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VISHWA BHANU VISHWA BHANU VISHWA BHANU VISHWA BHANU A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation Volume 4 Issue 3 August - September 2015 T he credit for the greatest exploration of space goes to the Indian Seers, who aeons ago, fired the ‘rockets’ of their minds to explore the truth of ‘Chidakasha, the space within them. The entire Indian philosophy is based on the science, technology, inference and practical utility of this Mangalayan – the most intricate probe to explore the inner Truth. This is what the Kathopanishad emphatically mentions in its opening stanza; “Kaschit dheeraha pratyagatmanam eikshat avritha chakshu amrthathvam ichan” The result of this exploration had been the intimate knowledge of Truth, within and the wonderful technology they perfected to extrapolate this inner journey to the outside as well, to cover the entire universe. Thus did they succeed in integrating the ‘vyashti’ with the ‘samashty’ – man with the Universe. The unparalleled success, the Indian Rishis achieved in this exploration has made our Motherland the most coveted spiritual destination for the entire humanity from time immemorial. This Vedic vision has since then percolated into and divinized countless number of Seers, Philosophers, Teachers, Seekers, as well as simple Human Beings eagerly searching for Truth. Four stages are formulated by the Rishis in this extraordinary journey of Mangalayan unto oneself, in raising self into Selfhood. These have come to be known as the paths of Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana Yagas. As in any rocket launching, there are several stages to be passed through in the inner journey of Mangalayan. The first effort is to free the mind from the heavy ‘gravitational force’ of one’s own Karma, its vasanas and the cravings it creates in the human mind. Unless and until one learns to wriggle out of the tentacles of Karma, vasanas and attachment to results, human mind cannot lift itself up. Hence in Swamiji’s Practical Vedanta (Viveka Sopana) great importance is given to the science of transforming Karma into Karma yoga or work into worship. Only then can the IN THIS ISSUE The Great Journey Unto The Unknown ‘MANGALAYAN’ i Editorial i August 15th i Ramayana Parayanam Samapanam Programme i Ganesh Charturthi i Onaghosha in Sandeepani Sishuvihar i One Day Camp for Sam- skarvarg Children i Didi’s Programmes i Secret Of Work i Sri Krishna Jayanthi i U.B. Day Celebrations i SKIE Programme i Regular Activities

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Page 1: Vishwabhanu Aug-Sep

VISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANUVISHWA BHANU A Bi-monthly bulletin of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

Volume 4 Issue 3 August - September 2015

T he credit for the greatest exploration of space goes to the Indian Seers, who aeons ago, fired the ‘rockets’ of their minds to explore the truth of ‘Chidakasha, the

space within them. The entire Indian philosophy is based on the science, technology, inference and practical utility of this Mangalayan – the most intricate probe to explore the inner Truth. This is what the Kathopanishad emphatically mentions in its opening stanza;

“Kaschit dheeraha pratyagatmanam eikshat avritha chakshu amrthathvam ichan”

The result of this exploration had been the intimate knowledge of Truth, within and the wonderful technology they perfected to extrapolate this inner journey to the outside as well, to cover the entire universe. Thus did they succeed in integrating the ‘vyashti’ with the ‘samashty’ – man with the Universe. The unparalleled success, the Indian Rishis achieved in this exploration has made our Motherland the most coveted spiritual destination for the

entire humanity from time immemorial. This Vedic vision has since then percolated into and divinized countless number of Seers, Philosophers, Teachers, Seekers, as well as simple Human Beings eagerly searching for Truth.

Four stages are formulated by the Rishis in this extraordinary journey of Mangalayan unto oneself, in raising self into Selfhood. These have come to be known as the paths of Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana Yagas.

