Akhand Jyoti 2014 Nov-Dec

||O® bh¿rbhuva¡ sva¡ tatsaviturvareñya® bhargo devasya dhºmahi dhiyo yo na¡ prachoday³t || (May Almighty illuminate our intellect and inspire us towards the righteous path) - Rigveda 3/62/10; Samveda 1462, Yajurveda 3/35, 22/9, 30/2, 36/3

Volume - 12 Issue - 6 November - December 2014 Date of Publication: 15.11. 2014

Amrit Chintan

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Science and Spirituality Must Embrace Each Other

Progress in the area of science has been the greatest achievement of recent times. It is unlikely that the power to control the natural sources of energy to this degree had ever been achieved by mankind before. But it is a double-edged sword. On one hand, while this can lead to heavenly bliss and peace, on the other it can also blow up this uniquely beautiful planet, the Earth. Mankind has to seriously contemplate on the direction that science and technology should take.

Undoubtedly, the answer has to be constructive and not destructive. It is possible to benefit from physical progress only if the needs of spiritual development are fulfilled. Intellectuals today are thinking in this direction. The thought currents of everyone, who has even a little spark of divinity in his conscience, are undergoing a similar turmoil. When these transformed thoughts will be put into action, then today’s turmoil will transform itself into a charming, cool, green and serene environment. One will not have to wait long to see this transformation. Science has to embrace spirituality.

- Poojya Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

A Note to the Readers In this issue, we have collected the thoughts of Nobel Laureates, eminent scientists and scholars on the subject ‘Science versus Spirituality’. They have been cited at the end of each page. It is heartening to find that nearly all of them feel the dire necessity of spirituality along with progress in science.

- Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine Team

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” - Albert Einstein 3

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Contents 01.

Amrit Chintan Science and Spirituality Must Embrace Each Other --------------------------------------------------- 03

02.

From Chief Editor’s Desk The Interests of Common Man in the Context of Financial Management -------------------------- 05

03.

Telepathy – An Extrasensory Power of Mind ---------------------------------------------------------- 09

04.

Science and Spirituality Time Machine Could Be Real! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

05.

Memory Loss - Causes and Remedies ------------------------------------------------------------------ 17

06.

Odyssey of the Enlightened – 40 On the Path of Parikrama - 4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

07.

Rebirth: A Reality ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

08.

Prana Therapy– 4 The Procedures for Diagnosis and Treatment ---------------------------------------------------------- 29

09.

Let’s Work Together to Conserve the Nature ---------------------------------------------------------- 33

10.

Youth Column When Youth Becomes Healthy, the Nation Becomes Strong ----------------------------------------- 35

11.

Talks on the Gita – 41 The Integral Yoga: Seeing the Lord Everywhere -2 --------------------------------------------------- 37

12.

Can Subtle Body be Awakened? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41

13.

Amrit Vani Pragy³yog-S³dhan³ - Invocation of Divine Light - 2 ------------------------------------------------- 44

14.

National Seminar on Ancient and Spiritual Sciences at DSVV A Report -------------------------- 50

15.

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

“Science makes major contributions to minor needs. Religion, however small its successes, is at least at work on the things that matter most.” - Justice Oliver W. Holmes

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From the Chief Editor’s Desk

The Interests of Common Man in the Context of Financial Management The meaning of money in life Life can be challenging when there is dearth of money. On the other hand, if there is excess of money and no wisdom to handle it efficiently, it can also lead to innumerable challenges. In spite of this strange situation, since times immemorial, there has been a tradition of searching for the meaning of life in money. That is probably why meaning of life is understood to be synonymous with money. The science related to wealth is called Economics. Our rishis of yore integrated money with the three other purusharthas (endeavors) to form Purushartha Chatushtaya (The four endeavors) – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The manner in which it is defined implies that money that is earned through righteous means (dharma) is appreciated while the money that is devoid of dharma is rejected. In the history of human evolution, when money had to be represented through physical means, it started first with the exchange of material things (barter system), followed by the era of gold coins and then silver coins. In the modern age, it is being represented by watermarked paper or currency notes.

There are many anecdotes in Vedas and Puranas. Srimad Bhagawad Gita which is the source of wisdom to sadhus, sanyasis and renunciates, Lord Krishna counts ‘Arthaarthi’ (one who turns to the Divine to get wealth) amongst his devotees. There are many stories in which divinity of Gods and Goddesses has been associated with wealth. Goddess Mahalakshmi is the presiding deity of wealth. Kubera, the lord of yakshas, is the deity of wealth accumulation. He holds the position of Dhanadeesh (the lord of wealth). Even the most ascetic and the epitome of Yoga and Knowledge – Lord Shiva, considers Kubera his friend. In Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna mentions Kubera as one of his manifestations. The deity who has the authority to punish or appreciate when it comes to money-related matters is Lord Saturn (Shani). There are stories which say that because of evil aspect of Shani, Dharmaraj Yudhisthir gambled and lost his wealth and King Nala was exiled in the forest and had to undergo many difficulties. Those who utilize their money for noble purposes and for the service of the downtrodden will always be in the good books of Lord Shani and enjoy prosperity.

It is indeed surprising to note that while vast majority of people yearn for wealth and find their life meaningless without the same, they hardly understand its true meaning. It is true that economics is taught in schools and colleges and universities award doctorates in this subject.

“SCIENCE complements RELIGION.” - Physicist, Paul H. Carr 5

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Nobel Prize is also being given in this field for the past few years. All the mediums of communication have also given importance to this subject. In fact, financial management has emerged as the main topic in both electronic and print media.

Several economic issues are discussed in the media every day. Experts in financial management and renowned economists together discuss compelling issues related to Sensex, share market, import-export etc. During Parliament’s budget session, there is typically a flood of such discussions.

Be it a farmer in the village or a normal salaried person, they are initially uninterested in these discussions. Firstly because these discussions do not reach them and even if they reach them, they might not comprehend these topics.

Secondly, the other important thing is that the experts participating in these discussions are not concerned about whether or not what they are talking about makes sense to the common man in the society. In these circumstances, in the entire gamut of knowledge related to financial management or economics, common man has probably been able to understand just one word – ‘menhgaai’ (price rise, inflation). He has to face the consequences of this word every day in his life. All his daily affairs are dependent on this word. There is probably not a single person in our country who does not understand this word. Housewives are so familiar with this word that they almost believe it to be some demon that snatches away the happiness in their lives.

Whatever be the circumstances related to economics, there is a dire need for new perspectives and rethinking on them. The science of economics might be for scholars, specialists and the elite, but the objective of financial journalism has been to develop an understanding of economics in relation to the common man. But we don’t know why the present perspective of financial journalism is miles away from the interests of the common man. Both the worlds of electronic and print media are entangled in the issues pertaining to big industries and corporates. There needs to emerge an economic vision for the common man and training on the same. Yugrishi Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, in his writings has provided guidance on all aspects discussed so far. He has spoken and written extensively on all financial needs in the life of a common man.

This can be clearly seen, understood and read from the vast literature he has written.

This guidance can provide the fundamental intellectual basis for research and study on financial management with common man as the focus. This is a fundamental and timely issue that calls for diligent thinking in a completely new light so that common man can learn the art of right earning and utilization.

The need of the hour is an economic vision that is in line with the present times When day to day life of an ordinary man is closely linked to money, the economic vision should also be created as per the needs of this era. A financial vision, that gives a clear understanding “Spirituality and science attempt to understand reality in the universe; while one (spirituality) explores the inner world, the other (science) explores the outer world.” - Vijaya Pandurang Bhatkar , the architect of India’s first supercomputer PARAM 8000

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of money in the context of spiritual, individual, familial and social life, should be brought forth.

In this new vision, common man should be able to understand all the definitions and jargon related to the subject. Financial training should be based on this premise so that each and every person can earn and utilize wealth as per his individual needs. If this training is planned and executed properly, then neither will anyone be cheated nor will anyone dare to cheat. Everybody starting from housewives to laborers, farmers and school children will learn about the right means of earning money, right spending and resource management.

When we are talking on the topic of financial interests of common man, there are many things that need to be understood in this regard. For example, investment, budget, savings, income and expense management, expenses during crisis etc. Similarly, we should enlighten the masses about the role of money, its relationship with one’s own self and society. They should know about the financial laws that affect the common man. There might be some more related issues and unknown equations that need to be solved. In a nut shell, we should evolve an economic system that not only trains the common man but also eases his life and takes care of his daily needs.

Scholars of Dev Sanskriti University have been thinking, discussing and brainstorming on this topic for a long time now. Discussion with external experts is also in progress. The conclusion that has emerged out of these sessions is that we should formulate a system for financial management based on the principles given by Param Pujya Gurudev. A thorough research should be done on all the issues that affect the interests of the common man. This is a very important issue that cannot be ignored any longer.

Spirituality cannot blossom in financial ignorance; only poverty can flourish. Similarly, even while a person is financially well-informed, he neither knows how to spend it wisely nor organizes it well. Thus meaningless spending and misuse of money continues unabated. In such a situation, there can only be increase in strife and discord in both family and society. Noble tendencies and inclination to service are also developed when one is good in managing his finances. So, the importance of financial planning cannot be ignored both for individual and common good. We should all understand that along with land, house, farm, shop, factory, gold and cash, age and intellectual ability are also investment capital. In this context, it is important to know that it is not enough that budget is being put together by the government. Each and every household should prepare a budget of its own. It’s not just the government that needs to keep an account of income, expenses, profit and loss. It is the responsibility of each householder. In the absence of household budget, many of the essential needs remain unfulfilled and money is spent on unnecessary things.

“Since science and religion provide two different perspectives on the human situation, they must ultimately be able to be reconciled.” - Jeremy Griffith 7

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Financial affairs of the common man Savings are as important as budget. They play an important role in the financial affairs of the common man. How to save and where to invest money? There are many government and private means of protecting and enhancing your savings. However, one should develop a broader perspective on various methods of saving. Whatever options are available should be inspected and whatever is not evident should be searched for. This outlook of critical review should be brought in the context of taxes and laws. These are two things which frighten the common man.

They have to clearly understand these two things and only then they can strike a balance between welfare of the self and the nation. If all the aspects of taxes and laws are clearly analyzed and understood, then ethics and justice will become an inseparable part of the earning methods.

It is quite natural for exigencies to arise in the life of a common man. Handling them efficiently requires money. This sudden surge in requirement usually prompts them to do things that they repent later. These remain burdensome throughout their life. If everyone is aware of planning for the emergencies, then many a challenge can be easily handled. They can also prove helpful when their dear ones are in trouble. To achieve this, we just have to explain them clearly as to what plans are suitable for which age groups of people and how they can benefit them. If there is dearth of suitable plans, then we should definitely put together a detailed scheme for the same. We should trigger and activate appropriate studies and surveys to gather this data.

Param Pujya Gurudev gave us a vision of a glorious future for the 21st century. One of the pillars of that vision is to develop an economic vision and training that will reach each and every household in the country. The truth that any upheaval in financial affairs of the country deeply affects the individual, family and society at large, is very well understood by all. If the situation is bad, then its all-encompassing effect can pollute the atmosphere in the society. People tend to become pessimistic and get addicted to various vices. There is an undercurrent of tension in the families which leads to discord and unrest. The negative financial state of affairs leads to corruption and many other problems in the society. The present affairs of the country mirror this situation.

Hence, deep understanding of the financial interests of the common man is essential. Only when this responsibility is shouldered by financial experts will they fulfill their fundamental objective for which this specific branch of journalism was born. With this as the medium, the science of economics will also strive to make its definition - ‘Economy is the art of making the most of life’ meaningful.

(Pranav Pandya) “Science and Spirituality are two ends and you have to keep yourself at the middle.

Science guys will call it, equilibrium.” - Prerak Trivedi Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Using telepathy we can establish contact with any person even thousands of miles away.

Whatever thoughts or feelings we wish to convey, clear images of them are created in the imagination first and then by focusing our subconscious mind we convey these to the subconscious mind of the other person.

Whenever we perform telepathy, our subconscious mind connects with the subconscious mind of the other person and then whatever we think in our mind, whether positive or negative, begins to gradually resonate in the other person’s subconscious mind.

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If these imaginations are conveyed regularly time and again, then the thought waves begin to get stronger and as the resonating waves in other’s mind gain strength, the powerful

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Telepathy is defined as – transmission of mental thoughts, healing energy or emotions to someone else anywhere in the world and to cast an influence. It is a fascinating power of our subconscious mind that sitting at one

place we can establish contact anywhere in the world, and this contact is not limited to human beings alone, it is possible to reach out to plants, animals and in fact to any object in this universe including planets or stars. Telepathy is an innate power of mind. It exists not only in human beings but in plants and animals too.

All this happens through, and only through our subconscious minds. This is because the only means of establishing contact with the subtle world that we have is through the subconscious mind.

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We can understand the enormous powers of our mind and utilize them constructively, only by steadying and focusing the mind. In today’s world of technology we all carry cell phones with us and convey our thoughts and emotions to others at long distances. However, thoughts and emotions used to be transmitted to long distances in earlier times too! This was done by utilizing the amazing power of the mind, which in today’s terminology is known as telepathy.

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Our mind is a storehouse of amazing capabilities and powers, but we are usually unaware of these. This is because we get so entangled in the affairs of our day-to-day lives that we cannot calm, steady and focus our minds and hence cannot experience its amazing and miraculous capabilities. This is just like the sun which has enormous power but its energy is dissipated in the whole of the solar system.

With the help of a lens, when we focus even a tiny bit of its light on a paper, enough heat gets generated to burn the paper. The same applies to our mind as well.

