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AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 3
|| O® bh¿rbhuva¡ sva¡ tatsaviturvareñya® bhargo devasya dhºmahi dhiyo yo na¡ prachoday³t ||
Amrit Chintan
(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
Annual Subscription: India: ` 120.00 Abroad: ` 1100.00
VOLIME: 15 | ISSUE: 1 | Jan.-Feb. 2017
Quest for Joy
Man wanders throughout his life in search of joy and blissful peace. For this purpose, he acquires hordes
of wealth, worldly comforts, good health, delicious food, palatial house, vehicles, servants, gorgeous
clothes, beauty, loving family, faithful friends, supporters all around, power, prestige, name and fame,
security, and what not. People who lack in any of these strive for their possession; those, who already
have, try to amass more with new passion.
This scenario is like that of the tale of the swan, which has been hunting for the pearl since ages, but finds
nothing but a drop of dew. Why? Because, it did not really search for the pearl; did not even turn his face
in the direction of the grand “Mansarovar” where the pearls are hidden in the depths. It did not gather
the courage and strength to fly so long. Short-sighted and pleasure-hungry mind advised it – “What is
the guarantee that you will find that in unseen “Mansarovar”; and who knows whether there will really
be any pearl and you would trace it”. So it satisfied itself with the shining drops of dew; licked it and
thought it has quenched the thirst; it flew for some time and the thirst recurred with greater intensity.
The cycle continues. This is what happens with most of us who keep searching for ‘immortal’ joy in the
mirage of perishable world, keep accumulating more of what gives only a momentary pleasure but keeps
us away from the sight of real bliss.
-Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya
Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine Team Wishes its Readers
A Happy, Healthy and Harmonious New Year 2017
“Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 20174
1. Amrit Chintan ...................................................................................................................... 3
Quest for Joy
2. From Chief Editor’s Desk
Welcome the Beginning of a Great Revolution .................................................................... 5
3. Is this a Phase of Epochal Change? ....................................................................................... 9
4. Science and Spirituality ....................................................................................................... 14
Multiple Facets of Scientific Spirituality
5. May the Walls of Discrimination Break ............................................................................... 18
6. Appreciating the words of seers and sages is not enough: Only imbibing them will help .... 21
7. Yug Gita – 4
Emergence of Discipleship from the Depths of Melancholy -2 ............................................ 25
8. Restoration of Ecological Balance is a Must ......................................................................... 28
9. Peace Pilgrim’s Wisdom – 4
Relinquishments for Inner Peace ........................................................................................... 30
10. Youth Column ...................................................................................................................... 32
Let’s Make Wedding Ceremony a Simple Affair
11. Solitude: A Boon or a Bane? .................................................................................................. 35
12. Odyssey of the Enlightened – 53
Another Pilgrimage to the South -1 ....................................................................................... 37
13. Your Child Needs a Loving Home ......................................................................................... 40
14. Adopt Indian System of Healthcare: Drive away the Diseases ............................................. 43
15. Amrit Vani
Two Steps to Spiritual Ascent - Yoga and Tap ....................................................................... 45
16. The Scientific Aspect of Gayatri Mantra ............................................................................... 50
17. Shantikunj News ............................................... (Inner Cover Pages & Back Cover Page)
CONTENTS
“Action is the foundational key to all success.” -Tony Robins
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 5
Welcome the
Beginning of a Great Revolution
This is how the revolution happens
With the dawn of New Year 2017, everything appears to be changing. In fact, whenever great changes
occur, some developments take place in the background; but the common masses do not comprehend
them. Then, abruptly, a significant change occurs and people realize why those earlier developments
took place. Param Pujya Gurudev once said that revolutions arrive like the coaches of a train. Assume
you are waiting on the railway platform to board a train. Suddenly the announcement of the arrival of
your train is made and there is hustle and bustle. The engine comes first and one-by-one all rail coaches
start arriving. If you are standing at the right spot on the platform, your coach (Sleeper, AC-3 or AC-2
or other) arrives in front of you and you board the train. The train leaves the platform as quickly as
it arrived. Social revolutions are similar to trains with respect to arrivals and departures. They arrive
one after another and the era changes. The whole atmosphere changes, the wind changes its direction.
In 1857, no one could imagine an independent India, but the whole atmosphere was charged by the
sacrifices of Rani Laxmibai, Jhalkari, Tatya Tope, Mangal Pande and many others, and this prepared the
background for the country’s freedom. Almost immediately (within 15 years), great souls like Swami
Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, were born and later they made their special contributions
in the freedom movement in their own ways.
Thakur Sri Ramakrishna Dev and his disciples and followers, Bankimchandra Chatterji (poet of ‘Vande
Mataram’), Rasbihari Bose and many unnamed revolutionaries from Bengal started working towards
achieving the divine objective. Bhagat Singh along with his compatriots appeared on the scene in the
second decade of twentieth century. Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa and started playing
his role along with Gokhale, Tilak, Patel, etc. All this happened prior to a great change. Sri Aurobindo,
Ramana Maharshi and Acharya Sriram Sharma played their special roles in the spiritual realm. With the
transition of Sri Auribindo to the astral plane in 1950, an era ended. But, Param Pujya Gurudev Pandit
Sriram Sharma Acharya took up the momentous task of ‘Vichar Kranti’ (Thought Revolution) in his
hands and, as a result, a gigantic fraternity called Gayatri Pariwar was established with a revolutionary
spirit.
Param Pujya Gurudev had prophesied (Akhand Jyoti March 1967 issue, page 34) – “In the coming years
no individual will be able to own the so-called precious commodity - ‘wealth’. Its ownership is certainly
From Chief Editor’s Desk
“Always bear in mind that our own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” - Abraham Lincoln
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 20176
going to be transferred to the Government and the society. If one wishes, he can note it as a prophecy.
The coming years will prove this fact verbatim. I, therefore, humbly request the sensible persons that
they should not indulge in amassing wealth and accumulating property for their offspring. All of us
have witnessed the fall of kings and zamindars with our own eyes. Now we should be ready to witness
individual property getting declared as public.”
The Prophecy of a Visionary
“The Will of God is making an arrangement for the transformation of an era. Assisting in this process
will be the greatest farsightedness of the enlightened souls of the present age.” This is a revolutionary
prophecy. I got a copy of one of his sermons of those days in which he says – “I will not let you to be
miserable or get entangled in worldly problems. I will uplift your status……from the viewpoint of
money! My children! In the coming days, money will become such a thing that no one will hoard gold
bars or currency notes. Even today, raids are being conducted. In the ensuing years, raids will be such
that even the wealth hidden under the ground will be extracted and exposed. Therefore, I will not make
you wealthy. Why should I give you a thing which will have no value? I will make you an empathetic, a
thoughtful and a great man; I will make you a messenger of God.”
Param Pujya Gurudev made a spectacular announcement (in 1970-71) during 108-kundiya yagya
organized in Gorakhi Maidan, Gwalior in front of the then Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Vijaya Raje
Scindia (mother of late Madhavrao Scindia). The announcement was – “I, Shriram Sharma Acharya,
declare in front of you all that there will be no value of money after fifty years from now. Money will get
equitably distributed. A spiritual socialism will dawn.” The person writing these lines, the Chief Editor
of this magazine, was present in this congress. His father was serving as a civil judge in Gwalior at that
time.
Understand the Message of the Seer
In those days, following message was propagated by Pujya Gurudev – “In the coming years, not a single
man will remain rich. The money will be distributed. Society (democratically elected government) will
control wealth; and we will be able to use only what is needed for sustaining life.” This is being said
in the context of a recent step of the Indian Government towards a great economic revolution. Our
Prime Minister suddenly announced at 8 PM on November 8, 2016, the demonetization of Rs. 500 and
Rs. 1000 currency notes. These notes were being illegally used by terrorists, property dealers, drug
smugglers, and mafia kings. In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister explained the reasons behind
such a drastic move and also outlined the methodology for exchanging and depositing the old currency
notes in banks. With this step, thousands of crores of black money that was being used for a variety of
illegal works and crime has either become white or paper waste. Now the money possessed by people is
under the scrutiny of government and the income tax department. Don’t you think the prophecy of Pujya
Gurudev has come true? In fact, this revolutionary step is only the beginning of a major change that is
going to occur very soon.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 7
Irregularities are everywhere. Black money, corruption, vote-for-note, profiteering, hoarding, bribery,
and other evil practices are hindering social progress. Unless such crimes are halted, the objective of a
progressive India will only remain a dream. With this economic step, every citizen felt that the change
for the better is in the offing. However, unless this change comes from within, nothing will happen.
Pujya Gurudev always emphasized the utmost need for the purity of mind first (Gayatri Mantra!).
The Dilemma is Temporary
There is an atmosphere of hurry-scurry everywhere. People, especially those who possessed black
money, were stunned by this sudden surgical strike of the government. Some people are abusing the
government for not giving enough time. Some sceptics are saying that the benefits will be short-lived;
the game of black money will again be played openly – instead of one-thousand notes, people will now
hoard two-thousand notes, and so on. Such people are perhaps unaware that the present government has
many arrows in its quiver. Banks, lockers, ATMs, cashless transactions will keep the money floating.
There is very little chance of money being hoarded by select people.
Ravana too made a golden Lanka. His dream was to build the stairs to Heaven. But did his dream come
true? In our country too, there is a network of elegant farm-houses and skyscrapers that are owned by
individuals. All these are standing on the foundation of corruption and black money. Now the strategy is
afoot so that most of the transactions are cashless. This will prevent hoarding and theft, and the common
man will live peacefully. All earnings will be under the scanner of the government. This is the beginning
of spiritual socialism.
Our Own Gayatri Pariwar
Param Pujya Gurudev established this Mission by collecting ten paisa or twenty paisa or one rupee and
in some cases one day salary of honest and hardworking parijans. Even now the same policy is being
followed by the Mission. Our Prime Minister started Jana Dhana Yojana for the poor and, considering
the importance of micro-economy, got the bank accounts opened for everyone. The result is that the
surgical strike has affected only the hoarders. Do you think all black money will come out by this
operation? Probably not; but the foundation of this demon of black money has been shaken from the
core. Now new revolutions will follow and will give birth to a greater positive change. It might take 9-10
years, but the nation will remain secure, the economy will improve and very soon our nation will again
attain its past glory of a golden bird.
New Revolutions in the Offing
What are the revolutions that are waiting in the wings to make this part of earth, India, a truly great
nation? First one is that expensive marriages will be stopped. There were 1.25 lakhs of marriages in Delhi
alone in three days following the announcement of demonetization. One can imagine what would have
“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.” - Grace Hansen
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 20178
happened to the affected parents and relatives. But what can be done? It is the will of Mahakal (Time
Spirit) that there should be ideal marriages. Unnecessary expenditure must be stopped. The economy
of the rich built on the money of the poor should be demolished. The middle class may complain about
what have they done to deserve this? The sin of the middle class is that they have tried to emulate the
rich by copying expensive habits to falsely show that they too are rich and spending beyond their means.
The next revolution will result in the upliftment of rural economy. Cottage industries will flourish
again. In this youth revolution year (being observed by our Mission), we mulled over the formation
of ‘Swavlambi Loksevi Mandals’ nicknamed ‘Swalokam’ so that all the youth get jobs. People will
understand the importance of labor. Hooliganism will reduce. Mistreatment of women will also stop.
The gates of huge private colleges, erected by capitation fee, will open for the poor and there will be
coordination of spirituality and education in true sense. There will also be change in the electoral system.
Within a decade, the foundation of transformation of the era will be laid. All this will be visible by
2025-26. The present crisis has blown a whistle for the arrival of a great revolution. Let us welcome it
wholeheartedly!
(Pranav Pandya)
“Follow your dream as long as you live, do not lessen the time of following desire, for wasting time is an abomination of the spirit.” – Plato
As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the
fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope �ed to
their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could,
at any �me, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and
made no a�empt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very
young and much smaller we use the same size rope to �e them and, at that
age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are condi�oned to
believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can s�ll hold them,
so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any �me break free from their
bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where
they were.
Like the elephants, many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we
cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 9
In common language of conversations we often
use the term “Era”, “Age” (called “yuga” in
Sanskrit and Hindi) to indicate a characteristic
period or span of time associated with a
predominant phase of history or social/political/
economic change, etc. For example, the “Stone
Age”, “Vedic Era”, “Medieval Era”, “Electronics
Age”, “Computer Age”, or “Bhakti Yuga”,
“Vaigyanik Yuga”, etc. However, the term era
(yuga or equivalent) in the ancient texts refers to
period of epochal characteristics of Nature.
In astrological calculations, for practical purposes,
in terms of periodic movements of the positions
of the r³ïis (signs of the Zodiac), the period of 12
years is also referred as ‘yuga’. Interestingly, this
period is important in terms of biological clock
and change in the patterns of circadian rhythms of
person. During a period of 12 years, almost all the
cells of our body are renewed; in normal course,
age-related natural changes in human body also
manifest most significantly in successive periods
of 12 years (e.g. onset of puberty/teenage at the
age of 12 years; bloom of youth at the age of
24 years; start of middle age at 36 years and so
on...). Astronomical studies and related scientific
research also show importance of the cycle of
12 years, as it is found that periodic changes in
the internal condition of the Sun occur every 12
years.
In terms of cosmological sciences, the calculations
of cosmic cycles as presented in Vedic texts are
supposed to be most comprehensive. However,
Is This a
Phase of Epochal Change?
In the present times the world is facing challenges and adversities from multiple directions. Disturbed
ecosystem, depleting natural resources, alarming rise in environmental pollution, pesticide-treated
natural products, adulterated food, toxic waste, risk of nuclear radiations, global warming, ever-new
harmful viruses/microbes and consequent health hazards, dreaded diseases, growing cases of tension,
anxiety, depression, stress, and related psychosomatic ailments, mental complexities, psychological
weaknesses and disorders, expanding terrorism, fanaticism, social disharmony, rising trends of broken
families, population-explosion, economic uncertainties, increasing percentage of unemployment, etc.,
have put a Big Question Mark on sustainability of life and future of the earth. Everyone, who can think,
is keen to find an answer.
In the views of many experts, great visionaries and authentic foretellers, the world is passing through
a decisive phase of transition since past few decades. Is this a phase of epochal change? Some ancient
texts of different schools of thoughts and deeper knowledge across the world provide clear indications.
Here we highlight some scholarly research findings with some pre-historical scriptural calculations on
epochal phases of Nature.
“For every mountain there is a miracle.” - Robert H. Schuller
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201710
it is extremely complex to decipher them on the
common scale of time we use at present. We shall
discuss here only what is generally accepted and
referred/documented by most of the scholars in
the modern times as authentic.
The ancient scriptures of Vedic cosmology
describe different kinds of cosmic cycles as
yugas, and mah³-yugas (deva-yugas, great
aeons) in relation to epochal changes in the
sublime and manifested domains of Nature
[1]. Noted French-Egyptian philosopher René
Guénon, who also had deep scholarly knowledge
of the ancient oriental scriptures, explains the
concept of cosmic cycles more explicitly [2] as
follows: “In the most general sense of the term, a
cosmic cycle must be considered as - representing
the process of development of some state of
(cosmic) manifestation, or, in the case of minor
cycles, of one of the more or less restricted and
specialized modalities of that state”. Moreover,
in virtue of the law of correspondence which
links all things in Universal Existence, there is
necessarily and always a certain analogy, either
among the different cycles of the same order
or among the principal cycles (aeons) and their
secondary divisions”. This allows using one and
the same mode of expression when speaking
about the (cosmic) cycles, although this must
often be understood only symbolically, and this
alludes here especially to the ‘chronological’
form under which the doctrines of cosmic cycles
are interpreted.