As in any rocket launching, there are several stages to be passed through in the inner journey of Mangalayan. The first effort is to free the mind from the heavy ‘gravitational force’ of one’s own Karma, its vasanas and the cravings it creates in the human mind. Unless and until one learns to wriggle out of the tentacles of Karma, vasanas and attachment to results, human mind cannot lift itself up. Hence in Swamiji’s Practical Vedanta (Viveka Sopana) great importance is given to the science of transforming Karma into Karma yoga or work into worship. Only then can the

INTHISISSUE

The Great Journey Unto The Unknown

‘MANGALAYAN’

i Editorial

i August 15th

iiii Ramayana Parayanam Samapanam Programme

i Ganesh Charturthi

i Onaghosha in Sandeepani

Sishuvihar

i One Day Camp for Sam-

skarvarg Children

i Didi’s Programmes

i Secret Of Work

i Sri Krishna Jayanthi

i U.B. Day Celebrations

i SKIE Programme

i Regular Activities

Page 2: Vishwabhanu Aug-Sep

-2- Volume 4 Issue 3 August - September 2015

mind start its journey onward and Godward. The mind purified and made lighter through Karma yoga proceeds in its flight through the realm of emotions which in turn need to be filtered to get rid of the gross human likes and dislikes and other emotional entanglements. Otherwise the flight will slow down and be pulled back into the realm of material inspirations. This is achieved by transforming emotions into love of God or Bhakti, through Bhakti yoga. As the human mind, rid of its worldly attachments passes into the realm of Bhakti he realizes that the whole Universe is pulsating with Divine Love. Each and every human emotion is a note which has its origin, sustenance and dissolution in the Eternal Nadabrahma. With this awareness all the discordant notes in our life gets dissolved and the mind soars into realms unattainable by mundane minds.

When emotions are thus purified and gets centered on the Almighty, it still needs some more rarefication which is attained absorbing the various disciplines of Raja yoga. After these three stages are dropped, the rocket is well on its way to its destination, the only propellant now being one’s sincerity in the search for the Ultimate Truth. The only fuel that the rocket can carry that is thought the mind is permitted to entertain is the awareness of ‘Aham Brahmasmi’. That alone can push the rocket to its final destination – into the timelessness and spacelessness of the Self – the abode of Sadchitananda – the goal of Mangalayan.

Which science or technology can be compared with this journey into the Absolute Auspiciousness, the final landing spot of Mangalayan?

Incredible India — Love India as Swamiji loved

Compilation of Swamiji’s

By Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

` ` ` ` 150/-

Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation

Ananda Dham, Sringapuram, Kodungallur, Kerala

Buy the

Book Now >

How can you help ?

⇒ Volunteer your time

⇒ By sponsoring our English Publication

⇒ By becoming an Annual Donor of the Project

⇒ By Sponsoring Programmes, Youth Camps and Celebrations

⇒ By spreading the work done by the Vedic Vision Foundation

Page 3: Vishwabhanu Aug-Sep

-3- Volume 4 Issue 3 August - September 2015

Independence Day

Independence Day was celebrated on 15th August. Flag hoist-

ing was at 9.50 a.m. by Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi, in the pres-

ence of Sandeepani Sishuvihar children and their parents.

Children sang the National Anthem and recited the School

pledge. Little Dheeraj was dressed as Mahatma Gandhi.

Dheeraj and his friends along with their parents sat and lis-

tened to Didi on the significance of Independence Day.

Sweets were distributed after that.

According to our philosophers, According to our philosophers,

freedom is the goal. Knowledge freedom is the goal. Knowledge

cannot be the goal, because cannot be the goal, because

knowledge is a compound. It is knowledge is a compound. It is

a compound of power and a compound of power and

freedom, and it is freedom freedom, and it is freedom

alone that is desirable. That is alone that is desirable. That is

what men struggle after. what men struggle after.

…..Swami Vivekananda…..Swami Vivekananda

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Ramayana Parayanam Samapanam

On Karkatakam 31st (16th August), Ramayana Samapanam programme

was arranged. A Ramayana quiz was conducted by Didi and Smt Mridu-

la, in three stages, one for the tiny tots of Sishuvihar, second one for the

L P School going children and the third for the mothers and grand-

mothers. The winners received tokens from Didi. This was followed by

chanting of the different Ramayana texts, Valmiki Ramayana, Tulasi Ra-

mayana, Adhyatma Ramayana in Sanskrit and lastly mass chanting of

Adhyatma Ramayana in Malayalam by all those present for the

Samapanam.