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Telepathy – An Extrasensory Power of Mind

“Prayer is better than pills.” - Carla H Krueger Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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There are a number of distant healing methods available today like Reiki, Pranic Healing, Crystal Therapy and so on. Among these telepathy is a very natural latent capability that all of us possess and by developing it we can transmit Pranic Healing to any person anywhere in the whole world. Using this method, we can treat all kinds of big and small physical, mental, emotional diseases of another person despite being far away from him.

In the practice of Reiki, there is no difference in giving healing to a person who is sitting right next to the healer or to a person who is far away. In fact, quite often the distant healing session gets over much more quickly than the healing session for a person who is right opposite. This is because in a distant session the healing powers flow very quickly and act very fast at a subtle level. This fact has been proven successfully by millions of Reiki therapists from all over the world.

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By telepathy we can bring several desired positive changes in our daily lives, in our relations, in circumstances, and in our lives. Prayers, good wishes, and goodwill that we sincerely seek for others, work through telepathy only. And the rules of telepathy apply also when tantric negative powers are used to influence a person far away and to mesmerize and establish control over his mind. If there was no telepathy then neither tantric powers would work nor would prayers and good wishes have any effect. All these work only because of this wonderful power of our subconscious mind.

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thoughts that are conveyed slowly start taking control over the conscious mind and the discriminating intellect. And slowly but surely the other person begins to think and behave in accordance with the transmitted thoughts.

The stronger the conscious mind, the more effort and time it takes to influence a person.

A weaker conscious mind, in contrast, is more amenable to influence.

The spiritual approach is needed more today than ever before There is dire need of promoting and nurturing spirituality today than ever before. The comforts of modern gadgets available due to economic and scientific progress have made mankind greedier, lazier, as well as cunning. This has flared up the desire to achieve all selfish motives with minimum efforts and no consideration for ethics, morals or honesty.

Resistance to corruption has almost vanished, as the latter has been accepted as a routine social practice. In fact, government control over crime is normally slack in democracy; and now criminals are free from any fear of punishment as prisons are largely being converted to reformatories trying to give more and more comforts to criminals. In this situation, the only alternative left is to revive spiritual emotions in human mind and reestablish them with deeper faith.

- Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya “The Goal of Science is - understanding lawful relations among natural phenomena.

Religion is a way of life within a larger framework of meaning.” - Ian Barbour 10

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components of this creation. Just like the wave that begins in a tub filled with water spreads out and vibrates the entire water, in telepathy too the waves arising from a mind spread out and get transmitted to another person. Only difference is that in telepathy the transmitted waves are directed towards a specific person and are received only by him. Others cannot catch those waves.

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Telepathy is one of the many amazing powers of human mind and it gets developed when mind becomes calm, steady and focused. The mind also has to be trained in the method of telepathy. By a regular practice the mind begins to develop and this power starts manifesting on its own. In modern times, people may not feel the need for learning telepathy but to understand and utilize our mind better we must try to develop this power. It is an amazing power of our minds and we must increase our awareness of it.

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By philosophy we can live wisely and die well. Those who perfect themselves in wisdom are called twice-born, for by wisdom, man is given a new birth.

He departs from the old life with its uncertainties and limitations into a new illumined existence. Love rules the sphere of the wise. Those who have learned to love life in its deepest and most mystical senses have escaped from bondage of fear and dwell in peace with all things. - Manly P. Hall

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Telepathy is no new discovery; it has been used for centuries. What may be new is its indepth investigation and its utilization in day to day lives. The main principle behind telepathy is that we all in this universe are interconnected and we are intrinsic

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Using telepathy we can transcend all the barriers of time and space and establish contact with the past era or an era in the future.

Telepathy can establish contact in a few seconds with any person, object, situation or incident in the entire universe in accordance with the feelings or thoughts that arise in our minds.

We can heal living beings through telepathy.

For example, we can heal plants at a distance and make them more healthy and green than the ordinary varieties. Being at one place we can accomplish thousands of activities by entering into the subtle world through telepathy.

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By telepathy it is possible to heal and end the negativity that we are carrying in the present birth from our previous births. We can also transmit thoughts through telepathy into the future and create a desired future for ourselves. When a person can treat and make healthy another person through distant healing and create positive circumstances for him, then if millions of people send positive energies into the cosmos they can also bring about a positive change, a positive transformation in the whole world. When millions of men and women create vibrations of a single potent positive feeling together, then it is not possible that this power just vanishes in the cosmos. It has to cast its positive effect and it surely does.

“Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt.” - Nobel laureate, Richard P. Feynman Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Science and Spirituality

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time instant in which we realize it. If we could somehow control or eliminate this difference and catch the other ends (the past or the future) of time to experience the present, we might bridge the division of time phase. We could experience the future as naturally as we do the present, if we moved with the speed of time ahead. Similarly, if we could backtrack the movements of our life or tune it in the opposite direction of time, we would reach in the past tense in the present moment of our life. The (spiritual) masters of the deeper science of consciousness are known to successfully experiment with such experiences in the subliminal horizons of life. However, at times ordinary people too seem to reach in a distant phase of the past or the future all of a sudden and experience the reality of the ‘fictitious’ Time Machine.

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Martin Rhone has reported one such incredible but true incident of a voyage beyond the barrier of time in his book “Prophesy of Our Time” (c.f. page 142). September 4, 1956! Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCohen, residents of Inglewood, California had reached Grand Canyon to spend their holidays. In the evening, while they were relaxing in the lawns of their hotel, the couple saw Mrs. Nash and her family passing through the nearby street with their kids and luggage. Both the ladies had become

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Wherever we experience the existence of the division of time, we would also find the difference between the flow of what we perceive or conceptualize and the flow of the

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Every activity in this world begins with the present tense, later on it becomes the past experience. The existence of life manifests with the advent of what is its present moment. But the flow of time proceeds extremely faster than that of life. As a result, the experiences of life also get distributed in the past and the future intervals of time. There is nothing absolute in this world. Realization of every movement, every expression, every activity, is relative with respect to time in the physical manifestation of Nature. Only the eternal, omnipresent, subliminal existence of Brah® is absolute. Its expression is not bounded by any dimension.

Time or space has no meaning with respect to the ever existent, ultimate truth.

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We are all familiar with the three phases of time – the past, present and future. This division is necessary because of the exponential order of magnitude of the difference between the speed of time and that of the flow of events in Nature. If this gap is removed, the division of time will also lose its existence. Only the present tense would be possible and relevant in that case.

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Time Machine Could Be Real!

“Religion is poetry plus, not science minus.”- Krister Stendahl 12

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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M. Bruce discusses a similar incident in his popular reportage on “The Silent City of Alaska”. A group of tourists headed by the Duke of Abruzzi had gone for trekking on the coastal mountains of Alaska in the summer of 1897. They climbed the picturesque hills of Saint Elias one afternoon. While they were crossing a plain region between the hills, they saw an old city. In the words of C.W. Thornton, a member of the trekking group –– “the buildings, the streets, the trees, everything was so clearly seen by all of us that we could not resist the attraction of photographing it. But we found nothing, as we reached that spot.

The city (its scene) had disappeared. The stunned members still kept talking about what they had seen. Some argued that the buildings were a part of the old city of Bristol in England.

For others, it was a sight of the ancient city of Alaska. Whatever be the case, one thing was sure that what they saw as real did not exist in the present. This hilly region was not inhabited by any one since past fifty years or so and was still the same that day!

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Significantly, several other tourist groups have also experienced the same in the valley of these mountains. It is said that the mysterious city of the ancient times reappears momentarily every year sometime between 21st June and 10th July. It is argued by some researchers that the region seems to have some hidden force that gets activated in the above period of time and pulls the people and everything existing there in the past behind a long span of time; this is how people experience the distant past as a reality of the present in that state.

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Citing this experience in a report of the “American Society for Psychical Research”, Mrs. McCohen writes that –”it was such a clear and lively experience of the future in the present …, we still can’t believe that it did not happen when we saw it happening…”. But, “how could she and her husband reach the future almost seventeen hours in advance?”

This remained a mystery forever!

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The next morning, while returning from a promenade after breakfast, they saw the Nash family in the balcony of a rest house. They went in to meet these friends. The Nash couple was taken by a surprise when Mrs. McCohen told that she and her husband had seen them arriving the last evening, because they were in some other town at that time; they had arrived at Grand Canyon only about an hour before in the morning. “But how is that possible, we had seen you all from such a close distance? We did not call you assuming that you were probably tired” – the McCohens were stunned now! They could even describe the type of outfits that Mr. and Mrs. Nash were wearing and the luggage they and the kids were carrying, etc, as they were looking at this family till the latter crossed the street.

Surprisingly, their description was indeed correct except that this family passed through that street this morning and not in the previous evening as experienced by the McCohens.

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good friends since they had traveled together a year before. Mrs. McCohen did not call her friend today, thinking that she might be tired of the journey.

“Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.” - Pope John Paul II Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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A cross-section of a 3-dimensional object gives a region in 2-dimensional plane. Successive cross sections of this plane would eventually become a straight line. Smaller and smaller segmentation of the latter by successive cross sections would ultimately reduce into a dimensionless point. This theory implies that a three-dimensional object should also be a cross section of a four-dimensional one and so on.

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There is an anecdote in the epic Mahabharat. Pandavas were defeated in gambling by Kauravas and were sent to exile. Duryodhan, the Kaurava prince was a shrewd fellow. Along with an accomplice he followed them into the dense forest. He got a tent erected for himself with all his pomp and show and set out for hunting wild animals. In the forest lived a Yaksha with his family. Duryodhan’s men misbehaved with the Yaksha and his family. The Yaksha fought Duryodhan and his soldiers and made him a prisoner for his deeds. When Yudhisthir heard about it, he called his brothers and said “Our cousin Duryodhan is in danger and we must help him”. Bhima and Arjuna were not at all in his favour and at once said “Duryodhan is our enemy. It is because of him that we are here in this condition. He has never respected brotherhood .We should have no mercy for him; let him die.”

Yudhisthir said “It’s true that Duryodhan always showed ill will and disrespect towards us. He is full of vengeance but above all he is our brother. We should stand strong and united against outsiders or else they will utilize these differences and benefit from it.” All the four brothers agreed to Dharmaraj Yudhisthir’s words.

They defeated the Yaksha and rescued Duryodhan and also taught him the lesson of united family.

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Suppose a subtle particle (or a dimensionless point) is moving in a particular direction in space-time, it forms a single dimension (say length). If another line of this kind is drawn in the 3D-space in the orthogonal direction in the same horizon of time, the two together will form a two dimensional plane. If another plane is drawn with the help of one of these lines and a line orthogonal to both, then the two planes together, in the same span of time, form a three dimensional volume in the space (with length, height, and width). This process could also be reversed. If the motion of this process is reversed then the three-dimensional existence would reduce to a point.

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Scientific theory also accepts the possibility of such experiences – beyond the reach of the present. Mathematical physics describes several dimensions (horizons of existence) of time.

According to this theory, if someone reaches into the higher dimensions of the time of realization of a particular incident or an event associated with a place or a person, he would be able to experience the corresponding instance of the past or the future as happening in the present. More specifically, the past, present and future exist in a continuous linear segment in one horizon of time. However, they might intersect, exist along directions making an acute angle, or get superimposed in some other dimension. Mathematical theory also affirms it and indicates the possibility of reaching higher dimensions of existence. These could be understood in terms of geometry as realization of the well-known threedimensional (3D-) space from a zerodimension (dimensionless) single point.

“There is more Religion in men’s Science than there is Science in their Religion” - David Henry Thoreau 14

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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got. Even if something appears static here, it is actually moving with the speed (and in the direction of the motion) of the earth. But, this is a latent motion because of the relativity.

Thus, every 3D-object on the earth in the visible world around us is a cross section of an absolutely ‘hypothetical’ object whose 4 th dimension – the duration of time, is associated with the continuous spinning of the earth (and of every object existing on it).

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Similarly, the motion of the earth around the sun and that of the sun around the center of the galaxy, motion of the galaxy around another cosmic center, …., etc, are the higher dimensions of existence. The existence of every object in the space is inseparable from these continuous motions. Although we do not experience them, these motions are scientifically proven realities. All these motions and multiple dimensions of cosmic existence could be realized with respect to the conceptualization of time as the fourth dimension.

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One might doubt – “could there be a possibility of other kinds of motions – in other dimensions too?” Yes, such postulates are also analyzed by several groups of scientists. For instance, consider the invisible relative motion, which every element, every being, on the earth has

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The experts further argue that if a square is moved up and down up to some height, it will generate a cubical shape (in space). If this “hypothetical cube” were moved in the 4 th dimension of time, it would generate a 4Dstructure. It should be understood again that such a motion in the 4th dimension (of time) exists, although we cannot visualize it in the 3D-space around us. Thus, for us this motion would take place in an ‘invisible’ direction.

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In other words, if a 3D-object is moved in a specific manner, in a specific direction of existence, then it would constitute a 4Dstructure. This possibility has been proved by rigorous mathematics. However, it should be noted here that different movements, projections, or rotations of a 3D-object in the 3D-space (the ‘physical’ space, as we recognize it) would not constitute a new dimension.

These will remain in the same 3D-space despite different views in different co-ordinate systems. Theoretical Physicists have resolved this paradox by defining time as the fourth dimension. Whatever we see or process in the three dimensional space is therefore a crosssection of its four-dimensional existence, the 4th dimension of time remains invisible to us because what we see in the present moment is only a cross section (in the 3D physical space) of its 4D-existence.

Assuming the possible existence of time as duration, span or interval happens to be something easily perceivable or measurable by our intellect. But what could be the other realizations of time? The instances of experiencing a change, repetition, the advent or end of an event or the transformation of the visible into the invisible, etc are cited as examples in this context. The moment something happens or is created, we simply perceive its existence in the 3D-space.