In the terminology of Indian scriptures, a Kalpa
represents the total duration of a state or degree of
Universal Existence (S•aÌÚi - manifested Nature,
the entire cosmic creation); a Kalpa is divided
into 14 Manvantaras. This is further divided
into mah³-yugas. The duration of a deva-yuga
(mah³-Yuga) is interpreted as about 432000
years. (The term ‘year’ is used in this article in
usual sense of the modern scientific calendar).
Within a Manvantar, there are several cycles of
chatur-yugas (four principal eras) each signifying
distinct characteristic tendencies of Nature and
its manifestation. Notably, as described in the
next Section, the total duration (24000 years)
of these yugas is a multiple of 12, indicating the
consonance with the periodicity of the solar and
Zodiac systems as well.
The Four Principal Eras of Nature:
In the context of deeper science of Nature,
especially in the scriptural parlance, ‘change
of an era’ (yuga parivartan) mostly implies
change in the subtle environment of Nature. This
transformation is also reflected in epochal changes
on multiple fronts of life including culture, social
trends, goals and types of development, etc.
Change in the subtle environment of Nature is
characterized in the Vedic texts by change in the
levels of the triguñas1.
In K•at-Yuga, which is referred as Sat-Yuga (Age
of Truth and Light), there is predominance of
sat-guña. The levels of raj-guña begin to rise
with the onset of Treta (Tret³) -Yuga and this
guña begins to dominate by the completion of
this era. The presence of tam-guña begins to
manifest with gradually higher intensity with
passage of Dwapar (Dw³para)-Yuga. Tam
becomes predominant tendency in Kali-Yuga
which also nurtures negative influence of raj.
[An equivalence of these four yugas in terms of
the Greco-Latin antiquity is the four ages of gold,
silver, bronze and iron.]
It is obvious that epochal changes cannot occur
“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” - William Ernest Henley
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 11
instantaneously or overnight. There is substantial
transitional period at the juncture (sandhi) of two
successive yugas. This transition period is also
counted in the total duration of a yuga. This
period is significant for prior conditioning and
preparations for adaptation to the drastic changes.
Its importance would be clear if we recall our
routine experiences of change of seasons. As
we know, the period between change of two
successive seasons of weather is quite important
to get accustomed to the change in atmospheric
conditions; change in the weather affects the
metabolism, sleep pattern, body temperature, etc,
and hence overall health.
Spans of the Four Principal Yugas:
At a glance there appears discrepancy between
scholarly interpretations of scriptural excerpts,
and the implications of astronomical calculations
(e.g. [1-6]) of the durations of the four principal eras.
However, a comprehensive interpretation and
analysis in the light of ancient astronomical texts
clarifies the matter and leads to a convincing
conclusion.
According to some translations of Indian
scriptures, the Bhavishya Parv of Harivanha
Puran, Manusmiriti (67-68), Ling Puran (9-12),
and Vanparva (22-26) of the Epic “Mahabharata”
cite the total duration of the four principal yugas as
12000 years. Some scriptures [e.g. Devi Bh³gvat
Puran (3|1|39)] describe that the successive spans
of four principal yugas (from K•ata-yuga to Kali-
yuga) and their transition periods are in the ratio
4:3:2:1. That is, the span of Kali-yuga is shortest,
that of Dwapar is double of it, and so on.
However, it should be noted that the Puranas
are written in a narrative style, couplets in other
scriptures too should be viewed in continuity
with context-dependent meanings of text. Thus
the meaning of a single or set of few couplets
(hymns) should be interpreted as interlinked
with other hymns/texts of the same or related
(w.r.t. the context) ancient treatises. Such details
indicate that the durations stated in the above-
referred couplets correspond only to one phase of
a complete cycle of the four eras. As in one full
day there are two phases - day and night, similarly
in a complete cycle of the chatur-yugas, there are
two phases - descending and ascending - of equal
duration of 12000 years. Thus the total span
(including sandhi periods) of the four principal
yugas is 2X12000 = 24000 years.
“I don’t count the days, I make the days count!” - Muhammad Ali
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers,
the round pegs in the square holes and the ones who see things
differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the
status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify
them. About the only thing you can’t do is to ignore them, because
they change things. They push the human race forward. And while
some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the
people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are
the ones who do.
-Rob Siltanen
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201712
The ratio 4:3:2:1 of the durations of the successive
(in descending phase) yugas also appears to
correspond mainly to the smaller periods within a
yuga in which predominant quality of the yuga is
fully developed and manifested. Chronologically,
the duration of each of the four principal yugas is
equal. Thus the span of each is about 3000 years
(2700 years + sandhi period of 300 years) in each
phase. The total duration of Kaliyuga is thus
about 5400 years with sandhi period of about
300 years of dawn and 300 years of twilight. This
measure is supported by authentic documents
like - the Indian calendar used in the times
Chandra Gupta Maurya, the first ever documented
astronomical treatise Surya Siddhant[3], and the
thesis “Aryabhattia” written in 499 CE by globally
renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer
Aryabhatta[4] , and calculation of several other
famous astronomers of early centuries including
Paulisa, Srishena, and Vishnucandra. Great leader
of Indian freedom movement Lokmanya Tilak, and
revered yogi Paramhans Yoganand[5], and scholar
Yutkeshwar[6] have also cited similar views.
As cited by a thorough researcher [7], the original
Yuga Cycle doctrine appears to have been very
simple: A Yuga Cycle duration of 12,000 years,
with each Yuga lasting for 3,000 years. This cycle
is encoded in the “SaptarÌi Calendar” which
has been used in India for thousands of years -
authentic documents for this are available in the
recorded chronological history of Indian Kings
since 6676 BC[8]. It was used extensively during
the Maurya period in the 4th century BC, and
is still in use in some parts of India. The term
“SaptarÌi” refers to the “Seven Rishis” or the
“Seven Vedic Sages” by whose names the seven
stars of the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major)
are identified. They are regarded as the angelic
sages who appear at the beginning of every cycle
of the four yugas to cultivate human cultural
values and disseminate the laws of civilization.
The Saptarsi Calendar used in India had a cycle
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”- Henry David Thoreau
On Excellence
Excellence in work is the result of high aim, sincere effort, prudent direc�on,
skillful execu�on and emo�onal involvement. The desire to excel is exclusive of
the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not. Excellence is a drive from
inside, not outside. Excellence is not for someone else to no�ce but for your own
sa�sfac�on and efficiency.
Mar�n Luther King Jr. has rightly advised - “If a man is called to be a street
sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven
composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well
that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street
sweeper who did his job well’.”
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 13
of 2,700 years; it is said that the Great Bear
constellation stays for 100 years in each of the
27 Nakïatra (lunar asterisms; 27 sectors along
the ecliptic) which add up to a cycle of 2,700
years. 2,700 year cycle was also referred to as a
“SaptarÌi Era” or a “SaptarÌi Yuga”.
This estimate also has a correspondence with the
measurements of cosmic units in other ancient
systems. For instance, the Zoroastrians believe
that the world lasts for 12,000 years, which is
divided into four equal ages of 3,000 years each.
A Mexican source known as the Codex Rios (also
referred to as Codex 3738 and Codex Vaticanus
A) states that each age lasts for 4008, 4010, 4801
and 5042 years respectively, which amounts to a
total of 17,861 years. We can see that in this case
also the duration of each age is nearly the same.
Knowledge of the span of Kaliyuga - the age
of vices and sufferings, in which we are living
at present, does not matter to us unless it also
conveys when is it going to get over? Several
scholarly analyses of the ancient texts and
predictions of the seer-sages of the modern times
[1] indicate that the end of Kaliyuga and dawn of a
golden age would occur in this very century - the
21st Century AD. We shall discuss the details in
successive articles.
Reference:
1. Sharma Shriram Acharya (1995): Yug-
Parivartana Kaise aur Kaba?” Pandit
Shriram Sharma Acharya Samagra Vangmaya
Vol. 27, Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura.
2. Guénon, R., Guinon R. (2003): Traditional
Forms and Cosmic Cycles [Collected works
of Guénon, Rene, edited by Fohr, S.D.]
(ISBN: 978-0900588167). Publ. Sophia
Perennis.
3. Burgess E. (1860): Translation of the S¿rya Siddh³nta – A Text Book of Hindu Astronomy.
New Haven: For the American Oriental Soc.
[Original article publ. In J. Amer. Oriental
Soc. Vol VI; the book also contains detailed
commentary by the author.]
4a. Bhau Daji (1865): Brief Notes on the Age
and Authenticity of the Works of Aryabhata,
Varahamihira, Brahmagupta, Bhattotpala,
and Bhaskaracharya. J. Royal Asiatic Soc.
Great Britain and Ireland, p. 392.
4b. Thurston Hugh (1996): Early Astronomy,
Springer. (ISBN 0-387-948228).
5. Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1949): The Holy
Science. Yogoda Sat-Sanga Soc. of India.
6. Yogananda, Paramhansa: Autobiography of a
Yogi. Sterling Publ. Pvt. Ltd. (ISBN-13: 978-
8120725249).
7. Bibhu Dev Misra (2003): Unravelling the
Yuga Cycle Timeline. Part-I of a Web Article.
(h�ps://grahamhancock.com/dmisrab6/)
8. Mitchiner John E. (2000): Tradition of the
Seven Rsis. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. Pvt.
Ltd. (ISBN-13: 978-8120817623).
Notes:
1. Triguñas: The intrinsic tendencies of sat, raj
and tama indwelling in the Nature are called
triguña. Sat implies the embodiment of truth,
the source of knowledge & cognitive faculties,
and pure intelligence. Raj is the source of all
activities; the basis of animate manifestation
of Nature and expressions of consciousness
(e.g. in generation of thoughts). Tamoguna
implies ignorance, inertia; it is predominant
in inanimate Nature.
“If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” - Bruce Lee
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201714
Science means knowledge. It originates with
the natural quest of human mind to know the
unknown, to decipher the truth. In the early ages
of civilization, science as a type of knowledge was
more closely linked to philosophy than it is now.
Its methods and practices, and hence its domain
have expanded and transformed with human
intellectual civilization. As modern civilization
progressed with understanding, interaction and
use of manifested realms of Nature (i.e. matter
or perceivable facets of Nature), and social or
collective efforts, the disciplines of Science
also emerged accordingly. Today “science” is
predominantly defined or identified as one or
more of the Natural Sciences (e.g. Biological,
Chemical, Geological, Physical Sciences, etc.)
or Social and Applied Sciences (Economics,
Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.,
and Statistics, Engineering Sciences, etc., ). The
“Philosophical” base of science has now got
confined to Abstract Mathematical Sciences,
Logic, etc. Notably, what makes a subject, piece
of knowledge, thought, or method of learning,
as part of “Science”, is the scientific approach to
its discovery, acquisition, and study. ‘Scientific-
ness’ (scientific spirit) is the core of Science.
Indeed, all the worth and predominance of
science is there because it is “Scientific”.
The adjective “Scientific” in truest sense of the
word implies - thorough, and free of prejudices,
irrationalities and biases. It thus ascertains
authenticity, rationality, consistency, and
universality. However, due to narrow interpretation
of “Science” as material based modern science,
the term ‘scientific’ too is widely interpreted as -
systematic, methodical, and in consonance with
prevailing theories/concepts of modern science.
The real complete meaning of ‘Scientific’ is, in
fact, naturally rooted in “Spirituality”. But the
way spirituality is understood and practiced
since the post-medieval times, reflects quite
the contrary. “Scientific Spirituality” deals with
the scientific nature, perennial relevance, and
universal truth of spirituality which is the vital
need of the present times.
Today, many people interpret “Spirituality” as
a field of occult philosophy dealing with spirits
and even confuse it with “Spiritualism”. Many
link it with religious customs, blind faith and
superstitions. For many others, spirituality is
meant only for ascetics; they think that adoption
of spiritual life requires complete renouncement
of worldly activities, etc. However such
interpretations only reflect incomplete and
incorrect information and knowledge. The
real meaning and field of “Spirituality” is as
vast and deep as the existence and experiences
of the Omnipresent Eternal Consciousness-
Force. It pertains to realization of conscience,
enlightenment of inner-self, and evolution of
consciousness-faculties. In simple terms, as
explained by seer-sage and spiritual scientist
of our times, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya,
spirituality deals with emancipation, progress,
expansion, and illumination of intellect and
emotions that lead to expansion of selfishness
into selflessness, transformation of egotism
into limitless compassion and generosity, and
Multiple Facets of Scientific Spirituality
Science and Spirituality
“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” - William Arthur Ward
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 15
awakening of divinity indwelling in the inner
self.
Spirituality can’t be adopted through abstract
philosophical thoughts, through lip-service, or by
ostentatious rituals and orthodox customs. One
does not have to renounce the world and go to the
forests or remote mountains to practice it. There is
no place for delusions, blind faith or superstitions
in it. However, in the present times, it will need
the support of science (scientific-spirit) to cast out
the prevailing misconceptions and delusions. It
will have to prove its authenticity and relevance.
Spirituality and science should support, guide and
supplement each other. Realizing this, Acharya
Sharma pioneered renaissance of Scientific
Spirituality in the modern age in a comprehensive
and practical way.
What is Scientific Spirituality?
Acharya Sharma envisaged “Scientific
Spirituality” as the beacon light of golden
future for the world. He, like several visionary
scientists, thinkers and social reformers, realized
that - the convictions and practices of spirituality
weaken their authenticity without scientific spirit
and openness. The philosophy and teachings of
spirituality without having scientific approach
lose their relevance and originality in the smog
of blind-faith and superstitions. Also, every
discipline of science (be that any branch of
natural, physical, mathematical, or, social or
applied science), remains narrow and incomplete
without incorporating spirituality. Material based
science without spirituality has no bonds of
human values and so there is an obvious danger
of its becoming aristocratic and apathetic. (In
practical sense), Scientific Spirituality lies at the
core of mutually complementary, constructive,
and supportive roles of science and spirituality.
We all know that scientific and technological
development may produce wealth, comforts and
prosperity but not the elixir of benevolence, love
and compassion. The so-called social sciences
too remain confined to intellectual domains and
are influenced by predominant thoughts, theories,
models and practices advocated by influential
and celebrity scholars in a given period of time
without any real effect on individual or social
character-building. (For example, research and
studies of the moral sciences, humanities, ideal
theories of socio political systems, etc, continue
to flourish in the present times, but we hardly
see any impact of these in altering the trends of
moral-cultural devolution, declining integrity of
character, human values, and the rising social
disharmony and anarchy).
The light of sagacity and benevolence and the
perpetual power of inner strength essential
for social responsibility, dutifulness, integrity,
and moral ascent originate and expand only
through spiritual enlightenment. But most of us
have somehow ignored even the necessity of
our own spiritual fitness and progress. Or, we
have confused and neglected ‘spirituality’ as an
offshoot of hallucination and emotional whims or
as subject matter only for ascetics. This ‘folly’ of
the wise and ‘progressive’ intellect of today has
put the world on a precipitous edge where even
healthy sustenance of life on the earth has become
doubtful. Scientific spirituality has promising
potential as a crucial remedial and comprehensive
measure/mode towards sustainability, holistic
development and bright and blissful future.