Smt Sheila teacher, a close well-wisher, spoke on the extraordinary qual-

ities of Sri Rama. Didi too spoke to the audience. Lastly, Lakshmi Didi

honoured Smt. Baby who without fail accompanied, Kum. Bindu in her

home visits during the entire Ramayana month.

It is believed that the tradition of reciting Ramayana during

the Karikidakam started from 16th century. This could be be-

cause Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the great Malaya-

lam poet and linguist lived in that times and had translated

the epics Ramayana and Mahabharat to Malayalam for the

benefit of the common man. The concept of Ramayana

Masam is also unique to Kerala. The period between mid July and mid August is considered the Ra-

mayana Masam, which is Karikidakam, as per the Malayalam Calendar. This is also the beginning of

Dakshinayanam, or the South-East movement of the Sun. This means that the rays of the Sun are

not as powerful as in the Uttarayanam time (mid January - mid July), and thereby lowers immunity

and digestive power in humans. The Karikidam month is also called as 'panja' masam or the month

of scarcity, after all it is the time of heavy rains. The Sundara Kandá of Ramayana read during these

time frees and strengthens the mind from unwanted thoughts in turn thus providing the reader

and the listeners to prevail through hard times.

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Ganesh Charturthi

Ganesh Charturthi according to the Malayalam cal-

endar was celebrated on 18th August. Sri Sivanji, of

Gurupadam, performed Ganapathi Homam and

Srichakra Puja. The inmates of Anandadham were

delighted to have Mananeeya Balakrishnanji, Vice

President of Vivekananda Kendra-Kanyakumari, in

their midst. Man. Balkrishnanji met the children of

Sishuvihar.

He whom all the Vedas seek, to He whom all the Vedas seek, to

see whom men undergo all sorts see whom men undergo all sorts

of asceticism, I will tell you His of asceticism, I will tell you His

name: It is Om. This eternal Om is name: It is Om. This eternal Om is

the Brahman, this is the immortal the Brahman, this is the immortal

One; he who knows the secret of One; he who knows the secret of

this this —— whatever he desires is his. whatever he desires is his.

…..Swami Vivekananda…..Swami Vivekananda

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Onam celebration in Sandeepani Sishuvihar As is the trend in all schools and colleges big or small in Kerala, Onam is celebrated by the stu-

dents along with their teachers and staff, before the Onam holidays. The tiny tots of Sandeepani

Sishuvihar too celebrated Onam on the 21st August, by helping their mothers and teachers to put

up a beautiful Poo Kolam (floral diagram) with flowers and leaves. From morning to noon many of

the tiny tots were kept busy with their mothers. After that they danced to the tune of music,

pulikali was also imitated by many of them who decorated their body to look like tigers. One of

them was dressed as Mahabali, another as Vamana avataram. They had great fun posing in front of

the camera along with their mothers, teachers and Didi. The last item was prasad distribution.

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One Day Camp for Samskarvarg children On the occasion of Eknathji’s Punya Tithi on 22nd August, a full day Camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the

Samskara varga children of Kodungallur and P. Vemballur, was conducted at Ananda dham campus.28

children were present.

The camp started with prayer and bhajans. Didi lit the lamp. Little Anushree form Kodungallur, intro-

duced Didi to the children from P.Vemballur since they came for the first time. Didi spoke to them on

Bharat as a ‘Punya Bhoomi,’ ‘Tyagabhoomi, ’Dharmabhoomi’, ‘Yaga Bhoomi’ and ‘Tapobhumi’ and it

was the duty of each of them to become like ’Swamiji’ love India and serve Her so that their lives on

this earth would become purposeful as linniaged by Mananeeya Eknathji. The children listened with

rapt attention. After a small break, second session was conducted by Sri Sudhakarji on ‘kuttikalude

dinacharya’, as to how they should plan out their daily routine. A session on Suryanamaskar and

Yogasanas was conducted. Lunch followed, children experienced the joy of Samuhya bhojanam.After

lunch session was story telling the story of Vamana Avatar and significance of Onam by Su.Padma and

explanation of the mural exhibition on the life of Swami Vivekananda by Su.Bindu.At the last and be-

fore the krida yoga session a quiz was conducted by Su. Mridula, on the different sessions during the

day. Each group were equally capable in answering the questions which showed their grasping capaci-

ty. After games the session came to an end with the chanting of Shanti mantra.