(Although it might have existed earlier in some higher dimensions of time!). A living being

“Two things continue to fill the mind with ever-increasing awe and admiration: the starry heavens above and the moral law within” - Immanuel Kant Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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In its dormant and maligned state, the conscious power of a human being could be declined to the level of a lower organism and he may not be able to perceive or envisage what is easily comprehended by his fellow beings.

On the contrary, if refined, spiritually enlightened and evolved, the consciousness of a person could reach divine realms and know the unknown anywhere in the higher dimensions of time, in the infinity.

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dimension and thus cognize the past or future of a specific person or object, etc? The answer is in the affirmative. While the modern science has proved the reality of time-dimension in theory, the science of yoga and spirituality offers the modes of experimenting and experiencing this reality through evolved consciousness.

The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear, is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties - this knowledge, this feeling ... that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men.

- Albert Einstein

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The changes experienced by us in the visible (3D) world are in fact an outcome, compounded effect or ensemble of uncountable invisible changes. For example, look at sunrisesunset, seasonal variations, growth of a plant or a child, etc. These are the events, which are the outcomes of variations in the tiniest existence (continuous flow) of time, but we cannot see the intermediate steps. The intermediate steps of changes exist in the fourdimensional domain (of the 3-dimentsional physical space and time as the 4th dimension) we therefore cannot experience them in the 3D space. Similarly, everything that is perceivable to us in the 3D-space has its original existence (different from what we see or experience) in the four or higher dimensional domains of existence. That originality can be experienced only in the higher dimensions.

Existence of higher dimensions of time is possible, as affirmed by scientific theories. If we (our mind) could reach (grasp) these otherwise ‘subliminal’ horizons, we might experience what would be attributed as extrasensory, supernatural or ‘imaginary’ in the normal or ordinary case for anyone on the earth. We will then experience the past and the future in the present tense. There will be no barrier of time or space in that state. But…, how could one reach this state? Is it possible to reach at specific point or position in the time

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comes into existence with its birth. Its existence disappears with the event of death. We cannot experience its presence before birth or after death unless we see it in the dimension of time – e.g. that specified in the duration of the time spent after death till the next birth, etc.

“He who has Art and Science also has religion, but those who do not have them better have religion.” - Goethe 16

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creates a false impression or an illusion of amnesia. If one knows the basic structure and functions of the brain associated with the process of memorization and adopts a systematic methodology suitable to the natural modes of memory storage and retrieval, one may not suffer from the ‘usual’ complaint of vague memory or loss of memory with growing age.

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As the inner tendencies, psychology and mental development of one person may be different from the others, so will be his mental potentials — including memory. As per common observation, it is believed that memory is sharp in childhood and begins to reduce gradually with growing age after youth.

But, the truth is quite different. In fact, in younger age, there is lesser pressure on mind; there are no responsibilities and problems to face in general; serious queries, spectrum of thoughts, types of mental tasks, interactions, emotions etc., are also limited. Thus, without making an extra effort, the free and fresh mind easily stores cognitive images of every event, thought or perception in the active layers of memory in this age. As the stored amount is less, so its retrieval or recollection also takes place at a rapid pace.

However, as one grows older, the domains of his cognition, perceptions, mental activities,

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Except in early childhood and during the last few days of life at a very old age, the natural capabilities of brain to memorize remain almost the same. It is the change in our concentration, tendencies and habits, which makes the difference. Variation in the manner of memorization due to transformations in our mental occupations and tastes also sometimes

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Before going in for any treatment or therapy one should try to investigate the cause of waning memory. Also, one should understand the basic mechanism of memory storage in the brain. If one learns the structure of the machinery of a car, the basics of its movements and controls before learning to drive it, the possibilities of mistakes and consequent hurdles are eliminated to a great extent well in advance.

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People are often found suffering from amnesia in old age. Many middle aged and young ones also complain of lack of sound memory. This also impedes their success in many respects.

Be that the act of passing an examination with good scores, carrying out profitable business transactions etc., or, even the daily chores, all suffer due to lack of good memory.

Forgetfulness or loss of memory is usually considered as a disease and people go in for medication and brain-tonics for improvement.

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Memory Loss - Causes and Remedies

“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.” - Sir Isaac Newton Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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pertaining to their studies but, recalling complete story and narrating the details of every scene of a film or a video show is very easy for them. Filmy songs are remembered without much effort but not the poems and important points of an essay. A grandmother may forget the complete names and ages of her grandchildren but, not the dates of specific festivals, religious celebrations or the rituals performed after the death of their in-laws or husband. Youths staying away from parents often forget to write to them but, are found quite prompt in corresponding with their beloved friends. A working man may forget the date of any other event but not his salaryday. Similar incidents observed in day-to-day life illustrate that by and large, memory storage and retrieval depends upon one’s priorities and interests.

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Short memory or forgetfulness is not a disease or weakness of mind. It usually occurs due to haphazard, unplanned or over-occupied routine. Maintenance of a diary of important events and habit of noting down useful information provides good support to people suffering from amnesia. Adaptation of such habits along with the earlier discussed practical methods in daily life and improvement of mental concentration is indeed more effective than using any kind of medicine or brain tonic as a remedy against amnesia. [At times physical weakness (e.g. deficiency of certain vitamins or hormonal disorder) of the brain might also be the cause of this deficiency/disorder but such causes should be diagnosed and treated medically by an expert].

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It is a common observation that college students find it difficult to memorize the texts

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As stated earlier, inattentiveness, disinterest or indifference in an event or subject matter is found as a prominent cause of its blurred registration in memory. Such perceptions and associated information are soon washed out from the memory. On the contrary, the issues of our direct concern or interest and the perceptions and cognitions occurring in a state of mental alertness create intense impressions on memory. Such assimilations do not wane-out easily from the active layers of our memory. Recalling the associated events or pieces of knowledge is not difficult even after a long span of time.

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social and sentimental encounters, duties etc also expand significantly. His active memory is also required in the extra activities of planning, decision making and problem solving — associated with multiple facets of life. This increases pressure or load on the storage capacity of one’s memory. In such a situation, it is natural that, unless one takes extra precaution in classifying important matters and accordingly brushing up and re-linking the memory from time to time, one is bound to lack attention in some activities and thus tend to forget corresponding pieces of information.

Over-occupation with routine matters of personal, professional and social life also accounts for lack of mental peace because of which sometimes even important tasks are performed without substantial care and efficiency. This also gives an impression of being a consequence of lack of memory and resulting loss of mental power and intelligence.

“Was the eye contrived without skill in Optics, and the ear without knowledge of sounds?...and these things being rightly dispatched, does it not appear from phenomena that there is a Being incorporeal, living, intelligent...?” - Sir Isaac Newton

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inattentive while listening to a lecture, we cannot remember any part of it. The interest and alertness of the audience is as important as the sound knowledge, eloquence and interesting style of the speaker in making impressions on the listener’s memory.

Interestingly, the posture of body and stability of movements also make a difference in the effectiveness of memorization.

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Relaxed position on an easy chair suits many people while contemplating on a philosophical topic or planning or imagining a plot for a creative activity. However, this posture is not useful for a student who has to prepare for the exams next day. Sitting straight in an alert state is most advisable for thorough studies. What one reads while roaming around will not absorb sufficient mental concentration and the texts so read would be difficult to be remembered.

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“What do we really want from religion?

Palliatives? Therapy? Comfort? Do we want reassuring fables or an understanding of our actual circumstances? Dismay that the Universe does not conform to our preferences seems childish. You might think that grown-ups would be ashamed to put such thoughts into print. The fashionable way of doing this is not to blame the Universe — which seems truly pointless — but rather to blame the means by which we know the Universe, namely science.”

- Carl Sagan

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Lack of systematic approach and interest is found as the major cause of the complaints of weak memory. If we are half asleep, bored or

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Oblivion seems to work well as a natural process and does not bother people so much.

Fine and rapid recollection of facts stored in the memory is what most people find difficult in general and they often look for some methods of improving and sharpening the memory.

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Moreover, if the memory of all day-to-day affairs and a large number of unimportant activities becomes permanent, there would not be any room left for storage of new knowledge and recollection of necessary information. If passengers of a train sit in it forever, how would others travel in it? Selective waning of memory thus proves to be essential in many respects. It is only a balanced act of assimilation and elimination of information in the active layers of memory that maintains a harmonious functioning of the mind.

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Along with the blessing of memory, the Almighty has bestowed oblivion on the human mind as a boon because it helps waning out the untoward traces and stresses of unpleasant memories of tragedies, assaults or insults etc.

The excitations of fury, wrath, agitation and revenge on the one hand, and the depressions caused by doldrums, guilt, severe loss etc, on the other, put the mind into an abnormal situation which needs to be depleted rapidly. If the memory of corresponding events or experiences remains steady, one would not be able to come out of the trauma and aggressions and suffer obnoxious consequences in the long run.

“The ideas of the moral order and of God belong to the ineradicable substratum of the human soul.” - C.G. Jung Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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recalling. If the memory of an event or a memorized subject matter is not retrieved for a long time, it gradually weakens and gets faded. Rapid and complete recollection of its details usually becomes impossible except of the important aspects that had left deeper marks on the memory at the time of their assimilation.

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The kind of impression an event or text creates in the memory largely depends on the state of mind at the time of its registration in the memory cells. The audio, visual, mental or emotional perceptions made in a calm, alert and focused state create more intense impressions as compared to those occurring haphazardly or in an agitated, depressed, or indifferent state of mind. Mental activation of some people is dull since birth. Unless they endeavor to excel their consciousness powers, their memory too remains blurred and short-lived. The other extreme of awakened state of mind and power of deep concentration manifests as exceptionally sharp memory.

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At physiological level, one’s memory bears upon the strength of connections and order of smooth communication between the huge numbers of neurons constituting the functional units of his brain. (Rigidity of these accounts for fading memory in old age.)

High co-operativity and activity of the interconnected neurons account for sharp memory while the impedance of inter-neuron transmissions weakens the active memory.

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Our brain is like a multi-sensor tape-recorder, which can record infinitely many audio, visual, mental and emotional perceptions and associated events in its memory. All the recorded information remains dumped there unless recalled later on. The memory cells are wonderful sensors, which are automatically activated at the time of memorizing and

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The information, which does not have any direct relation or effect on the mind, is not stored in the memory. Some of the bio-electrical signals work only to trigger specific activity in the brain and do not have any association with the memory. For instance, if a mosquito bites a leg then the brain machinery receives a message and accordingly directs the hand to hit the biter and to itch the spot where it had bitten. There remains no other use of the associated information. Such pieces of information are lost after the completion of the corresponding activity. These exist in the instant memory like a flash of fire in a matchstick. These are removed from the memory almost instantly.

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While discussing memory and brain, it would be relevant here to note that the latter receives enormous information via the bio-electrical signals sent by the sense organs every millisecond or even a microsecond or so. Most of these signals are impulsive and vanish with an instant reflection. There is no place or need for storing all the information received by the brain almost continuously. Only a selected and useful portion of these is registered in the memory of this physically tiny but functionally vast system of the brain.

The yoga exercises of pr³ñay³m (deep breathing in a controlled fashion) help harmonize oxygen

“Science is the slow revelation of God’s blueprint.” - Hattie Gerst 20

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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intellectuals and talented personalities. High level spiritual s³dhan³s focus on activating the unused 93% of the ‘latent’ power of the brain.

Success in such endeavors can elevate one’s physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual potentials up to supernatural levels. Activation of exceptionally sharp and sound memory is a natural consequence of such effects.

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Enrich Your Memory. Article published in “Akhand Jyoti – The Light Divine” Vol.11, Issues Sept.- Oct. and Nov.Dec., 2013.

[2]

Acharya Shriram Sharma: Buddhi BaÃh³ne Ke Up³ya (20 th Print, 2012).

Publ.Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura, India.

(English version: “Practical Ways to Sharpen the Memory & Intellect” 1st Ed. & Print, 2013; Publ. Shri Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar).

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[1]

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A great swindle of our time is the assumption that science has made religion obsolete. All science has damaged is the story of Adam and Eve and the story of Jonah and the Whale.

Everything else holds up pretty well, particularly lessons about fairness and gentleness. People who find those lessons irrelevant in the twentieth century are simply using science as an excuse for greed and harshness. Science has nothing to do with it, friends.

- Kurt Vonnegut

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Most of the infinitely many potentials of human brain remain dormant unless one endeavors to activate associated processing in the neuronal network and creatively use the mental and physical power so generated.

Modern research shows that at the most 7% of the true capabilities of the brain are used by humans - including the most distinguished

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In view of the relationship of memory with the structure and functions of the brain, we should understand memory and oblivion respectively as awakening and waning of specific activities in the neuronal system. As our life style, habits and psychology have significant effects on the conditioning of these functional units of the brain, we may find a remedy for oblivion and key to improving our memory in the methods of refining our attitude and controlling our day-to-day activities. Apart from following the practical tips stated in the earlier articles of this series [1], adopting some spiritual disciplines and practicing simple s ³ dhan ³ s of dhy ³ na-dh ³ ra ñ³ (calming contemplation and meditation) would offer great help in elevating our mental concentration and gradually lead to the realization of sharp memory and brilliance.

Reference & Further Reading:

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supply to the brain; dhy³na-dh³rañ³ (meditation) help concentrate bioelectrical energy available to the brain and thereby generate a controlled excitation, which accelerates the inter-neuronal activities. Adept practice of these elementary s³dhan³s of spiritual refinement on regular basis results in sharpening and empowering the memory along with intensifying mental concentration.

“Science and Truth are simple phenomenon of nature, but it is the known that is preventing us from mastering the unknown.” - Chandrakanth Natekar Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Odyssey of the Enlightened – 40

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out the details of farmers in their village and about their tax levies. All this was made into a report and submitted to the Congress district headquarters. This way, Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant received the details of Agra district first.