Scientific Spirituality is an evolved science
“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” - Nora Roberts
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201716
of mind that illuminates the intellect towards
righteous path and awakens divine sensitivity
in the heart (emotional core). The paradigms of
scientific spirituality may be broadly classified as
follows.
Absolute Knowledge:
The theories and principles of Scientific
Spirituality originate from a universal view that
incorporates both spiritual and physical entities
within the scope of its explanatory framework. In
this way, spiritual entities can be understood to be
“real” or “existing” in the same way as physical
entities. This kind of theoretical continuity
between the physical and spiritual worlds allows
for the understanding of spiritual phenomena as
law governed.
One paradigm of this sort that has been highly
developed within India is the philosophy of
Vedanta. Vedanta is a consciousness-centric
paradigm which views reality as emerging
through each of us from a unified (Omnipresent),
eternal consciousness-force (Brah®) in each
form of existence and each moment of (physical,
mental or transcendental) perception. Like
Vedantic philosophers, the Quantum Physicists
also view the physical world as emerging
from (consciousness) energy. Max Planck, the
founder of Quantum Physics underlines this
similarity explicitly - “I regard consciousness
as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative
from consciousness. We cannot get behind
consciousness. Everything that we talk about,
everything that we regard as existing, postulates
consciousness…” [c.f. Planck’s interview
reported in “The Observer”, January 25, 1931].
By maintaining continuity between material and
spiritual dimensions, the vast domain of Scientific
Spirituality incorporates both (the material
and the consciousness) dimensions within its
explanatory purview. Considering the eternal
existence and fundamental role of consciousness-
force, Scientific Spirituality is an absolute science
that can unfold all secrets of life, can decipher
mind as a material element, can explain the
science of destiny (law of karma), fully elucidate
the manifested as well as transcendent Nature,
everything. All streams of knowledge emanate
from this absolute science.
Key to Holistic Development:
Scientific Spirituality holds that consciousness of
a being is raised up (evolved) not by magic or a
capricious boon granted from super forces, but
rather by forces that can be rationally understood
and perhaps repeated. This idea does not deny
the importance of faith or devotion; these two
are essential factors. Nor does it deny the role of
divine forces in human ascent. Perhaps it does,
however, prioritize human effort and suggest
the importance of diligent spiritual endeavors
(s³dhan³).
A particularly advanced theoretical system for
understanding the mechanisms of this process
is the theory of a sublime element of primordial
life-force energy that exists at the threshold
between consciousness and matter. Within Vedic
(Hindu) philosophy, this sublime energy is called
pr³ña. Within Chinese traditions, it is known
as Chi. The methods and (s³dhan³) practices
of Scientific Spirituality deal with gathering,
conserving, raising, constructively using, and
expanding this vital spiritual energy.
Raising of pr³ña results in enhancement of
“In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.” - Theodore Roosevelt
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 17
vigor and vitality (and hence good health of
the physical body); it gives rise to brilliance
and focus of intellectual and other mental
faculties; it generates soothing balance of
emotions with inner contentment, and inspires
benevolent sentiments. In short it is the key to
holistic development of personality. Progress
in this process gradually leads to spiritual
enlightenment and awakening of divine
sensitivity and unalloyed bliss.
Practical Aspects – Implementation in
Scientific Light:
An important facet of Scientific Spirituality
is the use of the scientific method for studying
and validating the effects of different spiritual
practices of raising pr³ña and dissemination and
practical implementation of spiritual knowledge
in scientific light. For example, through
measuring indicators, such as brain waves,
memory retention, stress-level, hormone levels,
etc., the full rigor of the scientific method can
be applied to studying the effects of spiritual
practices such as yoga-kriy³s, meditative
rhythmic chanting of Vedic Mantras, etc.
Advanced research studies can also be used to
assess, verify, and demonstrate extrasensory
potentials of spiritually enlightened mind.
This kind of research is necessary for spiritual
practice to be accepted by communities holding
materialistic philosophical commitments.
Scientific Spirituality also pertains to integration
of spirituality and social sciences. The methods
and practices of up³sana, s³dhan³s and
³r³dhan³ aim at holistic development of the
individuals as well as the society. Acharya
Sharma regarded scientific spirituality as the key
to holistic management and progress of human
life on personal, professional, familial and
social fronts. He signified positive attitude and
focused, thoughtful and thorough endeavors of
self-refinement and self-development as essential
features of scientific spirituality and guided
feasible, effective methods and training programs
to achieve this. The characteristics of social
service, social transformation, self-restraint,
non-sectarianism, and science integrated in the
comprehensive, grass-rooted approach guided by
him make it authentic and relevant for personal
and social transformation in the current era.
The three paradigms of Scientific Spirituality,
namely viewing consciousness to be law-
governed, thinking within a paradigm that
includes spiritual dimensions, and applying
scientific method to the study and use of
consciousness-science, provide the ground for a
universal spirituality that includes all traditions
by transcending the boundaries of any particular
stream of faith or culture.
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
Sa® va¡ p—chyant³® tanva¡ sa® man³®si samuvrrat³ |
Sa® voya® brahmanaspatirbharga¡ sa® vo ajigamat ||
- Atharvaveda: 6/74/1
Meaning: May your body, mind (thought), dharma (character) and ac�on (conduct) be
in synergy. May God, the Lord of knowledge, harmonize you, and the Lord of splendour
integrate you.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201718
The timeless tradition of noble thoughts
“Discrimination on the grounds of caste and
nationality is totally baseless and a clear
misconception because we are all born as the
same kind of species. In the very beginning of
creation, different geographical regions were
not separated by boundaries. No single tribe or
community was the owner of any specific piece
of land or region. In the eyes of God, there is
no discrimination between people of different
nationalities or religions or communities. In
that case, why do men face discrimination in the
society?......In ancient times, it was advocated
that there was no religion higher than loving one’s
own country. But today, we move even beyond
that and say that a person who loves the entire
universe is worthy of adoration and praise.”
These words offering the solution to the ominous
dangers threatening the world today were
expressed by the saint pained by the suffering
of humanity. How can such a race / nation be
supportive of communal hatred that expounded
the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’
thousands of years ago, that even after attaining
the status of Chakravarti [1] never tried to wipe
away any community or kingdom that embraced
even those foreigners who invaded them soon
after peace was established? Even when Indians
had to suffer under the foreign invasions for the
past thousand years, they never neglected their
ancient ideals. Even today, ever since attaining
independence they have been trying to establish
global peace and to unify nations of the world
and develop collaboration among them.
Merging the love for your own country with
universal love
There are some rigid and narrow-minded people
who do not support the concept of universal
brotherhood and associate it with utopia and call
it unrealistic. Even if such people revel in the
world of communalism, political partisanship,
separatism and divisive attitude, I do not blame
them for that. It is very natural to have different
opinions and not everyone can agree to a high
ideal and live for that cause. In spite of that, there
is not too much difference between them and us.
If we believe in universal welfare, it does not
however imply that we do not serve and work for
the progress of our country. Our country is also
an indivisible part of the world, then how can we
be proponents of universal service while we do
not serve our own motherland? A majority of us
are not in a position to travel to other countries
and participate in resolving global issues. In such
circumstances, our field of action remains to be
our own country. It is by serving people around
us that we can participate in the ideal of serving
the universe.
This is something very unique about the spiritual
path. Even if the actions are similar, the result
of those actions is in proportion to our mental
makeup and may either be good or bad. When
May the Walls of Discrimination Break
Let the entire world become a single family
[Excerpts of Param Pujya Gurudev’s thoughts on ‘World as a Global Village’ in an article published in Akhand Jyoti (Hindi) in November, 1967]
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 19
we defend our country against an aggressive and
tyrannical force, the soldiers of both sides seem
to be doing the very same thing. Both are using
their weapons and trying to kill each other. But
there is a difference in their mindset, that makes
one of them an oppressor and other a martyr for
defending his nation. Hence, my sincere request
to all of you is to understand the importance of
‘global citizen’ while serving your nation at the
very best. We Indians follow the tenets present in
Bhagawad Gita. In that Lord Sri Krishna shows
his cosmic form and says that the entire universe
comes from one single source and to identify
differences and discrimination is ignorance.
The Lord asks us not to differentiate between
the animate and inanimate and love everything
equally. If we love our fellow human beings and
participate in building a better world, then where
is the question of obsession in this?
The boundaries drawn in the world are all
artificial
All the boundaries that we see between various
countries of the world today are all artificial.
With progress of civilization and increase in
wealth, thirst for power and divisive attitude
have become deeply entrenched. Because of this,
they began to build walls around the region and
established their power in that area. Each of these
power mongers has the ambition to expand their
region of power in comparison to others. Thus
develops the attitude of attacking and looting their
neighboring regions. This is the primary reason
for wars today. And these wars have also assumed
a far more expansive and complex form causing
an atmosphere of perennial tension and terrorism
all over the world. Describing the perilous and
amoral nature of these wars, a great proponent of
global peace has spoken these words –
“This land does not belong to one person, it is
for all. The Earth is not man’s house; it is in fact
his Samadhi (a burial ground). A man may evolve
himself into a great conqueror and take many
countries under his control, but eventually he
cannot keep any part of those lands in his control
except for that little piece of land where his grave
will be made. To fulfil the ambition of a handful
people, wars are waged jeopardizing the lives of
millions of people and breaking the hearts of men
and women.”
The auspicious plan of global village
Ever since nuclear energy is being used for
creating nuclear weapons, the situation in the
world has become quite serious and scary. If
wars were killing thousands and lakhs of people
before, in the wake of nuclear wars an entire
country can get wiped out in a matter of hours
and the loss of life is many orders higher. Ever
since these escalated risks have begun to surface,
there has been increased demand for a global
society. A sane person belonging to any country
or religion has begun to realize that science has
placed such immense power and threat in the
hands of people that it is imperative to forget the
differences of divisive nations and hand over the
governance of entire world to a single collective
body. Otherwise if even a single war fanatic, on
a pretext real or imaginary, triggers a nuclear
weapon, most part of this Green Earth will turn
into a graveyard in less than 24 hours.
Supporters of world fraternity have been
appealing to form a global organization looking
at craze for weapons and the aggression of the
national leaders. A Persian saint Bahaullah
strived on this issue and warned all the leaders
of the world 150 years ago that if they do not
“It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it.” - John Crowe
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201720
overcome the confines of their own nations for
greater good, destruction is imminent.
About 50 years ago, Thakur Dayanand of Bengal,
an exponent of universal brotherhood established
‘Arunachal Mission’. He had sent a letter to the
Peace Conference that was held after the end of
World War-I with a proposal for United Nations
and his ideas were thus –
“Citizens of each country should choose a person
to be their president for a period of few years.
The president with his team of people will take
care of the nation. Such presidents of various
countries will come together and choose a ‘Head
President’. He along with a team of ministers will
oversee the affairs of all the countries. This team
of ministers will be the representatives chosen by
the various countries. This global governing body
will co-ordinate with the different countries on
international issues so that all the countries can
progress without others taking undue advantage
of them. All these presidents and head-president
will truly be representatives of the people and
servants of God who look upon citizens of all
the countries as their own brothers. They will
swear in front of people and God that they will be
responsible for the welfare, peace and prosperity
of the world.”
Thakur Dayanand sent this scheme to all
the leaders of the states and published in the
newspapers. This proposal came up for discussion
in some forums but was mostly ignored by the
power-mongering politicians who continued with
their existing ways.
The thoughts of intellectuals are getting
transformed
The founder of Satya Samaj is of the opinion –
“In this world itself I want to see a new society
that does not have imperialism, capitalism, riots
based on religion or community; where money
is not the sole power; where entire humanity is
looked upon as one; where man and woman are
given equal respect and value; where truth reigns
supreme; where there is no discrimination of
rich and poor. Through Satya Samaj, I want to
establish a world just like this.”
The objective of presenting the thoughts of a
few wise and enlightened people here is to bring
forth the flaws in the society and the ill-effects
of those on innocent people. Looking at the sad
state of affairs, the attention of the intelligentsia
is focused on a new transformation. Presently,
the world, controlled by science and technology,
has increased the productivity so much so that
if it is shared through wisdom and justice, then
everyone can lead a life of happiness and plenty.
Notes:
1. Chakravarti king is one who rules over his
subjects ethically and benevolently, and is a
conqueror of the entire world.
“Kites rise highest against the wind – not with it.” - Winston Churchill
Om saha nāvavatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha vīryaṃ karavāvahai,
tejasvināvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahaiA oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |
Om! May He protect us together; May He nourish us together; May we work conjointly with great
energy; May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not
hate any). Om! Let there be Peace in us! Our environment! And the forces that act on us!
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 21
Understand these truths
This universe is continuously evolving. The cycle
of change is ever active. Those who understand
this truth and prepare themselves stand to benefit,
while others have to face difficulties. Let’s consider
the example of seasonal cycles. Monsoon follows
summer. Winter sets in right after monsoon. This
is a definite cycle and that does not change as
per our convenience. We have to mold ourselves
in accordance with the seasons. The transitional
phases are always troublesome. Those who
manage to prepare themselves for these changes
stands to gain and stays comfortable. Those who
don’t prepare themselves for monsoon will see
their roofs leaking, taps drying up and slush all
around. But those who gear themselves up for
monsoon will see their fields and ponds filled
with adequate water. They enjoy the profit from
a good harvest.
If you are not prepared for cold weather, you end
up shivering and suffering from the ill-effects
and diseases owing to cold weather. Those
who brace themselves up for winter are spared
these hardships. As part of preparation, they do
requisite exercises to digest the partaken food and
lay the foundation for good health and longevity.
Our ancestors have formulated certain rules and
life style guidelines based on which we can make
best use of seasonal changes. Those who are
ignorant of this knowledge and those who merely
sing praises and do not practice cannot derive
any benefit from the experience of our ancestors.
Those who imbibe these principles in their daily
life are truly wise.
In the process of Era Transformation
Just like seasonal cycles, era transformation also
follows a cyclic structure. Just like a meteorologist
predicts weather and informs everyone about
the forecast, similarly exponents of scientific
spirituality and rishis create awareness in the
public about the coming changes in the era.
Those who are wise and react to these messages
not only align their life style but also convey it to
their near and dear ones. Such people transition
smoothly when the change occurs and can use the
changed circumstances optimally. Others tackle
change with grievances and remain unhappy on
being forced to face different conditions.
Ancient rishis and saints have written a lot about
era transformation and the thinkers and modern-
day saints have also made people aware of this
from time to time. [A separate article titled ‘Is
this a phase of epochal change?’ in this issue
itself deals with this aspect.] Saint Bahaullah,
Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and others
have given sufficient indications about the era
transformation in their messages. Yugrishi Pandit
Shriram Sharma Acharya has thrown light on
each and every aspect of era transformation. He
has written at length about the changes that will
come in emotions, thoughts, talents and finances.
While writing about each of these aspects he has
given clear guidelines on how to adopt the right
approach and what’s to be done to stay away
from undesirable outcomes of these changes.
Appreciating the words of seers and sages is not enough:
Only imbibing them will help
“Knowledge without follow-through is worse than no knowledge.” - Henry Charles Bukowski
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201722
Those people who believed in his thoughts and
followed them in their life will surely reap the
benefits in the form of personal happiness,
attaining respect in the society and gaining divine
grace, while others who ignored will have to face
the consequences. Following are Acharyasri’s
own words –
“The entire scheme of Yug Nirman Yojana works
on this basis. I have given stern warning as well
as inspiration to each one of the parijans to mould
their lives in accordance with the upcoming
changes. Each and every soul has a specific duty
and responsibility towards achieving this goal.
Taking active part in this Divine plan is the first
and foremost objective of all those people living
today. This should be understood very well and
acted upon.”
Those with clairvoyance have done their duty
and now it is left to the society to either make use
of it or not.
Current economic storm
Presently, all of us are facing extremely
challenging situation in the financial realm. Since
times immemorial, people have been giving
undue importance to money. They had forgotten
that money was just a medium through which
the necessities of life could be acquired so that
a happy personal, familial and social life could
be attained. Out of ignorance, people began to
perceive means as an end. The ultimate aim is
to have a happy and progressive life. Money,
property, wealth and other resources are just a
means to achieve this aim. The moment money
became the aim of life, people entered this blind
race of accumulating it meaninglessly. Even
worse, people began to be evaluated based on
the wealth they possessed. This had its own ill
consequences. In the words of Yugrishi –
“It is most unfortunate that humanity is giving
utmost importance to money today. It is as a
consequence of this that everyone wants to
accumulate wealth so as to gain respect in the
society. The real use of money is to keep it
continuously flowing by putting it to use for some
good cause or another. Stagnated water in a ditch
or food in the stomach gets rotten and leads to a
host of ailments. Money stashed in lockers makes
the person intoxicated and spreads bad influence
in the society.”
- Hamari Yug Nirman Yojana Part-I (1972)
Now, a majority of the people have come to
believe that this tendency of wealth accumulation
has led to increase of black money which can at
any point in time create an artificial crisis in the
society and terrorize people much to the pleasure
of hoarders and money launderers. This money
becomes the medium for flourishing of drug
markets, terrorists, separatists and smugglers. To
get rid of these ulcers in the society, government
has taken a very bold step. Whoever has hoarded
wealth, their life is in jeopardy and they are
losing sleep over it. In this context, yugrishi had
long back given a message in very clear words.
Here are some of his words of wisdom from a
book titled ‘Yug Nirman Yojana Part-I” (1972) –
“Some bitter truths must be understood by the
rich people. In the coming years, the wealthy
people are not the one who will be respected.
In fact, they will be looked down upon as those
stone-hearted ones who have turned their heads
away from social welfare and will be rejected as
cowards. A social system, in which wealth will
not be owned by individuals but by the society, is
approaching us fast like an incoming typhoon.”
“Live out your imagination, not your history.” - Stephen Covey
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 23
If such clearly-spoken words are not understood
by anyone, they certainly have to suffer the
consequences of that. In the process of individual
development, entire society has to face difficult
situations. All people, good or bad end up
suffering some inconvenience. This is what is
being seen today. It is best to take demonetization
as an essential step towards creating a glorious
future and accept the resultant inconvenience
gracefully.
Difficult process but a fortunate opportunity
In the process of creating a glorious future,
man has to undergo some difficult situations. A
student has to study day and night. A sportsman
has to put in enormous hard work. In this process
of creating a better society, something similar is
happening. Yugrishi has written in clear words –
“The coming 30 years will be most difficult
and worrisome for humanity. It is just like
for the mother who is about to undergo the
pangs of delivery. Each and every moment is
filled with restlessness and apprehension. All
transformations are difficult. Inflation, famine,
drought, revolution, chaos and other situations
are seen every now and then. In the coming days
we have to gear up for some natural disasters and
small-time cold and hot wars. When useless clay
needs to be moulded into useful pots and utensils,
it has to undergo pounding, moulding, drying and
heating. No transformation comes without its set
of difficult processes.
For humanity to be evolved into a refined race in
the next 30 years, it has to undergo a variety of
difficult situations. Man is also not wise enough
to leave the wrong path and come onto the right
path by merely asking him to do so. Stubborn
people have to be corrected by force and the
Nature is going to take strict actions in making
this possible.”
Whenever mother or father or teacher or God takes
some severe actions, these are always directed
towards the real well-being of their wards. There
definitely is a wonderful consequence behind all
the difficulties being faced today. Yugrishi has
given some clear indications as follows:
“Nobody should be worried or afraid about the
truths mentioned above. What is required is to
accept this to be ordained by God and align your
life style and activities accordingly. Evolve into a
forward-looking person and reap the benefits of
that vision. Lanka was about to be demolished,
rakshasas were to be killed and Lord Sriram
was to win the battle. Those monkeys and bears
who realized this upfront came and helped Lord
Sriram. Though they had limited resources, they
have become immortal for the help they rendered.
Bhagirath was fortunate that he realized the
possibility of bringing down the Ganges and did
intense penance to achieve the same. Because
of this Mother Ganga came to be known as
Bhagirathi. India was to get independence. All
those people like Tilak, Gandhi, Patel, Nehru,
Subhash, etc who saw this possibility and worked
for it became immortal. It is most prudent if one
can realize the Divine Plan and gather courage to
participate and be the front runners in that. These
opportunities come very rarely and those who
miss out on them will only end up repenting later
on.”
People often read history and say that if they
were able to forecast the significance of coming
times, they would certainly make use of the
opportunity and spearhead the activities. Param
Pujya Gurudev has given this opportunity to all
“May you live all the days of your life.” - Jonathan Swift
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201724
the people associated with this gigantic mission.
It is left to each individual as to how much benefit
they derive out of it. Gurudev has given clear
guidelines as below –
“The family members of Akhand Jyoti are being
inspired to look and evaluate the rapidly changing
situations and decide for themselves if they have
a special responsibility to discharge during these
transitory times. The mark of a fool is to be
bound by some single notion and remain so like
a bull that moves round and round to extract oil
in a ghani. A fool neither corrects his mistakes
nor identifies new opportunities. So there is no
point in preaching such people because they are
not ready to heed your advice. Such people can
be brought to their senses by the blows of Nature.
Only the wise can be made to understand by
words.”
There will be many challenges which will do a
litmus test of the prudence of the intelligentsia.
According to our divine culture ‘Parigrah’
(excessive possessions) is said to be a great sin.
That very trait today is being extolled as a symbol
of greatness, success and prosperity. Whatever
are the consequences of a sin are bound to surface
and saving yourselves and others from it depends
on your ability.
Today, misuse of currency notes has been curtailed
by the process of demonetization. It is necessary
to free the society from the shackles of misuse
of other forms of wealth too. Such measures will
also be taken as per the Divine plan. Only a smart
move is to restrain oneself from uncontrollable
greed. Align yourselves to the changes so that
you are spared from the difficulties and stay
happy and contented.
“Never be afraid to tread the path alone. Know which your path is and follow it wherever it
may lead you.” - Eileen Caddy
There was a boy, whose
family was very wealthy. One day
his father took him on a trip to the
country, where he aimed to show
his son, how poor people live. So
they arrived to a farm of a very poor
family, as he considered. They spent
there several days. On their return,
the father asked his son, did he like
the trip.
“Oh, it was great, dad” – the
boy replied. “Did you no�ce how
poor people live?” “Yeah, I did”-
said the boy. The father asked his
son to tell in more details about his
impressions from their trip.
“Well, we have only one dog,
and they have four of them. In our
garden there is a pool, while they
have a river that has no end. We‘ve
got expensive lanterns, but they
have stars above their heads at night.
We have the pa�o, and they have
the whole horizon. We have only a
small piece of land, while they have
the endless fields. We buy food, but
they grow it. We have high fence for
protec�on of our property, and they
don‘t need it, as their friends protect
them.”
The father was stunned. He
could not say a word.
The true wealth as well
as happiness is not measured by
materials things. Love, friendship
and freedom are far more valuable.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 25
The bond between Bhagwan (God) and Bhakta
(devotee) is of the highest quality. A Bhakta may
reprimand Bhagwan; but Bhagwan is always
ready to fulfill every demand of true Bhaktas, be
it Namdev, Kabir, Gajraj (mythological elephant
trapped in the mouth of a crocodile) or Draupadi.
The story of saint Namdev is well-known.
Namdev reprimanded Bhagwan for not stopping
the temple priests from evicting him from the
temple’s courtyard where he was singing bhajans
(devotional songs) facing Bhagwan’s idol and
staying silent through his ordeal. Namdev got
angry and went on the back of the temple and
started singing again. Bhagwan couldn’t tolerate
this insult and uneasiness of this true Bhakta and
He turned the door of the temple towards the
other side where Namdev was standing, so that
Namdev could sing facing his Bhagwan as before.
All the temples in Pandharpur face east; only this
temple faces west and amply demonstrates the
glory of Bhakta. This is the relationship between
Bhagwan and Bhakta. However, the relationship
of Guru (teacher) and shishya (disciple) is
different. A Guru makes his disciple work very
hard to achieve worthiness, and the Guru’s
method is similar to the strenuous processing of
a cotton carder, which works on a tangled mass
of cotton to create fine, organized threads that are
useful for various purposes. This relationship is
different from blood relations. The best examples
of how Guru awakens discipleship may be
found in first, second, eleventh, seventeenth and
eighteenth chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. In
fact, the entire Gita is a textbook for awakening
true discipleship.
Lord Krishna was Arjuna’s closest companion
and also a close relative. The Lord was present
when Arjuna married Draupadi. Lord Krishna’s
sister, Subhadra, was also married to Arjuna.
Arjuna’s mother, Kunti, was Sri Krishna’s aunt
(Bua), which also made them cousins, apart
from being brothers-in-law (sale-bahnoi). Lord
Krishna was with Arjuna when the Pandavas
were in exile. They also fought several wars
together; but the emotional bond between them
was only that of companions – friends – brothers.
The bond of Guru – disciple was not developed so
far. The author of the Gita, Sage Veda Vyasa, has
tried to develop this emotion by generating the
state of melancholy in the Arjuna’s mind. Arjuna
was certainly aware of the Yogeshwar form of
Lord Krishna; but he was so disconsolate and
melancholic, as he had to fight his own near-and-
dear relatives, that he was unable to recognize
Lord Krishna as the Supreme Teacher, or Yogiraj
(the greatest of Yogis).
We, the Pragya Parijans, have also been in
a similar state of mind. We too know revered
Gurudev very well, but do not consider him to be
the messenger of God. We cherish fond memories
of his association with us as a mesmeric person
who fulfilled our hearts’ desires, as a spiritual
parent, a guide and an adviser. But we are not
ready to accept that he is the same Yogeshwar,
Pragyavatar (divine incarnation of righteous
intellect), a representative of God, and a Sadguru
- who has been revered more than Govinda by
the scriptures. Our state of minds is not very
different from that of Arjuna. However, if we too
Emergence of Discipleship from the
Depths of Melancholy -2
Yug Gita – 4
“People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can’t find them, make them.” - George Bernard Shaw
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201726
can reach that ultimate state of melancholy (as
vividly described by Sage Veda Vyasa in Srimad
Bhagavad Gita), then our Sadguru, Pandit
Shriram Sharma, Acharya, too would appear
in front of us. We will have to understand our
Guru from the Sharanagati Bhav (the emotion
of total surrender), because it is this emotion
that is capable of transforming all the chemistry,
the physical structure, and each and every pore
of the disciple. If we, the disciples, wish to be
like Arjuna, then we will have to reach that state
of melancholy and surrender everything to our
Gurudev. We will have to abandon all our desires.
This is the specialty of this first chapter of the
Gita that Arjuna asks the questions and then
answers them himself. Lord Krishna does not get
an opportunity to speak in this chapter. Arjuna
presents arguments that appear reasonable to
him to defend his unwillingness to fight the war.
This happens when someone finds it difficult to
perform a good deed or behave conscientiously,
and then he or she attempts to contradict accepted
ethical principles. Arjuna is scholarly, prudent,
and famous for being a talented and formidable
archer of his time. Among Pandavas, there is
no one better than Arjuna. The person, who can
qualify for leadership role in the present times,
has to be like Arjuna, and not like Yudhishthira,
Bheema, Nakula, or Sahadeva. In fact, Arjuna is
a representative of the entire humanity. He is also
a representative of all the disciples. The message
that Yogeshwar Lord Krishna imparted to Arjuna,
after considering his melancholic state (described
in this first chapter), is eternal, and relevant to all
the true disciples even today.
The beginning of the Gita highlights a very
extraordinary situation. There is a generation gap
between Arjuna and King Dhritarashtra. Both
are confused due to attachment to near and dear
ones. One cannot take any decision in the state of
grief or excessive attachment. Arjuna is watching
his close relatives standing in front of him in
the battlefield. Dhritarashtra too is watching his
relatives through the divine eyes of Sanjaya.
Even then there is difference between the
attachments of the two observers. If Dhritarashtra
is excessively blinded by attachment, Arjuna
is perplexed. Dhritarashtra represents malice
whereas Arjuna embodies dedication. Due to
Dhritarashtra, many families are on the verge
of disaster in Mahabharata war. However,
Arjuna has come as the key to transform Bharat
into Maha-Bharat by destroying the evil forces
currently in power. That is why Lord Krishna
has chosen only Arjuna for the sermon of the
Gita in order to teach him Karma Yoga (the
discipline of selfless action). Arjuna alone is the
deserving candidate to receive this knowledge.
This is why the Lord created the extreme state
of melancholy in His friend and devotee Arjuna.
Today there are thousands of Dhritarashtras in
our society; it is the time for them to take up
the task of social service, but they are not ready
to quit that quagmire of blind attachment to the
near and dear ones.
Right from the beginning, the Gita presents very
strange scenes. It is a battleground of Kurukshetra.
Sanjaya starts narrating from the second shloka:
Drushtwa tu pandavanikam vyudam
uryodhanstada |
Aachryamupsangamya raja vachanabravit ||
(1/2)
Pashyaitam panduputranamacharya mahati
chamum |
Vyudam drupadputrena tav shishyena dheemata ||
(1/3)
“The history of the world is the history of a few people who had faith in themselves.” - Swami Vivekananda
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 27
Meaning: Sanjaya said – “Then King Duryodhana,
after watching the military phalanx of Pandavas
went to Dronacharya and said – ‘O respected
teacher, behold the great army of the sons of
Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent
disciple, the son of Drupada (Dhrishtadyumna)’.
There is mystery hidden in both these shlokas that
acquaints us of the psychology of Duryodhana.
Why did Duryodhana approach Dronacharya
and not someone else? Why did he take the
name of Dhrishtadyumna – why not some other
warrior? It is because, King Drupada was not on
good terms with Dronacharya. So he performed
a yagya to get a son (Dhrishtadyumna) who
could kill Dronacharya. So Duryodhana incited
Dronacharya by saying ‘see how nicely the army
phalanx has been arranged by your disciple, who
has taken birth to kill you. So you should become
more vigilant and strong that he and his army may
not kill you.’ By saying this, Duryodhana fanned
the flames of enmity in the mind of Dronacharya,
so that the latter would fight the war with more
valor. After this he mentions the names of all
the important warriors in the Pandavas’ army,
referring to Abhimanyu and Draupadi’s five sons,
so that Dronacharya’s anger does not subside.
Then Duryodhana talks about the warriors on his
side and in the tenth shloka foretells the verdict of
the war. He says –
Aparyaptam tadasmakam balam
bhishmabhirakshitam |
Paryaptam twidmetesham balam
bhimabhirakshitam ||
(1/10)
Meaning: “Protected by Bhishma Pitamah, our
army is invincible; and protected by Bheema,
the army of other side is easy to conquer.” In
the eyes of Duryodhana, Bheema is the lone
protector. He is so proud of his eleven akshauhini
[1] army that it appears to him invincible and the
opponent Bheema appears as a loser. It is this
overconfidence and foolishness that becomes the
cause of his downfall. Perhaps, Duryodhana’s
disregard of the main characters, Lord Krishna
and Arjuna, led him towards his own destruction.
Duryodhana’s mind is filled with malice towards
Bheema and hence what he sees everywhere is
Bheema with his deadly weapon Gada (or mace).
He regards Lord Krishna as an ordinary person,
a gwala (milkman) – a mere charioteer of Arjuna
– although he had paid a price for insulting this
‘ordinary’ person before. Had Duryodhana not
underestimated his opponents, he would have
probably fought the war honestly. But he did
not, and that is why he lost and died in the end.
This Gita chapter of Mahabharata is a must-
read because it gives us a vision to develop our
conscience – it inspires us to tread the holistic
path in this battle called life.
[To be continued]
Notes:
1. An akshauhini is described in the Mahabharata
as a battle formation consisting of 21,870
chariots (Sanskrit ratha); 21,870 elephants;
65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry as per
the Mahabharata (Adi Parva 2.15-23). The
ratio is 1 chariot: 1, elephant: 3, cavalry: 5
infantry soldiers.
“The man who moved a mountain was the one who began carrying away small stones.” - Chinese Proverb
“Success is not measured by what a man
accomplished, but by the opposition he
has encountered and the courage with
which he has maintained the struggle
against overwhelming odds.”
– Charles Lindberg
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201728
Mother Earth is the basis of life – it gives us birth,
it sustains us, fosters us and in the end, engulfs
all of us within itself. All living beings, plants
as well as animals, born from mother earth’s
womb lead their life-cycles in their own unique
ways and play their own roles in establishing
the ecological balance. Every living being is
different from the other but is intricately linked
with the other through the ecosystem and deeply
affects the other.
All activities on the earth happen at their right
times. Rains arrive at the fixed time, and so do
summers and winters. Each season has its own
significance. Rainy season is pleasant. It not only
satiates earth, it satiates minds and bodies of living
beings too. Water evaporated by heat rises into
the air and creates the large dark clouds. When the
clouds shower rains, the dry earth and thirsty living
beings feel replenished and satiated. Rains bestow
life and enhance the green cover of the earth.
If rains are delayed, everyone gets worried.
In some specific years rains get delayed due to
what is known as the ‘El Nino’ effect. Normally,
waters of Pacific Ocean to the west of South
American country Peru is cold. In this season
this cold water from ocean depths rises to the
surface. Along with cold water several nourishing
substances also rise up which significantly
increase amount of vegetation in water. Due to
this increased availability of food the number
of fishes increases in the water significantly.
These fishes then become a good source of food
for sea birds and human beings. Peruvians use
these fishes as fertilizers because they contain
a lot of phosphorus. This is how the ecological
cycle works normally. However, this cycle
gets completely upset in El Nino years, which
spells disaster for Peruvians. We Indians also
get severely affected because the relationship
between the oceans and the atmosphere are very
intricate and many a time rains are deficient in
India in El Nino years.
Cycles of nature provide food and nourishment
to plants and animals. It is believed that
cyanobacteria that absorb energy from sunlight
came into existence upon the earth 3.5 billion
years ago. Whereas the black coloured fishing
water birds – cormorants, appeared on the earth
only 200 million years back. In this long period
the variety of living beings have been growing
at a steady pace, enriching the complexity of
mineral and energy cycles like that of oxygen and
phosphorus in the ecological system.
The steady progress of ecological systems is
possible only due to the process of natural
selection and the key to success in natural
selection is the ability to adapt. This process was
executed many times in the oceans of the world
giving rise to a large number of new species of
plants and animals.
It is believed that about 3.75 billion years ago,
some micro-organisms appeared who could
absorb energy from the ions of hydrogen,
iron and phosphorus. But there is no definite
evidence which proves this hypothesis. However,
Restoration of
Ecological Balance is a Must
“The secret of success is to be ready when your opportunity comes.” - Benjamin Disraeli
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 29
cyanobacteria did appear about 3.5 billion
years ago who could extract energy from light
and formed the basis for the development of
ecological system that we see today.
When plant kingdom was taking roots upon the
earth, ultraviolet radiation received from the sun
was a very big challenge for survival. Oxygen
content was very low in the atmosphere and there
was no ozone layer to absorb the UV radiations.
Water is a good absorbent of UV rays. So in the
depths of the ocean, pure light was available bereft
of the UV radiations. It is indeed a big miracle
of nature that it brought forth cyanobacteria in
ocean’s depths which had chlorophyll to absorb
the energy from sunlight. This process has lived
on for more than 3 billion years.
These bacteria with chlorophyll generated
oxygen; it increased the levels of oxygen in water
as well as atmosphere, due to which development
of different species of plants and animals became
possible. Sugar is the main source of energy for
all living beings. Compared to the amount of
energy that can be extracted from glucose without
oxygen, the energy extracted with oxygen is about
15 times higher. But new chemical processes are
required for this. As oxygen became available,
the way was paved for creation of organisms
that were bigger in size than bacteria and more
complex in constitution. These one-celled
organisms developed tentacles that could grab
nutritious substances from surroundings. Some of
the organisms developed the capability to swim
and the skill to hunt bacteria and other organisms.
This occurred about 600 million years ago,
scientists believe. Then slowly and steadily
multicellular organisms came into being. The
organisms developed thorns to cover their bodies
for protection, created skeletal structure and
external protective armour. Sponges came into
being whose bodies are full of pores and who
are empty within. Remaining at just one place
they could soak in nutritious substances from
the water that flowed through them. There was
enough organic matter and nutrition available in
water which helped developed living beings with
head, body, tail, muscles and brain. The process
of creation of mollusks, crustaceans, fishes etc.
in water, followed by amphibians, insects, birds
and other complex animals has been steadily
progressing over millions of years.
At the end of this long creation process, human
beings appeared. Environment got enriched
with all the creatures and the ecological
systems developed where all the living beings
got intimately linked with each other. In his
onslaught of selfishness man has forgotten that
he is nothing more than a tiny link in this long
chain of development of life on the earth and
who could not have come into being without
the preexistence of so many other living beings.
Man must regard himself as a vital component of
nature and put in conscious and consistent efforts
to further enrich the ecological system. Only then
will he do justice to the important role that he has
been granted.
“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” - Denis Waitley
The insufferable arrogance of human beings to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire merely to ripen men’s apples and head their cabbages.
- Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201730
Now, the last part deals with relinquishments.
Once you’ve made the first relinquishment
you have found inner peace, because it’s the
relinquishment of self-will. You can work on
subordinating the lower self by refraining from
doing the not-good things you may be motivated
toward-not suppressing them, but transforming
them so that the higher self can take over your
life. If you are motivated to do or say a mean
thing, you can always think of a good thing. You
deliberately turn around and use that same energy
to do or say a good thing instead. It works!
The second relinquishment is the relinquishment of
the feeling of separateness. We begin feeling very
separate and judging everything as it relates to us, as
though we were the center of the universe. Even after
we know better intellectually, we still judge things
that way. In reality, of course, we are all cells in the
body of humanity. We are not separate from our
fellow humans. The whole thing is a totality. It’s only
from that higher viewpoint that you can know what it
is to love your neighbor as yourself. From that higher
viewpoint there becomes just one realistic way to
work, and that is for the good of the whole. As long
as you work for your selfish little self, you’re just one
cell against all those other cells, and you’re way out
of harmony. But as soon as you begin working for
the good of the whole, you find yourself in harmony
with all of your fellow human beings. You see, it’s
the easy, harmonious way to live.
Then there is the third relinquishment, and that is
the relinquishment of all attachments. No one is
truly free who is still attached to material things,
or to places, or to people. Material things must be
put into their proper place. They are there for use.
It’s all right to use them, that’s what they’re there
for. But when they’ve outlived their usefulness,
be ready to relinquish them and perhaps pass
them on to someone who does need them.
Anything that you cannot relinquish when it has
outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this
materialistic age a great many of us are possessed
by our possessions. We are not free.
I considered myself liberated long before it became
the fashion. First I liberated myself from debilitating
habits, and went on to free myself of combative,
aggressive thoughts. I have also cast aside any
unnecessary possessions. This, I feel, is true liberation.
There is another kind of possessiveness. You do
not possess any other human being, no matter
how closely related that other may be. No husband
owns his wife; no wife owns her husband; no
parents own their children. When we think we
possess people there is a tendency to run their
lives for them, and out of this develop extremely
inharmonious situations. Only when we realize
that we do not possess them, that they must live
in accordance with their own inner motivations,
do we stop trying to run their lives for them,
and then we discover that we are able to live in
harmony with them. Anything that you strive to
hold captive will hold you captive-and if you
desire freedom you must give freedom.
Associations formed in this earth life are not
necessarily for the duration of the life span.
Relinquishments for Inner Peace[Peace Pilgrim’s ‘Steps Toward Inner Peace’ – Continued]
Peace Pilgrim’s Wisdom – 4
“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” - Bruce Lee
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 31
Separation takes place constantly, and as long as
it takes place lovingly not only is there no spiritual
injury, but spiritual progress may actually be helped.
We must be able to appreciate and enjoy the places
where we stay and yet pass on without anguish
when we are called elsewhere. In our spiritual
development we are often required to pull up
roots many times and to close many chapters in
our lives until we are no longer attached to any
material thing and can love all people without
any attachment to them.
Now the last: the relinquishment of all negative
feelings. I want to mention just one negative
feeling which the nicest people still experience,
and that negative feeling is worry. Worry is
not concern, which would motivate you to do
everything possible in a situation. Worry is a
useless mulling over of things we cannot change.
One final comment about negative feelings, which
helped me very much at one time and has helped
others. No outward thing - nothing, nobody from
without - can hurt me inside, psychologically. I
recognized that I could only be hurt psychologically
by my own wrong actions, which I have control over;
by my own wrong reactions (they are tricky, but I
have control over them too); or by my own inaction
in some situations, like the present world situation,
that need action from me. When I recognized all
this how free I felt! And I just stopped hurting
myself. Now someone could do the meanest thing
to me and I would feel deep compassion for this
out-of-harmony person, this sick person, who is
capable of doing mean things. I certainly would
not hurt myself by a wrong reaction of bitterness or
anger. You have complete control over whether you
will be psychologically hurt or not, and anytime
you want to, you can stop hurting yourself.
These are my steps toward inner peace that I
wanted to share with you. There is nothing new
about this. This is universal truth. I merely talked
about these things in everyday words in terms
of my own personal experience with them. The
laws which govern this universe work for good
as soon as we obey them, and anything contrary
to these laws doesn’t last long. It contains within
itself the seeds of its own destruction. The good
in every human life always makes it possible for
us to obey these laws. We do have free will about
all this, and therefore how soon we obey and
thereby find harmony, both within ourselves and
within our world, is up to us.
During this spiritual growing up period I desired
to know and do God’s will for me. Spiritual
growth is not easily attained, but it is well worth
the effort. It takes time, just as any growth takes
time. One should rejoice at small gains and not be
impatient, as impatience hampers growth.
The path of gradual relinquishment of things
hindering spiritual progress is a difficult path,
for only when relinquishment is complete do
the rewards really come. The path of quick
relinquishment is an easy path, for it brings
immediate blessings. And when God fills your
life, God’s gifts overflow to bless all you touch.
To me, it was an escape from the artificiality of
illusion into the richness of reality. To the world
it may seem that I had given up much. I had
given up burdensome possessions, spending time
meaninglessly, doing things I knew I should not
do and not doing things I knew I should do. But
to me it seemed that I had gained much - even the
priceless treasures of health and happiness.
[Reproduced with glad consent of the
publishers – Friends of Peace Pilgrim]
“To move the world we must first move ourselves.” - Socrates
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201732
Marriage is the supreme yagya of human life.
Two souls merge together abandoning their
separate identities; and this merger generates a
new united power of a couple. Marriage-yagya
is performed in the sacred ambience of invoked
divinity, the presence of relatives and friends
and in the proximity of yagya – fire (as a divine
witness) so that the couple remains loyal to
each other for the whole life. The occasion for
this pledge of a life-long bond by the bride and
bridegroom should be filled with sacred and
spiritual emotions. Auspicious events should be
performed in an auspicious atmosphere.
Unfortunately, today in India, the shape of
wedding ceremony has been distorted. What
remains is the dance-music, hoo-ha, fireworks,
eat, drink and merry in the name of marriage.
Lakhs of rupees are unnecessarily wasted in
band baaja, DJ, tents, marriage hall, catering,
and so on. Above this, the bride’s side has to
sacrifice their entire hard earned money in dowry,
arranging costly welcome of barat, gifts, etc. The
bridegroom’s side too has to spend a lot in buying
jewelry for the bride, costly costumes (normally
useless after the event), and a variety of items
to show off. Thus this ceremony brings loss to
both the sides; and the prime objective of the
ceremony is not achieved.
There are several countries across the globe.
Wedding ceremonies are performed in all of them
according to the local customs, but nowhere such
a hulla-gulla and pomp and show of the event is
made as if the sky has to be raised over the head.
Like a family festival, few relatives and friends
gather on the occasion. With the exchange of
greetings and gifts after the event and a small tea-
party, the ceremony is over in one to two hours.
Only that much money is spent as required in any
other family festival. This is prudence.
The revelry in wedding events seems to be
neither useful nor necessary on the touchstone
of thoughtfulness. The boy and the girl have to
settle down as married couple. The relatives and
friends have to be present as witness to the event.
What may be the purpose of creating Dhamaal
on this occasion?
Unfortunately, these days Indian weddings have
become veritable showpieces; the auspicious
ceremony has become an ostentatious event to
show off wealth. That may be fine if the parties
concerned are from the affluent class. But what
about others (say middle class or the poor) who
want to emulate such things? They too want to be
the entertainers in their daughters’ weddings even
if they have to take huge loans.
What is the solution? Well, present-day youth
(boys and girls) can always insist on simple
weddings, even when there is pressure from the
parents and the community which, at times, may
be hard to bear.
Numerous castes, sections and areas of the
society are inundated by the predicament of
backwardness, mainly due to social evils. Their
wrong beliefs prevent them from breathing in
Let’s Make
Wedding Ceremony a Simple Affair
Youth Column
“We will either find a way or make one.” - Hannibal
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 33
the open air, visualizing the sun with open eyes.
They are away from the radiance of the new
knowledge. Their lives can be illuminated only
by the efforts of the youth. This is because when
wisdom is used to make changes in the prevalent
belief system, then it also requires sincere efforts
and diligence. Once they begin to take bold steps,
possibilities would begin to become the realities.
The only need is to begin. Subsequently, there
would be many to follow and eventually, there
would be substantial social changes.
Such a brave step was taken by a young girl of
Haryana. She came forward to break the traditions
of dowry and wasteful expenditure in wedding.
In her village Chandeni, a well-educated married
woman was elected the village chairperson.
She got the support of the rural people and
won uncontested. Soon after taking charge, she
decided to make efforts for removing various
social evils. Her marriage was also done without
dowry and continuing the trend. Her constructive
steps showed the impact in the marriage of the
Grewal couple of her village. The groom Mukesh
decided that his wedding would be a simple
affair. There was no pomp, yet the presence of
the villagers was in sufficient numbers. The
village head Mamta personally tried to make the
event a success. She appealed to the villagers to
be present at the occasion and bless the couple.
Instead of expensive gifts, the couple was given
cardamom, basil and the sacred Ganga water. The
way in which the village head Mamta and young
Mukesh prevented the wastage of thousands of
rupees was commendable.
Similarly, the courage of a 21-year old girl of
Pondicherry astonished everyone present at
her wedding, when she refused to marry the
boy greedy for dowry and left the ceremony in
“Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.” - Paul J. Meyer
24 Sutras to Always Remember...
And One Sutra to Never Forget
Your presence is a present to the world.
You’re unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a �me.
Count your blessings not your troubles.
You’ll make it through whatever comes
along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.
Don’t put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are wai�ng to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to
chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize.
Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the
heavier it gets.
Don’t take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
Remember that a li�le love goes a long
way.
Remember that a lot... goes forever.
Remember that a friendship is a wise
investment.
Life’s treasures are people... together.
Realize that it’s never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary
way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the �me to wish upon a star.
And don’t ever forget...
for even a day... how very special you
are.
-Anonymous
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201734
The youth of Nilambar village of Malappuram
district of Kerala have come up with a new
idea to oppose this social evil. They have
launched a website through which marriages are
solemnized without dowry. This initiative earned
wide appreciation and has become a source of
inspiration for the boys and girls, who support
the idea of marriage without dowry. Till
now, many such young boys and girls have
been registered on the website. This is not
only limited to the youth of Kerala, but even
those of other states as well. All of them are
trying to turn it into a nationwide movement.
For success this movement are required such
valiant, prudent and determined youth, who
can raise their voice against this distorted
tradition of dowry.
Revered Gurudev, Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
has cautioned that expensive marriages make us
poor and dishonest. However, until and unless the
youth understand this and resolve to eliminate
it, this social evil would persist in the society and
a huge amount of money would be wasted in
weddings for useless show-off. In order to bring
about a social transformation, the tradition of dowry
should be completely uprooted. For doing this, we
call upon the sensitive and courageous youth to
come forward and present themselves as examples.
between. This bold step shocked the groom and
his relatives. His father began demanding dowry
after the wedding ceremony began. The bride’s
family showed incapacity to fulfil the demand
immediately and began begging that they will
fulfil it later on, after the marriage. Somehow,
this news reached the bride.
The young girl had firm determination. As
soon as she came to know about the maligned
intentions of the groom’s side, she clarified that
she cannot accept such a relation. She explained
that the relations made on the basis of money
only become the medium of sorrow and pain.
Consequently, the groom and his relatives
returned, but one of the youths present there,
was impressed by the firmness of the girl.
Sharing his sentiments with the family of
the bride, he said that if the girl was ready,
he could marry her then and there without
any dowry. Both, the girl and the boy, with
the permission of their families, got married
without the exchange of dowry and showed
that this distorted tradition could not spoil their
precious life. The parents of the girl are proud
of their determined daughter, while the boy’s
family is proud of their courageous son, who
held the hand of the girl in such an adverse
time.
“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” - Napoleon Hill
An authen�c and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like
a tree, it grows slowly. Every �me you make a different and be�er
decision, it grows a li�le. Every �me you choose to do the right thing,
even when nobody would find out otherwise, it grows a li�le. Every
�me you act with compassion, relinquish your right to strike back, take
a courageous stand, admit fault or accept responsibility, it grows a li�le.
- Steve Goodier
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 35
Loneliness may be a boon for someone while
others may regard it as a curse. Some people
are afraid of loneliness while some may take it
to be their best companion. Solitude has given
meaning to lives of some people, has made them
understand the worthiness of life, while on the
other hand it has also engulfed some people in
psychological disorders. What is this solitude
that becomes for some a great gift and for some
a big curse?
Solitude means being alone or absence of anyone
in the vicinity. There are several hours during the
day when we are alone, for example, when we
meditate or sleep. When we take birth we come
alone and when we leave our mortal body behind
and move on, we take up this new journey also
all alone.
Since we are social beings, we like to be with
others, to make friends and acquaintances, and to
associate and work with others. Man feels afraid
to be alone; he fears that something wrong may
happen to him, that he may lose his way in an
unknown territory, and that he may get into some
difficulty. So he likes to be with others. There
are many great advantages in having company
– with the support of others we can accomplish
many tasks and also very quickly. But there are
some tasks that we have to take up all alone; like,
students have to take all examinations alone.
They may prepare for exams with many but the
result of the exam is determined solely by the
quality of one’s own preparation.
True development of our inner capability, talent
and creativity is possible by our own personal
effort and for this solitude is essential. It is not
possible to focus and concentrate in noisy and
crowded places. Our mind attains peace and turns
still only in solitude, and in this stillness alone it
is able to perform well in difficult tasks. For this
reason, spiritual practices are performed in quiet
places and solitude so that there are no external
disturbances and it is possible to proceed on
spiritual path with ease.
Our accomplished rishis in earlier times chose
forests for spiritual practices, so that they could
get solitude, could stay away from worldly affairs
and focus single-mindedly on their sadhana.
Penance is always performed in solitude. When a
person can train his mind with positivity to accept
solitude for long periods, he can attain high
spiritual goals. But when a person gets engulfed
in negativity in loneliness, he begins to suffer
from a number of psychological disorders. With
a positive attitude, solitude results in encouraging
experiences, whereas due to negativity delusions
and worries abound.
To progress in life and develop one’s personality
it is necessary to adopt solitude with a positive
outlook. A person can attain the peak potential of
his personality only through practice of solitude.
In this process his mental makeup undergoes a
number of changes. Many changes also happen
in his life and to bear as well as comprehend
these he needs to focus, and discipline himself in
solitude. This helps in balancing his energy and
Solitude:
A Boon or a Bane?
“Dependent people need others to get what they want. Independent people can get what they want through their own efforts. Interdependent people
combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success.” - Stephen Covey
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201736
bound in discipline; his life quickly enters into a new
dimension and begins to make a steady progress.
Practice of quietude helps to stop the wastage of
energy and the process of meditation guides this
accumulated energy in the progressive direction.
In the journey of life we need to walk alone. If
someone accompanies us, it is well and good. If
not, even then we must continue to walk our way
to progress. Loneliness sometimes makes us restive
and uncomfortable, but we should not fear. We must
try to coax, cajole and prepare our mind to make
continuous efforts even in complete loneliness.
There is no shortcut to success. Every person has
to put in sustained efforts personally. Even then,
only a tiny bit of the enormous potential that each
individual has gets exhibited on the canvas of life.
There is a famous writer in China – Mo Yan. He is the
first Chinese to be awarded Nobel Prize in literature.
Yan says, “Loneliness is intimately associated with
my writing because it is like an inseparable friend
to me.” Mo Yan had to quit his school because of
poverty and he became a cowherd to earn a living.
He had to be alone for long periods of time, while
the cattle grazed and he let this loneliness engulf
him. He got so enamored with solitude that he
changed his name from Guan Moye to ‘Mo Yan’
which in Chinese means – ‘Don’t Speak’.
Loneliness plays a positive role in guiding us to
a state where we gradually begin to understand
our own emotions and also begin to learn how
to use them well in our own lives. Another
similar example is that of Jean Paul Sartre, a
great thinker. Sartre has said – ‘Loneliness is an
inseparable state from human life. None can save
himself from loneliness, and so it is necessary to
understand it thoroughly. To immerse ourselves in
loneliness, to dive into it and reemerge from it, is
an art that must be learnt by everyone. The whole
world should benefit from what we have learnt
from our loneliness, and for this it is necessary to
learn to reemerge out of loneliness.’
Every great human being, whether he is a
litterateur or a painter, a sculptor or an artist, a
scientist or a spiritualist, needs solitude to make
progress in his chosen field. Each of these needs
quietude, and a composed and focused mind.
Such an environment alone provides all the
ingredients necessary for development and plays
a big role in enhancing creativity.
Even if achievements and accomplishments get
noticed by all and may even be openly consumed
by public, it is a fact that their birth always happens
in complete solitude. They come into being only
in loneliness. Whether it is a poem that touches
hearts, or a story that is highly inspiring, whether
it is a special invention that eases everyone’s life,
or a painting that opens up multiple realms of
existence – all these priceless gifts to humanity are
brought into being by deep solitude only.
“Keep away from small people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great.” - Mark Twain
We must become so alone, so u�erly alone, that we withdraw into our innermost self. It is a way of bi�er suffering. But then our solitude is overcome,
we are no longer alone, for we find that our innermost self is the spirit, that it is
God, the indivisible. And suddenly we find ourselves in the midst of the world, yet
undisturbed by its mul�plicity, for our innermost soul we know ourselves to be
one with all being.
- Hermann Hesse
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 37
It was some date of June 1937. As usual Shriram
got up at 3 AM. After daily chores, he sat down for
his regular worship. As soon as Japa and Dhyan
were complete, the same dilemma overpowered
him. He concentrated on the flame of Akhand
Deepak and even before he could realize, he
entered into a trance. This condition prevailed
for a long time. Shriram could recollect that his
wife awakened him by shaking him vigorously. It
appeared as if his sleep had been disturbed. When
he was awakened, he found himself sitting on the
asan (mat) in Puja –room. He could recall the
scenes in the trance before he became normal.
Now there was no dilemma, uncertainty or doubt
in the mind. It became clear what was to be done
next.
He folded his asan. Wife asked -“Should I bring
buttermilk?” As compared to other days, it was
too late. Normally Shriram used to take buttermilk
two hours after Japa-Dhyan. That day he sat for a
long time. Shriram told her to wait for sometime.
Then he started looking at his collection of books.
He took out a copy of Swetashwar Upnishad and
began turning the pages. His eyes got stuck on a
particular topic. After quite some time, he wrote
in his diary that he read that Upnishad in just one
sitting. The peace that followed Japa-Dhyan was
intact; but it got its manifestation in the Upnishad.
After reading the Upnishad, he asked his wife
to bring his breakfast (buttermilk). After that he
called – ‘Daya’. (His daughter’s name was Daya.
In those days, in elite families of North India,
wife was not called by her name.) Saraswati Devi
started looking at him. Seeing her enthusiastic to
hear, Shriram said – ‘We will go to the village
today. You can stay there. I am going on a tour
of South India for a few days’. Wife started
packing to go home. Same day he left his family
in Aanwalkheda and started preparing for his
journey to South India. The urge came from
within that he should begin his tour from Puri;
and then go to Pondicherry via Tirupati and
Kanchipuram. There would be no stoppages at
the towns or other teerths (holy places) coming
in-between. This journey was to be completed
in three weeks. With adequate preparations, the
journey commenced.
Unique Jagannath Puri
In Puri, he visited almost all important holy places.
He paid special attention on Jagannath temple
and Shankar Matha (temple). It is well known
that Puri’s temple is more than eight hundred
years old. The king Anang Bhimsen, in order to
repent for the sin of Brahmahatya (killing of a
Brahman), built this temple. Later on other kings,
samantas, Jagirdars, etc contributed something
or the other to augment its beauty and grandeur.
When Shriram visited Puri, preparations of ‘Nab
Kalebar’ festival were in full swing. The idols
placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple
were not made of metal or clay, but were carved
out of wood. This wood was collected from
sea. There is belief that well before ‘Kalebar
Utsav’, the stem of Brahma Daru (neem tree)
starts floating on sea waters. (Daru means log
of sacred wood. According to Sayana, there are
Another Pilgrimage to the South -1
Odyssey of the Enlightened – 53
“Many hands and hearts and minds generally contribute to anyone’s notable achievements.” - Walt Disney
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201738
three Suktas in Rigveda which indicate that Daru
was regarded as the symbol of Brahma.) On a set
auspicious date and time, idols (head and torso)
of Balram, Subhadra and Jagannath (Krishna) are
carved out of that wood.
Shriram was fascinated by the tradition and
grandeur of Jagannath. He liked very much the
arrangement of serving Prasad (food). Everyone
gets Puja – Prasad of Jagannath without any
distinction of caste, creed, etc. In those days
(1936-37) when the people of lower castes were
not even allowed to enter the temples in other
places, the tradition of allowing the Harijans for
Darshan (view of the idols) and take Prasad along
with the people of upper castes, made one really
ecstatic. This tradition was an ideal example for
the volunteers or scholars who were votaries of
healthy traditions / customs in the society.
The Plight of Matha
After visiting Gundicha temple and Kapalmochan,
Shriram went to Shankaracharya Matha. One can
reach this Matha from Puri temple by moving
some distance towards the sea shore and then
turning right. In ancient times, the Matha had
attained great name and fame. Even the people,
who have general interest in ancient culture,
know that out of the four Mathas that Adi Shankar
established, the place of Govardhan Peeth (at
Puri) was unique. Shriram too had heard about
this Matha; but when he saw the plight of the
Matha, he was dejected. No one could say that
the Matha (which was confined to a simple two-
storey building) was the main center of Sanatan
Dharma in eastern India.
Shriram made a request to meet the Acharya
(Head Priest) of the Matha, Swami Bharti
Krishna Teerth. Shriram was under the
impression that it would be difficult to meet the
Shankaracharya, as they were highly regarded.
In fact, in other Mathas and Ashrams, he had
experienced that kind of behavior. He had made
an opinion that the people of high name and fame
behaved arrogantly. He thought it was likely that
Shankaracharya of Govardhan Matha might not
be of that type; even then as a precautionary
measure, he sent a message to Maharajji through
one volunteer. Only a few volunteers were seen
in the Matha. Some Batukas too were seen
working here and there. Shriram guessed that
they might be Brahmacharis of the Ashram. He
started watching that building carefully, where
the main temple was situated and Acharya too
lived there. It appeared that the building had not
been repaired or whitewashed for many years.
The layer of paint was cracked at several places
and it fell down by mere touch.
As Shriram was thinking about the condition of
the Matha, suddenly a young Sanyasi appeared
on the door and said – ‘Come in, come in’. His
voice appeared to be very polite. Shriram thought
that he might be some sanyasi close to Maharajji.
He said – “I am Shriram Sharma. I have come
from Brij region. I have come here with a desire
to meet Maharajji.”
The Sanyasi expressed his pleasure to know his
introduction. He said – “I know, the person whom
you want to meet; he is standing in front of you!
Please come in! Come in!” Immediately, Shriram
bowed down and touched the feet of Maharajshri.
Shriram was impressed by his touching simplicity
and elegance. He followed Maharajishri. Then
they sat down in a room. During the talks with
Maharajshri, he came to know that the financial
status of the Matha was miserable. The scholars
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” - Oprah Winfrey
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 39
of history and culture describe Shankar Mathas
with pride. They also praise their contribution,
but no one cares to improve their condition.
Shriram said -“I feel there is shortage of dedicated
volunteers in the Ashram.”
“Shortage!” – Maharajji said – “There are
no volunteers at all. There are seven-eight
Brahmacharis. They are all adolescents. They
hardly get any time from their studies. What
could be expected from these teenagers?”
Shriram suggested – “The guardians of these
students may be asked to help.” Maharajshri
replied that it was not possible as these children
had come from poor families. Their parents could
not bear the expenses of their formal education,
then how could they help the Ashram financially.
Knowing that the burden of education, board,
lodging etc of Brahamcharis is also borne by the
Ashram, Shriram said – “Then the condition is
more complex. Is it not possible to approach the
society and get the cooperation of the people?”
Volunteers first, Temple later
“But for that also volunteers will be required”
– said Maharajshri –“I myself cannot go for
collecting alms. The discipline made by Adi
Shankaracharya prevents me to do so. Whatever
can be collected through the cooperation of
people visiting the temple is being done. That just
meets the minimum needs of the Ashram.”
No solution could be found from the talks. Shriram
came out of the Ashram with the impression –
“The traditional religious organizations lack
sensitivity. As there are no activities that are
directly useful to the society, they are unable to
draw the attention of the people. They also don’t
have power. In spite of being extraordinary in
Tapasya and genius, the head priests, Acharyas or
saints do not have direct influence on the society.”
The cause of pitiable condition of the Shankar
Matha, in spite of its historical prestige and dignity,
appeared to be the lack of sadhana of society. He
also felt the need of preparing the volunteers before
making any temple or Matha. Contemplating on
these lines, Shriram departed from Puri.
“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” - Confucius
One day a party of Yadava lords, prominent among whom were Krishna, Balram, Satyaki,
Akrur etc, were returning from a hun�ng trip. By the roadside, they smelt the foul smell of decay,
emana�ng from a half ro�en carcass of a dog.
“What a foul smell” - said Akrur.
“These lousy city cleaners are no good. This carcass must have been removed already.
Those irresponsible lazy idiots should be punished for this for the lack of sense of duty”- proclaimed
a fuming Balarama.
“Can you see how faggots are oozing out of those decaying body parts”- remarked
Kritvarma.
Krishna gazed at the carcass and smiled that famous bea�fic smile of his.
“What is so amusing about this ro�ng decaying thing Kanha?” asked Balrama a bit annoyingly.
“Look brother. What shiny teeth this dog had!” Krishna replied.
Yadava elites looked at each other bemusingly.
“He is not reckoned a great man for naught. He’ll always find something beau�ful about everything.
Krishna you are indeed God incarnate” mused Satyaki.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201740
What is home? “My favorite definition is “a safe
place,” a place where one is free from attack, a
place where one experiences secure relationships
and warmth. It’s a place where people share
and understand each other. Its relationships are
nurturing. The people in it do not need to be
perfect; instead, they need to be honest, loving,
supportive, recognizing a common humanity that
makes all of us vulnerable.” – Says Gladys M.
Hunt
In fact, a healthy, happy and harmonious home
environment begins with the marital love
between husband and wife and their commitment
to each other. This relationship of caring and
sharing communicates perfect love to their
children. However, such a relationship does not
naturally emerge. People are not born as good
spouses (husband or wife). So they have to mold
themselves that way only through hard work,
self-sacrifice, patience, and service of each other
and other family members.
When a husband and wife have disharmony
at any level – physical, mental or emotional
plane - it creates a gap in their relationship. This
difference or the weakness tends to produce ill-
consequences extending to the children in the
home. Children are very sensitive and delicate.
They get easily affected by any situation - whether
good or bad. The behavior of their parents also
affects them deeply. Their improper behavior
and quarrelsome nature may even threaten the
childhood of their little ones, which gets lost in
this detrimental environment. The antipathy and
discord of the parents give rise to feelings of
insecurity and fear in children. This leads to lack
of confidence and even weakens their educational
proficiency. A childhood devoid of love of their
parents moves towards bad company and then it
becomes difficult to bring it back from there.
The more the parents have harmony in the marriage
and natural love for each other, the more they
satiate their child’s senses with the confidence of
a nurturing world. The desire for love is more in
childhood. The child is attracted more towards
one who gives him love and affection. Kids of
those families are more natural, balanced and
courteous, where the atmosphere is happy and
full of love and affection. The physical, mental
and emotional development of children brought
up in such an environment occurs rapidly. They
are good in studies, interested in sports and
behave well with others. The child’s personality
begins to develop in such a healthy environment.
Learning the affectionate, sophisticated and
courteous behavior from their parents, even they
begin to behave in the same way as they grow up.
The little ones are most adversely affected
by the rude behaviour of parents, their daily
fights, arguments, indisposition and antipathy.
They have their own problems. They want to
know about their study and various other things
related to their daily life. They have immense
inquisitiveness and it should not be suppressed.
However, the mutual differences of the parents
are so much that they do not even talk to each
other properly. In this tensed state of mind who
would attempt to resolve the curiosity of the
Your Child Needs a Loving Home
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” - George Bernard Shaw
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 41
child? Who will answer their questions and solve
their problems? In this situation, children cannot
express their feelings. They do not say anything
as they fear of being beaten up or scolded. Thus,
they remain silent and eventually, become prone
to frustrations.
The derogatory behavior of the parents embroils
the children into perplexity. Sometimes, the ill
consequences of their fights are borne by their
innocent children. They get beating without
any reason and this makes them scared and
insecure. In such an atmosphere, they begin to
feel suffocated and want to get away from this
tense atmosphere. Various surveys show that
many of the children run away from their homes
only because of the discord between the parents
and they either fall into bad company or become
victims of criminal elements.
Such a touching incident occurred in a school of
Salt Lake region of Calcutta. One of the students
of the school expressed her pain in an essay titled,
‘My family’. In this essay, she wrote- ‘My father
is really wicked. He always teases my mother.
When he gets very angry, he throws whatever
comes in his hand to beat my mother. Whenever
he beats her, I get scared and crouch into the
corner of the room. At night, my mother holds
me and cries, even I cry with her. When my father
sees us crying, he curses us even more. No one
understands our pain, we weep and share our pain
with each other’. She even wrote that when she
will grow up she will take her mother far away
from her father and will never let him know about
their location.
The pain of small children could move even the
heartless people, yet the psychologically sick
parents remain unconcerned and apathetic. There
is a similar incident in which a 9th class student
of a metropolitan city left her home because of
the fights of her parents. This 14 year old kid
went to live in an orphanage. She took this step
because at her house, her parents fought every day
for some reason or the other. When the quarrel
intensified, they started hitting each other and
even her. She said that since childhood she had
only seen her parents quarrelling and had never
seen them talking lovingly. She told that she was
very depressed and will never return back.
Numerous such incidents are revealing the
mentality of the parents of today. Familial
disharmony is distorting the personality of the
children, their thoughts are becoming destructive,
their hopes are shattering and their minds are
getting overshadowed by insecurity and fear.
“The only journey is the journey within.” - Rainer Maria Rilke
Sahasaa vidadheeta na kriyaamavivekah paramaapadaam padam |
Vrinute hi vimrishyakaarinam gunalubdhaah swayameva sampadah ||
-Mahakavi Bharavi
Do not embark on an endeavour on the spur of the moment without
analyzing its pros and cons. The absence of discrimina�on is the cause of great
misfortune. Fortune, ever greedy for good quali�es in men, embraces those who
engage themselves in an endeavour a�er consulta�ons and discussions with men
of knowledge.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201742
This sort of behaviour of the parents is giving
rise to violent nature even in children. Children
learn from the adults and begin to behave in the
same way as the elders do. So, they themselves
get involved in fights, causing great commotion.
They either begin considering themselves
responsible for every wrong thing or develop the
habit of putting the blame on others.
A research was conducted at the Wisconsin
Medical University to study the behaviour of
children and their parents. It revealed that tension,
depression and inferiority complex could be
clearly seen in the nature of the children who have
grown up in unstable families. According to one
study, the rudeness in the conversation of parents
may be understood even by a ten-month old
baby. It further showed that healthy development
of children may be impeded by many reasons
including the dejection of their parents, their
mutual discord and humiliating behaviour. Due
to this, the children lag behind in studies, their
memory weakens and they cannot concentrate on
anything for long, while their ability to learn also
decreases. This adversely affects their talents and
ultimately, they become frustrated.
Parents should certainly be careful to nurture the
innocence of the little guest, whom they have
brought into this world. They should ensure
that his flower-like childhood is nurtured and
protected. Children are innocent and pure and
therefore, they are considered as the gift of God.
They should nurture and not hurt their delicate
sentiments so that on growing up they could
become sensitive human beings and feel the joy
and pain of others. They should infuse noble
thoughts and ideals in their children, so that they
may lead a worthwhile and fulfilling life.
“They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” – Confucius
Some �ps for a happy home
Don’t expect perfec�on in your
spouse: We are all human beings and
hence by nature, we are all imperfect.
Marriage is a sacred union of two
souls (husband and wife) coming
from two different backgrounds. One
should not expect one’s partner to
be perfect; accept them as they are.
Develop a posi�ve a!tude: Finding
faults with each other and keeping a
nega!ve a"tude always strains the
rela!ons. In order to foster loving
bonds develop the habit of looking at
things posi!vely. Be grateful to your
family members.
Develop the spirit of humility:
Clash of egos is the foremost reason
for separa!on. Ego also brings
arrogance. So, avoid this nega!ve
trait and prac!ce to be humble.
Be an expert in touch therapy: The
power of touch and affec!on is well
known. Use this power to show love
to your spouse and affec!on to your
children.
Develop a sense of humor: It is said
that ‘Laughter is the best medicine’.
Offer this tonic in plenty to your near
and dear ones.
Fix a prayer �me for family: Hear#ul
prayers bring peace and serenity in
the home. Have some common !me
(say, evening) for prayers together.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 43
Indian system of healthcare is very ancient. Today
its underlying principles are being accepted
globally. People now understand that the meaning
of health is not only confined to a disease-free
state, but extends to provide a comprehensive
meaning to life. Disease is merely a symptom,
which occurs when there is an abnormality.
Therefore, our traditional healthcare system aims
to cure the cause, instead of the symptom.
The shortage in the number of healthcare
personnel in our country could be estimated by
comparing their numbers to that of the world
average. The global average of the number of
doctors available for every 10,000 people is 14.1;
while, in India, this number is restricted to 7.
This figure clearly shows how much emphasis
we lay on the doctors, who are an important basis
of a healthy life. Even more worrying is the fact
that the doctors available do not want to go to
rural areas because there they could not flourish
professionally. This is what happens when
professionalism enters the service oriented field
of healthcare. In such a scenario, health does
not remain the primary concern of the doctors,
but wealth becomes more important. This is the
reason why there is no substantial improvement
in the basic health of the people of our country in
spite of such costly hospitals.
Total dependence on the Western system of
medicine could not solve this problem in a
comprehensive manner. This is because the
principle of allopathy is to instantly suppress
the symptoms somehow. When the effect of the
medicines reduces, the ailment appears again.
Moreover, the side effects of the medicines on
the body further give rise to numerous health
challenges. Contrary to this, in the Indian system
of medicine, the cause of the ailment is identified
and attempt is made to remove it.
The western countries, where allopathy occupies
the supreme place, are now increasingly looking
towards the alternative therapies. This is because
they aim at giving better lives to common people;
lay the foundation of better relations between
the medical practitioners and patients and to
provide better and affordable treatment. Another
significant difference is that the alternative
therapies provide a new way of healthy living
to the patient. This makes him aware; and he
resolves to stay healthy.
The masses in America are increasingly looking
forward towards the natural way of treatment and
this new form is called the ‘Integrated System of
Medicine’. Today, a large proportion of the global
population is not only moving towards alternative
therapies but is also trying to develop new basis
for its expansion. About 70% population in
Canada, 75% in France, 45% in Australia and
10% in America are being attracted towards this
ancient system.
Dean Michael Ornish, an American physician,
researcher, speaker, president and founder of
the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research
Institute in Sausalito, California, as well as
Clinical Professor has found out a way to cope
Adopt Indian System of Healthcare:
Drive away the Diseases
“We must become the change we want to see.” - Mahatma Gandhi
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201744
up with lifestyle disorders and is taking this to
the people. He is the first person who has tried
to provide research-based evidence to prove that
by inculcating pure and constructive emotions,
one could cure initial stages of heart diseases,
diabetes and cancer. In this work, he got the
support of Dr. George Lovith of Britain. Today,
he is one of the chief supporters of alternative
therapies in Britain. In our country India, Dr.
Ranjeet Rai Chaudhari, former director of PGI,
Chandigarh is helping the central government in
studying, identifying and testing the traditional
medicines. According to him, if we could learn
to make use of our ancient system of medicine
and the vast collection of traditional knowledge,
then this could have a substantial impact on our
healthcare sector.
The acceptance of alternative therapies on
the global level shows that the Indian system
of medicine is the best. Now, doctors in the
whole world are accepting the fact and truth
that a healthy body could be obtained only in a
disease free state and the basis of a healthy life
could be built only by removing the cause of the
disease. As long as the people of our country
followed this principle of healthcare, they
were healthy and happy. But, with the advent
of allopathy, they began neglecting our ancient
system. Unfortunately any plan formed for
the improvement of the healthcare sector, still
focuses mainly on the modern medical science,
but no concrete effort is made for improving our
own ancient system of medicine.
However, an initiative in this regard was taken
in 1995, when the department of Indian medical
system and homeopathy was established. In
November, 2003, its name was changed to
AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). But, it still
needs to be promoted even more. These efforts
could play a crucial role in the formation of a
healthy India, when emphasis would be laid
on comprehensive health education. Such an
education system would not only provide the
knowledge about the cause and cure of diseases,
but would also envisage the guidelines for a
healthy life.
In our country, infrastructural improvements in the
main stream medical system could not be brought
about that easily. Therefore, alternative medical
system could play a crucial role in realizing the
conception of a healthy India. The need is to be
aware about our own health and make this ancient
and glorious system of medicine a part of our life.
This is the basis of a healthy life, by adopting
which, we could become healthy and happy and
could realize the conception of a healthy India.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Will Durant
Behavioral Rasayanas
There are certain behavioral traits that promote health and happiness:
• Promote posi�ve thoughts and emo�ons, and discourage nega�ve thoughts and emo�ons;
• Choose to be with wise people who upli� and inspire;
• Always speak the truth with kindness and compassion;
• Maintain personal integrity which helps to inspire confidence and self-esteem;
• Keep a clean harmonious environment;
• Cook for your family with love and respect;
• Follow your own spiritual beliefs, devo�ng �me for spiritual prac�ces;
• Do what you love to do and experience joy, for example singing, pain�ng, and being in nature.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 45
Let us begin with collective chant of the Gayatri
Mantra:
“Om Bh¿r Bhuva¡ Swa¡, Tatsaviturvareñya® Bhargo Devasya Dhºmahi, Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachoday³t ||”
Sisters and Brothers,
P¿j³-Up³san³ (worship of a deity and devotional
practices) in one form or the other is an integral
part of the endeavors of spiritual development.
This is a common observation among the ordinary
people who are religious, theist, or aspirants of
spiritual progress. Many of the spiritual masters,
yogis, siddhas and seer-sages have also taken its
support and risen high on the illumined (eminent)
path of spirituality. But there is a great difference
between their approach and what is followed
and practiced by the masses. Look at what most
of you do in your so-called p¿j³-up³san³? You
have made a mockery of everything. Your faith,
your s³dhan³ (endeavors of self-refinement and
spiritual enlightenment), everything is superficial,
haphazard.
I have been regularly doing p¿j³-up³san³ and
have also inspired many seekers of spirituality
for this. For twenty-four years (as part of
MahapuraïcharaÌ S³dhan³) I have thoroughly
practiced it for six hours early in the morning
every day. This has continued till date. Now also,
I get up before 2 am – even during the peak of
winter when most of the world is fast asleep.
In those hours of absolute calm, I do my p¿j³-up³san³ for about four hours every day with
absolute engrossment in the japa of Gayatri
Mantra. Had it been only a superficial act, a
child’s play, or blind-faith, why would I do it
so sincerely? And why would I initiate so many
people in it?
Friends, I have motivated and initiated millions
of people to do Gayatri Up³san³. In many of my
articles, I have also written about its importance.
I would like to motivate and guide many more
seekers like you, and I am determined to continue
that even in this last phase of my life. I wish that all
the devotees earnestly follow the illumined path
of p¿j³-up³san³. If you don’t do it through heart,
if you are not sincere in doing it, your ‘ritual’ of
worship, your ‘devotional practice’ would only
make a mockery of p¿j³-up³san³. ‘Devotees’ of
this kind are worse than the so-called ‘atheists’
who simply don’t believe in God.
The atheists, for example the communists, reject
p¿j³-up³san³ outright, as they don’t find any
rationale behind it. Their approach is correct. They
are honest to their rationality. I am sure if they
ever experience the reality of God, or if they are
given the light of wisdom behind p¿j³-up³san³,
they will grasp and adopt it thoroughly and prove
to be true devotees. They are not shaky and
superficial like many of the so-called ‘theists’ and
‘devotees’, whose faith, whose conceptualization
of God, and whose devotion are shallow, hazy,
illusory, strayed, and self-centered, and arbitrary
like their own mentality and character. What
kind of devotee or theist you are if you ‘worship’
and ‘pray’ the Almighty to bless you and fulfill all
Two Steps to Spiritual Ascent-Yoga and Tap(Translation of a discourse given by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on the topic
“Adhy³tmika UtkarÌa ke Sop³na – Yog aur Tap”)
Amrit Vani
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201746
your wishes, but you don’t accept and follow His
disciplines and you ignore the duties assigned by
Him? Aren’t you dishonest and ungrateful? You
pray simply to convey your demands and beg for
their fulfilment! In return of your act of ‘worship
and devotion’ you want to buy and ‘rule over’ the
entire creation? You want that God should mold
His system of Nature and alter His rules, as per
your convenience, desires and needs!
Understand the Meaning of P¿j³-Up³san³:
Please note, your singing of devotional song or
chanting prayers, without the purity and depth of
heart and sincerity of mind, is like attempting to
bargain for precious jewels without any price. It’s
like trying to grab fruits sans any hard work or
payment. It’s like a theft, a foul play.
You sit on a cozy seat and chant some mantra or
some hymn from religious texts with movements
of the beads of a rosary in your hand and consider
it a spiritual endeavor! And, you beseech so many
favors in return! You ‘pray’ for riches, promotion
in your job, good health, for your spouse, children,
their happiness, success and what not…! Your
list extends with the number of chants! Don’t
you know that nothing worthwhile can be gained
freely in this world? Then why do you aspire
to get so much as blessings of gods as a result
of your act of chanting their names, or singing
paeans of their divine powers? Such practices and
beliefs show that in reality you are an atheist.
The people whom you might call “atheists” are in
fact true theists if they have faith in shaping their
destiny through their own abilities and diligence.
Those who believe in merit of good character and
good deeds are true believers, irrespective of whether
they follow any religious philosophy, any tradition,
or not. Those who attempt for success through their
own sincere efforts, self-refinement, and unflinching
hard labor towards the worthy goals, cannot be called
atheists, as they, unlike many of you (the so-called
‘devotees’ and ‘spiritual disciples’), do not crave or
bag for anything ‘free of price’.
How can a farmer harvest the crop without
working in the field? He has to plough the land,
fill it with suitable soil, sow the seeds properly
in the right season in the right manner, water the
soil, guard the saplings, look after the growing
plants, etc. For this he has to work so hard! He
has to stand under the sun, drench his body in
rains, dirty his clothes in the soil, and so on… He
has to even sacrifice his sound sleep for months!
This rule applies everywhere in the field of life as
well; more so in the field of spirituality.
Soil and Water of the Field of Spirituality
-Yoga and Tapa:
You know, spirituality is a source of divine
transmutation. But you need to cultivate this
source hidden in your inner self. Faith in God,
His discipline, and divine values, sincerely doing
meditative devotional practices (p¿j³-up³san³),
are like planting the seed; But the seed will not
sprout unless the field (of mind and its emotional
core) is ploughed and nurtured with fertile soil
and irrigated carefully. Cleansing of mind,
focusing and constructive orientation of thoughts,
etc are essential like ploughing and guarding. The
endeavors of yoga and tapa serve the purpose
of necessary nurturing and strengthening (the
‘sapling’ of spirituality). In this shivir (spiritual
training session) you will get an exposure to yoga
and tapa. Let us first discuss some basic aspects
that are quite important in these endeavors.
You must note that your way of thinking, the
“What we think, we become.” – Buddha
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 47
nature of your thoughts make a lot of difference
in your perception of knowledge, and also in your
experiences of the world. If you think positive,
the world, the circumstances around you, will
appear beautiful, peaceful, happy, progressive
and cooperating to you. On the contrary, negative,
untoward thoughts would reflect accordingly
in your experience of the world; you will find
everything (every event and situation) here as
wrong, vicious, deformed, hazardous, fearsome,
and depressing. Calm down and ponder over;
you will find that, in fact, the world is not so bad,
unjust, cruel or haphazard, life is not so hard,
and your circumstances are not so adverse or
daunting, as they might appear to you. In reality
you are not so weak or deprived, as your thoughts
have made you feel. Flaws and faults are not so
much in others, as they are in your own mentality.
In this context, I recall an interesting incident that
was reported sometime in the British colonial
period. This happened during the inaugural ride
of Queen Victoria in the first ever train-service in
England. The first trip of the first train in England
was planned after successful trials and thorough
security checks. As per plan, the Queen sat inside
the special cabin. There were many bodyguards
in her coach and also substantial military and
emergency medical services were arranged.
While the train was moving at scheduled speed
late in the evening, the driver noticed a shadow
indicating that an elephant was walking besides
the track. He whistled and called the security
personnel, as there was a risk that the elephant
would hit the train or disturb the tracks. With
binocular the guards saw that the elephant was
walking at the same speed as train, it appeared
very big with a huge trunk and tail.
The security guards took out their guns and
fired a few rounds outside in the direction where
the elephant appeared to walk along the track.
But that did not budge the animal. The shadow
continued to appear running with the train. Then
they stopped the train in an attempt to surprise
and thwart the elephant. But the beast also
stopped with the train! It was so dark outside
that the soldiers did not take the risk of getting
down at that moment. The driver now increased
the speed. Amazing! The elephant also started
running at the same speed! It was quite scaring.
In view of the high risk of its attack, the train was
stopped; the military unit on duty was asked to
get down and attack it from multiple directions.
Several soldiers got down with emergency light;
but the puzzle intensified as they saw no one on
or besides the tracks! Was it a ghost, some of
them wondered?
Thorough search finally showed that it was a
shadow of a wild grasshopper sitting on the
light outside the train-engine that appeared like
the shadow of an elephant! This ‘elephant-cum-
ghost’ was caught immediately. It is said the
grasshopper is still preserved in a museum of
England. The caption below this specimen reads
that this is the ‘elephant’ that delayed the Queen’s
train by four hours and that did not die even after
many rounds of bullet firing.
Most of Your Problems are Self-created:
Most of the problems, fears, and tensions in
your lives are also like the grasshopper in this
anecdote. It keeps scaring and worrying you in
one form or the other.
Many of you are worried due to poverty or
scarcities in your life. But this is mostly due to
your own outlook. Don’t you get food to have
meals twice a day? Don’t you have clothes to
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” - Napoleon Hill
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201748
cover and protect your body? Don’t you have
a roof to live under? Why are you worried
and stressed, and running around to grab more
comforts, more riches, more powers, and what
not, when your basic necessities are met? You
should be progressive but don’t let your cravings
and worldly ambitions drive your life. Remind
yourself of the bitter reality of the lives of grand
ambitious emperors like Alexander the Great.
Alexander had conquered most part of the world,
accumulated enormous treasure. But he, like
anyone else, died empty handed. It was only at the
last moment that he realized that he can’t carry a
single paisa along with him in the last journey
to the disembodied world. How pathetic it must
have been for him to have realized it in the last
moments before death! He cried and said, had I
realized this fact before, I would have lived like
Socrates, like Buddha; would have made some
worthwhile use of my life…. It is a pity that even
most of those who know this fact in principle,
also blindly chase the rat-race of materialistic
possessions to quench their unbounded ambitions
and longings.
Why can’t you change your outlook? Why
don’t you realize that Nature has allocated only
limited share for every one. Can you eat and
digest beyond the capacity of your stomach?
Certainly not! The same is true of every other
resource available to you or earned by you. If
you had realized it, you would have adopted
a different philosophy, different path of life.
Instead of accumulating wealth and hoards of
other resources only for you and your dear and
near ones, you would have prudently deployed
your talents, your possessions, your time, for
the welfare and progress of many others who
need it.
A Universal Solution:
Friends, I have tried to convey this message since
past four days of this session that you should
augment your inner-strength and courageously
choose the righteous path. You should make
prudent use of your thought-power, talents and
other potentials. For many of you, the measure
of intellectual and other talents is confined to
the monetary gains and worldly status. You have
graduated in first class, got post-graduate degree
with good grades, and then you got a good job;
you are a class-I officer, successful professional,
this and that, ….etc. Is this what your education,
your intellect, your training and talents are meant
for? I would call it a crude and preposterous
‘intellect’ that can’t even solve the problems of
one’s own life, that can’t even have the wisdom
of what is good and what is bad for the ultimate
course of life, that can’t teach one how to behave
with fellow beings, and how to control your ego,
selfish longings, and passions. Is your intelligence
guiding you in this regard? Is it able to control the
agility and moods of your mind?
Before you complain about others, just recall, how
have you behaved with people around you? How
many of them have you hurt, and have cultivated
animosity with how many? Remember, if your
conduct is good, if you have cared and cooperated
with others, you will also not be deprived of
support and friendly cooperation in the moments
of need. If you do not ignore whatever is already
available to you and make proper use of it, there
would never be any scarcity in your life.
It’s so unfortunate that we the intelligent beings
simply don’t care and don’t learn to make the
best use of whatever we already have. We are
born with such a wonderful body. Instead of
“A good criterion for measuring success in life is the number of people you have made happy.” - Robert J. Lumsden
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 2017 49
making proper use of its enormous potentials,
we keep spoiling its natural health and strength
in the indulgence of sensory pleasures. Then, at
a later age we run after medical help to get rid of
the weaknesses and health disorders in this very
body!
Many of you want to have a long life full of
pleasures. What will you do with it? You should
know that it’s not the span but the quality and
purpose of life that matters. If you had valued the
precious opportunity of being born as a human,
if you had the vision of the path of light and
happiness, you would have really succeeded in
life. You should begin with a new outlook towards
life from this moment itself. Not only that, you
should also motivate your younger generation
to follow this glorious path, as Rukmani Devi,
the mother of saintly scholar and revered social
reformer Acharya Vinoba Bhave did. While
most parents want their sons and daughters to be
happily settled and be blessed by children and
wealthy comforts, etc. she guided her children to
the path of truth, benevolence, and beatitude.
Friends, we can acquire enormous happiness and
worthy success in this very life, if we realize the
precious purpose of life, learn to make adept use
of whatever we have, and sincerely endeavor
to refine and raise our potentials. If we resolve
and sincerely endeavor tapa and yoga, we can
also attain greatness and accomplish glorious
milestones if our intellect follows the illumined
path of righteousness.
(To be continued in the next issue)
“A good heart is better than all the heads in the world.”- Edward Bulwer-Lytton
A young sannyasi goes to a forest,
where he meditates and prac�ces spiritual
austeri�es for a long �me. A�er years of
prac�ce, one day while si�ng under a
tree, dry leaves fall on his head because of
a fight between a crow and a crane. The
angry sannyasi had developed yogic powers
and burnt the birds with his mere look.
This incident fills the sannyasi with
arrogance. Shortly therea�er, he goes to a
house, begging for food. Here the housewife
who was nursing her sick husband requests
the sannyasi to wait. To this, the sannyasi
thinks in his mind, “You wretched woman,
how dare you make me wait! You do
not know my power yet” to which the
housewife says that she is neither a crow
nor a crane, to be burnt. The sannyasi is
amazed and asks her how she came to
know about the bird. The housewife says
that she did not prac�ce any austeri�es and
by doing her duty with cheerfulness and
wholeheartedness, she became illumined
and could read his thoughts.
She directs him to a dharma-vyadha
(meaning, the righteous butcher) in the
town of Mithila and says that the dharma-
vyadha would answer all his ques�ons
on dharma. The sannyasi goes to see the
vyadha. However ini�ally he hesitates to
talk to him as he was busy in his work (that
is cu�ng animal flesh). Vyadha understands
his hesita�on and advises him, “No duty is
impure”; by dedica�ng all the work to God
and by sincere and una�ached performance
of the allo�ed duty one can become
illumined.
AKHAND JYOTI Jan.-Feb. 201750
“A man who finds no satisfaction in himself will seek for it in vain elsewhere.”- La Rochefoucauld
The vibrations of Vedic Mantras carry
immense energy that is amplified by the pr³ña
(vital spiritual energy) and bio-electricity
of the body and the sublime currents of
spiritually refined thoughts and sentiments
of the s³dhaka(s). The practice of japa-s³dhan³ of G³yatrº Mantra is given supreme
importance in this context, as the majestic
power of this eternal mantra is expanding
perpetually, as the s³dhan³ of this mantra
has been constantly practiced by millions of
spiritual experts since the Vedic Age. This
mantra is also special in terms of its unique
sonic pattern, the sublime flow of Ïabda
and astonishing physical, psychological and
spiritual impacts.
From a scientific point of view, one may
explain it as follows. As the continuous
movement of the motor in a dynamo generates
electricity, the cyclic repetition of the japa of
a mantra at a constant pace also gives rise to
the circular motion of the sonic manifestation
of Ïabda (eternal element of cosmic sound –
evolutionary vibration) hence to a centrifugal
sonic force and an otherwise latent power of
sound. One who knows the Mantra Vidy³
indeed knows the secrets of the optimal
generation and use of this cycle of energy,
which is a unique source of physical, mental
and spiritual potentials.
The coexistence of the forces of attraction
and the circular motions of the planets
must be well-known to the students of
Physics. Because of the fast movements
in the charged fields of attraction, each
planet also produces a roaring sound of
intensity proportional to its huge size.
The superimposition of these planetary
roars gives rise to the cosmic sound – a
manifestation of Ïabda, which the scientists
consider as the major source of power for
every kind of ‘natural motion’ existing in
the entire universe.
The power of Ïabda manifests itself in
multiple ways in the s³dhan³ of the great
G³yatrº Mantra. This mantra is a compilation
of twenty-four special syllables (in Sanskrit),
which are so configured that the enunciation
of each gives rise to unique types of vibrations
at one or more of the twenty-four important
bio-electrical and extrasensory energy
nuclei in the s³dhaka’s body. The collective
compounded sonic effects of all of these are
so unique and immense that these activate the
subtle body too.
The linguistic meaning of this mantra is a
universal prayer for the divine illumination
of the intellect of all to lead the world
towards the righteous path. The s³dhaka’s mental concentration and pure sentiments
are naturally focused around this meaning
(and the associated feelings and inspirations)
when he performs japa of this mantra through
emotional depths. This has two prominent
effects – viz., the s³dhak’s mind achieves
higher state of meditation and he also attains
spiritual refinement of the inner domains of
mind.
The Scientific Aspect of
Gayatri Mantra