On the same day coupons worth 300/- were gifted to the needy and deserving families in and around

Ananda Dham so that they could also celebrate Onam with joy during the festival. They could buy

things of their choice worth Rs 300/- from a particular consumer shop, so that the gift would not be

misused. Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi gave away those coupons to the deserving women and children.

Vedic Vision has been organizing this for the last so many years, coinciding it with Ma.Eknathji Punya

Tithi. Uniqueness of this project is that the entire programme is sponsored by well-wishers and friends.

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Sri Krishna Jayanthi Sri Krishna Jayanthi is the day when Anandadham turns into a Vrindavan. This time it fell on Sep-

tember 5th just after the great Kerala festival of Onam. Sri Krishna Jayanthi is the day when all our

Sishuvihar mothers get transformed into Yashoda. From morning they start dressing up their chil-

dren, as Sri Krishna or Radha, thereby raising themselves into Yashoda consciousness and thus

come to enjoy a tiny drop of the true bliss of having Sri Krishna as their little child.

Forty children participated. Apart from Sandeepani Sishuvihar school children, there were an equal

or more number of children from the neighbourhood. After the display on stage as the little Krish-

na’s, Gopikas and Radhas, there were solo bhajans on Sri Krishna by the children. All the mothers

with their children then went round the ‘Sri Krishna’s statue in our Vrindavan Park chanting ‘Hare

Krishna. This was followed by ‘Uriyadi’ or ‘Breaking the Pot’, enjoyed by all participants. All the par-

ticipating Krishnas, Radhas and the singers received their token gifts

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SKIE Programme The ‘SKIE’ programme was formally inaugurated on

September 12th 2015. Sri. Chandrasekharan Master

kindly consented to share the honour. Sri Chandra-

sekharan Master is a retired (but not tired) education-

alist and an acknowledged authority in varied areas

of Philosophy, Culture and Civilization. He is also an

avid Philatelist and Numismatist. The lighting of the

Bhadra Deepam by Sri Chandrasekharan Master, Ma.

Lakshmi Didi and Major General P Vivekanandan

(Retd.) PhD. with chanting of the Omkara in the back-

ground marked the beginning of a new era in awak-

ening for the selected school students.

They were to get exposed to a learning to identify the

self, develop the self, purify the self, learning that is

free from the usual compartmentalized form of edu-

cation available in class rooms. Knowledge that will

make the individual invincible, in all walks of life.

Sri Chandrasekharan Master led everyone through a

magical journey of information and knowledge on

how education used to be in ages gone by, the re-

nowned gurukulas of those times, the temples of

knowledge and the richness of our heritage. He cited

how life skills development used to be an essential

part of the basic education before the individual

moved to the specialised areas of learning like Fine

Arts(Gandharva Veda), Medicine(Ayur Veda), Engi-

neering(Sthapatya Veda), and Military Science(Dhanur

Veda). He emphasised the importance of Time Man-

agement and Punctuality, a core foundation of acquir-

ing knowledge.

Lakshmi Didi, explained the eternal harmony between

Iccha Shakti, Kriya Shakti, Jnana Shakti; Desire, Action

and Knowledge. The equilibrium between Desire and

Page 10: Vishwabhanu Aug-Sep

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Action, is brought about by Knowledge. In today’s world the education system falls short in bring

out the best in the individual and creating the wholesome individual. What the individual grasps is

mostly the superficial aspect, like the example of the tip of the iceberg. Didi talked about the im-

mense potential in each individual and the need for it to be awakened which will lead to super

charged individuals ready to face the world.

Major General Vivekanandan touched upon the need for a holistic development of the individual

which will lead to a happy and contented family that will ensure peace and harmony in the society,

the nation and the world at large.

All of them whole heartedly welcomed the students to the yearlong SKIE program. Post the inau-

guration, Sri Shafi spend the rest of the day with the group of children who had enrolled for the

SKIE program. Sri Shafi conducted different team building games and interactive sessions, which

helped the participants of the SKIE program to quickly get to know each other and build a sense of

camaraderie amongst them. The sessions of SKIE have been planned for 2nd Saturday and 3rd

Sunday of every month.

S

K

I E

elf

nowledge

informed

ssence

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Universal Brotherhood Day Celebrations U B. day celebrations started with a bang. The painting competition was was organized in the campus from 9:30am to 12 noon on 15th September. 82 children from ten schools in and around Kodungallur participated.. There were 46 students of junior group of classes V, VI VII. Topic for the group was 'Ideal Village'. The senior group included students of classes VIII, IX and X, with 36 students. The topic for this group was ' Smart city or 'Model City'. Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi lighted the lamp and wished them well before they began. One should see the paintings! Their creative imaginations made them forget themselves and just pin drop silence prevailed. Who says children are uncontrollable? Master Gohul Menon (Cl VIII)of BharatVidya Mandir ,Valapad and Abela Ruben (Cl IX)of Bhara-tiya Vidya Bhavan, Irinjalakuda were declared the first prize winners amongst the seniors. Master Avinash C.S (CL VII) of BharatVidya Mandir, Valapad was the winner in the junior group. On 16th September, Narration Competition based on the incidents from the life of Swami Vivekananda, both in English and Malayalam for the school students of classes VI and VII, was organized from 9: 30 am to 12 noon. Eight Schools participated. Overall, there were 40 participants. We had Brig. Radhakrishnan, Smt Shanta Nair, Smt. Ra-dhakrishnan, Smt.Santana Lakshmi, Smt. Subhadra and Smt. Jyothi Unniraman well-wishers of Kendra as the judges for the competition, On the same day in the afternoon, from 2pm to 3.30 p.m. an Elocution Competition (getting by heart and deliver-ing the speech of Swamiji) both in English and Malayalam, was organized for the high school students. 30 students from ten schools took part Kum Malavika M. K. (Cl VII) of Bharat Vidya Mandir, Valapad was declared first from the juniors in Narration competition in Malayalam. Kum. Gouri S. (Cl VII) of Amrita Vidyalayam bagged the first posi-tion in Narration competition in English. In the Elocution competition, Kum. Sriya C.P. (Cl VIII) of Amrita Vidya-layam, was declared first in Malayalam Elocution and Kum. Amritavarshini also of Amrita Vidyalayam secured first in English Elocution. A quiz programme was conducted on 17th September for the Higher Secondary school children. The subject cho-sen was Indian Freedom Movement. Eight teams, consisting of five members in each team from in and around Kodungallur participated. The programme started with a prayer and brief introduction by Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi with her unique way of conveying message, explained to the children the real meaning of 'freedom', Shri Vinod Ponoth was the quiz master. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Irinjalakuda group was declared as the winners. The Universal Brotherhood Day celebration came to a grand finale on September 19, with the prize distributions and a unique event called "Vanichitrapuja". Srimad Swami Nandatmajananda from Ramakrishna Math, Thrissur, was the chief guest. The concluding function began with a short prayer, lighting of the ceremonial brass lamp by two 'child' Vivekanandas, Ma. Lakshmi Didi, and Swami Nandatmajananda. Ma. Lakshmi Didi, took the audience back to September 11, 1893.The description of the event at Chicago, took each and every one present on a jour-ney back in time to visualize the magnificent event when the world stood dazzled to hear the saffron robbed, monk from India, give a soul-stirring speech about tolerance and universal acceptance. Swami Nandatmajananda, present editor of Prabhuda Keralam, held the audience spellbound by drawing a beautiful portrait of Swami Vive-kananda to the tunes of a song in the praise of the Swami. This procedure is what Swamiji called as ‘Vanichitrapuja.’ Later Swami Nandatmajananda in his address recounted an event in the life of Charles Darwin Darwin who was not very keen in visiting the church on Sundays. When his family spend their time at church he would visit a nearby colony of underprivileged people and take 10 children out on a shopping spree to the nearby city. The joy he experienced in seeing the children enjoying the day was far greater than a visit to church. On a weekend an Afro-American mother came to him with her child and requested that Darwin take that child to the city. Darwin stated that we had already selected the 10 children and he cannot include another. However after re-peated request from the Mother and her appeal that her child had never visited the city and that they were too poor to even have a proper meal a day, Darwin agreed. The child was thrilled, and had a good time in the city, was able to have some food and moved around with the other children. Late in the evening Darwin got the children back and left them with their parents. While Darwin was leaving the 11th child, he came running to Darwin and asked him "Are you Jesus". The joy that Darwin could give the child, brought Darwin closer to the Almighty than the dedicated worshippers in the Sunday Church. Blessed are those who spend time with the needy, to share their sorrow and pain and in the process get peace, happiness for the self and bring in joy and harmony to others. Swamiji gave away prizes for the individuals and teams for the different events like Painting, Elocution (Mal and Eng), Narration (Mal and Eng), and Quiz. The ceremony came to a close with the chanting of the Shanti Mantra.

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Universal Brotherhood

Day Celebrations

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REGULAR ACT IV IT IES

Satsanga Prabhashana Parampara

On the 22nd and 23rd August and 26th and 27th September, the last Saturday and Sunday Sri Girishkumarji conducted his regular classes on Srimad Bhagavad Geeta.

Yoga

9 ladies and 10 gents attended the Yoga Satra during the months of August and Septem-

ber. 20 ladies and 15 gents attended the regular Yoga Varga in the morning batch for gents

and ladies and the afternoon batch for ladies only.

Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra Puja

Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra pujas during pournami on 29th August and 28th Sep-tember were conducted by Dr Vijayanji and his disciple Sri Shivanji of Karumatra centre.

Samskar varga

40 children regularly attended the Samskara Vargas held at two places viz. at Kodungallur and P.Vemballur.

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DIDI’S PROGRAMME

August

8th Inauguration of the Annual Meet of ‘TAPASYA”

12th Inauguration of Sri Narayana Guru study class at Mali-

ankara College

15th Independence Day

16th Samapan of Ramayana Month

18th Chettikkal Devi temple

23rd Inauguration of Onam celebration at Matrusadanam,

Kodungallur

25th As Chief Guest in the Award giving to Dr Harishankar

26th Inauguration of Nursery at Pavithranji’s house.

5th Sri Krishna Jayanthi

11th Sri Ramakrishna devotees’ conference at Ernakulum.

12th Inauguration of SKIE programme

13th Sri Ramakrishna devotees’ conference – final session

15th Painting competition for school children at Anandad-

16th Narration Competition in English and Malayalam for

school children

September

19th Universal Brotherhood Day finale

20th G.B. Meeting at Chennai

26th Yoga Book Release at TCR- received the first copy and

spoke.

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Secret of Work

Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

T here is not a single moment in our life when we are not working. WORK is the channel through

which our personality flows outward and finds its equilibrium in the world. We establish our

relationship with people and environment through our work. Our social status is largely

dependent on our work and very often others judge us, our merit and demerit, with our work as the

basis. Through work, we can redeem ourselves and also degrade the self. Therefore, it is essential for us

to know something about the secret of work.

In no other country or its philosophy has work merited as much attention as in ours? Yet we are

far from the ideal, nay, we hardly pay enough attention to work so as to make it a tool for self-

development and social and national upgradation. In fact, the secret of work should be taught to the

children and the idea allowed to grow in them from their childhood so as to develop in them the right

attitude towards work.

Without the right knowledge of working, we find people frittering away their time and energy and

ultimately ending up in creating a lot of misery for themselves and others. Firstly, there are those who do

not ‘work’ at all. They while away their time and wither away the great potential power of work within

them. Just as disuse leads to the natural stunting of the unused organ, so does the entire human

personality get stunted through non-working. A second category spends all their energy in doing the

wrong kind of work, detrimental and destructive, thereby mobilizing disharmonious currents in the

society. A third group, is there, who want to do the right work, but not knowing the secret and technique

of such working, end up doing the right work in the wrong way! Like the rower of an anchored boat, all

their efforts are in vain. They remain where they are without any progress in their lives and contributing

nothing to the betterment of society.

A rare few amongst us, having discovered the secret of work, do the right work in the right way

and make their life a blessing for the rest of mankind. In Indian tradition, this rare type of work has been

elevated to a system of Yoga by which man can link himself with the Supreme. Not only so, such a way of

working can help us to bring out the potential divinity within us.

Swami Vivekananda laid great stress on this right type of working and enjoins upon us to

understand the significance of it and adopt it as our regular norm of working to pull out not only our

individual lives but also the nation from the morass into which it has fallen.

It is of common knowledge that to channelize and concentrate our life energies we must have a

goal in life, a mission in life. Many are the people who even after identifying their goal pay scant

attention to the means. Swamiji pinpoints perfection of the means as the secret of success. He goads us

to pay great attention to the details. If the means are right, right results would naturally follow, a very

important principle which in our own times we have seen exemplified in Mahatma Gandhi’s life.

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A second point is to cultivate detachment. Deep involvement in the work should be combined with

effortless withdrawal if need be. It is said that this was a rare trait showed by Vinobhaji , especially in his

last days, by total and absolute detachment from all the work he had initiated and guided. Unfortunately,

lesser men that we are, we cling to the work with a passionate attachment which is detrimental to our

inner growth. Those who come to work become worked up, who come to rule turn into slaves. Swamiji

warns of this weakness in us again and again.

The weakness arising out of our attachment and expectation for results are the main drawbacks in

our lives. Today, all our pleasures and pastimes are centred round this weakness and real joy eludes us.

Swamiji uses strong words to condemn this: “We are all beggars, whatever we do, we want returns. We are

all traders. We are traders in life, we are traders in virtue, we are traders in religion and alas we are also

traders in love”. How very true!

The great lesson to learn is that we get caught not by what we give but by our expectations. Where

desires and expectations are transcended, there exists no misery. Let us learn from Nature. She goes on

giving, never asking for any return. Whenever we break this law, misery follows.

With attention to these details – perfection of means, non-expectation of results and total

detachment – when we work, work turns into meditation and it becomes a sure path for self- unfoldment.

This ideal should be the central core of all the work we do so that in a lesser or bigger way, slowly but

steadily, karma becomes karmayoga.

There are three components in any work, namely, the action, the agency and the result. Karmayoga

takes care of all the three. True awareness, detachment and God-orientation purify the action and its doer.

The result of such an action naturally has to be for the ultimate good though in worldly terms it may not

always appear to be so. Therefore, Swamiji stresses that Karmayoga is not for changing the world – but is

for the transformation of the doer. When the doer has perfected his actions, such action can create more

and more centres of purity, detachment and excellence.

To carve out karmayoga from the karma which we do today, a threefold chiselling is necessary –

that is, renunciation of self-centred agency of action, our preferences for specific actions and expectation

of results. The polishing should start from even the smallest of actions. No action is insignificant as every

one of them leaves a mark on our personality. Like a master-painter imparting life to his sketches through

tiny faint strokes here and there, so can we add beauty, grandeur and meaning to our life and work

through small actions executed exquisitely in total atonement to the Universal Law.

Ma. Eknathji has shown us the way through the Kendra prayer, which ends with the following

request:

“Jeevane yavadadanam syat pradanam tathodhikam”

“Let us give more than what we take from life.” May this be the constant prayer on our lips.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

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