards. Dailycontemplation, voluntary observance of somepenance if your tongue goes wrong, regularpractice of silence (e.g. over a stretch of severalhours on a particular day every week), etc, aregenerally effective ways of graduallydisciplining this faculty of the tongue.

Apart from the tongue, another major andpowerful faculty that must be restrained isassociated with sexual lust. Physically thegenitals are simply organs which function asper the body physiology. The organs as suchcan’t do any harm. But it is the excessive andfrequent stimulation caused due to uncheckedsexual lust, which is hazardous; it drains out

the vital energy and mental strength andweakens one physically as well as mentally.Observance of Brahmacharya (celibacy) on thecontrary elevates and expands physical andmental strength. World has witnessed manygreat personalities who attained enormouspotentials and strength by adoptingBrahmcharya.

Pre-historic texts cite many such luminouspersonalities. For example, look at thepreeminence of the characters of Urmila andLakshman in Ramayana, who had observedBrahamcharya as a long term s³dhan³ for fourteenyears! Hanuman’s Brahamcharya is an eternalsource of inspiration and strength for allaspirants of celibacy. Such was the piety andstrength of the celibacy of Damayanti that justby the power of her eyesight she could burnthe goon who approached her with evilintentions. Brahamcharya of Bhishma made himso strong that even at the ripe old age nearinghundred years, he could willingly lie on a ‘bed’of sharp arrows for several months post-Mahabharata war till he cast off the body onan auspicious day of his choice.

Secret to good gardening lies not only in nourishing the plants but also in pruning theweeds. Plants need to be cared after, given nourishments, yes but the weeds need tobe trimmed too. Only then the dream of a beautiful garden can be realized.

In much the same way, secret of self-progress lies not only in constructive activitieslike reading, contemplation, pious company, religious observances but also inperforming corrective actions necessary for self-reform. For the eradication of negativeimprints and inferior traits we need to undergo the arduous penance of introspectionand self-reform.



“Learning is an ornament in prosperity, a refuge in adversity, anda provision in old age.” - Aristotle

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In the later historic times as well we haveshining examples of such supernormalpotentials: Adi Shakaracharya renounced thethralldom of worldly pleasures and adoptedBrahmcharya to awaken and raise his spiritualpowers. This is how he could revive the lightof Sanatan Vedanta Philosophy, disseminate itacross India, and establish four mathas aspilgrimage centers of pure knowledge fromNorth (Badri-Kedar in Himalayas) to South(Rameswaram) and from East (Puri) to West(Dwarika) at a very young age. SwamiDayanand was a celibate throughout his life;separating the horns of two hefty bullsentangled in mutual fight was like an easygame for him. At the age of 36, MahatmaGandhi vowed to observe celibacy andfollowed this discipline successfully restrainingany mental or physical perturbation thereafter.He used to attribute the secret of his moralstrength to this tapa as much as to his absolutetruthfulness.

You should know that it is the mental statewhich triggers the corresponding brain-signalsand consequent activation of the organs.Observance of Brahmcharya (chastity) mainlypertains to control over the carnal lust anderogenous imaginations and thoughts. Thosewith strong will power, mental control andpurity of thoughts do not find it difficult to

observe Brahmcharya. But others need to firstundergo mental cleansing and training.

If one physically keeps away from the oppositegender, but does not restrain erotic thoughts,and mental attraction and imagination of sexualjoy, then one cannot be a true celibate. Morethan the physical act of sex, it is this tendencyof mind, which is dangerous. It can’t besuppressed forcefully. It needs to be controlledby sincere vigil over thoughts, and by changeof outlook, natural conditioning andorientation of the mind via healthy modes ofentertainment and creative and intellectualactivities, etc. Some yoga s³dhan³s also lend goodsupport in this endeavor. Sw³dhy³ya andSatsang2 are found as most effective modes ofmental refinement and control. People of allage-groups, all intellectual, social and physicalconditions can adopt these universal practices.These should form an integral part of your life.(To be concluded in the next issue)

Notes:1. (At) Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura and

Shantikunj, Haridwar.

2. Sw³dhy³ya: Self-study and self-training inthe light of sagacious thoughts and teachingsof elevated souls. Satsang: Attendingenlightening discourses, discussions; beingin the company of enlightened personalities.

The moral principle inherent in evolution is that nothing can be gained in this world withoutan effort; the ethical principle inherent in evolution is that only the best has the right tosurvive; the spiritual principle in evolution is the evidence of beauty, of order, and of designin the daily myriad of miracles to which we owe our existence. - Henry Fairfield Osborn

Documents

(May Almighty illuminate our intellect and inspire us … · - Rigveda 3/62/10; Samveda 1462, Yajurveda 3/35, 22/9, 30/2, 36/3 Volume - 14 Issue - 3 May - June 2016 Date of Publication: