Akhand Jyoti march april 2019 by Akhand Jyoti Swadhyay

VOLUME: 17

ISSUE:5

Sept.-Oct. 2019

On Religion Religion is not an end in itself. One’s union with God is the ultimate goal. There are so many religions because immature people tend to emphasize trivial differences instead of important likenesses. Differences between faiths lie in creeds and rituals rather than religious principles. How diverse the many paths seem to be at times, but do they not all come together eventually upon the same mountaintop? Are they not all striving for the same thing? If you are guided toward a faith, use it as a stepping stone to God, not as a barrier between yourself and God’s other children or as a tower to hold you aloft from others. If you are not guided toward a faith (or even if you are) seek God in the silence - seek within. When we attempt to isolate another, we only isolate ourselves. We are all God’s children, and there are no favorites. God is revealed to all who seek; God speaks to all who will listen. Be still and know God. I am a deeply religious person, but I belong to no denomination. I follow the spirit of God’s law, not the letter of the law. One can become so attached to the outward symbols and structure of religion that one forgets its original intent - to bring one closer to God. We can only gain access to the Kingdom of God by realizing it dwells within us as well as in all humanity. Know that we are all cells in the ocean of inﬁnity, each contributing to the others’ welfare. - Peace Pilgrim

God has no religion. - Mahatma Gandhi 3

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

CONTENTS 1.

Amrit Chintan On Religion................................................................................................................

From Chief Editor’s Desk Let’s Resolve to Awaken Divine Attributes within Us ..............................................

How to Nurture Creative Excellence? .......................................................................

Ways to Manage Your Stress .....................................................................................

Science and Spirituality The Subconscious and Unconscious Domains of Mind ............................................

The Vaisheshika School of Indian Philosophy ......................................................... 16

The Role of An Effective Leader ...............................................................................

Are You Using Time Wisely? .................................................................................... 23

Yug Gita – 20

Perform Action for the Sake of Yagya Alone ............................................................ 25 10.

Peace Pilgrim’s Wisdom – 20 The Way of Peace ......................................................................................................

11.

Learn to Stay Happy .................................................................................................. 32

12.

Odyssey of the Enlightened - 68 Auspicious Impressions of Sacred Energy - 2 ........................................................... 34

13.

Youth Column Self-conﬁdence is the Key to Success ....................................................................... 38

14.

Virtues are Needed More than Resources.................................................................. 40

15.

Amrit Vani What Makes The Gayatri-S³dhan³ Miraculous? - IV ............................................... 42

16.

What is ESP and How to Manifest it? ...................................................................... 47

17.

How to Keep a Positive Attitude?.............................................................................. 50

18.

Shantikunj News ...................................... (Inner Cover Pages & Back Cover Page)

Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind. - Albert Einstein AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

From Chief Editor’s Desk

Let’s Resolve to Awaken Divine Attributes within Us then he can easily be seen as cruel, violent, and uncivilized. It is also well-known that the emergence of divine virtues in a person makes him a great seer, saint, or sage.

The currents of knowledge originate from two sources in human life. The ﬁrst is called Gyana (spiritual experience), and the second is termed as Vigyana (understanding of material objects). The current of knowledge that ﬂows out from man is called Vigyana. It is the science that deals with investigating the structure and properties of materials and their utility for human welfare.

Thus the form of human possibilities that becomes one’s identity is not determined by his outer appearance but by his innate nature. This task is not governed by external activities but by the inner consciousness. If the latter of a person gets corrupted, then his thoughts, emotions, and viewpoint regarding life would get perverted. Then the fortune would be transformed into a tragedy.

Gyana is the knowledge that makes a person realize the Self, and that acts as a medium for uniting the Self with the Supreme-Self. India is fortunate to have several such branches of philosophy that were propagated by the seers and sages of this land.

Where on one side, there is a possibility of misfortune in life; on the other, there is also a possibility of the emergence of divinity within us. Pujya Gurudev used to call it ‘The rise of divinity within a human being and descent of heaven on earth.’ The awakening of divine consciousness transforms one’s personality into that of a great man.

The knowledge propagated by the seers and sages of yore may be called the height of human intellectual endeavor, not because it is useful in improving health through Yoga, or increasing age through Ayurveda or earn mental power through Philosophy. This knowledge is best because it awakens divine possibilities within a human being. Getting a human birth is a fortune and a chance. It is such a chance that on its one end, there is a depth of downfall, sin, and defeat; and, on the other, there is the height of progress, excellence, and superiority. If the animal traits become prominent in a person,

The hustle and bustle of daily life, mental unrest, dilemma, never-ending desires, unnecessary doubts, jealousy, ego, greed, sensuality, etc. together do not allow us to feel the divinity, purity, and greatness that is already within us. Therefore, if the human consciousness is puriﬁed,

It is a denial of the divinity within us to doubt our potential and our possibilities. - James E. Faust 5

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the personality is reﬁned, emotions are made sacred, and the thoughts are enlightened, then the same human being can feel the presence of peace, power, and perfection within.

times is to adopt the lifestyle proposed by Param Pujya Gurudev. It is said – ‘Par upadesh kushal bahutere’ which means that there are thousands of people who are seen preaching others for upliftment; but there are only a few who are self-reﬁning them. Though this quote might be valid for the many, but it is hoped that Gayatri parijans would prove to be exceptions. There are two reasons for this hope. The ﬁrst is that they have witnessed the ideals lived by Param Pujya Gurudev and Vandaniya Mataji. The second is that they have been brought into this mission, taking into consideration the virtuous deeds they have done in the past. They are also experiencing the subtle protection of Pujya Gurudev and Vandaniya Mataji. Therefore, once they realize that they are spiritual progenies of the Divine Master, the hidden virtues will automatically get awakened. Not much effort is required for this purpose.

The science of augmenting the virtues within a human being is the science of Gayatri Tapa Sadhana. The past deeds of a person malign his psyche. Unless it is puriﬁed, human life remains a misfortune. If the darkness lies within, then the external ornaments cannot beautify the outer body; instead, ugliness becomes more prominent. Unless the transformation of life is done from within, external adornment results only in a dilemma. The endeavor that is done to uplift our lives and awaken the hidden potentials forms the basis of Gayatri Tapa Sadhana. If we look at the essence of life and work of Pujya Gurudev and Vandaniya Mataji, we will ﬁnd that it revolves around one thing – awakening of divine potentials within a human being. Though all our parijans are familiar with this truth, it becomes necessary to remind them very often because the degradation of human values that has occurred in the present times was never seen in the past. When the children are seen committing grave crimes like murder or rapes, it appears that humanity has vanished forever. The only solution to eradicate the corruption in thoughts and actions in public life in the present

Therefore, it is easier for Gayatri Parijans to walk on this path because they have received Gayatri Tapa Sadhana of Pujya Gurudev in legacy. On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of our Gurusatta (Ashwin krishna trayodashi, falling on September 27, this year), there will be no better tribute to him than to resolve to awaken and nurture divinity within ourselves.

(Pranav Pandya) I know you're tired but come; this is the way. - Jalalu'l-din Rumi AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

How to Nurture Creative Excellence? Creative excellence is the highest form of human expression. Martin Luther King Jr. puts it like this - “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.” Indeed, if someone does something innovative and useful in any domain of his liking, it enlightens him as well as enthralls others. Such accomplishments provide a deep sense of joy and contentment.

as everyone else, there is very little chance that one will be able to do anything pathbreaking. We have to be abreast with the changing circumstances and challenges that we face in everyday life, and it is an in-depth understanding of life that will enable us to come up with integrated solutions. 3. A holistic perspective is critical. We should try and understand all the essential aspects of a given situation, the pros and cons, and everything in between so that we are capable enough to arrive at a reasonable conclusion. In the absence of a holistic perspective, we tend to look at only one side of things, and hence, the judgment is impaired, and the solution is incomplete. Extensive investigation is beneﬁcial in cultivating an all-inclusive perspective.

Let us explore the ways that can help us nurture creative excellence in life. 1. Inquisitiveness is the ﬁrst step for any creative activity. A new work of art always comes forth from the womb of inquisitiveness. If there is a deep sense of curious exploration, one can be sure that the resultant solution will also be meaningful and holistic. So, if we develop within us a zeal to learn, awaken the student within us, nurture inquisitiveness, then the possibilities of innovation increase manifold, letting us soar to the great heights of excellence.

4. The study of appropriate literature sheds light on various new aspects of any topic. It introduces us to the diversity and the variety present in the world of thoughts. If one studies extensively and expansively, it opens the doors of one’s mind to creativity. In the absence of this, the man is conﬁned to limited thinking; and remains like a frog in the well that cannot imagine the ocean.

2. Creative excellence demands original thinking and ideas. If one follows the herd mentality and walks on the same path

5. Being in the company of creative people adds a new dimension to a person who aspires

Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things. – Theodore Levitt 7

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for excellence. While we do get the one-sided benefit and flow of knowledge by reading books, being in the company of experts helps in resolving our questions and doubts instantly. A person who is an expert in his field of study is like a walking encyclopaedia and being in the company of such people can be very inspirational. We never know how a single thought from such insightful people can play a pivotal role in opening up infinite possibilities in our lives.

purifies the psyche. In due course of time, this controlled mind will evolve into a powerful instrument for creative excellence. 8. Courage and a spirit of adventure are also essential aspects of creative excellence because any ground-breaking work demands that we take the less-traveled path. One has to think out of the box; and for a person to swim upstream, courage is the first requirement. If we cannot muster the courage, then all the high thinking and grand plans amount to nothing in reality and will remain as mere figments of imagination; and, we fall short of walking the last mile that would have taken us to immense joy and a sense of accomplishment.

6. Grab those few moments of alone-time when the mind is calm and peaceful. A creative mind is a result of a focused, stable, and peaceful mind. We cannot hope for any innovative and meaningful work to be done amid busy and chaotic day. One should always look out for those pockets of time when one is solitary, and the mind is at peace. Such moments can be used for serious thinking.

9. Creative excellence calls for a prudent effort. One should be able to sense what the situation demands, understand ground realities, recognize one’s interests and abilities, and balance them all for a project to take shape and bear fruit. We cannot expect any positive results with half-hearted efforts. Only when sincere efforts are extended for a long time with courage and enthusiasm, we can expect to achieve creative excellence.

7. Practicing meditation is very beneﬁcial for a creative temperament because meditation calms the mind, frees it from stress, increases focus and stability. Any object/symbol that helps in relaxing one’s mind can be chosen for meditation. Meditating on divine symbols

You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. - Steve Jobs Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. - Scott Adams AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Ways to Manage Your Stress It is a common scenario that a person associated with a responsible position in any domain of work has to face spells of overwork time and again. If this extra load of work is not handled properly, then the burden increases further leading to a stressful situation under which even normal abilities seem to shrink and very soon the person reaches a state of confusion and numbness. We will discuss some pointers on how one can function effectively in such situations and manage without undue stress.

a good understanding of the abilities of each member of your team. This enables you to identify the owners for different tasks according to their strengths. Once the responsibility is delegated, you should periodically oversee the progress being made, offer advice when required, provide encouragement if it is being handled satisfactorily, provide guidance to correct any mistakes done and ensure that the task is taken to completion. Give sufﬁcient time to chart out a plan To accomplish any task, it is essential that there is a solid plan in place. Never consider the time taken to plan to be a waste. Meticulous planning ensures that time and resources are put to best possible use, which will ensure the successful completion of the said task.

Accept that it is not possible for you to do everything Indeed, we cannot do everything. Each person has his own limitations. In such conditions, if he ends up taking responsibility for anything and everything, there will soon come a situation where he will not be able to do even a single job efﬁciently. The burden of work impairs a person’s ability to think and places him in a state of stress. Therefore, it is essential to review both our personal and professional lives to determine all those tasks that are not getting accomplished in spite of the best of our efforts. Having the courage to understand and accept this truth is very important for our strategy to combat stress.

It is worth remembering what the great American President Abraham Lincoln said – ‘If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend four sharpening my axe.’ The meaning is that one should spend more time in preparation. This is very true in the context of planning a task. Always focus on the priorities It is crucial to know the preferences associated with each task if you want to rid yourself of the stress related to work. The priorities are ascertained during the planning phase, and they should be completed in that order. If you lose

It is imperative that we focus on our core strengths and delegate all those tasks outside of it to appropriate team members. This requires

Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it. – Kahlil Gibran 9

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

focus on priorities, there is a good chance that you end up spending time on unimportant tasks while the more important ones remain incomplete.

Maintain a balance between professional and family life It is extremely essential that there is a balance between your life at the ofﬁce and home. If we are not mindful of its signiﬁcance, it can lead to a lot of unwanted stress and strained relationships that can affect your productivity substantially. So, always maintain the right balance between professional life and family and friends. This goes a long way in improving the quality of your life.

To ensure that you never land in such a situation, it is always helpful to classify your tasks in four different quadrants: 1. Important and urgent: Tasks need to be done right away 2. Important but not urgent: You can postpone the tasks to a later time 3. Not important but urgent: These tasks can be delegated to others 4. Not important and not urgent: These can be easily skipped

Avoid multitasking Do not take up more than one task at the same time because your focus gets distributed, and the quality of work suffers. This leads to unrest and a lack of conﬁdence. So, take up one task at a time; divide it into multiple sub-tasks and complete each one methodically. The success in each of these sub-tasks will boost your conﬁdence and provide the satisfaction of accomplishing something. This also makes it easier to do subsequent tasks.

Always be wary about distractions In the present times, social media and smartphones are proving to be huge distractions that can make you lose track of your time and life without your even realizing it. These technologies are beneﬁcial and open doors to innumerable opportunities, but it is up to you that these are used wisely and not be distracted by them.

It is a good idea to create a time table and also track the amount of time spent on various activities. This gives a clear picture of how much time is getting wasted on unimportant stuff. Time utilization can be reviewed every week and reﬁned for the subsequent week.

Similarly, unwanted meetings should be avoided. You should make it a habit to say “No” ﬁrmly and politely. It is seen that the time gets wasted on unimportant stuff because of not being able to say ‘No.’ This, in turn, creates a time crunch for other activities. Therefore, you should identify all the distractions that are draining your time and make a plan for handling them efﬁciently.

Maintain a healthy routine Amid all the work pressure, you should maintain a habit of taking healthy food, adequate sleep, keeping positive thoughts, and cordial social relations. This will ensure that you are enthusiastic and energetic most of the time. This way, you can handle the stress in day-to-day life and stay positive all the time.

Man does not get tired by the enormity of work, but by considering it as a burden and doing it irregularly. - Acharya Shriram Sharma AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Science and Spirituality

The Subconscious and Unconscious Domains of Mind prominent tendencies/habits assimilated in the unconscious mind. For example, sometimes one subconsciously does some things that he did not think of, planned, or intended to; one is not even aware of such subconscious actions and comes to know of them only through the consequences.

In the series of articles on levels of consciousness, we have discussed different dimensions and levels of expression of Consciousness Force (CF) in the human-self. So far we have mainly discussed the sensory, cognitive and other mental functions (including memory, creativity, and thoughts) and feelings (emotions), which are natural expressions and evidence of the presence of CF. However, at the root of the natural tendencies and potentials of the conscious mind, there lies the sublime, the hidden, the inner mind - namely, the unconscious mind (referred to as chitta in the ancient Indian science of yoga and spirituality).

Most often, the perceptions of sense-organs in a subconscious state of mind create some related but exaggerated and imaginary experience in dreams. For example, in a psychological experiment on dreams, two persons were given pens in their hands while sleeping. One of them dreamt of playing hockey, and the other was rotating a club in his dream. When a cotton piece was moved softly over the palms of three sleeping subjects, one of them felt as if he is holding the tail of a cat; another one dreamt of being massaged delicately; the third experienced that he was patting his daughter’s silky hair. These examples illustrate the diversities of imaginations and the almost instantaneous response of the sentience of the subconscious mind.

With intellectual evolution, a better understanding of the brain, and studies of the mind beyond the Freudian thought and behavioral psychology, the modern quest to pierce deeper domains of mind seems to have revived the ancient interest for deciphering the unconscious mind. Subconscious Mind: Often, while attempting to understand the unconscious mind using an approach of neurosciences (including psychology and cognitive sciences), the researchers get trapped in studying the subconscious mind, which is somewhat like a half-asleep state of the conscious mind itself. Sometimes, the subconscious mind is experienced as a medium of expression of

Many times we get the subconscious perceptions of what is happening around us as an associated experience in the dream. For instance, sometimes if someone is playing music at some distance when we are asleep, we might dream something associated with a musical instrument; even the

Biology gives you a brain. Life turns it into a mind. - Jeffrey Eugenides 11

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noise of kitchen utensils or the ring of a telephone may sometimes sound like loud music to us in the dreams. Such dreams are short-lived and often experienced in disturbed sleep. Usually, the continuity of sleep is broken with such dreams. But one might feel as though the (dreamed) incident had lasted for several hours.

The views of Professor Calvin Hall, a reputed psychologist and expert of dream sciences in the U.S.A. largely coincide with the explanations of the Indian philosophers[1]. In “Meaning of Dreams,” he defines dreams as a collective manifestation of varied imaginations and reactions of the unconscious mind during deep sleep. Experiments on the study of dreams affirm that the activities of the inner mind continue even in the dormant state of the conscious (external) mind. The conscious actions, flow of thoughts, and associated visual representations disappear in this state. Impulses of the unconscious (sublime) mind are then reflected as dreams - especially the precognitive dreams and the dreams that unfold a mystery or lead to resolution of a challenging research problem, an innovative finding[2].

Usually, our mind remains engrossed within the peripheries of selﬁsh interests and passions. It, therefore, experiences only the dreams driven by the tamoguña1. That is why our dreams are often vague and abrupt, or haphazard expressions of suppressed desires. When the condition of one’s body and mind is dominated by the rajoguña1, one would experience active dreams, and the things and persons encountered in the awakened state would appear in the dreams with some allegoric transformations. The subconscious reﬂections of the bodily conditions - including those caused by an internal disorder (disease) are also experienced in such dreams.

British psychologist Christopher Evans remarks in his famous book “Landscape of the Night” that the process of dreams unconsciously begins in our awakened state, though we realize it only in the sleep[3]. He suggests that if we continue pondering over some difﬁcult problem till we are asleep, we are quite likely to get the answer or a clue to the answer in the dream that very night. Noted neurologist, Dr. Jonathan Winson, of the Rockefeller University, New York, has also expressed similar views in his book on ‘Brain and Psyche’[4]. He opines that if we could stimulate or activate our unconscious mind, it would not only offer us precognition through dreams but could also beneﬁt us with the extrasensory potentials of this inner mind in the state when we are not sleeping.

However, the unconscious mind, too, plays a role in the occurrence of dreams in the state of sound-sleep when the experiences of the physical body and the conscious and subconscious minds also fall asleep. Sublime Inﬂuence of the Unconscious Mind: The origin of dreams is elucidated in the Yoga Sutras as a result of the causal or incidental transition of mind from its conscious to unconscious state or from a state of cognition and retention to that of sublime impulses of the inner mind.

The mind is not a vessel to be ﬁlled, but a ﬁre to be kindled. - Plutarch AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Dr. Winson and Dr. Evans both suggest that the ‘acumen’ of the unconscious self can be of great use in solving practical problems in one’s daily life as well. If one has attained the potential to experience higher-level dreams, he could excel in every dimension of life with the help of these enlightened reﬂections of the unconscious mind.

functions. It continues to perform these duties in a natural way, even when the body and the conscious mind are asleep. Breathing, heartbeating, blood circulation, etc. are among the activities constantly regulated by it although we hardly notice this. Activities of the unconscious mind remain unnoticed in the awakened or (externally) active state of the body because of the agility and extrovert orientation of the conscious mind. It is only when the latter is completely asleep, the presence and activities of the unconscious mind are clearly manifested. Which pieces of the hidden memories would be traced by it? Which of the inﬁnitely many aspirations and impressions of the intrinsic character and sentiments - assimilated since uncountable number of previous lives and the past phase of the current life - would be activated and brought to the surface of its vast repository? Which of the subtle signals from the limitless gamut of the cosmic consciousness would it receive or transmit and why? None of this could be deciphered, predicted, or explained by any scientiﬁc instrument or theory developed so far. No level of intellectual brilliance and sagacity would help understand this subtle science. Piety and spiritual radiance of the inner self is essentially required for righteous illumination and transmutation of the continual depths of mind for this purpose.

Dr. Winson argues that our unconscious mind ‘exists’ in the subliminal core of our mind. The unconscious mind is an eternally active layer of mind that continually records all experiences – from those lasting for a fraction of a second, to the long term; the usual, as well as the rare ones. It embraces all impulses of our lives and retrieves and expresses them adaptively in its symbolic language through dreams. Prof. Evans has also expressed similar views; according to him, the unconscious core of the human mind is an unlimited repository of knowledge - of the past, present, and the future. Unconscious Mind - the ‘Architect of Destiny’: The Indian scriptures on the science of spirituality describe several sublime layers of the human mind. We may broadly classify them into - the conscious (including the subconscious mind and the intellect) and the unconscious mind. The former plays the role of an executive, which makes possible the acts of imagination, thinking, reasoning, and intellectual creativity. Day-to-day activities of life are regulated by it. The unconscious mind lies in the background. It governs the intrinsic functions, brain-impulses, and intra-body

The roots of original mental makeup also are hidden in the unconscious mind. The

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. - Ralph Waldo Emerson 13

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unconscious mind has an implicit impact on the conscious activities (the karmas) as well, as it is in this core of mind where the sansk³ras2 and hence the inherent and intrinsic tendencies, aspirations, and sentimental instincts are generated, assimilated (stored), and inspired. Inclinations, habits, overall nature of one’s personality and one’s inner character are directed by the unconscious mind. Thus it is referred to as the architect of one’s destiny[5]. Far-reaching intuitions and transcendental realizations also become possible through spiritual activation of the unconscious mind.

self. Intrinsic desires as per the activated mental tendency trigger corresponding emotions and then thoughts and actions in succession. As emotions are intimate and easily experienced reﬂections of our sansk³ras (our ‘intrinsic being’) these, if associated with devotional feelings, benevolence and deep faith in the divinityplay a vital role in the spiritual endeavors of adoption of value system and molding of our thoughts and actions. Spiritual practices deal with puriﬁcation and control of the Sansk³ras. Spiritual disciplines of value system, adept educational training, etc. are meant for controlled orientation of the emotions and thoughts, and the actions triggered by them.

A natural question then arises – Why the knowledge hidden in the folds of mind, or the unbounded intelligence of the soul is not expressed or manifested in the thoughts and actions of everyone, every time? Why is there a need for any training, education, valuesystem, etc.?

Growing research in the fields of metaphysics, parapsychology, and different branches of extrasensory sciences finds ever-new folds in the mystery of the unconscious mind. Whatever has been discovered so far supports the deliberations of the ancient Indian texts on yoga and spirituality. Namely, that - astonishing transformation of the body and the overall personality could be achieved in a feasible time, if the activities of the conscious mind are restrained, and the flow of pr³ña (vital spiritual energy, that constitutes our life-force, courage, and willpower), thoughts, and imaginations are focused at stimulating the unconscious layers of mind. Longevity, awakening of the extrasensory potentials, super-conscious faculties, divine realizations, etc., can also be attained by awakening the otherwise dormant powers of the inner mind.

The Advaita principle of Vedanta Philosophy and the Upanishads (ancient Indian scriptures) provide the answer. The gist of this is – Each being is a manifestation of the Brah® (eternal, omnipresent, omniscient Consciousness Force). The enormous diversity among the nature and inborn tendencies of different people or beings is because of the sansk³ras2 of the individual self since earlier lives. Sansk³ras form the emotional trait and tendencies of mind and are also responsible for the intrinsic desires and nature of the individual

It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable. - Seneca AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Notes: 1. Triguna (Tamuguña, Rajoguña, and Satoguña): The intrinsic tendencies of sat, raj, and tama indwelling in Nature are called triguña. Satoguña implies the embodiment of truth, the source of acquisition of knowledge, pure intelligence. Rajoguña is the source of all activities in the macro- and microcosm, the basis of animate manifestation of Nature and expressions of consciousness e.g., in generating thoughts. Tamoguña implies ignorance, inertia; it is predominant in inanimate Nature. 2. Sansk³ras: Deep impressions and assimilations ‘inscribed’ in the unconscious mind (since earlier lives and the past phase of the current life). These are the sublime carriers of intrinsic tendencies, nature, talents, and potentials of a being in the continuous journey from one life to another. References: 1. Hall Calvin: The meaning of Dreams. McGraw-Hill, 1966 2. Acharya Pandit Shriram Sharma: Chamatk³rº ViïeÌataon Se Bhar³ M³navº MastiÌka. “Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya Samagra Vangmaya.” Vol.18. (Chapters 2 and 4). Publ. Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura. 1995. [English version: Sleep, Dreams, and Spiritual Reﬂections. Book published by Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar. (2nd ed. ) 2011] 3. Evans C. and Evans Peter: Landscape of the Night – How and Why We Dream. Pearson Ptr. 1983. ISBN-13: 978-0135226810 4. Winson J. Brain and Psyche: The Biology of the Unconscious. Doubleday. (1st ed.) 1985. ISBN-13: 978-0385194259 5. Acharya Pandit Shriram Sharma: Gahan³ Karmaño Gati¡ (English version of “What is Destiny - Absolute Law of Karma?” Publ. Shri Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj Haridwar, 3rd ed. 10th Print, 2016)

A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein and will continue to produce their kind. - James Allen Remember that your dominating thoughts attract, through a deﬁnite law of nature, by the shortest and most convenient route, their physical counterpart. Be careful what your thoughts dwell upon. - Napoleon Hill 15

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The Vaisheshika School of Indian Philosophy (Brah®, Parm³tm³, Pur¿Ìa). Although there is dissimilarity in this school of philosophy with the Samkhya with respect to the concept of a pur¿Ìa; both regard the individual-selves as souls. Righteous conduct (religion) is guided here as the main source for attainment of salvation (state of freedom from all sorrows, sufferings, and bondage). It deﬁnes religion as that following which leads to salvation and absolute blissfulness in life - for example, the sutra Yatobhyudayani Ïreyasasiddhi¡ Sa Dharma¡. (V. D. 1 | 1 |2)

In terms of the core philosophy of conceptualization of God and journey towards salvation and beatifying bliss, the Vaisheshika Darshana (VaiïeÌika Darïana) appears similar to the Nyaya Darshana. However, there are some fundamental differences in the principles and approaches of the two schools. Similar to the followers of Nyaya, the disciples of Vaisheshik Darshana give importance to the worldly existence of life and related aspects. This Darshana also analyses the reality of Nature in terms of its material manifestation. However, the signiﬁcant difference is - while the Nyaya Darshana gives more importance to pram³ñas, the Vaisheshika focuses mainly on the prameyas and more in-depth analysis of every entity, every aspect of the important prameyas.

This Darshana, like the other schools of Indian Philosophy, also guides, though indirectly, to follow the path of dutifulness, benevolence (good deeds) and s³dhan³s sans any desire, expectation, and attachment with the results. Scriptures of Vaisheshika Darshana: The original treatise (Shastra) of Vaisheshika Darshana was formulated by Rishi Kanad (•iÌi Kañ³da). It is said that he followed arduous, ascetic disciplines of s³dhan³ for entire life in which he used to eat only those grains that were left in the farms after the crop was harvested, cut and collected by the farmers. Thus, because of surviving only on the kañas (tiny particles of grains), he was titled as “Kañada”. As the school of philosophy propounded by him focuses on detailed analysis of “Vishesh Padartha” (speciﬁc “substance”) as the core of

A unique facet of Vaisheshika Darshana is that it not only regards (like the Nyaya School) the world as true but also analyses its elements in detail - up to ‘atomic’ level (subtlest possible level of material existence). In that sense, this could also be regarded as the origin of scientiﬁc thought that is a source of modern fundamental research in Natural Sciences. It analyses the elements of Nature to a great extent and talks about individual-selves. Unlike the Vedanta Philosophy, Vaisheshika does not mention of Omnipresent Consciousness Force

An examination of Indian Vedic doctrines shows that it is in tune with the most advanced scientiﬁc and philosophical thought of the West. - Sir John Woodroffe. AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

all elements and properties of Nature, therefore it is named “Vaisheshika Darshana”. According to some scholars, it is called so to reﬂect its “viïeÌa” (distinguished) approach.

the primary constituent of all forms of matter as made up of these subtle particles - combination and reactions of which giving rise to various types of matter; and their separation, division, or destruction annihilating the entire material existence (and releasing energy).

It is said that Acharya Ravana had written a commentary on the Vaisheshika sutras of rishi Kanad, but the original scripture of this is not available today. Only its citation is there in the commentary titled “Ratnaprabha” of the “Brahm-Sutras” by Adi Shankaracharya. Around 5th or 6th century Acharya Prashasthpad wrote a treatise “Padarth Dharma Sanghraha” explaining some sutras of this Darshana. Many scholars regard the Vaisheshika Darshana as having been scripted around 400 – 200 B.C.

Rishi Kanada had hypothesized the existence and manifestation of Nature and life via six substances/entities - namely, Dravya, Guña, Karma, S³m³nya, ViïeÌa, and Samavaya. In-depth analysis of these, and direction for the ascent of life (towards ultimate bliss and freedom) through ideal utilization of these, is the primary focus of his researchﬁndings that are formulated in the sutras of Vaisheshika Darshana.

Buddhist scripture titled “Milindpanha” of the time of King Milind (around 100 B.C.) mentions about Vaisheshika Darshana. However, many erudite researchers regard it as older than the “Nyaya Darshana.” Doctor Ouai’s book titled “Vaisheshika Philosophy” presents supportive reasons for more ancient origin of this school Vedic knowledge.

He incorporates the ﬁve basic elements, time and space, and even the sublime features like mind (including intellect) and soul1 in the category of Dravyas. Twenty-four types of Guñas (properties or experiences) described in his sutras as generated or perceived through the Dravyas pertain to - all physical senses (e.g. smell, touch, etc.), counting, weighing, measurement, synthesis (integration), segregation, reactions, transformations, afﬁnities, oppositions (aversions), states (solid, liquid, etc) and properties (such as, roughness, smoothness) of matter, sound (and other energies), knowledge, happiness, sorrow, desire, jealousy, animosity (and other feelings/emotional states), attempts, actions, religiousness, non-religiousness, and expressed and intrinsic tendencies.

Core Scientific Approach of Vaisheshik Darshana: Rishi Kanada, the founder of Vaisheshik Darshana, regarded the entire cosmic creation and manifestation of Nature as reaction/reflection of infinitely many types and combinations of parm³ñ¿s (atoms, and subatomic particles, in modern terminology). Significantly, like the researchers of Physics, he also described (though in different terminology)

After the conversations about Indian philosophy, some of the ideas of Quantum Physics that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more sense. - W. Heisenberg, German Physicist 17

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The Dravyas and Guñas together give rise to karmas (actions) that have consequent effects in continuous variations of the Dravyas or their relevant Guñas. “S³m³nya” corresponds to common class or characteristic of Dravyas; for example, because of the s³m³nyat³ (‘commonness’ of the species) all humans together are called “humankind.” ViïeÌa implies speciﬁc property that distinguishes between Dravyas of a common class; for example, the individuality among humans. The concept of “Samavaya” is emphasized and analyzed only in the Nyaya and Vaisheshika Philosophies. It indicates kind of permanent relation between a guña and its possessor, action and its doer, a living being and his/her self-identity. Among the dravyas and their guñas and karmas, only some are regarded as perennial (nitya), but samavaya is considered as ever-existing.

separate existence without a doer, and their consequences cannot be experienced sans the medium of dravyas. Detailed analysis of five basic elements, their mutual relationship, and classification from physical to subtle is found only in this Darshana. Time and Space are also finely discussed and explained here. Most importantly, consciousness entities like the mind and soul are also discussed here in the categories of dravyas. The specific guñas that can be there only in mind are explained. Every kind of guña is analyzed, including the intellectual, mental, emotional ones. For instance, desire is classified into two major categories - desire of a result; and desire of karma. Within each category, various subcategories are defined, and the need and approaches for their positive utilization/ orientation/control are guided.

Interestingly, several sutras in the original scripture of this Darshana signify the distinction between different kinds of matters and their properties and also different types of actions/functions of different senseorgans. For example, the sutra - Kriy³guñavat Samav³yik³raña® Iti Darvayalakïaña® (V.D. 1|1|15) and several successive sutras deal with classification and identification of various kinds of material dravyas via their basic properties - e.g., sweetness of sugarcane, specific fragrances of jasmine, sandalwood, etc. Various guñas are also analyzed that can be expressed or perceived only in a medium of one or more dravyas. Similarly, it is emphasized that karmas don’t have their

It is also argued in the Vaisheshika Sutras that the feeling of self-identity can be there only in the soul1 and not in any other dravya. According to this Darshana, it is only because of the soul that the mind (intellect) generates and realizes various feelings (thoughts) including desires, experience of sorrow, and happiness, etc. Dravy³ïrayya Guñav³n Sanyoga Vibh³geÌva K³rañamanapekïa Iti Guña Lakïaña® (V.D. 1|1|16). This is why this school of Vedic Philosophy guides to concentrate on the existence of soul and to aim at its realization (for attainment of salvation) - Âtm³ny³tma Manaso¡ Sanyoga ViïeÌat Âtmapratyakïa® (V.D. 9|1|11).

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientiﬁc discovery could have been made. - Albert Einstein AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Considering that every soul is eternal and inﬁnite, the Vaisheshika Philosophy regards the individual souls as both, the Kïetragya (having limited knowledge), and the Sarvagya (Omniscient). These identities, in the parlance of some other darshanas, correspond respectively to the jiv³tm³ (soul in a lifeform, individual self) and the param³tm³ (the Supreme Soul, God). Similar to the Nyaya School, the Vaisheshika regards the soul as the doer (of good and bad deeds) and also the bearer of the consequences of what it does. According to this Darshana, in the event of pralaya2, all the elements of Nature get dissolved into their original param³ñus. As a param³ñu on its own cannot initiate any creation, it is the soul that inspires and activates it to commence the process of creation of the universe and manifestation of Nature. Therefore this Darshana regards the soul (³tm³) as the Omnipotent Creator (param³tm³).

Darshana) are regarded only as properties of dravya: Dravya without any guña has no use, and guña without dravya has no existence. Apart from the guña listed earlier in this article, Sansk³ras - the generators of the guñas, are also counted among guñas. Three principal functional classes of sansk³ras are deﬁned here: One is Vega that gives speed to the material substances like the earth’s rotation, etc., and also to the tools of consciousness – e.g., the mind. The second category of sansk³ras is Bh³vana (emotions/feelings) that gives rise to varieties of desires and tendencies. The third component of sansk³ras is called ‘SthitºSth³paka’ – meaning, that which can revive a changed state (e.g., that of mind) back to the original. Salient Features of Vaisheshika Darshana: As discussed earlier, because of its unique approach to the analysis of all existence, creation, and consciousness-expression (life) in terms of dravya, guña, and karma, this school of Vedic Thought is regarded as “vishesha” (special). All teachings of this Darshana towards attainment of salvation (from sorrows and sufferings) and ultimate bliss are also focused at dravya, guña, and karma (action). The existence and nature of karmas are based on the guñas, and hence on dravyas. Karmas are regarded here as manifested version of dravyas. As karma is the essential entity and the very sign of human life, the topic of karma shares a prominent place in all the teachings of this Darshana.

While analyzing the mana (mind and intellect), the Vaisheshika School deﬁnes it as a consciousness-driven dravya, which, unlike the soul, is not eternal. Mana is regarded here only as a medium of experience, a medium for attainment of knowledge. As the following sutra indicates – Âtmendriy³rtha SannikarÌe Gy³nasya Bh³va¡-Abh³vasya Manaso Linga®|| (V.D. 3|2|1), mana is regarded as the regulator of various sensory faculties as per the direction of the soul. The guñas (the second major element of Nature and life according to the Vaisheshika

There is no book in the world that is so thrilling, stirring and inspiring as the Upanishads. - Max Muller 19

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

material existence and duties of worldly life, and its approach has closeness to the modern scientiﬁc thought, this Darshana has attracted many philosophers and thinkers outside India as well. The practicality of its teachings is quite appealing and also universally applicable even in the present times.

This school guides religious karmas (righteous, benevolent deeds) as the key to ultimate goal of salvation. Interestingly, minute details about the type of food, eating habits, etc., are also given importance in defining the righteous activities. As the karmas are influenced by thoughts, and as thoughts are a direct or implicit consequence of bhavanas (emotions), refinement of bhavana is emphasized in the teachings of this school as religious karma.

Notes: 1. Soul: The scriptures of Vaisheshika School, like the Nyaya Darshana, regard the soul as many. More speciﬁcally, the term atm³ (soul) is used here for an individual self, or soul reﬂected in a life-form and also for the sublime consciousness core of the soul. 2. Pralaya: Annihilation of the universe and dissolution of all creation.

Like the other schools of Indian Philosophy, the core of all scholarly discussions, principles, and teachings of the Vaisheshika Darshana revolve around the realization of soul and attainment of absolute state of peace and blissfulness. Because it renders priority to all analysis in terms of

In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagwat Gita, since whose composition years of the gods have elapsed, and in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seem puny and trivial; and I doubt if that philosophy is not to be referred to a previous state of existence, so remote is its sublimity from our conceptions. I lay down the book and go to my well for water, and lo! there I meet the servant of the Brahmin, priest of Brahma and Vishnu and Indra, who still sits in his temple on the Ganges reading the Vedas, or dwells at the root of a tree with his crust and water jug. I meet his servant come to draw water for his master, and our buckets as it grated together in the same well. The pure Walden water is mingled with the sacred water of the Ganges. - Henry David Thoreau You have to grow from the inside out. None can reach you; none can make you spiritual. There is no teacher but your own soul. – Swami Vivekananda AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

The Role of an Effective Leader An effective leader is a person who displays a transformational rather than transactional leadership style. To some extent, this kind of quality of leadership is innate. However, it is possible to learn and practice some skills to become a more effective leader.

has his own home and family, his social circle, his likings, hobbies, desires, and problems. With so many complexities in personal lives, to extract work from team members like a machine is a big mistake, which in the long run, adversely affects the capability of the team. Understanding that every individual has speciﬁc needs and compulsions to attend to, it is necessary to give requisite freedom to them. Neither total liberty nor too many restrictions – adopting the middle path are the right approach. It is not surprising that in wellperforming companies, the old styles of constrained ways of working are getting replaced with a freer style so that employees can better balance their professional and personal lives. When employees attain the minimum freedom they need, they complete their tasks cheerfully, and this helps in increasing their productivity.

Here are a few tips that can make the team leader more effective: 1. Listen to team members with an open mind – Empathy towards team members is the ﬁrst essential quality for effective leadership. Carefully listening to the thoughts and opinions of team members is itself an art. This helps in understanding their states of mind, their needs, and the problems they face. At the same time, open discussions lighten their spirits, reduce conﬂicts, and relieve stress. When team members are heard, they know that leaders trust them and give them importance. Listening to team members in an unbiased, open-minded manner plays a vital role in strengthening the team.

3. Regular monitoring, encouragement, and guidance – It is essential to monitor activities of members at regular intervals so that the progress of assigned tasks can be assessed correctly. If they are working responsibly and sincerely, they can be encouraged by giving them awards and incentives. If they are not able to perform as per expectations, their problems must be discussed. Lax and careless members should be alerted. If their working

2. Give essential freedom – Just because a person is his subordinate, the team leader must not assume that he can boss over him all the time and that he has all the rights to make him do whatever he wants. It is necessary to understand that every team member is also a human being who

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. - John C. Maxwell 21

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

does not improve with friendly discussions, then stronger actions must be taken.

the group is essential, and among those, ﬁnancial protection is the most important. If the needs like family health and children’s education are met, then relieved of that burden, the members would be able to focus their full attention on their work. If their minds continue to struggle with worries about their basic needs, how would they work with complete dedication? If they are forced to work hard, but their essential needs are not met, negative feelings of exploitation can brew, which is detrimental in developing a strong team.

4. Associate team members with higher objectives – It is vital to associate team members with higher goals. Making them realize how their efforts are helping the team achieve the overall objectives and creating glory for the team, and how their mistakes reduce the productivity and bring discredit to the side, can be quite decisive. If a person does not realize his importance and role in the team, he works with disinterest, lacks efﬁciency, and wastes his time. It is necessary to make each member recognize that the bricks he lays will create a grand building that will provide shelter to many people. A strong team gets created when team members understand the importance of their roles.

7. Include team members in the decisionmaking process – Involving team members in the decision-making process is an essential step in making them active contributors. It is good to hear their opinions, but it is also necessary to take action on the ideas that are worthy. Else they will not speak out their minds, and the irritation will develop due to promises not kept. It is difﬁcult to expect good productivity from the team in such a state.

5. Strengthen the capabilities of the team members – At times, some weaknesses of the team members get exposed. When this happens, team leaders must focus attention on strengthening their skills so that they can play a useful role in helping the team achieve its goals. The skills could be learning a new language, developing unique technical expertise, or getting trained in some new ﬁeld related to the profession. By enhancing the skills of team members, tough goals can also be achieved easily.

Thus, skillful leadership plays a vital role in building a strong team. How clear is the goal to the leader, how much devotion and dedication he/she has to achieve it – are important considerations as well? Leaders must continuously motivate their teams and guide them towards the goal. Strong teams are built not by exerting work pressure but setting personal examples and having empathy towards team members.

6. Protecting the team – Fulﬁlment of fundamental needs of the members of

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart. - Eleanor Roosevelt AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Are You Using Time Wisely? Acharya Shriram Sharma has emphasized the importance of time in the following words – ‘Life is time. Those who love life should not squander it in procrastination.’ Indeed, time is synonymous with life. That is why the management of time is essential to be successful in life. Here are a few tips that can help you in better control of time.

achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” – said Tony Robbins, an American author, philanthropist and life coach. Prioritize your tasks Every moment of our life is interconnected. The work done in one moment affects the second moment and so on, and that is why our present is created based on past actions, and our future will stand on the foundations of the present. One should always be aware of what needs to be done at what time. When a person comes face to face with the events happening in the present, then he needs to prioritize the tasks. One should be able to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent.

Take the right decisions at the right time Proper time management requires the right decisions at the right time. The course of life ﬂows in the direction of the decisions made. This requires adequate planning. “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” – Said Winston Churchill. Thus there is a need for a clear plan built to take us where we want to go. The art of making the right decision is reﬂected in the work of a person who is farsighted, discriminative, creative, as well as experienced. One should seek the guidance of such people.

Learn something new every day To be successful in life, one also needs to have the inner zeal to learn something new every day. Learning something new does not mean that the person should show a keen interest in an unfamiliar task. By doing so, the person’s energy will be wasted, and he will not be able to complete it correctly. It would be unwise to do this in this way. New work means doing one’s task innovatively in a speciﬁed time frame, making it ingenious. This will improve

Focus your mind There is an ancient adage – ‘Jitam jagat ken, mano hi yen.’ (meaning – The one, who has controlled his mind, can conquer the world.) A laser-like focus on the task at hand is a deadly weapon that will help you accomplish more work in less time. “One reason, so few of us

Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear. - Paulo Coelho 23

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

the quality of the work. Novel ideas inspire us to do more work, create interest, and also promote excitement in learning new things. In this regard, the advice of Oprah Winfrey is worth emulating - “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

as it might accompany with it many problems and issues. Stephen Richards in his book titled ‘The Secret of Getting Started: Strategies to Triumph over Procrastination’ writes - “How often do you ﬁnd yourself saying, “In a minute”, “I’ll get to it” or “Tomorrow’s good enough” and every other possible excuse in the book? Compare it with how often you decide it’s got to be done, so let’s get on and do it! That should tell you just how serious your procrastinating problem really is.”

Don’t procrastinate Every undertaking is excellent, but its signiﬁcance is visible only at the time of its completion; otherwise, no matter how well the work has been done, it will become meaningless when the right time passes away. For that reason, do not postpone any vital work for the next day,

Therefore, to succeed in any ﬁeld, the policy of “Do Good Actions Faster” should be adopted.

Look to this day, for it is life, the very breath of life. In its brief course lie all the realities of your existence; the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty. For yesterday is only a dream, and tomorrow is but a vision. But today, well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day. - Author unknown A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. - Charles Darwin AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Yug Gita – 20

Perform Action for the Sake of Yagya Alone Lord says that the actions should be free from desires; they should be done for Yagya alone. The 9th shloka of Chapter 3 of the Gita highlights this fact –

the essence of Yagya in which swaha-swaha is uttered is the same - that our actions should be directed towards social welfare. Param Pujya Gurudev has defined Yagya as the superior action done for the welfare of all. ‘Yagyo vai shreshtam karma’ implies the same thing. The great men like Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev, Maharshi Dayanand, Swami Vivekananda, etc., who sacrificed their lives for social welfare, performed Yagya with this spirit. The actions that we perform for our benefit do not come under the category of Yagya. If we go on engaging in them, then we will go on getting attached to them; ‘loko’ya® karmabandhana¡’ implies that the actions done for the benefit of self, become the cause of bondage. Therefore, the work done without attachment becomes the cause of liberation. Shri Krishna is trying to bring home this point again and again to Arjuna who has gone into the deep slumber of attachment. Which actions become the causes of bondage? These are the actions that are done for the self, one’s family, one’s entertainment, or earning one’s resources.

Yajó³rth³t karmaño’nyatra loko’ya® karmabandhana¡| Tadartha® karma kaunteya muktasanga¡ sam³cara||9/3|| Meaning: This world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of Yagya; therefore, O son of Kunti, being free from attachment perfectly perform action for that sake (for Yagya) alone. The essence of karmayoga is implicit in the above shloka. The objective of ‘Naishkarmya siddhi’ cannot be achieved without this. Performing action against the spirit of Yagya will make the knot of the ego stronger. Doing activities with the sense of Yagya or surrendering them to God will loosen the knot gradually, and in the process liberate oneself. By ‘actions for the sake of Yagya’ Lord Krishna means the actions for the beneﬁt of the whole world. This Yagya is very different from the Puranic Yagya whose paeans of praise have been sung from the ages. In fact,

If our actions are motivated by selﬁshness, then, later on, they are going to produce more passion/ lust, which will further create dissatisfaction and discomfort. But if the same actions are

Set thy heart upon thy work but never its reward. - The Bhagavad Gita 25

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performed without ego or ego-centered desires, then they become the cause of liberation from passion/lust. That is why our seers have advised that the actions must be performed with the spirit of Yagya, that is, ‘idam na mam’ (this is not mine). The activities that are done with a cooperative spirit do not produce new desires, and hence, they are called those done for the sake of Yagya, and they become the cause of liberation from passion/lust.

of life are embedded. Our actions are like veins and arteries of the nation. By wrong moves, we should not block the flow of the blood of growth and development. The development should not remain confined to the urban areas; this nourishment must also reach the rural areas. For this purpose, a suitable infrastructure, like the one envisaged by our seers and sages, is required to be developed. This would be called Yagya. Indian culture is a spiritual culture; it is a divine culture. The pioneers of our culture say – ‘Parhit saris dharam nahin bhai, par pidha sam nahin aghamai’ (meaning – there is no religion better than helping others and there is no sin worse than troubling others). This is the core of our culture. When Lord Krishna is saying – engage in Yajó³rth³t actions, it means that ‘live for others’ welfare’ and not for selfish ends. Shri Krishna is advising his brave friend and disciple that he should perform all his actions with the spirit of Yagya - Tadartha® karma kaunteya muktasanga¡ sam³cara. The aim behind this advice is that he should perform actions perfectly (sam³cara) and without attachment (muktasanga¡). These days, there appears to be a lack of nationalism in today’s youths. They become karmayogi for their benefit, but they are unable to dedicate themselves to the goals of national interest. After completing their degrees they will go abroad to earn a fat salary. This brain drain causes loss to the nation. We are witnessing an all-round shameless dance of ego and ego-centered desires and their reactions. And this is the cause of all the problems of society. This shloka (9/3) of the Gita gives us the solution to all the problems.

Lord has given a comprehensive exposition of ‘Yagya.’ Yagya extends from the journey of human life to the entire eco-system. We and our actions are part of the process of Yagya that is going on in the whole universe. Our efforts should not be for exploiting others or indulging in the fulfillment of sensual desires; instead, they should be for the welfare of others. Nowadays, everywhere we see that people are busy chasing their goals. It appears that Karmayogis have increased in society. People in developed countries like the USA or Japan seem to be active in karmayoga. But this is not true karmayoga; in the words of Param Pujya Gurudev, it is karmalipsa (passion for work). This karma is for material enjoyment; it is not for social welfare. If we grow by exploiting our friends, parents, society, the nation and everybody else, then, in the opinion of the author of the Gita, this life is surrendered to ‘loko’ayam,’ that is, it is the cause of bondage. If our actions are Yajó³rth³t (for the sake of Yagya), that is pertaining to the upliftment of society, the nation, and the world at large; then our lives are sacrificial. In fact, karma is a kind of flow in which all the powers

As the kindled ﬁre consumes the fuel, so in the ﬂame of wisdom, the embers of action are burnt to ashes. - The Bhagavad Gita AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Param Pujya Gurudev used to say whatever we do – be it social service or one’s own work, it should be done in a perfect manner and with the spirit of Yagya. This is true nationalism and social service. Excellence with nonattachment produces beauty in work. Such an attitude uplifts one’s personality. Whether we are engaged in Gyan-Yagya (spreading Pujyawar’s thoughts) or in creative activities of the Mission, we should not aspire for fame/ glory; and should not worry about the fruits of our actions. One should go on doing his duty. This is true karmayagya.

thus nourishing one another, you will obtain supreme blessings. The gods, nourished by the Yagya, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys the objects given by the gods without offering (in return) to them, is certainly a thief. The righteous, who eat of the remnants of the Yagya are freed from all sins; but those who cook food (only) for their consumption, those sinners eat only sin.” At first glance, it may appear that this Yagya (the benefit of which Lord is explaining) is some traditional, ritualistic, havan. But this is not mere Vedic Yagya; its meaning is quite extensive. Here, Lord is making an effort so that Arjuna accepts the principle of performing an action with the spirit of Yagya. In fact, this is a universal law of Nature. The ecological cycle is a kind of global process of Yagya. Sun is providing heat and light to this world, but it does not expect anybody’s praise for this work. Oceans are heated, their evaporation makes the clouds, and the latter gives rains where there is greenery; the rains fill the rivers, and they start flowing and ultimately merge with the oceans. This well-managed cycle of nature continuously goes on. The beauty of nature is a unique expression of the process of Yagya.

Elaborating the signiﬁcance of Yagya, Lord says further – Sahayajó³¡ praj³¡ s•Ìtv³ purov³ca praj³pati¡| Anena prasaviÌyadhvam eÌa vo’stviÌÚak³madhuk ||10/3|| Dev³n bh³vayat³nena te dev³ bh³vayantu va¡ | Paraspara® bh³vayanta¡ ïreya¡ param av³psyatha ||11/3|| IÌÚ³n bhog³nhi vo dev³ d³syante yajóabh³vit³¡Ð Tairdatt³n aprad³yaibhyo yo bhuòkte stena eva sa¡ ||12/3|| YajóaïiÌÚ³ïina¡ santo mucyante sarva kilbiÌai¡ Ð Bhuójate te tvagha® p³p³ ye pacanty³tma k³rañ³t ||13/3||

The same thing has been clearly explained by Lord Krishna (through the medium of philosopher-poet Veda Vyasa) in the tenth shloka that Prajapati (Lord Brahma) while creating the living beings has kept the spirit of Yagya in mind and handed over the reins of this universe to his best creation – the human being. If the human race, keeping the spirit of collectiveness and selﬂessness, works dedicatedly for the protection

Meaning: At the beginning of creation, Prajapati Brahma after creating all beings with the help of Yagya, said: “By the performance of Yagya, may you evolve and prosper; may this Yagya bestow all that is desired by you. With this (Yagya) you nourish the gods, and may the gods nourish you;

If you perform the sacriﬁce of doing your duty, you do not have to do anything else. Devoted to the mission, man attains perfection. - The Bhagavad Gita 27

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

of the environment, then the latter too will respond favorably, that is, it will provide desired objects (eÌa vo’stviÌÚak³madhuk). Indeed, there is no match to the joy of working collectively; but for this people will have to live for others; they will have to abandon the ego and ego-centered desires. Param Pujya Gurudev used to say that the Yagya of life is sustained by the team spirit. If someone in the team works with selﬁsh motives, then the plan of working in the group will fail. This principle applies everywhere – whether it is the task of nation-building or the making of the family.

refinement and nourishment of physical as well as subtle aspects of the environment. It is well-known that the world is facing a severe problem of environmental pollution. The condition has been further aggravated by the poisoning of thoughts and emotions. The result is that while some parts are getting no rains, causing a situation like drought / famine and some parts are getting heavy rains causing floods; and, people are suffering from various physical and mental ailments. The solution to this lies in living a life dedicated to Yagya. Lessons of the real art of living are hidden in this word Yagya which is formed by the root word ‘yaj.’ It has three meanings – devpujan, sangatikaran, and daan. These three words together explain what the purpose of our life is. Vedic culture has a specialty that it takes a holistic view of life. The essence of Devpujan is to refine the personality traits so that a person becomes righteous and he gets engaged in the actions for the sake of Yagya; sangatikaran means performing activities collectively for the universal good; and, daan means charity, developing a generous attitude of giving. If we keep these thoughts, imparted by Param Pujya Gurudev, in our minds, then all our actions will be filled with divinity. Once the gesture of giving comes in mind, all the ego, greed, attachment, and related desires which cause bondage vanish and a person starts living an other-centered life.

Suppose the entire humankind works unitedly with the spirit of Yagya, then, considering that the natural forces cannot be controlled, what is the guaranty that nature will behave favorably. On this aspect, the author of the Gita says in the eleventh shloka – ‘With this Yagya you nourish the gods, and may the gods nourish you; thus nourishing one another, you will obtain supreme blessings; that is, the desired objects.’ It should be clearly understood that this is the voice of Brahmaji that has been cited by Yogeshwar Krishna here. The essence of his saying is that when people work together with the spirit of Yagya, then miraculous changes can be seen in the external world. When we collectively work for pleasing the natural powers, then the latter too responds favorably. But the only condition is that we should selﬂessly work together for the

[To be continued in the next issue] Note: This is the translation of Hindi version of ‘Yug Gita’ (Part 1) by Dr. Pranav Pandya, published by Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar (2003) All works are being done by the power of Nature; but due to the delusion of ego, people assume themselves to be the doers. - The Bhagavad Gita AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Peace Pilgrim’s Wisdom – 20

The Way of Peace The nuclear bomb says to us: “Make peace or perish!” We recognize that we can no longer think in terms of military victory, that a nuclear war would mean mutual annihilation. Many face this critical situation with apathy, some with frustration, but only a very few face it constructively.

THIS IS THE WAY OF PEACE: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love. It is hard for people to understand that all war is bad and self-defeating. People in their immaturity attempt to overcome evil with more evil, and that multiplies the evil. Only good can overcome evil.

There is such a great need for constructive peace action. We live at a crisis period in human affairs, and those of us who are living today face a very momentous decision: A choice between nuclear war of annihilation and a golden age of peace. All who are living today will help to make this choice, for the tide of world affairs now drifts in the direction of war and destruction. So all who do nothing in this crisis situation are choosing to let it drift. Those who wish to choose peace must act meaningfully for peace. And become a part of the stirring and awakening which has begun and is accelerating. And help to accelerate it sufﬁciently to turn the tide. In this crisis situation peace is certainly everybody’s business! The time to work for peace is now.

My simple peace message is adequate-really just the message that the way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things. One in harmony with God’s law of love has more strength than an army, for one need not subdue an adversary; an adversary can be transformed. One day as I was walking along the highway I began to sing peace words to a familiar tune which I believe sums up the present world situation in a nutshell: The world is feverishly working to build the things of war, The world is preparing destruction of a kind unknown before. I hear much cursing of enemies, and arguments increase, But, oh, the world is longing, is yearning, Is praying for peace-for peace!

Ultimate peace begins within; when we ﬁnd peace within there will be no more conﬂict, no more occasion for war. If this is the peace you seek, purify your body by sensible living habits, purify your mind by expelling all negative thoughts, purify your motives by casting out

Share your smile with the world. It’s a symbol of friendship and peace. – Christie Brinkley 29

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

My inner peace remains in spite of any outward thing. Only insofar as I remain in harmony can I draw others into harmony, and so much more harmony is needed before the world can ﬁnd peace. This doesn’t mean that I am not concerned about world happenings. A time like this calls for much peace prayer and peace effort. All right work and all right prayer has effect, all good effort bears good fruit, whether we see the results or not. In spite of the darkness in the present world situation I am not discouraged. I know that just as human life proceeds toward harmony through a series of hills and valleys, so a society has its ups and downs in its search for peace.

any ideas of greed or self-striving and by seeking to serve your fellow human beings, purify your desires by eliminating all wishes for material possessions or self-glorification and by desiring to know and do God’s will for you. Inspire others to do likewise. Some will prefer to work on an interim peace-a setting up of mechanisms to resolve conflicts in a world where conflicts still exist-so that although there may still be psychological violence there will no longer be physical violence. If this is the peace you seek, work on a world scale for world disarmament and reconstruction, for a world government which will include all people, for world thinking: placing the welfare of the human family above the welfare of any nation. Work on a national scale for changing the function of the so-called Defense Department from destruction to construction. So much constructive work is needed among the less fortunate people in the world, and for the adjustment of our economy to a peacetime situation. Lots of problems to solve here. Get others to work with you.

There is within the hearts of people deep desire for peace on earth, and they would speak for peace if they were not bound by apathy, by ignorance, by fear. It is the job of the peacemakers to inspire them from their apathy, to dispel their ignorance with truth, to allay their fear with faith that God’s laws work-and work for good. Knowing that all things contrary to God’s laws are transient, let us avoid despair and radiate hope for a warless world. Peace is possible, for thoughts have tremendous power.

We can work on inner peace and world peace at the same time. On one hand, people have found inner peace by losing themselves in a cause larger than themselves, like the cause of world peace, because ﬁnding inner peace means coming from the self-centered life into the life centered in the good of the whole. On the other hand, one of the ways of working for world peace is to work for more inner peace, because world peace will never be stable until enough of us ﬁnd inner peace to stabilize it.

A few really dedicated people can offset the ill effects of masses of out-of-harmony people, so we who work for peace must not falter. We must continue to pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way we can, we must continue to speak for peace and to live the way of peace; to inspire others, we must continue to think of peace and to

If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace. - Franklin D. Roosevelt AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

know that peace is possible. What we dwell upon we help to bring into manifestation. One little person, giving all of her time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history.

but eventually they will become manifest. And, believe it or not, I have seen results: Lots of letters from people indicating they have been inspired to do something for peace in their own way-anything from writing letters to Congress to making peace with some friend or relation. And it all adds up.

One day a lady said to me, “Peace, I’m praying with you for peace, but of course I don’t believe it’s possible.” I said, “Don’t you believe peace is God’s will?” “Oh, yes,” she said, “I know it is.” I said, “How can you tell me that which is God’s will is impossible? It’s not only possible, it’s inevitable, but how soon is up to us.”

Now, as I look back at the overall efforts of all the peacemakers, I can see the results. When I began my pilgrimage, people accepted war as a necessary part of life. Now, the peacemakers are on the popular side! When I started out, there was very little interest in the inner search. I could actually make an inquiry at a state college and discover that two-thirds to threequarters of the students at that time considered themselves agnostic if not atheist. Now, I can hardly ﬁnd a student or a person who isn’t interested in the deepest kind of searching. To me that is the most hopeful sign of all.

Never underestimate the power of a loosely knit group working for a good cause. All of us who work for peace together, all of us who pray for peace together, are a small minority, but a powerful spiritual fellowship. Our power is beyond our numbers. Those who seem to fail pave the way and often contribute more than those who ﬁnally succeed. I cannot help feeling grateful to the peace pioneers, who worked for peace when the going was rough and there were no apparent results.

On the one hand it can be said: How tragic that our material advancement has gotten so far ahead of our spiritual advancement that we stand on the brink of destroying all life on earth. On the other hand it can be said: How good that we ﬁnally realize that military victory is impossible, so that immature people and even not-good people now have an incentive to lay down their arms. Both statements are true.

One of the most common questions asked of me is: “Have you seen any results from your pilgrimage?” The answer is that I’ve never asked to see results-I leave the results in God’s hands. They may not even be manifest in my lifetime,

[To be continued]

[Reproduced with glad consent of the publishers – Friends of Peace Pilgrim] To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one (kind of) people, one nation, one ﬂag. - Pauline Hanson 31

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Learn to Stay Happy A well-known Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, said - “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim, and end of human existence.” Therefore, we must know the art of keeping ourselves happy. If for some reason, we have become unhappy, then there are a few tips which can help us in quick recovery from that state of mind.

such amazing feats that everyone wonders at their spirit and gets inspired to do something better oneself. Sometimes their achievements surpass even that of the physically fit. Why should we not thank our creator for giving us a healthy body and a healthy mind? 3. Always be ready to help others – If someone is in difficulty and is not able to find a way to come out of it, then we must help him and solve his problems even if we are entangled in our challenges. Selfless help given to others brings happiness to others as well as us. The person who receives support feels relieved and gains self-confidence.

1. Develop the habit of smiling – Studies have conﬁrmed that forcing ourselves to smile even when we don’t feel like it is good for us. It causes the release of endorphins (hormones which make us happy). As the facial muscles expand, endorphins are released. Speciﬁc stress-relieving hormones are also released by forced smiling. So even if internally we are not happy we must keep the smile on our face intact!

4. Hug your near and dear ones– Touch is not just of the physical body; we touch others with our minds as well. Well-meaning touch casts a magical effect. It releases hormones of happiness in the body. In moments of sadness a warm hug is a dialog that has no voice but whose impact is much more than a thousand spoken words.

2. Express gratitude – For all that we have in our lives, for all our means and conveniences, for all the help and support we have received, we must express heartfelt gratitude. For every small help that we receive, we must always thank the person who has helped. If we can’t say it aloud, we must say it positively in our hearts. There are so many people in the world who do not have even essential means of living, yet they are happy. There are several people who are physically handicapped but do

5. Listen to music – Music plays a vital role in changing the state of our minds because musical notes cast a beneﬁcial effect on bioelectric currents in our brain. Music is everywhere in nature like the sound of ﬂowing of rivers, chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves of trees in the wind, etc.

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” - Dalai Lama XIV AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Even if we do not understand the meaning of notes of music, the waves they create in the atmosphere create vibrations within our minds as well, which gently change our mood as well — melodious sounds of songs cast positive inﬂuences on the brain. Only, while listening we must choose songs that express joy and happiness and avoid sad songs. According to several studies melodious music can freshen up minds in a short while and can ﬁll us with vivacity.

activities, etc. Whenever a person performs activities in the proximity of nature, it fills the person with new energy and changes his state of mind quickly. 7. Repeat good thoughts – Dale Carnegie, in his book ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ writes - “Everybody in the world is seeking happiness - and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts. Happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions.” If the mood is not right, happy thoughts do not arise naturally, but even then forced repetition of good thoughts in our minds, reading good books, reiterating positive quotes, etc. reduce tension and stress, and increase self-confidence.

6. Spend time in nature – If the mood is wrong, we must move out from where we are and go close to Nature. For example, we may sit under a tree, near a flowing river, in the fresh open air, or watch flying birds, look at flying clouds and observe kids and their playful

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry and that he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I requested him to take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. Upon examining, I found that it was well healed. So I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redressed his wound. While taking care of him, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me ‘no,’ and that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired about her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As we talked and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was and hadn’t recognized him in five years. I was surprised, and asked him, “And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?” He smiled and patted my hand and said, “She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.” No medicine cures what happiness cannot. - Gabriel García Márquez 33

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Odyssey of the Enlightened – 69

Auspicious Impressions of Sacred Energy – 2 the ancient times, the Hindus used to perform the rituals of ‘kshaur karma’ and ‘sanctifying bath’ after the funeral rites of their near relatives. It is quite possible that Sikandar Lodhi had banned the Hindus from using this ghat. His cruelty is cited in many places in Indian History. After conquering the then state of Mathura, he might have appointed some spies on this ghat who would punish those disobeying the ban. Their way of punishment must be what is referred to as yantra-baadha – snatching of the sacred thread, cutting of shikha, etc.”

The Secret of the Ghostly Yantra: With the mention of Swami Vallabhacharya and Vishram Ghat, the Sadhu recalled what he had heard regarding the ghostly yantra there. He wanted Shriram’s views on it. Shriram logically commented – “The incident that is popularly associated with the ‘Vishram Ghat’ seems to be a ﬁctionist version of the facts. Because of the tyranny of Sikandar Lodhi who was ruling over Delhi at that time, no one would have dared openly criticizing or laughing at his ofﬁcials. It is likely, as some historians also believe, that some brave youth had laughed at the stupidity of his envoy named Rustam Ali. But the story of the latter putting up a ghostly yantra at Vishram Ghat which would ‘snatch away’ the sacred thread of the Hindus and the shikha (hair knot) on their heads, etc, and the destruction of this yantra by the counter-yantra of Swami Vallabhachary, etc appear to me as some allegoric description.”

He paused for a few moments to recall some reference. Then he said, “A Muslim historian named Abdullah has compiled a book titled Tareekh - e - Daardi in which he mentions of strict bans and restrictions imposed by Sikandar Lodhi on the Hindus of Mathura. Such restrictions included bathing in the holy river Yamuna”. He continued explaining the facts behind the later parts of the story - “When a courageous saint, like Swami Vallabhacharya visited Mathura, he could not bear this torture. He sent his envoys to Sikandar Lodhi. This bold effort itself made the Sultan (Sikandar Lodhi) aware of why saint Vallabha was so revered and regarded spiritually empowered. In view of the latter’s popularity, he accepted the request and agreed to lift the ban on Hindus under the condition of timely payment of all taxes”.

“But some saints of the Vaishnav cult have also sometimes cited similar incidents. So what do you think might have been the facts behind these tales?” Sadhu Madhavdas further questioned. Shriram explained – “Vishram Ghat is located on the banks of Yamuna. It is quite likely that in

Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart. - Roy T. Bennett AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Earlier each of these baithaks was a vibrant center of Satsang, Swadhyaya, and Sadhana, Bhajan for the spiritual upliftment of the devotees. The centers are still existing and continuing with their tradition in some form. However, the spiritual ambience and intensity of the effect is no longer found unless some dedicated sadhakas like Sadhu Madhavdas are present there.

The Sadhu was delighted with this logical explanation of the bright youngster. “Yeah! You are right. This is what might have happened” - he agreed. Now he wanted to know what Shriram thought of the importance of the Baithaka of Swami Vallabhacharya. ‘What is there to say about it? Several religious masters and scholars have mentioned about his Bhagvat Katha in Mathura at the site which is now known as “Vallabhacharya’s Baithak”. The place where a great saint like him stayed and gave these enlightening discourses would undoubtedly become a monument of pilgrimage.’ – Shriram commented.

Sadhu Madhavdas stayed for a couple of hours at Shriram’s home that also housed a small ofﬁce of the enlightening monthly “Akhand Jyoti” compiled and published by Shriram. After listening to Shriram and the divine purpose to which he was devoted, the Sadhu expressed his inner urge to join hands to work for the same mission, but he was hesitant, as his cult might not permit so.

“Will this place (pointing to the sadhana-room where the Akhand Deepaka was enshrined) also become like that?” - The Sadhu seemed to be peeping into the future. “How can I compare myself with that great saint? If he were present in physical form today, I would have started my efforts after seeking his blessings. Swamiji (Vallabhacharya) had kindled the light of sadhana in that dark period of the 16th century. He had established 24 baithaks in this Brija region alone. If I could initiate even one such center, I would be grateful to the Almighty”.

Shriram humbly reminded him that whatever be our paths of worship, we the seekers of spiritual light are all trying to realize and awaken that Supreme Consciousness in the human self. Lord Krishna, Ram, Shiva, or Supreme mother Shakti, or Gayatri, are all one. So you are also with us. But the Sadhu still appeared somewhat discontent. Reading his feelings, Shriram responded – “Ok, so you want to work with us for our mission of uplifting and enlightening the masses!”

Swami Vallabharchaya is among the revered Gurus of the Pushtimarg Sadhakas. The 24 baithaks referred above are located at Gokul, Mathura, Madhuvan, Kumudvan, Radhakunda, Govardhan, Barsana, etc. One cannot imagine the ambience there at his times by looking at the present activities.

Thinking for a few moments, he added, “If so, help us ﬁnd a suitable place for the Gayatri Ashram.” Sadhu got a direction he seemed to be looking for. He agreed with a feeling of delight and returned to the residence. Shriram accompanied him till the gate downstairs.

Life isn't about ﬁnding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. - George Bernard Shaw 35

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

In the Name of Bhai-Duja: It was 23rd October 1949 - the festival of BhaiDuja (Brother’s day in Hindu Tradition) two days after Deepavali (the festival of lights). This day is celebrated uniquely in Mathura. The brothers come down to their sister’s houses in Mathura; then after bathing in the holy river Yamuna, some puja (worship rituals) are performed. A sister puts tilak on her brother’s forehead, offers him good food and sweets; the latter gives her gifts as per his capacity. Taiji’s brother Pandit Haridas had arrived from Sahapau for this festival. She was thrilled. During a chat, she informed her brother that they would go to the other side of Yamuna after the puja rituals to see some land there for the ashram Shriram had envisioned.

Taiji liked it very much. She recommended that Shriram should make his Ashram there; having it almost opposite the Dwarakadhish temple (a monumental temple of Lord Krishna) on the other side of the river appeared an excellent idea to her. She also said that this place would be right for Bahurani (addressing Mataji), as she worships Lord Shiva and there is a Shiva temple already located here. “So what do you say?” – Haridas broke the attention of his nephew, who was engrossed in some thoughts. Shriram did not respond. He continued staring at the sky!

Thus, after the bath and rituals, Taiji, her brother, and Shriram crossed the river in a boat. Mataji could not accompany them, as she had gone with her brother for the Bhai-Duja puja. On the other side of the river was the site suggested by Sadhu Madhavdas. The place was supposed to be near Durvasa temple somewhere between Hansganj and Kishanganj. They ﬁrst searched some villages near the banks of Yamuna. Taiji and uncle Haridas were busy talking to each other, as the sister and brother had met after about a year. In between they were also giving their advice to Shriram about the lands available there for purchase.

“The name of the village is also good. The original name must have been ‘Ishpur’ which the illiterate local people have deformed as ‘Isapur.’ As the word, ‘Ishpur’ means God’s village so it will suit your religious activities too” – commented Haridas. Taiji laughed with her brother after this lighter comment. But then, looking at Shriram’s thoughtful mood she said – ‘Okay! You take your time to think. We are not in a hurry to ﬁnalize the site today itself”. The three started walking back towards the boat. On the way, Shriram broke his silence, and said – “We won’t be making Ashram at any of the sites we saw today”. His mother (Taiji) and uncle were listening quietly.

Nearly four hours passed, they inspected a couple of plots of about two acres each, but nothing appealed to Shriram’s sight. At one site in Isapur village there was a natural garden having a small temple of Shiva; Sati’s Charans were also enshrined there.

“We want to develop the Ashram at such a place where some Siddhas and tapaswis (accomplished ascetics, saintly yogis) have carried out devout tapa.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. – Confucius AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

explanation. Shriram smiled with his usual humility and said – ‘Taiji is not interested in touring around. She is so attached to the Brij region and so devoted to Lord Dwarkadhish that she will not go anywhere from here. Though she has agreed for the establishment of the proposed Tapobhumi, she would not like to stay there. She will not like to stay beyond ten meters radius around the Dwarkadhish temple.’

The vibrations of their tapa would have energized the subtle ambience there. We want to create a Tapobhumi, and not merely a temple or place of ritualistic worship” – the word “Tapobhumi” was not uttered by him casually or all of a sudden. He had been determined to make it and was planning since the day the angelic message ‘Make an Ashram’ had echoed in his ears several times in the state of deep meditation in his sadhana room.

This way, with some serious, some lighter conversations, they did not realize how the time went off. They had crossed the river and were now heading for Ghiya Mandi. The Dwarkadhish temple was on the way; the evening aarti had begun, so they attended the aarti and then moved towards the house. Shriram was telling his Mama – ‘These historic temples of Mathura and Vrindavan were awakened tirthas earlier, but the attacks of invaders and the distortions of the dark era of medieval times disrupted the tapa-sadhana at these places. As a result, these have become more like sites for ceremonial religion. If one seeks sincerely, one would be blessed here by the grace of the Almighty as per the depth of one’s faith, purity of heart, and devotion.’

“What you aim to do at Tapobhumi?” - His Mama was curious. “God knows better, who has inspired this idea in my mind. But one thing is clear at present that we have to rediscover the super science of Gayatri and spread the elixir of this divine knowledge among the masses. For this, we will need dedicated sadhakas having strong willpower and determination (manaswi) and ascetic attitude and conduct (tapaswi). The ashram will house them; it will also house a temple for their daily prayer and sadhana practices. There will also be a yagyashala where they will do Yagya every morning. But this ashram and its temple will be different from the many in Mathura and Vrindavan today, where people simply come to see the idols, do some ritualistic worship and tour around, have a picnic, etc. This ashram will be a Tapobhumi enriched with vibrant ambience for tapa sadhana.” – Said Shriram.

He further said, “I am searching for a place, which is still spiritually energized. It would be most suitable for the establishment of our Tapobhumi. Because a true temple for tapa-sadhana can be developed there without the requirement of additional tapa of 24 years to generate the desired ambience before laying the foundation stone.”

In view of his comment on most temples at Mathura and Vrindavan, his Mama asked in a lighter vein to tease Taiji – “So your mother goes to Dwarkadhish temple simply to tour around and enjoy a picnic?” Taiji stared at them; she was waiting to listen to Shriram’s

By now, they had reached home. Today’s discussions had given a closer feeling to Taiji and her brother of what Shriram’s mind was engaged in these days.

You get in life what you have the courage to ask for. - Oprah Winfrey 37

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

Youth Column

Self-confidence is the Key to Success Self-confidence is the firm foundation, based on which one can materialize his imaginations. However, many people lack this rare virtue. The want of confidence makes them so weak and apprehensive that they hesitate in moving forward on the path of progress. Always concerned about the people around them, such people think that their failure would only tarnish their image in the society. Consequently, they are neither able to take a new initiative, nor are they in a position to provide efficient leadership to any group. In spite of having original ideas, they cannot transform their thoughts into actions. Real accomplishments can only be made by those possessing profound self-confidence.

Santiago, the brave hero of Hemingway’s book, ‘The old man and the sea’ demonstrated a similar virtue of courage. He went to the sea in his small boat for fishing. He spent two days and nights amid fierce waves and deadly sharks and caught a big fish at the end. However, his story is only symbolic. His small boat symbolized his firm confidence. The sea symbolized his workfield, in which he had to strive under adverse circumstances, as fierce and formidable as sea waves and sharks. The big fish he caught at the end represented the great success he attained as the result of his unrelenting struggle. Adversities are a part of life. They appear as gigantic as the sea and as ferocious as its fierce waves. To face and overcome them, we need to have faith in ourselves, so that we can use our prudence and courage to deal with such situations. Confidence emerges when a person has faith in himself. On the contrary, the thoughts of distrust and failure impede our success. Confidence is, thus, the key to success. There are numerous such examples that have demonstrated that people with self-confidence have successfully overcome difficulties and paved their way to success, overcoming all adversities.

The importance of conﬁdence can be understood from the example of Dashrath Manjhi, also known as Mountain Man, who was a laborer in Gehlaur village, near Gaya in Bihar. He carved a path 110 m long, 9.1 m wide and 7.6 m deep through a hillock using only a hammer and chisel. He was once considered crazy. He was criticized and ridiculed. But, he was least concerned about what people said about him. For a long period of twenty-two years, he kept cutting the mountain. His efforts reduced the eighty kilometers long distance to just three kilometers. He did this all alone; while those who criticized him had no courage to even think about something so great.

A village girl, the ‘Joan of Arc,’ was able to lead the mighty French troops only because of the immense conﬁdence she had in herself.

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. - Lao Tzu AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

like - health, complexion, family background, lifestyle, weight, attributes, habits, poverty, etc. We should reach the core of these weaknesses and seek effective remedies. When we try to face our shortcomings, we would be intimidated at ﬁrst. However, we would be able to remove them and augment our conﬁdence, only after overcoming this fear.

Her strong faith compelled even the French Emperor to follow her orders. When the British Prime Minister, William Pitt was removed from his post, he said conﬁdently to the Duke of Devonshire - ‘Only I can save this country. No one else can do this job.’ For the next eleven weeks, England had no Prime Minister. In the end, the responsibility of Prime Ministership was given back to him.

Knowing our weaknesses is not sufficient. But, identifying our potentials is also essential. Everyone comes in this world with one’s unique talent. This natural talent can be instrumental in boosting one’s confidence. Behavioral analysts believe that our health would improve if we joyfully practice yoga and walking exercise. Laughter reduces negative thinking while praising others brings appreciation to us. Practicing Yoga and taking adequate sleep have miraculous impact on our behavior. Self-study energizes the mind, while introspection gives us a better understanding of ourselves. There are numerous such small remedies, by which we can identify and remove our weaknesses and thereby, boost our confidence.

Benjamin Disraeli is another such example. He was insulted on account of being a ‘Jew.’ British parliamentarians did everything they could to insult him. But, he remained amidst them with all his confidence and later became the Prime Minister. He compelled even his critics to appreciate him. Similarly, people like Napoleon, Otto von Bismarck, and Girolamo Savonarola were able to make great achievements and register their names in the list of eminent personalities, solely due to their self-confidence. If we want to boost our self-confidence, we should first identify our weaknesses and then generate internal energy to overcome them; they may be related to any aspect of our personality,

“If you think you are beaten, you are, if you think you dare not, you don't, If you like to win, but you think you can't, it is almost certain you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost, for out of the world we find, Success begins with a fellow's will, it's all in the state of mind. Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, But sooner or later the man who wins is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!” - Walter D. Wintle One important key to success is self-conﬁdence. An important key to self-conﬁdence is preparation. - Arthur Ashe 39

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Virtues are Needed More than Resources Whenever a question of fulﬁlling needs arises, a suggestion of increasing resources is obviously given. There is nothing wrong with it. Any useful project can be taken up with increased assets. In this regard, there is an adage - “Earn with hundred hands and spend with thousand hands.” The inspiration here is not to burn the wealth earned in wasteful ways but to use it in charitable and progressive projects.

the discipline of civilization keeps people disorganized and backward. If these faults can be minimized or eliminated, then the talent hidden in these people can be stirred, and they will be able to get rid of the poverty which has forced them to lead a miserable life of scarcity, discontent, and insult. Often it is said that man is suffering because of the circumstances of scarcity. But if we examine the matter carefully, we ﬁnd that it is the other way round; that man is leading a miserable life because of the undesirable tendencies rooted deep in his personality. Many laborers do earn a good wage, but then they get addicted to alcoholism, gambling, loitering aimlessly, and many other vices.

Mercury is a toxin in the human body. In the same way, money earned by easy and evil means or lavishly spent on illegal and luxurious purposes is a poison in society. Only adverse effects will be visible. No one can wrap fire or acid in a cloth. Similarly, except for the money invested in production, no wealth should be hoarded for personal luxuries and merrymaking, as these will invariably give rise to wrong traditions. We generally find the progeny of wealthy people to be easy-going, good-fornothing, and low on morals. Instead of being invested in useful purposes, the wealth is spent for narrow and selfish gains and pushes the hoarder as well as everyone associated with it to go into the depths of evil.

Whatever they earn is spent away; then they lead a miserable life complaining of scarcity. Their families also suffer in the same rut. This trait is not limited to laborers alone; it is true of the rich, and with added intensity. Misuse of wealth also makes the rich addicted to evil traits. In the face of misuse, one can neither be prosperous nor is there any scope for progress.

Likewise, misuse, inactivity, and lack of enthusiasm are also damaging. People who are lazy and habituated to procrastination are usually poor. Lack of interest alone deprives them of education. The inability to assimilate

There is no shortage of rich, scholarly, artistic, or capable people in our country. Although the majority is poor and illiterate, there is a segment of society that is afﬂuent, and if they were to offer their resources for the welfare

Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions. - Aristotle

AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

same. Many of the poor are educated and capable; even then, they remain the victims of miserable circumstances. Scarcity, sufferings, rebellions, and an environment of tribulations grab them from every corner. The main reason for this is their apathy to augment virtues needed for a good personality.

of the common man, then it would not be difficult to build an environment of prosperity and progress. The greatness of an individual is judged by two criteria: Did he achieve the capability by hard work? And, did he utilize his earnings generously for creating a valuebased progressive society? Fulfillment of the two criteria alone will bestow him with the right to join the line of great men. In a society, where there is an abundance of such great people, there can be no shortage of goodwill, ability, and progress. By acquiring the three virtues of generosity, authenticity, and devotion to selflessness, a man not only progresses individually but also contributes to the growth of the entire society.

On the contrary, it has been noticed that saintly, virtuous, service-minded people adopt an illustrious lifestyle even in the face of minimal resources. In the same circumstances, they not only lead a progressive life but also render a helping hand to those who lack it. Such idealistic and competent people alone have contributed to the glory of ancient history. The group of sadhus, brahmans, vanaprasthis, and parivrajaks not only elevated the nation to fame at an extraordinary level but also spread the progressiveness of all-around prosperity and reﬁned samskaras to other countries as well. Poverty is never an obstacle in anyone’s path of progress.

Resources are no doubt necessary, but not more signiﬁcant than the importance of personality. It is not true that citizens of an impoverished nation are altogether lazy and useless. Nor is it true that they are not interested in becoming prosperous. Anatomically everyone is the

Listen to what is being preached today. Look at everyone around us. You've wondered why they suffer, why they seek happiness and never find it. If any man stopped and asked himself whether he's ever held a truly personal desire, he'd find the answer. He'd see that all his wishes, his efforts, his dreams, his ambitions are motivated by other men. He's not really struggling even for material wealth, but for the second-hander’s delusion – prestige - a stamp of approval, not his own. He can find no joy in the struggle and no joy when he has succeeded. He can't say about a single thing: 'This is what I wanted because I wanted it, not because it made my neighbors gape at me.' Then he wonders why he's unhappy. - Ayn Rand You have to choose the best, every day, without compromise... guided by your own virtue and highest ambition - Phillipa Gregory 41

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Amrit Vani

What Makes The Gayatri S³dhan³ Miraculous? - IV (Translation of discourse continued from the previous issue) come there for about a week. He had also heard of a Maulviji (Muslim priest) who used to walk across a pond of similar width while chanting the holy name of Allah through heart.

Friends, I have cited several examples to illustrate the power of ïraddh³ (shraddha)1 and have also warned you against the illusions of andhashraddha (blind faith). You must note that shraddha is a great power. There is nothing imaginary or illusory in it. It is an intrinsic feeling; can’t always be analyzed or ‘developed’ by the so-called intellect. Sometimes the ‘intelligent’ ones, who are otherwise rational and wise enough not to get trapped in blind faith, apply their intellectual thinking to ‘learn’ and ‘apply’ shraddha more effectively. The end-result of their ‘efforts’ is funny like that in this anecdote.

The learned fellow thought that if the names of Lord Ram and Allah are so powerful individually, then their collective power would undoubtedly be more. With this ‘rational thought,’ he attempted a new experiment. He tried crossing the Ganges in that very village while chanting the “Ram and Allah” both. Due to lack of shraddha in either, he could not go even a few steps ahead and started plunging in the river, and shouted for help. The locals helped and saved his life. But needless to say, that his ‘intellect’ against true shraddha made him an object of ridicule.

Once upon a time, there lived a Panditji (Hindu priest), who was a great devotee of Lord Ram. So deep was his shraddha that sometimes when he did not get a boat, he would walk across the Ganges in his village simply by repeatedly chanting the holy name of Lord Ram with emotional engrossment. He used to take about 30 minutes walking from one bank of the river to the shore on the opposite side. One day a ‘learned’ ofﬁcer visited this village. He had

So I hope that you have now understood that that shraddha is not something to be intellectually analyzed or discussed. Shraddha is an intrinsic feeling, an inner urge, an inspiration, a ﬁrm zeal for moral, virtuous ascent that emerges from the deep core of the inner self. It is an expression of conscience; it is a unique source of divine illumination and awakening of the soul.

Of all the Suktas and Veda Mantras, Gayatri Mantra is the superior most. Between the Vedas and Gayatri, the latter has the upper hand. – Maharshi Parashar AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

If you want to practically see what real shraddha is, you should look at the lives of great personalities. No matter which part of the world they lived and when, one common thing you will find in all of them is that they had shraddha for the high principles and noble causes which were their ideals, which, for them were like reflections of divinity. Because of this shraddha, they got the inner courage and steadfast determination to go against the prevailing trends of selfish motives. They could even go against their near and dear ones when it came to choosing between the noble ideals and the pulls and the loved ones.

of Narayan awakened, he left the wedding ceremony and became a true Sannyasi, an evolved s³dhaka, who is revered as Samarth Guru Ramdas. His dedication for the upliftment of the masses against slavery and sufferings generated a new spirit of freedom in Maharashtra that spread across India and also blessed this country with his noble disciple - the great intrepid king Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. That way, you may ﬁnd many ‘socalled’ sannyasis (ascetics) or sadhus (hermits) around, but their devotion and supposed renunciation of the worldly life is most often only a deception, emotional excitement, or a superﬁcial act driven by escapism from duties. This is because they don’t have the kind of shraddha which transforms an ordinary village boy into Samarth Guru, which turns Prince Siddharth into globally revered Gautam Buddha, or which evolves tiny boy Shankar into the preeminent scholar Adi Shankaracharya who revived the light of Vedic knowledge in the world against all odds.

Shraddha - Source of Evolution of Humanity: It is shraddha that transforms an ordinary mortal being into a great personality. It helps one ﬁght against one’s weaknesses and awakens the willpower, immense courage to go against the wrong howsoever mighty the source of wrong traditions could be. It is shraddha that awakens and nurtures nishtha (NiÌÚh³)2. Evolved shraddha translated into divine deeds awakens Pragya (Pragy³)3. People endowed with this treasure are successful in all their attempts. They are excellent decision-makers. They never have to look back, repent, or get worried or scared of anything. In short, they are always happy. They set examples that elevate and enlighten the lives of many others. Their character and deeds become the marks of the righteous path.

Through the power of their evolved shraddha, the Vedic rishis, and so many of great saints of the later ages - like saint Kabir, could attain sagacious knowledge and scholarly talents without going to any school (and without even being able to read and write). Their teachings, their words, the prayers that emerged from their divine hearts, continue to guide humanity towards wisdom and peace. To date, thousands of erudite scholars study, research, and write treatises on the treasure of knowledge those angelic personalities gifted to humankind.

It is the inner urge of the awakened soul that cannot be blocked by any hindrances of the world. For example, when the Shraddha

Gayatri alone extends a helping hand and saves a person from falling in the ocean of hell. There is nothing superior to it on this earth as well as in the heavens. - Shankha Rishi 43

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Human history has many such glorious exemplars of awakening and manifestation of divinity existing in the human self.

of morality, that it appears to ﬂow in every vibration of my mind, every beat/pulsation of my heart, every thought, every emotion, every action, every component of my being. Such is my nishtha for high ideals of humanity and its divine values that I can sacriﬁce every drop of my blood for it; I have dedicated every breath of my life for it.

Friends, I have explained to you the meaning and importance of shraddha at length. The key points that you must understand and remember forever are - there is no place for blind faith or superstition in shraddha; Shraddha is not merely an emotion of respect or regards for some guru, great personality, or a deity (Devi/Devata, divine power); instead, it is unﬂinching faith, devout reverence for noble ideas and divine qualities.

Many of you think that, as I (your guru) have been to some mysterious places in the Himalayas, I have acquired some extraordinary powers from there or learned some supernormal methods, because of which my blessings help people get cured of diseases and get rid of many other kinds of agonies. Well, if there is any such supernatural power, it is only that of my immeasurable reverence for my divine guru, my devout dedication for his guidance, and my absolute devotion for Gayatri S³dhan³. In short, there is no mystery; there is nothing occult; the astonishing attainments of my Gayatri Up³san³S³dhan³ are all because of my shraddha, complete surrender of my self-identity. So, like that of the hermit in the story, I told you[1], my shraddha, my absolute faith in the sublime blessings of my divine mentor, and blessings of Omnipotent Holy Mother Gayatri, also enable me to help needy people. But do you have that kind of faith in your guru or Gayatri S³dhan³?

I want to emphasize that shraddha is vital for success on the path of true spiritual evolution. If one doesn’t succeed in following the righteous path or ascending to Sterling Heights of humanity, it is due to lack of his/her shraddha towards doing so. Shraddha is a spiritual power; it’s the light of awakened conscience; it’s the strength of divinity indwelling within the soul. Such is the power of shraddha that one can bear unimaginable pains, sufferings, sacriﬁce everything, venture, and succeed in an impossible task for the noble aims. It results in what could be termed supernatural, miraculous! I have experienced it in my life. Shraddha and Miracles of Gayatri Mantra: What all extraordinary faculties, mystic talents, supramental potentials, and astonishing powers, if any, you ﬁnd in me are all the outcome of my shraddha. So deep is my faith in divinity, my love, and dedication for noble ideals, virtues

Like Priest Thomas’s conﬁdent son[1], I am also fearless; I don’t have any worries. I am optimistic because of the strength of shraddha, indwelling in my inner self. By riding on the support (i.e., with unperturbed adoption) of

Just as honey is the essence of ﬂower and butter is that of milk; in the same way, Gayatri is the essence of all the Vedas. - Maharshi Vyas AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

high ideals and noble duties of humanity, I feel as though I am riding on the (sublime) ‘shoulders’ of the Almighty; as if the Almighty is holding me in the divine lap. That is how I have been happily marching through the deep spiritual channel of s³dhan³, enthusiastically climbing on the intractable mountain of divine disciplines and ideals, and successfully progressing along the challenging path of sacriﬁce for the noble cause. Can you do that? What is the level of your shraddha? What is the level of your dedication and love for divine ideals and disciplines?

in the Vedic and later texts and treatises in its praise is all true. Gayatri is indeed Vedam³t³ (the eternal mother – the origin, of the Vedas) and hence the source of pure knowledge; it is Devam³t³ (mother of all gods; the root of divinity); and Viïwam³t³ (supreme power that nurtures and protects Nature and its manifested creation like a mother). I am here to share my experience with you, with all the seekers of the light of divinity, not only through my writings and teachings but also by guiding and supporting you in your up³san³s³dhan³ of Gayatri. I am indebted to my revered gurus – First, Mahmana Madan Mohan Malviyaji, who introduced me to the Gayatri Mantra and taught me the rituals of Gayatri Up³san³; and, the second, divine mentor yogi Sarvesharvarandaji who is present in the Himalayas in subtle form. The latter guided me to the path of up³sana with s³dhan³ and inspired me to activate the pr³ña of Gayatri Mantra by motivating me to adopt nishtha and to dissolve my emotions, my thoughts, my being into the ocean of shraddha. This has led to awakening of my pragya. This is the real miracle of Gayatri Mantra, Gayatri Up³san³-S³dhan³.

Do you sincerely do Gayatri up³san³ and s³dhan³? If yes, did you experience the power of your shraddha? If your faith, your devotion is real, then did you gain courage, awaken your willpower to follow the path of the noble principles and values of ideal human life? Do you have absolute conﬁdence to reach high goals of (truly successful) life by riding on the ‘shoulders’ (support) of noble principles and values of ideal human life? If yes, then, with the experience of sixty years of my life, I can vouch, I can demonstrate before you that Gayatri Mantra is astonishing. Gayatri Mantra holds the key to all siddhis (supernormal powers, supramental talents). Gayatri Mantra is am•ata (nectar, ambrosia - the source of immortality). Gayatri Mantra is p³ras4. Gayatri Mantra is kalpav•aksa5. It is indeed Omnipotent and the source of Omniscience.

All of you, who are interested, who feel the inner urge, to experience the power of spirituality, which is the supreme power in this world, the supreme source of blissful and illumined life, are welcome to follow my path. I will always be there to guide you.

The paeans sung by the rishis in its reverence since the times immemorial, whatever is written

|| OM SHANTI ||

A person who worships Gayatri, observes Brahmacharya and consumes fresh fruits of Anwala tree (emblic myrobalan ) attains longevity. - Charak Rishi. 45

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Notes: 1. Shraddha (Ïraddh³): Intrinsic feeling, unflinching deep faith in divine virtues. 2. Nishtha (NiÌÚh³): Integrity, sincerity, loyalty, dedication, firm allegiance. 3. Pragya (Pragy³): Absolute, pure wisdom, mystic acumen. 4. P³ras: Alchemic touch-stone. 5. Kalpav•akïa: Celestial tree, under which all wishes are supposed to be fulfilled. References/Additional Reading: [1] Amritvani. “Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine”, Vol. 17(4), Issue: July-August 2019; pp. 41-45. [2] Acharya Shriram Sharma. Up³san³ k³ Tatva Darsan aur Swar¿pa. Publ. Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura. (2nd ed., 15th Print) 2016. [English version: “Meaning Purpose and Benefits of Worship” Publ. Sri Vedmata Gayatri Trust Shantikunj, Haridwar. (1st ed. 4th Print) 2015]. [3] Acharya Shriram Sharma. Am•ata P³ras Kalpav•akïa. Publ. Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura. (2nd ed., 15th Print) 2016.

This incident occurred during Swami Vivekanada’s visit to America. One day Swamiji was walking on the street of Chicago in his saffron attire, two long pieces of cloths wrapped around his body. For Americans, that kind of attire was unfamiliar. A couple was passing along same street and on seeing Swamiji, woman whispered to her husband, “I don’t think this man is a gentleman..!!” Swamiji heard this remark. He walked toward that couple and said to that lady, “Madam! In your country it is the tailor who makes a man a gentleman; but in the country from which I come, it is the character which makes a man a gentleman.” The couple was taken aback with such response and felt ashamed for their remark. Persons who are dull, way-ward, and ﬁckle-minded become highly intelligent and steadfast and rise to great heights in worldly and spiritual pursuits by Gayatri Sadhana. – Maharshi Vashishtha AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

What is ESP and How to Manifest it? himself are in danger.” The prediction proved true. Before the dawn, the king was murdered and a high-ranked ofﬁcer, Darius the Mede, took possession of the rule in his hands.

Extrasensory perception (abbreviated as ESP), refers to the perception not obtained through physical senses. Indian seers and sages of yore had thoroughly researched this paranormal phenomenon. In the modern parlance, the term ESP was coined by a famous psychologist J. B. Rhine for describing the psychic abilities of humans. Among different types of ESP, telepathy has been investigated by many researchers. It is the ability of a person to communicate his thoughts to others without using any external means; like speech, sign language or writings, etc. Considerable research has also been done on clairvoyance – a supernormal ability to acquire information about objects or events without any physical aid. There is yet another type of ESP known as precognition. It is the ability to perceive future events before they happen. Very little research has been done in this ﬁeld.

According to ancient Indian scriptures, after acquiring the siddhi of Chhaya-Purush and ‘Prakash – Sharir’, it is possible to defy the limitations of time and space, and go quickly from one place to another, get the information and provide guidance to someone, if needed. In this connection, a signiﬁcant incident (as described in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramhansa Yogananda) in the life of Yogi Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri is like this. ‘The English ofﬁce superintendent, who affectionately called Lahiri Mahashaya “Ecstatic Babu,” was quick to notice in the employee a strange transcendental change.

Let us ﬁnd out from the ancient anecdotes as well as the results of modern research, whether ESP exists or not; and if it does exist, is it possible for the humans to manifest or enhance it.

“Sir, you seem sad. What is the trouble?” Lahiri Mahashaya made this sympathetic inquiry one morning to his employer.

There is an anecdote in the “Old Testament.” Once, King Belshazzar was taking dinner with his guests. All of a sudden, he saw somebody’s hand rising and writing some words with the ﬁnger on the wall. Astrologer Daniel, who was also present there interpreted this incident and said – “The Kingdom and the existence of the king

“My wife in England is critically ill. I am torn by anxiety.” “I shall get you some word about her.” Lahiri Mahashaya left the room and sat for a short time in a secluded spot. On his return, he smiled consolingly.

Become a good noticer. Pay attention to the feelings, hunches, and intuitions that ﬂood your life each day. If you do, you will see that premonitions are not rare, but a natural part of our lives. – Larry Dossey 47

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“Your wife is improving; she is now writing a letter.” The omniscient yogi quoted some parts of the missive.

this in a controlled experiment? Can we reproduce the results? What parameters of the analysis can we alter, and what effects can we measure?

“Ecstatic Babu, I already know that you are no ordinary man. Yet I am unable to believe that, at will, you can banish time and space!”

Rhine, in his book ‘Extrasensory Perception,’ has mentioned the results of his experiments as follows:

The promised letter ﬁnally arrived. The astounded superintendent found that it contained not only the good news of his wife’s recovery but also the same phrases that weeks earlier, the great master had uttered.’

1. It is independently established, based on this work alone, that Extra-Sensory Perception is an actual and demonstrable occurrence. 2. E.S.P. is demonstrated to occur under pure clairvoyance (P.C.) conditions, with not only the sensory and rational functions but the telepathic ability as well, excluded by the conditions. 3. E.S.P. is also demonstrated to occur equally well under pure telepathy (P.T.) conditions, with clairvoyance excluded along with the sensory and rational cognition. 4. E.S.P. occurs equally well and at similar levels of scoring in both P.C. and P.T., as shown by actual measurement, using equal probabilities and similar general conditions.

The power of physical senses is limited. The eyes can see only up to a little distance. The voice from the mouth cannot be sent very far. But when the inner consciousness gets concentrated on the subtle mind, the latter’s power of acquiring knowledge goes on increasing. Better is the control of mental energy, more will be the realization of unique experiences. The soul is subtler than the mind. If we realize the soul, then the scenes and voices of far-off places appear as if they are very near. When the soul realizes the Supreme Soul, unique powers, like ‘Trikal Darshan’ (knowledge of past, present, and future), start manifesting.

Russell Targ, in his book, ‘The Reality of ESP: A Physicist’s Proof of Psychic Abilities,’ [Quest Books, 2012] has described the events that amply prove that ESP is a reality for the human beings and that is why he believes in ESP. On February 4, 1974, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped nineteen-year-old newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst from her Berkeley, California apartment. Desperate to ﬁnd her, the police called physicist Russell Targ and Pat Price, a psychic retired police commissioner. As Price turned the pages of the police mug book ﬁlled with

On the scientiﬁc front, J. B. Rhine, who established the famous Duke ESP laboratory, attempted to create standardized terminology and methodologies for studying these mental abilities. Rhine, instead of making wild speculations about ghosts, angels, spirits, or the akashic plane, started the study of ESP from the point of view of a scientist. His quest was: How do we measure

Blessed are those that know the path out of their carnal ﬂesh, for they shall attain intuition. - Michael Bassey Johnson AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019

whole force of his being towards the highest spiritual ideal that he happens to know. He will find that to gain such perfect control of thought is enormously more difficult than he supposes. But when he attains it, it cannot but be in every way most beneficial to him. As he grows more and more able to elevate and concentrate his thought, he may gradually find that new worlds are opening before his sight.

hundreds of photos, suddenly he pointed to one of them and announced, “That’s the ringleader.” The man was Donald DeFreeze, who was indeed subsequently so identified. Price also described the type and location of the kidnap car, enabling the police to find it within minutes. That remarkable event is one reason Targ believes in ESP. Another occurred when his group made $120,000 by forecasting for nine weeks in a row the changes in the silver-commodity futures market. Targ’s experience is based on two decades of investigations at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), which he co-founded with physicist Harold Puthoff in 1972. This twenty-million dollar program launched during the Cold War was supported by the CIA, NASA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and Army and Air Force Intelligence. Targ describes the experiment of ‘remote viewing,’ in which a person finds places and events independent of space and time. For example, while in California Price drew to scale a Soviet weapons factory at Semipalitinsk with high accuracy later confirmed by Satellite photography. In another remote viewing, Targ accurately sketched an airport in San Andreas, Columbia himself.

As a preliminary training towards the satisfactory achievement of such meditation, he will ﬁnd it desirable to make a practice of concentration in the affairs of daily life—even in the smallest of them. If he writes a letter, let him think of nothing else but that letter until it is ﬁnished; if he reads a book, let him see to it that his thought is never allowed to wander from his author’s meaning. He must learn to hold his mind in check and to be master of that also, as well as of his lower passions. He must patiently labor to acquire absolute control of his thoughts so that he will always know exactly what he is thinking about, and why—so that he can use his mind, and turn it or hold it still, as a practiced swordsman turns his weapon where he wants.’

How to manifest/enhance ESP? C.W. Leadbeater, in his book ‘Clairvoyance’ describes a method by which one can manifest/ enhance ESP – ‘Let a person choose a speciﬁc time every day - a time when he is quiet and undisturbed. He should set himself at that time to keep his mind for a few minutes entirely free from all earthly thoughts of any kind whatever. When that is achieved, he should direct the

Acharya Shriram Sharma had also developed several types of meditations, a sincere practice of which can help a person to manifest/enhance ESP. The audio ﬁles of these meditations, namely – ‘Amrit varsha rashanubhuti dhyan,’ ‘Triveni sangam dhyan,’ ‘Udiyman swarnim surya ka dhyan,’ ‘teen sharir ka dhyan jyoti awadharna se’ and ‘sayam naad yoga sadhana’ can be accessed at awgp.org/media_gallary.

Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality. – Alexis Carrel 49

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How to Keep a Positive Attitude? is not just the wonderful powerhouse that empowers your action and steps or the driver of your life but a wonderful city - a city in which people and things you think about dwell. Create, therefore, an effective and efﬁcient licensing ofﬁce in the city of your thought that will ensure that the right people and things live there. ……..Mind your mind!”

Every human being possesses both positive and negative traits, but those who focus on positive attributes, get more happiness and peace in their lives. Negative people, keep complaining about every little thing they have, and never feel satisﬁed. Living life with enthusiasm, joy, and conﬁdence is an art, and those who know how to handle adverse situations and keep happy and balanced, attain success in their endeavors. If one follows the suggestions given in the following lines, then one can maintain positivity even amid adverse circumstances, and in the long run, become a successful person.

Comparing our tough situations with others, and having the greed of attaining more and more, provokes one to walk on the wrong path. Happiness and sadness both have no limits. A pessimist sees only negative points in every walk of life and ﬁnally gets in depression and loses all the conﬁdence. In general, it has been observed that every human being thinks himself to be unfortunate, and others to be fortunate; and in the process develops a feeling of jealousy for other’s accomplishments. One should not keep such an attitude; instead, one should work hard to be happy in every situation.

H.E. Davey, in his book titled ‘Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation,’ writes - “Emotional baggage, which is carried over from the past, colors our perceptions. Likewise, past conclusions and beliefs, based on the reasoning that may or may not have been accurate, also tint our perception of reality.” An emotionally weak person makes a mountain out of a molehill. In adverse circumstances, one should seek the advice of peers, trusted friends, or near and dear ones. This will help in letting go of stress and maintaining positivity.

In essence, a hopeful, buoyant, and cheerful attitude of mind wins. Optimism and positivity lead to success; while pessimism destroys all the opportunities. Even if you have lost your property, your health, and also your reputation, there is hope for the man who is conﬁdent, cheerful, and creative. Let’s start living a positive life.

A gifted Ghanaian writer and a teacher, Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, writes in his book, ‘Distinctive Footprints of Life,’ - “Your mind

A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. – Patrica Neal AKHAND JYOTI Sept.-Oct. 2019