He expressed his surprise at how the entire information was collected so quickly. He asked that his congratulations be conveyed to the person responsible for this success.

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Martin had written this incident while describing the style of working of Shriram. He also mentioned that this news about collecting such vast information in four days reached the ears of Gandhiji also. Gandhiji had commented, ‘If there was one person like Shriram in each district, then attaining the goal of independence is possible within a month’.

During Nainital conference, Gandhiji had called aside Shriram Sharma and enquired about his style of operation and examined it.

Later during the meeting of volunteers Gandhiji praised Shriram and said that with such workers, no power on earth could prevent India from winning its independence. Martin had also written that Shriram was a very dedicated and active worker.

Conspiracy of the administration District administration had taken this comment seriously. Also Shriram’s contribution in the

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Within four days, a report with the details of all the fields, their owners, tax amount of one hundred twenty eight villages in that region was ready. How was this done? Shriram and his companions contacted the village panchs and patwaris frequently visiting Tehsil offices. They obtained almost eighty percent of the information from them. Then, they went to some large villages and met the key people and found

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An important responsibility given Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant was overseeing the activities of Congress in the United Province in those days. He was in Nainital.

They could not get the statistics about Agra region. This matter was brought up in the meeting of the group members. They did not have any option other than collecting information from village to village. Rawatji suggested that Shriram be put on this job, since he had in-depth knowledge of the area. The suggestion was welcomed by other congressmen and it was decided that Shriram would take up this job along with 3-4 other companions. Shriram was also present in the meeting and he started on the job right away.

The moment the responsibility was given to him, Shriram immediately came out of the party office; his other associates identified for the job also followed suit. He went home, collected his travel bag and started the campaign.

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On the Path of Parikrama -4

“God resides most strongly and evidently where science has not yet progressed to go... And if this is true then it follows that God resides everywhere and in everything.” - Terryl L. Givens

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Shriram suspected that the police might be keeping a watch at the place that he had made his hideout. So, he sent another friend to go and examine the situation. Shriram’s suspicion turned to be true and he immediately decided to quit Agra. Calcutta was nearly 1300 kilometers away. He decided to move slowly from one station to the other contacting people and finally to reach Calcutta. Seeing that his house in Aanwalkheda was also being watched, he refrained from going there. Thus with two pairs of clothes, a few books and a tumbler, he

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started from Agra in the first week of March itself. The exact date of start of the journey is not known.

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Until he had grown beard, he worked in the village. He prepared two hundred volunteers.

Then, he began to contact people in towns like Agra, Tundla, Baah, Siroli, etc. This work too could not continue for more than twenty days.

He could not hide his identity longer than that.

Ultimately his style of working revealed his identity. The lane in Freeganj at Agra where he stayed began to be watched. Shriram used to go to that place once in a while. He would remain engaged in mass contact throughout the day; and wherever the sun set, he would stop working and stay with some volunteer in that area.

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preparations for Calcutta Session was also being closely watched. It was being speculated that he would be caught even before the conference began. There was however no apparent reason based on which this could be done. Shriram got a scent of the plans of the administration and decided to go underground. He relinquished the attire of a congress worker and began to wear dhoti-kurta.

He grew a beard in place of a sparse moustache and began to look like a real farmer’s son.

Calcutta Conference British government was determined not to let the session to be held and was arresting Congress volunteers all over the country.

Through whichever places the vehicles bound for Calcutta passed, the government had placed watch guards. All the places in the radius of 200 kms around Calcutta were being closely monitored. In far-off stations, only those wearing swarajya attire were being stopped and questioned. But in nearby stations each and every one was being questioned.

Naihari, Ranaghat, Durgapur, Asansol, Aara, Ghatshila, Haldia and Kharagpur had been made almost unreachable by the police. By the last week of March itself, a situation was created that no freedom fighter or a person who took the name of Gandhiji was allowed to pass. More than the police, informers in the civil dress ensured that anyone who uttered the name of Congress or the Session was handed over to the police. If anyone said anything in the railway station or outside the station was sure to be interrogated.

Mahamana Malaviyaji was to preside over the Calcutta conference and hence his arrest was also to be ensured. He started from Banaras for Calcutta as planned and was arrested at Asansol. Over the course of next few days, eminent people like Swaroop Rani Nehru (Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s mother), Dr. Syed Mehmood, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai and Anna Saheb were all arrested at the same station.

“This sense of wonder leads most scientists to a Superior Being – der Alte, the Old One, as Einstein affectionately called the Deity – a Superior Intelligence, the Lord of all Creation and Natural Law.” – Nobel laureate, Abdus Salam

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Since Malaviyaji was arrested, Smt Neli Sengupta presided over the session. The Presidential address prepared by Malaviyaji was read out in which he had congratulated Gandhiji on the success of his hunger strike and proposed that the pledge of Poorna Swarajya taken at Lahore Congress be reiterated, and resolutions for boycotting British goods and disobedience to rules made by the British be passed. It goes without saying that all of these proposals were unanimously accepted. There was one proposal about the ‘Mutthi Fund’ (handful fund). It said that all volunteers and those who support the movement should daily take out a handful of grains as contributions to the freedom movement. The amount obtained from that should be deposited in Congress office. Even this proposal was unanimously passed. Neli Sengupta said that the government had arrested more than one and a half lakhs people in the past fifteen months. To disrupt this conference, more than twenty thousand people were arrested. The British government had very well understood that this method of oppression could not suppress the people’s resolve nor prevent them from having their say.

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“Through the years, choosing to finish strong has provided me with many benefits: reaching goals, winning a race and gaining satisfaction from knowing I gave it my all. By drawing upon my commitment, I have begun learning to enjoy the ride of life.” - Dan Green

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The Congress workers were all kept in an enclosed space. It belonged to a landlord and he used to keep his animals there. The government had got it vacated so that it could be used as a makeshift prison. Temporary rooms were made by pitching tents. People like Devdas Gandhi (Gandhiji’s son), Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Kanhaiyalal Khadiwala, Ravi Shankar Shukla, Srimannarayan and other leaders were also held captive there. Malaviyaji, Swaroop Rani Nehru, Dr. Ahmad were also kept in a nearby place. The objective was to disrupt the session, which was not achieved. What happened was that people could not come in large numbers.

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On second of April, Shriram and his associates reached Asansol. An inspector of police from Agra named Anantram was deputed at Asansol. Jagan Prasad Rawat recognized him immediately and warned his friends to move away since they had been recognized.

Anantram immediately chased the group along with other policemen and alerted the others in the station by blowing a loud whistle. It was difficult to escape and hence Shriram and his friends did not even try to run. They were apprehended by the police.

After the conclusion of the session, the people who were arrested began to be released. But Neli Sengupta was detained and was sentenced to six months jail. Because of intervention by powerful people, she was released but other participants were kept under detaintion.

Couple of days before being released from Asansol jail, Malaviyaji visited that compound where several people were still held captive.

“A scientific discovery is also a religious discovery. There is no conflict between science and religion.

Our knowledge of God is made larger with every discovery we make about the world.” – Nobel laureate, Joseph H. Taylor, Jr.

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Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Jagan Prasad took the message of Shriram’s detention to Paliwalji. From there, the message went to other big leaders but Shriram had to spend two more weeks in jail.

The moment he was released, Shriram was eager to visit Shanti Niketan. It was about two hundred kilometers away from Asansol. He asked the jailer about the route to be taken to reach Calcutta and the train to be taken. He spoke back in sarcasm that nothing was left in Calcutta and all the drama had ended. He further asked him to collect his wages of jail and go home. Jailer placed eight rupees in his hands and laughed sarcastically.

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In those days, computers were a relatively new technology. A famous scientist, SatyendraNath Bose, was quite excited about computers. He told his associates that through computers a world of knowledge will be easily available to man.

The invention of computers is one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century.

But in the 21st century, there is dire need for science to turn in a new direction. The need is that man will have to take all the knowledge and information that he has accumulated thus far, and apply them to consciously inculcate inner sensitivities born out of noble human values. Man will have to use spiritual methods to overcome all his limitations. When this is achieved, the 21st century will herald an era of a bright future and unlimited happiness for all mankind.

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Among the seven thousand representatives arrested during the convention, four hundred were detained. There was a plan to charge them of rebellion against the state. Shriram was also among the people detained. They were taken to the main jail of Asansol. It is a matter of surprise that other associates of Shriram including Jagan Prasad Rawat were released.

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Malaviyaji’s indication Malaviya ji smiled on hearing the reply. He patted Shriram’s back and said that he would visit again on the following day. He said that he had lot of things to talk to Shriram and assign him some responsibilities. But owing to his busy schedule, Malaviyaji could not keep his promise. He had however asked Shriram to visit Shantiniketan of Rabinadranath Tagore.

He further told, ‘The time spent there will give direction to your work. Everyone should visit Shanti Niketan. One cannot understand India without visiting this place.’

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He met the volunteers separately. When it was Shriram’s turn, they began to introduce him by saying, ‘He had been invested with sacred thread by you. His father is Pandit Roop Kishore…’ Before the sentence was completed, Malaviyaji said, ‘Roop Kishore was my close friend. We have done Bhagavat Katha together.

He had made significant contributions from his region for the Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya.’

After completing his observations, he asked Shriram, ‘How was the shikha-diksha (education) done?’ Shriram said, ‘After completing education in the village school and with my father, I am now receiving further education in the school of revolution.’

“The more I study science, the more I believe in God.” – Albert Einstein Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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This made the principal curious and he called Shanti Devi and talked to her in isolation.

Making her comfortable, he asked her about her Mathura connection. Once she trusted the principal, she told him that her husband’s name was Pandit Kedarnath Choubey and he belonged to a prosperous Brahman family of Mathura. The inquisitive principal wanted to verify the facts. He wrote a letter addressed to Pt. Choubey, in which he mentioned - “One of my students, Shanti Devi, daughter of Mr. Rang Bahadur Mathur, a resident of Delhi, claims that she was your wife, Lugdi Devi in her previous birth. This letter is not meant to tease you, but if this description is true, then kindly contact me.”

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The principal of Raneja School, Lala Kishanchod, had not even imagined that such a weird letter, on which even the address of the receiver was

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Finding no solution to their problem, eventually, they took the matter to the principal of the school where Shanti Devi was studying. By this time, Shanti Devi had already

completed eight years of her life and her revelations had begun becoming the subject of discussion in her neighborhood. The principal apprehended that some fellow students of her class were misleading her and that was why she was uttering all that. Upon investigation, he found that she conversed with only few pupils and told them - “I am already married and a married woman does not converse with others unnecessarily.”

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Some days later, this incident occurred again, but in a different way. Shanti Devi then refused to consume the non-vegetarian food cooked at her home saying that the food was not pure.

She elaborated - “I am a vegetarian and only vegetarian food is cooked at my home at Mathura.” After this incident, her parents began preferring vegetarian food. However, they realized that their daughter had something unusual.

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“This house is not mine. My home is in Mathura, where my husband owns a garment shop. He is one of the richest persons of the city.”- when the four year old Shanti Devi began saying things like this to her mother, she thought that her daughter had learnt something from her friends while playing.

Although she felt strange that how such a small girl could have such information about some other city and how does she know about the owner of a garment shop, but she didn’t took the matter seriously. Shanti Devi was born on December, 11, 1926 at Delhi. Since childhood, she liked solitude. This was the first occasion, when she spoke so much to her mother.

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Rebirth: A Reality

“God [is] the author of the universe, and the free establisher of the laws of motion.” – Physicist and chemist Robert Boyle 26

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Lugdi Devi. The doubt was completely removed. Everyone began believing that Shanti Devi was the wife of Pt. Choubey in her previous birth.

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This news spread swiftly to the whole nation.

When the newspaper daily ‘Indian Express’ published the story, the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi himself went to Delhi to meet Shanti Devi. He even constituted a high level committee to investigate the matter and present their views. On his instructions, a fifteen-member committee arrived at Mathura on November, 24, 1934. A crowd of thousands had flocked at the Mathura station to witness the event. The committee had brought Shanti Devi also so that the whole matter could be analyzed impartially.

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Pt. Choubey decided to introduce himself as his elder brother. However, to everyone’s surprise, when Shanti Devi came, she recognized him, touched his feet, lowered her head and receded to a corner of the room timidly. Then, she embraced the ten-year old boy, who accompanied them and cried with delight. She rushed to her room, brought all her toys, gave them to Navneet and said “Your mother is giving you these toys, take all of them.” This incident touched the hearts of everyone present in the room, their suspicion turned into trust. Shanti Devi slowly asked Pt. Choubey - “You promised me that you won’t marry again after my death, then why did you break your promise?” Choubey was startled, as this was a secret between him and his wife,

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Now it was the turn of Pt. Choubey’s brother to get excited. He called his brother to Delhi immediately. By then, Pt. Choubey had married again. He arrived at Delhi with his second wife and the son of his first wife, Lugdi Devi, which Shanti Devi described as hers in the previous birth. When they reached Mathur’s house, Shanti Devi was out to school, so they planned a drama to reach the truth.

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not written properly, would get a reply. But, destiny had its own plan. After some weeks, he received a letter from Pt. Choubey, in which he confirmed all the details mentioned. Indeed, he expressed intense desire to meet Shanti Devi so that he could establish the authenticity of the case. He sent the letter with his cousin, so that he could analyze the matter. When Shanti Devi met him, she not only recognized him, but even addressed him with his nick name.

The committee was astonished when she recognized and greeted the elder brother of Pt. Choubey, who was standing amidst the huge crowd. On reaching her home, she expressed her surprise and said that the color of the house had changed. The relatives of Lugdi Devi confirmed the fact and revealed that the house was painted in a new color after her death. Not only she described correctly every big and small thing of her house, but even took the group to the house of the parents of Lugdi Devi and embraced her mother. Their emotional meeting touched the hearts of all and the committee had no option but to declare that Shanti Devi was actually Lugdi Devi in her previous birth. Later, Shanti Devi remained unmarried for her whole life, as she had promised to Pt. Choubey. She left her mortal body in 1988.

“It may seem bizarre, but in my opinion science offers a surer path to God than religion.” – Physicist, Paul Davies Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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The concept of re-birth not only reveals the to-and-fro movement of souls, but elucidates an important philosophy, which is a peculiar feature of the Indian way of thinking.

According to this philosophy, the world is a system created by one’s own actions. Other religions, faiths, sects and metaphysical systems have not been able to perceive the world in such a holistic manner. The Indian thinkers believe that re-birth is not the mere process of movement of souls, but is a self-sustaining system, through which people get the fruits of good and bad actions they do.

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Science may have a different opinion.

However, the truth remains that if this system had not existed, there would have been no other way through which one could get the fruits of his actions. If souls had to take only a single body, then there would have been no mechanism through which they could have reaped the fruits of their actions. The concept of re-birth strengthens the ‘law of karma’. If the consequence of good and bad deeds is not obtained, then immorality would prevail in the whole world and ethics and morality would turn into impractical idealism. Then, the wicked and the insolent would rule the roost and the noble and righteous would suffer.

Thus, the Almighty, the ultimate source of morality, determined the system of re-birth, so that man could act righteously and prudently and maintain the glory of human life, which is a precious gift to him.

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Ved Vyasa, the author of the great epic Mahabharata, has declared in its Shanti Parva: “Those who die suddenly attain a new life soon and even retain the memories of their past birth for some time. This fades away, as they grow up, in the same way, as a dream is forgotten after a while.”

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This concept has been an indispensible part of Indian philosophy and it has been repeatedly mentioned in our sacred scriptures. The Vedic literature has envisaged this concept long back, which is today revealed by the modern astropsychologists.

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Astro-psychologists explain this as follows: when a person leaves his mortal body in pain, he reaches such an intense emotional state that he becomes unaware of the events which occur during his sojourn from one body to another.

Consequently, he takes the memories of his previous life to the next, which is an unusual situation. Such examples have been collected and published by many experts, not only in India, but worldwide, which reasserts the Indian concept of re-birth.

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The case of Shantidevi is one such example, which compels even the most suspicious mind to believe in the concept of re-birth. Numerous such cases are found, not only in India, but all around the globe, in which people not only retained the memories of their previous births, but upon investigation, their claims were found to be true. Most of these cases revealed that such memories are more pronounced in people who lost their previous lives in either accidents or in a painful state.

“If you study science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God.” – Lord William Kelvin 28

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Prana Therapy - 4

Besides the above three symptoms two more factors are required to be noted. Parts of vertebra showing any abnormal warmth or coldness are recorded. For this purpose, the therapist upturns his/her palm and feels the temperature of parts of vertebra with the back of the four fingers. Joined together, the

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upturned forefingers are moved diagonally, at right angle, all over the vertebra from beginning to end as though the vertebral column is a knife’s edge cutting across all four fingers simultaneously. Sensory tissues of back of fingers of many people are not sufficiently sensitive to record subtle difference in temperatures. Such individuals may use the back of palm for this purpose. Normally there is a uniformity of temperature all over the vertebral column. Abnormalities in temperature are to be carefully recoded in this manner.

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The patient is made to lie down flat on the stomach on a soft mattress with a pillow below the chest to prevent any pressure on the chin and face. The patient is asked to rest comfortably with hands stretched comfortably, on either side of the body. The therapist uses the index and middle fingers (Tarjani and Madhyama) of the right hand to feel the abnormalities in the spinal cord of the patient.

Placing these two fingers on either side of the vertebral column, the therapist first feels the raised part of the vertebra below the neck; then slowly slides the fingers down the spinal column, carefully examining the parts for the vertebra for any (1) stiffness, (2) clot, (3) torsion in the nerves. The locations indicating any of these three symptoms are demarcated by different-colored markers. For instance, for stiffness: white, for clots: purple and for torsion: yellow mark may be made. There are no specifications for the code of colors. If the therapist can remember these sites, there is no need to use markers.

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The Procedures for Diagnosis and Treatment

Thus the therapist records the abovementioned five root symptoms of the disease. It is irrelevant to investigate whether the stiffness, clots, distortions, warmth or coldness in parts of the vertebra are the cause or effect of the ailment. As a matter of fact, in context of Prana therapy, traditional methods of diagnostic analysis and equipment cannot help us in arriving at a conclusion. Theoretical considerations would not help in such matters.

Only if some equipment could monitor real time physiological changes in the body of patients round the clock and diagnostic centers well equipped with such equipment are made available to a large number of therapists for each patient, would it be possible to know the relationship of the symptoms in the vertebral

“God created everything by number, weight and measure.” - Sir Isaac Newton Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Interact with full sincerity and sympathy. Speak casually about the problems being faced by the patient. For instance, the therapist may appreciate the discomfiture of being bedridden, the monotony of sedentary routine and the apathy of dietary restrictions being faced by the patient. Sympathizing for such minor discomforts relaxes the patient to some extent and a rapport is immediately established with the patient.

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2. Inculcate optimism Never exaggerate the gravity of the disease.

Such expressions as, “You have suffered too much……., your condition is critical but soon you will get well……” depresses the patient.

On the other hand saying, “You will find a quick relief in your condition and very soon you will be hale and hearty…..”, uplifts the mood of the sufferer. If the patient specifically desires to know how long it would take for total recovery, give only a vague assurance of an early remedy without specifying time. It would not be proper to state any precise duration required for total cure, since any advice for prolongation of treatment after the time of given assurance would make the patient gloomy and doubtful about the efficiency of the therapist.

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How to interact with the patient?

While interacting with a patient certain basic principles have to be kept in mind. These are being briefly discussed hereunder: 1. Establish a rapport Do not meet the patient as a stranger. During conversation, treat the patient as an old acquaintance. Talk quietly, firmly and clearly.

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While following any system of medicine for healing local treatment of the diseased organ is also considered necessary. Nevertheless the root of the disease must never be overlooked.

A discomfort felt on account of frequently appearing blisters on skin or recurring headaches may be quickly relieved by application of ointment and administration of a sedative, but until the root cause is removed the ailment continues to recur in the same or some other form. Likewise, while carrying out local treatment of some diseased organs such as stomach, chest or head by Prana therapy, the root cause of the ailment in the vertebral column cannot be overlooked.

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Whatever be the root cause of disease, in the discipline of Prana therapy the abovementioned five symptoms are taken as indications of malfunctioning in a diseased organ. Conversely, disappearance of these minor aberrations after therapy is taken as a sign of restoration of health.

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column with the disease. Until we are provided with such arrangements, we shall have to forego the habit of hairsplitting in the rationale of diagnosis and follow the prescribed norms given by experts.

3. Be a patient listener Let the patient himself describe his/her sufferings. Even if the patient talks irrelevantly, do not interrupt contemptuously. Pay full attention to what is being narrated and do not let the patient have the least impression that the disease is being taken up lightly. Do not contradict if the patient tends to exaggerate

“Both religion and science require a belief in God. For believers, God is in the beginning, and for physicists He is at the end of all considerations… .” – Physicist, Max Planck 30 Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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planting seeds of confidence in the psyche of the patient about the efficacy of the treatment.

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5. Refer to case histories Tell the patient and the accompanying persons about some case histories, where similar disease had been successfully handled. The success stories of the therapist may be somewhat exaggerated but any impression of self-glorification should be cleverly avoided.

The therapist may casually relate past cases of successful treatment in an interesting manner, avoiding repeated first person references to one’s own self. On the face value, this methodology of interaction with the patient may appear unethical but far from it, it is an excellent way of removing apprehensions and doubts from the mind of the patient and

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4. Assure with body language While interacting with a patient, look into his face-maintaining an eye contact. If necessary, caress his/her head while talking or show some other sympathetic gesture like patting on cheek or back. It will have a miraculous effect on the mood of the patient.

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the sufferings. Neither tell the patient that he/she is lying, nor contradict his/her statement, nor scorn at patient’s observations. Assure the patient about alleviation of problems in near future. If the patient expresses a desire for some requirement or facility, which cannot be granted in the interest of recovery, sweetly explain that such trifling requirement could be overlooked and would not suit the patient in the existing conditions of ailment and treatment. Ask the patient to bear the discomfort with maturity and courage.

6. Make the patient aware of the irrationality of superstition in health care Often caretakers of patients are totally indifferent and ill-informed about the norms of food and living environment required for nursing a patient. Many practices following traditional notions and conceptions deny the patients even the normal means of comfort.

People often hold such foolish notions as: fasting results in loss of appetite; drinking milk by a patient could result in a sore throat; keeping windows open for fresh air means inviting cold; etc. The caretakers of a patient should not succumb to such misconceptions.

Illogical beliefs pertaining to nursing should be contradicted giving logic, and by quoting instances where, such practices had actually harmed the patient. Arrangements must be ensured for keeping the patient in a clean, well ventilated room, with a clean bed. For quick recovery, let the patient drink plenty of water and avoid taking food when not feeling hungry. If a patient feels uncomfortable on having been unable to defecate for a long time, some simple treatment may be given to ease excretion. Many harmful, traditional beliefs are also being held by common people about the so called proper diet required for patients. The therapist is advised to study food science painstakingly to learn about proper food required for various types of patients.

However, whatever be the diet, it must have three essential qualities. It should be easily digestible, have sufficient water content and be tasteful for the palate.

“The question of whether there exists a Creator and Ruler of the Universe has been answered in the affirmative by some of the highest intellects that have ever existed.” - Charles Darwin Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Bhikshu Sangram asked Lord Buddha once, “What are the signs of a person deeply mired in materialism?” Lord promised to let him know the answer at the right time. The next day Lord Buddha was invited to a feast by Suppavasa, daughter of Koliya of Kundiya city. Lord had blessed Suppavasa so a son was born to her.

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should take at least ten minutes to drink a glass of water. In order to make each morsel of food pass through the food-pipe with least résistance, all edible substances should be masticated to the maximum possible extent. Let the food be chewed to such an extent as to make it thinner than saliva. It is again emphasized that a patient should be made to drink plenty of water.

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Buddha on meeting Suppavasa asked her, “Daughter Suppavasa, how many more sons do you wish for?” Suppavasa replied, “It will be nice if I can have seven more sons.” Sangram was watching the conversation. Who till yesterday was unable to bear the labour pains is asking for seven more sons! Surprised Sangram looked at Lord Buddha. Lord smiled and said, “Dear Sangram, a human being daily sees his desires fulfilled and rejected; yet he does not free himself from the attachment to desires.

This is the main sign of a person mired in materialism.”

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Where there is no problem in bowelmovements, the diet of the patient should contain some fluid and easily digestible contents. The most preferred diet for the patient would be that comprising milk, fruits and boiled vegetables. Otherwise, easily digestible liquid preparations like porridge or sago may be prescribed. Hard, dry and tasteless food is somewhat burdensome for digestion. Instead of providing nutrition, such food weakens the body. For easy digestion, whatever is being eaten by the patient, he should be advised to chew each morsel adequately for mixing it with saliva. Drinking water too requires slow sipping. Ideally, it

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Roots of diseases lie in the digestive system Considering the malfunctioning of the digestive system as the root cause of common diseases, the first step the therapist should take is to arrange for cleansing the digestive tract of the patient. In order to void long accumulated undigested food from the bowels such treatments as, administering enema, inserting a thin stick of soap in the anus or some other simple method for easing defecation may be used to cause a couple of lose defecations. Emptying the stomach provides a great relief to the patient. An overworked, weakened digestive system requiring rest should be provided relief by fasting. Drinking plenty of water during fasting is not harmful. On the contrary it proves to be doubly beneficial after completion of a fast because of removal of toxins from the body.

Whenever necessary, milk or fruit juices could be added to the water being consumed by the patient.

“Science is incompetent to reason upon the creation of matter itself out of nothing. We have reached the utmost limit of our thinking faculties when we have admitted that because matter cannot be eternal and self-existent it must have been created.” – Physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell

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Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Let’s Work Together to ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

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Life is not possible on any planet, without atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

Biosphere is the zone where these three spheres meet and is the only place where life exists. However, in the present scenario, all the three spheres are getting increasingly polluted and are fighting for their survival.

How could life develop and prosper under such circumstances?

Our environment is being polluted at such a fast pace that climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The consequence is clearly visible. America, which previously witnessed five to seven cyclones on an average, today faces around thirty. Half the city of New Orleans has been devastated by one such cyclone. Heat waves have taken many lives in France. Abu Dhabi, with hot and dry climate, witnessed massive rainfall. The ice of the snow-covered Greenland has begun melting.

These events indicate the exasperation of Mother Nature.

This decade has witnessed an increase of six to eight inches in the sea level. This has posed a threat to the ‘Great Barrier Reef’, the biggest live structure of the world. Kiribati, an island of the Pacific Ocean was submerged about thirteen years back. The Indian island of Lohachara, located in the Sunderban region has ultimately drowned. The Himalayan glaciers,

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Coral reefs are a natural medium to absorb the carbon content of the environment. They are regarded as the ancient medium to restore the environmental balance. They are the place where life originated for the first time. Today, these structures, where life originated, are struggling for their survival. This highlights the fact that nature is passing through a period of severe transformation. Database reveals that we have already lost many hectares of coral reefs, and if the oceanic temperature further rises even by half a Celsius, we would lose even the remaining reefs soon. According to a research, this century would witness an abnormal increase in temperature, which could be between 1.4 - 5.8° C. If this proves correct and rainfall does not increase by ten percent, then the sea level would rise by ninety centimeter. This would have devastating consequences, the chief among them being submergence of coastal areas.

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This is the time when substantial changes are taking place in the subtle realm. The changes occurring in the subtle world appear as divine transformations, while those in the physical world are a mix of construction and destruction. Climate change and the consequent effects on the environment are one among this long series. Scientists are predominantly studying the changes induced by global warming on the coral reefs.

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Conserve the Nature

“God is a mathematician of a very high order and He used advanced mathematics in constructing the universe.” – Nobel Prize winning physicist Paul A. M. Dirac Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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The present environmental degradation is a warning to us; if we still do not wake up, then we would have to face the natural disasters again and again. Nature is our mother. A mother gives affection and also shows the correct path to her children. If we, as human beings, do not shoulder our responsibility even now, then nature would be forced to show its fierce form, in which destruction precedes any new construction. This means trouble for all of us. However, if we rectify our mistakes within time, we would be able to give a bright future to the entire human race. The only requirement is that we should return to our historic role of being companions to the nature and putting an end to the selfish efforts leading to its exploitation.

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We should try to clean the rivers, rather than changing their course or constructing huge dams on them. Instead of exploiting the water, air and forests, we should try to maintain them in their natural states. We should plant as many trees as possible. We are free to do whatever needs to be done for the sake of our industries, economy, development or lifestyle, but without obstructing or disturbing the natural processes.

We may extract from the nature, everything we want, but then, we should return to it in the same proportion. Establishing this partnership with Mother Nature is the sole remedy through which we could save ourselves from the rage of Nature. Nature would protect us only if we take care to conserve it. So, it is essential to act in a concerted way to protect, conserve and preserve our Mother Nature.

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The danger present today before the earth and nature poses a threat to the entire human race.

It could be averted only if the entire humanity join hands and work with the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakam’. This is the sole remedy to save the earth and life on it. Father of the nation, Gandhi Ji used to say - ‘’There is enough in this world for everyone’s need, but not for anyone’s greed.’’ We should, therefore, work selflessly to attain our common good.

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Modern development is based on pleasureseeking mindset. Such a development could only enhance materialism and exploitation and lead to increased levels of carbon emissions and higher temperatures. This would be retaliated by nature in similar proportions, thereby depleting earth of its beauty. Today, we amass various electronic gadgets around us and think that we would be able to bear the extremes of nature. However, in reality, the dependence on such artificial means diminishes our innate immunity. Now our bodies can’t tolerate even small changes in weather. Nor could our hearts tolerate agony. Thus, we depend on various medicines.

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which covered an extensive area of 2077 km2, have decreased by about 500 km2 in the past five decades. The Gomukh glacier has also receded. The sacred Shivalinga of Amarnath shrine is also under threat. Many rivers of our nation have been reduced in flow and width.

Ground water is increasingly being contaminated with toxic materials like arsenic, fluoride and heavy metals. All this is a cause of deep concern.

“The ultimate reason of things must lie in a necessary substance, in which the differentiation of the changes only exists eminently as in their source; and this is what we call God.” – Gottfried Leibniz, the German mathematician and philosopher

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Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Youth Column

When Youth Becomes Healthy,

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31.2% of the youth in the country are affected by some ailment or the other, the prominent one being migraine. 65% of the youth are not able to sleep for at least 6-8 hours owing to their ailments. 49% of the young population has mental afflictions owing to the physical pain and as many as 13% among them are suffering from chronic pain because of which they had to leave their job. As part of the same survey, numbers have been collected for diabetes as well.

87% of the families suffering from diabetes have not got their health check-up done. 57% of the youth have no idea of how diabetes adversely affects their health. 92% youth have never approached a dietician for recommendations for healthy diet. 52% of the youth do not do any kind of physical exercise. 6.4% of the youth do not even know what causes diabetes.

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There is great demand for youth as workforce because of their capability. But if such a capable section of people are tormented by illness, who is to be blamed? The only organization that monitors the health of employed people is the ‘National Institute of Occupational Health’.

According to their report, there has been a sharp decline in the productivity of youth in the past five years. Based on the study conducted in five main cities, it has been found that people working in the metro cities are prone to stress, sleeplessness, obesity and diabetes. The primary reasons for these are reduced immunity, irregular life style and unhealthy food habits.

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Youth is the main source of energy and power to the nation. This is a segment of society that excels in the zeal to work and shoulders the maximum responsibility. That is why there are high hopes pinned on them. However, the young generation of today is suffering from many ailments owing to their wrong food habits and irregular life style. This is adversely affecting the progress of the nation. The power of the youth is such that any situation has to bow its head in front of them. They never accept defeat. They always move forward weathering all storms. But the youth of today are neglecting their health and becoming weaker in body and mind. This is what the statistics are showing.

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The Nation Becomes Strong

Indian Council of Medical Research conducted a survey on mental health in which they focused on heart-related diseases. Hypertension and high blood pressure in youth surfaced during that study. In a survey done from 2001-2011, it was found that 36% of employed people in the age group of 30-45 years are suffering from high blood pressure.

In a recent international seminar conducted in Delhi, there was a discussion on wrong eating habits of the youth. The specialists in this

“The significance and joy in my science comes in those occasional moments of discovering something new and saying to myself, ‘So that’s how God did it.’ My goal is to understand a little corner of God’s plan.”

– Henry “Fritz” Schaefer

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Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

WHO has issued a report about 114 countries on antibiotic resistance. In this study, in India

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and many other countries, it has been found that effectiveness of medicines on viruses causing Diarrhea, Malaria, Pneumonia and Hepatitis-B is almost coming to an end. This just means that the medicines used to treat these diseases are losing their effectiveness. Experts of Antibiotic Network Stewardship in India believe that the irregular life style and unhealthy eating habits of youth and the wrong usage of antibiotics is reducing the power of the medicines.

The report released in Asia describes that medicines are no longer affecting diarrheacausing bacteria e-coli and if infection has to be curtailed, new medicines have to be developed.

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Well, it is now clear that weak health in youth is mainly due to irregular life style and erratic food habits. In addition to that, extreme stress at work place, pressure to complete tasks in stipulated timelines, excessive busyness, tension to reach workplace on time, lack of physical exercise are also other challenges that the youth face on a daily basis. Such people do not visit a doctor for checkup until some serious illness comes up.

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Gastroenterology specialists say that only 2% of working youth are aware of healthy diet.

The habit of eating whatever comes handy has led to high incidence of colitis and digestive disorders. An example of this is a 25-year old person who continuously ate out for six months and developed digestive disorder which gradually developed into colitis. The problem is that 70% of the youth eat to fill their stomach.

They are not aware of food as a medium for health.

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seminar said that the seed for falling sick is sown when the child is young. More than 33% of children in Delhi are fatter than they should be, which means that those children are more likely to be prone to a variety of diseases in the next 5-8 years. In general, physicians classify the diseases affecting the youth in two ways – one, those caused by decline in immunity and the others related to metabolic disorders of which obesity is the main cause.

Hunger is very natural in the youth. Eating anything that comes your way to satiate the hunger is not the best thing for health.

Unfortunately, this is what is happening.

Youngsters are taking to street food whenever they feel hungry which is affecting their health adversely. With regards to this, FSSI conducted a survey encompassing more than 3000 streetfood outlets in Delhi. They looked at the quality of food served in these places. More than 87% of those vendors were not complying with safety health standards. Less than 2% vendors used gloves while preparing and serving food.

The need of the hour is for the youth to be aware of their health, maintain good eating habits, develop healthy life style and stay fit and healthy. Else they are sure to be facing health issues and thus creating problem to their family and near and dear ones. An unhealthy person can neither contribute to his own family nor render his services to society and the country. Even if they have the resolve to serve the nation, they have to first build up their health and immunity and emerge as a strong support to the society.

“It is evident that an acquaintance with natural laws means no less than an acquaintance with the mind of God therein expressed.” – James Joule Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Talks on the Gita – 41

The Integral Yoga: Seeing the Lord Everywhere -2 ○ ○ ○ ○

yearns to see the whole life charged with the Lord’s presence, with the spirit of worship.

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By teaching Purushottamyoga, the Gita is bringing the life of action to fulfillment. The Lord (Purushottam) is the master, I am His servant, and this creation is the means for worship. Once this is realized, what else is needed? Tukaram says, ‘Jhalia darshan karin mi seva, aanik hi deva na lage dujen.’ (‘When I meet you face to face, I shall devote myself to your service; I do not need anything more.’)

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Then there will be never-ending service.

Nothing like ‘I’ will exist. The sense of ‘I and mine’ will be completely erased. Everything will be for the Lord. There would be nothing else except wearing ourselves away for the good of others. The Gita is exhorting us repeatedly to remove the sense of ‘I’ and live a life devoted to the Lord, imbue the life with bhakti. The Lord is the master, I am the servant and the creation is the means for service; there is then no question of getting encumbered with anything else. Life will then be free of any worries.

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Bhakti Means Service without Any Sense of ‘I’ The Gita wants every action of ours to be imbued with bhakti. It is good to worship the Lord for half an hour. It is worthwhile to steady the mind and meditate on the Absolute, forgetting the ordinary worldly affairs for a while, at the time of sunrise and sunset when the splendour of sunshine is particularly appealing. Such good habits must, of course, not be given up. But the Gita is not satisfied with this much only. It wants that all the activities that we do throughout the day should be done in the spirit of worship. While doing everything — be it bathing, dining, sweeping — we should have the Lord in mind. For instance, while sweeping we should feel that we are sweeping the Lord’s courtyard. All our actions should thus become acts of worship.

Let this spirit be ingrained in you, and then you would see how your behaviour changes.

When we pick up flowers for worship, we choose them carefully, put them delicately in the basket, see that they are not crumpled and remain fresh, and do not even smell them. All the activities in life should be informed with this spirit. While sweeping the village roads, I should feel that I am serving the Lord in the form of my neighbours. The Gita wishes to imprint this attitude on us. It wants to see all the actions become acts of worship. Worshipping for half an hour or so does not satisfy it. The holy text

The Mark of Jnana: Seeing the Purusha Everywhere Till now, we have seen that bhakti should be combined with karma. But it is also necessary

“The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator.

Science brings men nearer to God.” - Louis Pasteur 37

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should also take due care of the plough and the agricultural implements. All the means of service are sacred. How grand this vision is!

Worship does not mean offering flowers etc. to the idol; keeping anything neat and clean and tidy is its worship — be it a lamp, a scythe or a door hinge. The means of worship should be spotless and faultless. Divine consciousness pervades everything. When we have this vision, jnana will enter into our karma.

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First, bhakti was infused with karma, and now jnana too is poured into it, forming the divine elixir of life. The Gita has finally brought us to the path of service that is full of advaita (non-duality). There are three forms of Purusha in the whole of the creation, and it is the Purushottam who takes all these forms.

These three together constitute one single Purusha. Nowhere is there any duality, any distinctions. This is the pinnacle of spirituality where the Gita has brought us.

Here, karma, bhakti and jnana fuse together and become one. Jiva (the lower self), Shiva (the Absolute, or the Supreme Self) and the creation become one. There is then no conflict, no contradiction between karma, bhakti and jnana.

Jnanadeva has given in his ‘Amritanubhava’ an illustration that is dear to Maharashtra, ‘Dev deool parivaru, kije koruni dongru Taia bhaticha vevharu, ka na hoava.’ (‘The temple, the idol and the devotee are all carved out of a single rock. Why cannot bhakti be like that?’)

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What is implied in having this outlook? It implies an attitude of perfect and flawless service to all. If your sandals squeak, oil them.

Keep them in good condition. The Lord is present in them too. The spinning wheel is a means of service. Lubricate it regularly.

Otherwise it will refuse to let you spin. It too is Purusha. It should be kept neat and clean and in working order. The whole creation should be seen as full of consciousness; do not look upon it as inert. Nothing is inert; nothing is devoid of His presence. The spinning wheel that hums melodiously is not inert; it is the Lord’s idol. On the Pola day (a festival, particularly in rural Maharashtra) we worship the oxen, shedding our pride. This is not an ordinary thing. In fact, we should always have the Pola spirit in mind while taking due work from them; it should not be restricted to a single day. An ox too is a form of the Lord. We

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to have jnana (knowledge) fused with them.

The Gita is not otherwise satisfied. This does not mean that these three things are distinct from each other. We use different terms for them for the sake of convenience only.

Karma and bhakti are one and the same; there is thus no question of combining bhakti with karma. The same is true about jnana.

How can we have jnana? The Gita says, ”You will have it when you see the Purusha everywhere.” The eternal servant is Purusha; the Lord, the recipient of service, the Purushottam, is also Purusha and the creation which flows continuously, takes different forms and provides different things for worship, is also Purusha — all are different forms of Purusha only.

The temple, the image of the Lord and that of the devotee and the flowers for worship are all carved in the same rock. A single rock takes

“It seems to me that when confronted with the marvels of life and the universe, one must ask why and not just how. The only possible answers are religious. . . . I find a need for God in the universe and in my own life.” - Arthur L. Schawlow, Winner of Nobel Prize in Physics.

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knowledge and devotion are one and the same thing. Know the Lord, and that is all.’) Bhakti and jnana are two sides of the same coin.

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When supreme bhakti is infused into life, the karma that follows is not different from bhakti and jnana.

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Karma, bhakti and jnana together make a single beautiful form. And wonderful service, saturated with love and knowledge, springs from it naturally. If I love my mother, my love should express itself in my actions. True love always toils for the loved ones. It expresses itself in service. Service is the outer, visible form of love. Love adorns itself with innumerable acts of service. Where there is love, knowledge inevitably follows it. When I am to serve somebody, I must know what kind of service would please him; otherwise the service could prove to be disservice. Love must therefore have knowledge of those whom it serves.

Knowledge is needed to spread the grandeur of love through actions. But love has to be there primarily. Without it, knowledge would be of little use. An action done out of love is quite different from an ordinary action.

When the son comes home tired from the field, the old mother looks at him with affection and concern and speaks a few comforting words, ”My child, you really are tired; aren’t you?” These few words have tremendous effect. Pour knowledge and devotion into all the actions in life. This is what Purushottamyoga means.

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Such a man is a jnani and still he is a perfect bhakta. One who has attained jnana is invariably full of love. Knowing the Lord and loving Him are not two different things. If we know that something is bitter, we do not develop any love for it. Exceptions apart, bitter taste arouses dislike. But sugar immediately arouses liking. In the case of the Lord, knowing Him and loving Him are one and the same thing. But should one compare the Lord with so ordinary a thing as sugar? Knowing and loving Him being one and the same thing, there is no point in debating over the place of bhakti in advaita (non-duality). As Jnanadeva says, ‘hein chi bhakti hein chi gyan, ek viththal chi jan’ (‘As far as the Lord is concerned,

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A true devotee is one who has fully assimilated this Purushottamyoga.

‘Sarva-gyata sarva-bhaven sarva-rupim bhaje maj’ (‘He who knows Me, the Purushottam, knows all; and he worships Me in all the forms with all his being.’)

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different forms. Why should not the same thing happen in the realm of bhakti? Why cannot there be unity between the bhakta and God even when the relationship of master and servant is retained? Why cannot the creation, the means of worship, verily become the Self even though it is distinct? All the three Purushas are after all one. Jnana, karma and bhakti should combine together to form the spring of life. This is the perfect Purushottamyoga. The sport of loving devotion should go on even though the servant, the master and the means of service are one and the same.

The Essence of All the Vedas Is In the Palm of My Hands

“Religion and science, then, in my analysis are the two great sister forces which have pulled, and are still pulling, mankind onward and upward.” – Nobel laureate Robert Andrews Millikan 39

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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are the consummation of a long tradition. We are the fruit of the tree that has sprouted from the Veda-seed. Within this fruit, there are seeds of innumerable Vedas. The Vedas have grown many times within us.

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In short, the essence of the Veda is in our hands; it is for us to realize it. It means that life has to be built on the foundation of service, love and knowledge. We can interpret the Vedas in the way we like. The saints, who were embodiments of service, claim, ‘Vedacha to artha aamhaseech thava’ (‘We alone know the meaning of the Vedas’). The Lord is saying here, ‘The Vedas know Me only; I am the Purushottam, the essence of all the Vedas.’ Would it not be wonderful if we could assimilate this Purushottamyoga in our lives! The Gita is suggesting here that the Vedas express themselves in every action of the person who assimilates Purushottamyoga. This Chapter contains the essence of the Gita. The Gita’s teaching is fully revealed here. Everybody should strive to follow this ceaselessly. What else can one say?

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[Reproduced with kind permission of Paramdham Publication, Pavnar from Chapter 15 of ‘Talks on The Gita’ by Sant Vinoba Bhave, 16th edition (Jan 2005)]

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What is the point in asking, ”Where is the Veda?” The Veda is not somewhere else; all of us have received it when we are born. We are the living embodiment of the Veda. We

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‘Prabhate kar darshanam’ - One should behold one’s palms in the morning. The Veda is there in those palms. They ask you to serve. See whether your hands have toiled yesterday, whether they are ready to toil today, whether your palms carry marks of labour. ‘Prabhate kar darshanam’ implies that when your hands work tirelessly, that which has been ordained for you

by Providence will become clear; you will know what you are destined to and are supposed to do.

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This is the essence of all the Vedas. The Vedas are many; but Purushottamyoga is their short and sweet essence. Where are these Vedas?

Their ways are strange indeed! The very first verse of this Chapter refers to the tree having the Vedas in its leaves — ‘ Jyachya panamadhen veda’. The Vedas — that is, the spiritual wisdom — are not, after all, hidden in a book; they are there in the whole universe for everybody to see. Shakespeare has spoken of ‘books in the running brooks, sermons in stones.’ The Veda is not made up of words, it is not in some book; it is in the creation around us. Devote yourself to service and it will be revealed to you.

“You should always focus your best energies and abilities on starting and completing those key tasks that your unique talents and abilities enable you to do well and that make a significant contribution. You cannot do everything, but you can do those few things in which you excel, the few things that can really make a difference.”

- Brian Tracy “Science, with its experiments and logic, tries to understand the order or structure of the universe.

Religion, with its theological inspiration and reflection, tries to understand the purpose or meaning of the universe. – Nobel laureate Charles Hard Townes

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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CAN SUBTLE BODY

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response organs, mind, intellect, chitta and ego.

The collection of five senses, mind, intellect, chitta and ego help sense the external world and acquire knowledge and so are called the ‘powers of sensing’ or ‘powers of knowledge’.

The five response organs are called the ‘powers of action’. So a collection of the powers of knowledge and powers of action is called the subtle body. Since these powers cannot interact with the gross world without a gross medium, they take the form of a gross body to attain their goal. Chitta is a storehouse of past memories and intrinsic tendencies and within this storehouse all the intrinsic tendencies that the subtle body acquires keep getting accumulated.

These tendencies then become the cause for birth, death and attachments towards worldly pleasures.

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According to the findings of Professor George Ashby based on a number of research experiments, any human being can present himself simultaneously at multiple places by vitalizing, developing and strengthening his inner consciousness. Despite being present at multiple places at the same time, the person’s consciousness does not get divided; it remains united. Madam Alexandra Neel has performed adventurous treks in several highly inaccessible regions of Tibet. In her book titled ‘My Journey to Lhasa’ she has referred to a saint named

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Science urges us to occupy by our mind the immensity of the knowable world; our spiritual teacher enjoins us to comprehend by our soul the infinite spirit which is in the depth of the moving and changing facts of the world; the urging of our artistic side.

- Rabindranath Tagore

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But what exactly is our subtle body? What are its constituent elements? How can we understand and know more about our subtle body? Here is a brief answer. Our subtle body is a conglomerate of five senses that can sense the five subtle elements (tanmatras), five

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Our physical bodies are visible but the subtle bodies are invisible. Even then, subtle body plays a big role in driving the physical body.

Despite being invisible, the subtle body is much more powerful than the physical body. It is not possible to realize the true potential of subtle body without intense spiritual practices. But if it can be awakened by spiritual practices, then it does not need any gross or material based medium to perform its functions. Subtle body is very powerful and without any external help it is capable of doing whatever it likes.

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BE AWAKENED?

“Science and religion are very much alike. Both are imaginative and creative aspects of the human mind.

The appearance of a conflict is a result of ignorance.” – Nobel laureate Sir John Eccles

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subtilizing the physical body) performed by Gurudev Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya ji. Before he shed his physical body Gurudev created five Virbhadras (his incarnate bodies) with this sadhana for parallel carrying out a number of activities aimed at creating a new era as directed by Mahakal, the Time Spirit. Many members of Gayatri Pariwar have personally experienced that these five bodies of Gurudev could appear at five different places simultaneously and properly conduct the activities at each place.

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A book titled ‘Projection of Astral Body’ written by two authors – Sylvan Muldoon from USA and Hereward Carrington from England was published in 1921 from London. Both authors have claimed that they have performed a lot of external travel with their subtle bodies.

They say that since the age of 12 they have been travelling with their subtle bodies. In their experience, the subtle body remains grounded initially and then rises to about 2 meters and then becomes free to roam about. According to the authors each and everyone can do this provided one really wishes to do this. Mr K D Sethna could also similarly detach his subtle body from the gross body and could travel for many hours freely. Since he was in his early stages of spiritual development, he felt a need for further guidance. So for higher spiritual practices he went to Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. There he realized that in place of roaming around with subtle body like this only for entertainment, it is more necessary to focus on personal spiritual development. Out-ofbody experience is a special spiritual attainment

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The beginnings of moral enterprises in this world are never to be measured by any apparent growth. ... At length comes the sudden ripeness and the full success, and he who is called in at the final moment deems this success his own. He is but the reaper and not the labourer. Other men sowed and tilled and he but enters into their labours.

- Henry Ward Beecher

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All human affairs follow nature’s great analogue, the growth of vegetation. There are three periods of growth in every plant.

The first, and slowest, is the invisible growth by the root; the second and much accelerated is the visible growth by the stem; but when root and stem have gathered their forces, there comes the third period, in which the plant quickly flashes into blossom and rushes into fruit.

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Siatsan Rampa who lived at Tawang Math.

Siatsan could appear at multiple places simultaneously even when he was actually meditating in his own room in the Math.

Madam Neel herself experienced his touch and received his blessings at several different places and she says he did this by dividing his subtle body. Each of the divisions could create his physical body by the force of his resolve and this physical body would then appear wherever he wished. But even then his consciousness remained integrated as one, there would be no division of it.

All members of Gayatri Pariwar must be aware of Sookshmikaran Sadhana (spiritual practice of

“I find it quite improbable that such order came out of chaos. There has to be some organizing principle.

God to me is a mystery but is the explanation for the miracle of existence, why there is something instead of nothing.” - Astronomer Allan Sandage

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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one subtle realm to another by separating their subtle body from the gross body.

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This ability to detach the subtle body from gross body is an art, or a skill attained through spiritual disciplines. It is not a necessity to put efforts to acquire this skill, but we must put in efforts to develop and strengthen our subtle bodies. When our subtle bodies evolve then in this process our soul consciousness elevates itself too. By evolving the subtle body we can perform several activities that are very beneficial to human life. To experience and elevate the subtle body we must perform simple spiritual practices like meditation, yog nidra, chanting of mantras, penance, pranayam etc. Gurudev Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya has laid a special emphasis on meditation of rising sun (Savita) for awakening subtle and causal bodies. He has prescribed that worship (upasana), self-discipline (sadhana) and selfless service (aradhana) must be integrated into daily life routines. With a sustained, devoted practice of these spiritual disciplines it is possible to raise, evolve and elevate our subtle, causal bodies and our consciousness.

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In Indian philosophy, existence of subtle body has been accepted right from the beginning.

The great Vedantic guru Shankaracharya had used the knowledge of entering into another gross body to find answers to the questions raised by Bharati, wife of a great Mimansak scholar Mandan Mishra. Even today there is no dearth of great experts and yogis of this tradition who use their subtle bodies for the benefit of the society. These people not only understand the subtle body in minute details, they are completely capable of roaming from

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According to Carrington, the subtle body hovers above the gross body while sleeping.

In the state of loss of consciousness, it moves out of the gross body. This is called as involuntary projection. If the subtle body is separated by intention from the gross body, then this is called as voluntary projection.

Actually, the two bodies are connected to each other with a subtle wire through which the life force or Prana flows.

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and it is not appropriate to use it for entertainment.

One of the outstanding medical practitioners of his time, Jeevak was a strong supporter of spiritual traditions and practices. Emperor Ajaatshatru, who had been healed by him, asked him, “Aren’t herbs by themselves sufficient for curing a person? What is the need for spiritual methods and practices of healing?”

Jeevak replied, “Following spiritual traditions and practices is extremely important to a person who wants to regain his health fully. Man is a combination of essential elements (matter) and consciousness. Therefore, successful cures require a combination of science and spirituality. Medical science and spiritual wisdom combined together provide abiding happiness and good health” “An equation for me has no meaning unless it expresses a thought of God.” Srinivasa Ramanujam, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time 43

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Amrit Vani

Pragy³yog-S³dhan³ - Invocation of Divine Light - II (Translation of a discourse by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on “Pragy³yog Kº S³dhan³ - continued from the previous issue)

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activities). Lighting of lamp implies illumination of your life and also of your surroundings. Burning of incense-sticks generates soothing fragrance that spreads in all directions; it teaches that your deeds and conduct should also spread soothing (good) effects in the ambience of all fronts of your life. Naivaidya consists of some sweet eatables; no salt or spice is used in it. Similar should be your voice and overall behavior; it should be decent, polite, and sweet — devoid of bitterness, rudeness, anger/irritation and negativity. Fresh flower represents beauty of Nature; offering it to the deity symbolizes that your life should be beautiful (full of good qualities and noble deeds) and should be dedicated to divine aims.

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Recall that it’s the feeling and teaching behind a sacrament that is important not the action or procedure of its rituals. Your worship without grasping and adopting these teachings would be nothing more than ostentation and wastage of time.

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Water flows naturally and embraces everything on its way; so should be your heart (emotional core) — compassionate, and free of the bonds of ego and prejudice. Offering of rice grains symbolizes that some part of your possession, your worldly resources must be donated for the welfare of His creation (i.e. for altruistic

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Devap¿jana : You worship the idol or picture of the Goddess using water, rice grain, flowers, dºpaka [1], and incense-sticks; and also offer some sweet or sugar as naivaidya. The Goddess is formless, omnipresent. Obviously, your offerings are of no use to Her. The idol or picture that you worship is only a symbol and so are the rituals and offerings of worship. These symbols indicate and remind the qualities that you should cultivate to become the true worshiper of divinity.

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Friends, Up³san³ is like first experiment towards spiritual development. Most of you may need a ‘form’ of deity, a focus of your faith, for this experiment. In Gayatri Up³san³ , as part of Pragy³yoga -S³dhan³ , an idol or picture of Goddess Gayatri is used for this purpose.

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Japa and Dhy³na : After the rituals of purification and worship as part of Gayatri Up³san³, you are supposed

“God is Truth. There is no incompatibility between science and religion. Both are seeking the same truth.

Science shows that God exists.” - Sir Derek Barton, Winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

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Dhy³na (meditation) is essential with japa. The focus of Gayatri Mantra is Savit³ [5]. So you should meditate upon rising sun. This is a universal symbol of enlightenment. Almost all religions render reverential recognition to sunlight as a symbol of God/divinity. Initially you may not be able to focus on the rising sun in your mind or imagine its reflection on the forehead (in the center of the eyebrows). An

Dy³na along with the japa is an integral part of the process of up³san³. Remember that while the japa initiates the process of refinement, mediation helps link your consciousness with the divine thoughts and feelings; it invokes the grace of God in the form of purification and awakening of your being. (The deeper the depth of your mental engrossment and feelings, the faster would be the effect.)

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easy and effective way of mediation with mental as well emotional engrossment would be the following. While doing the japa you imagine yourself as a small child, an infant sitting in ‘natural dress’ in front of the rising Sun. The soothing bright rays/glow of the rising Sun are entering your (physical) body, mind and the inner self. Absorption of this light is strengthening your body and energizing you to do hard work for good aims, it is awakening and inspiring your mind (and intellect) with positive thoughts and light of knowledge; this light is reaching deep into the inner-emotional core and purifying your intrinsic nature, illuminating your sensitivity and inner-self.

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to do japa [2] and dhy³na (meditation). Japa of what? And how many times? You should do japa of Gayatri Mantra, as Gayatri is the Goddess of Pragy³ (absolute, pure, divine wisdom). The count should be at least three m³l³s [3]. If you can concentrate and do more japa, you must. But, minimum three m³l³s is essential as part of initiating Pragy³s³dhan³ .

Why three? While chanting the first m³l³, your prayer-filled feelings should be devoted to your self-refinement (at physical, mental and emotional levels), second one for purification of your jiv³tm³ [4], and the third one for refinement of the subtle environment (of the world). The purpose of the third m³l³ is an altruistic service, part of our “ Pragy³ Abhiy³na”— mission of global dissemination of the light/knowledge of Pragy³. Thus your japa will also contribute to the success of this noble cause. Your chanting of the mantra should be such that even a person sitting beside you would not be able to hear it. (This is essential for deeper mental concentration and consistency in the pace of japa; also it would prevent disturbing others around you). You need not necessarily use the rosary to count the number of chants. You may count it on fingers if that suits you more.

Upon completion of the japa (of minimum 108×3 times) and dhy³na, you do the sury³rghyad³na (word meaning: offering arghya to the Sungod). As a ritual it is simply offering water (that was kept in the kalash – round pot, on the worship altar, in front of the idol of the deity).

If you have done japa in the morning then it is offered while facing the East, in the evening you would face the West. This symbolizes sacrificing (your ego and selfishness). As the water offered to the sun will evaporate and spread, similarly your sacrifice should be

“The significance and joy in my science comes in those occasional moments of discovering something new and saying to myself, ‘So that’s how God did it.’ My goal is to understand a little corner of God’s plan.”

– Quantum chemist Henry F. Schaefer –III

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aimed at making use of your talents, your worldly resources for the welfare of more and more people, the society…, the world.

Tapa: There is one more and most important (and difficult) component of s³dhan³ without which it will not be possible for you to achieve the mental and emotional engrossment and physical labor required for up³san³ and other disciplines and practices of pragy³yoga. Tapa (self-restraint, penance, ascetic discipline) lays the foundation of self-refinement and is therefore crucial for s³dhan³. Word-meaning of ‘tapa’ is — intense heating for desired purification and strengthening. Bricks get strong and are used in constructing stout buildings after high-temperature heating in special furnace. It is the process of intense heating, melting by which the yellow metal (gold) gains its precious glow, and wrought iron is turned into useful steal, etc. Water too gets converted into ‘powerful’ steam only after boiling. Similarly, tapa (self-refinement by sanya® -self-restraint, penance and disciplines) of the sense-organs and mind is necessary for gaining and maintaining the purity and ability for S³dhan³.

Self-restraint of the sense-organs is vital in attainment of purity. It is the most challenging part of s³dhan³ in general. It is difficult but not impossible if you are a sincere seeker, a true aspirant of purity. It can’t be forced upon your mind and body; rather, it should be encouraged with willpower and prudent thinking. Control over the tongue both in eating and speaking is most important. Once

this is done, restraining the passions and desires of other sense-organs is not so difficult.

This coupled with purity of food, and cleanliness of your body and that of your house (ambience where you live) would serve the purpose of tapa to a great extent.

You may begin your tapa by observing fast (vrata) for at least one day in a week; as such, Thursday or Sunday is recommended for aspirants of Pragy³yog-s³dhan³, however, you may choose any other day of the week if you have some difficulty with these days. You should be regular and disciplined in observing weekly fast on the chosen day. You need not starve or weaken your body by fasting. As the main purpose of fasting is to control over the greed (for taste) of the tongue, the easiest way to do this is to eat healthy but austere and asw³da (tasteless) — cooked but non-fried meal, without salt and sugar. This ‘asw³da vrata’ will also restrain your over-eating, help reduce excessive salt and sugar in the body and thus lend support to your physical health as well.

Another component of restraining the tongue is — control over the v³ñº (voice, spoken words, and speech), over the substance and manner of what you speak/converse. The faculty of speech is a precious gift of the Almighty. You must use it prudently. Many people hardly pay attention to it. They talk whatever and whenever they like, without caring about whether what they are talking about is misguiding, disturbing, boring, or even hurting someone. The level of language, choice of words, topic of conversation, nothing matters to them. They often keep ruining their

“All that diversity of natural things which we find suited to different times and places could arise from nothing but the ideas and will of a Being, necessarily existing.”– Sir Isaac Newton 46

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energy in haphazard blah, blah…. You should avoid it.

You must think before you speak. In order to learn to control your tongue (speech), you must observe silence. It may not be practical to keep quiet for the entire day in your normal routine.

So you may practice it for about two hours at a stretch every day. Choose a time-slot of two hours in your busy schedule. It should be during the daytime when you generally talk casually with friends or family. (You may inform them about your silence period so that they would not mind your ‘no-response’ and would not disturb you). Best is to read, write or contemplate on good, enlightening thoughts, do some other constructive work during this period of silence.

You must always remember that without the tapa of the tongue by fasting and observing silence, and restraining the greed and purifying and controlling its speech, your mantra-japa won’t be proper. Your songs (even if full of melody), talks and guidance cannot impress or inspire anyone unless your tongue is controlled, and your voice and words are refined and energized by the heat (power) of tapa.

Brahmacharya: Observance of Brahmacharya (physical as well as mental celibacy/chastity) is essential for s³dhan³ . Carnal (sexual) relationship with anyone other than the husband/wife should be completely avoided. Even among husband and wife the relation should be healthy and controlled. You may begin training yourself in this discipline by retraining carnal contact with the spouse on the days you are fasting. In fact the roots of sensual excitation and sexual desires lie in the mind. Erotic (erogenous) imaginations, memories and thoughts should therefore be restrained with firm determination. Immediate positive and constructive diversion of the mind in moments of such impulses or thoughts is most effective, natural and easy way to observe chastity of mind. You must recall the severe loss of physical and mental strength sensual imaginations and carnal excitations cause. You should also start remembering god Hanuman, or recall the lives/works of Bhishm Pitamah, Bhagvan Mahavir, Swami Vivekanand, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Adi Shankarcharya and other divine/great personalities who were staunch Brahmarcharis, and thus could attain immense superhuman powers and live glorious lives.

“I have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where I am going. And I have trained myself to love it. Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight, that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight. And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to. But the miracle is in the unfolding of the wings. You may not know where you’re going, but you know that so long as you spread your wings, the winds will carry you.”

- C. JoyBell C. “For many years I have believed that God is the great designer behind all nature…

All my studies in science since then have confirmed my faith.” - Sir Ghillean T. Prance 47

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

You should note that self-restraint over the greed and agility of the tongue and the genitals (and erogenous passions) is the key to sanya® of other sense-organs as well.

Sanya® of Time, Money and Thoughts: Disciplined use and management of worldly resources and time is also an important component of tapa. I have already told you that whatever resources (including monetary) you own should be earned by honest means and sincere efforts. Expenditures should be well-planned and scrutinized; every rupee you spent should be accounted for. Then most of your financial problems and scarcities will be resolved. I can tell you this confidently, as I have experienced it myself; 1950-1970 my family of five was able to live a simple but a normal and happy life (and also manage hospitality for the guests/visitors) with only Rs. 200 per month; I was also able to save for monthly printing and distribution of “Akhand Jyoti”.

Those who are prosperous or earn high income should also scrutinize and control their spending. Rich and luxurious people are more

vulnerable to addictions. Simple-living will save them from the risk of addictions, help them discipline their life-style, thus sustain normal health; they will also be able to save their resources for good causes of social elevation.

Efficient management of time is the key to success on all fronts of life. You must chalk out a daily time-table of major activities and stick to it. Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a saintly social reformer and also a scholar of thirteen languages. He used to get up very early in the morning; there were fixed time-slots for reading, writing, meeting, and discussing with the visitors, social activities, etc; he used to sleep at 6 pm. So particular was he about his time-table that he used to sleep at 6 pm even in summer when the sun sets around 7 pm in India. Look at the lives and works of great pioneers and achievers in any part of the world, they were/are ‘ahead of time’ because of prudent and disciplined use of time. You should also schedule your day’s activities and check out the possibilities and habits of wasting time (in laziness, unnecessary chatting with friends, watching television, roaming around aimlessly, etc)

The famous French poet, Voltaire, struggled all his life. He was in jail for many years, but every moment of his life and every line of his poetry reflected his tremendous energy, enthusiasm and liveliness. One day, a fellow revolutionary asked him, “From where do you get so much energy?” Voltaire replied, “From God”. On hearing this reply, the revolutionary asked, “Do you believe in God?” With a lot of self-confidence, Voltaire answered, “What does belief have to do with it? Use your lifetime to discover God through spiritual experimentation. The more you focus on these efforts, the more your life will be filled with energy, enthusiasm and joy.”

“To say that a man is made up of certain chemical elements is a satisfactory description only for those who intend to use him as a fertilizer.” - Hermann Joseph Muller 48 Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

Mostly importantly, you must note that Vich³ra– Sanya® (discipline, refinement and positive orientation of thoughts) is a must for glorious success in life. It is the life-line of tapa and progress in s³dhn³ . Thoughts usually flow continuously without any pause. Most often they are haphazard and unnecessary. You have to be vigilant of what you are thinking. In one way or the other, savants of all the ages preach that one should be watchful of one’s thoughts.

The moment you become alert and pay attention on the ongoing thought, the haphazard thought would pacify. You then start mental argument to dissect what that thought was and why it occurred, etc. To begin with you may practice this on the day you are fasting and then gradually expand its frequency/duration. Regular practice of this simple method will gradually check the abrupt wandering of your thought-process. Remember that haphazard, negative or untoward thoughts and emotions cannot (and should not) be suppressed, they should be diverted in opposite and constructive positive direction. Pr³ñ³y³ma (breathing yoga), Swadhy³ya–Satsang [6] provide excellent support and inspiration for success on this and other facets of tapa.

So, prepare yourself by tapa, and sincerely adopt the teachings/inspirations of devap¿jana.

This, together with daily practice of ³tma-bodha, tatva-bodha (introspection and self-analysis) and japa of Gayatri Mantra with meditation (on rising sun) will help you progress in the pragy³yoga s³dhan³ for divine enlightenment and soul-evolution. You are welcome here for further guidance and practical training, as and when you need it. || Om Shanti||

Notes: Dºpaka: A lamp in which cotton thread is 1. burnt in ghee.

2.

Japa: Silent or mental chanting in a rhythmic (consistent) manner with emotional engrossment.

M³l³: Rosary of 108 beads; so japa-count 3. of one m³l³ means 108 times japa.

Jiv³tm³: Soul expressed in life-form, the 4. individual self.

5.

Savita ( Savit³ ): The sublime source of ‘light’; it is symbolized by rising Sun. Sw³dhy³ya : Self-study of sagacious 6. thoughts/good books; Satsang: Being in company of enlightened/good people.

References & Additional Reading: [1] Pandya S. N. and Shambhudass: “Super Science of Gayatri”. Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar.

[2] Pandya P. (ed.): “G³yatri S³dhan³: How and Why?” Vedmata Gayatri Trust, Shantikunj, Haridwar.

[3]

“Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya Vangmaya” Vol. nos. 9-14. Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura.

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” - M. Scott Peck

“When truth is evident, it is impossible for parties and factions to rise. There never has been a dispute as to whether there is daylight at noon.” - Francois Voltaire 49

Akhand Jyoti November - December 2014

National Seminar on Ancient and Spiritual Sciences at DSVV – A Report A National Seminar on Ancient and Spiritual Sciences was organized by the Center for Scientific Spirituality Studies, from 25th to 26th October, 2014 at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar. More than hundred researchers from all over India presented papers in the seminar. In the inaugural ceremony, Revered Dr. Pranav Pandya, Chancellor of DSVV, explained the concept of scientific spirituality and the significance of the seminar. The chief guest of the function, the architect of India’s first supercomputer – PARAM 8000, Padmasri Dr. Vijaya Pandurang Bhatkar highlighted the need for synthesizing science and spirituality.

He suggested that the subject ‘Scientific Spirituality’ should be taught in every school and college.

The participants of this seminar were benefitted by the talks of several eminent speakers. Dr. Mahavir, Vice Chancellor of Sanskrit University spoke on ‘Science in ancient Sanskrit literature’, Professor H.C. Verma of IIT, Kanpur talked about ‘Surgery in Ancient India’, Dr. Rama Jayasundar of AIIMS, New Delhi elaborated on ‘Quantum Physics and Ayurveda’, Dr Ramkalapa Tiwari, Director of IUCCA, Pune, talked about ‘Spiritual Psychology’ and the Trustee of World Peace Organization, New Delhi, Professor Dr. Subhash Chandra expressed his thoughts on the need for spirituality in 21st century and its

importance in leadership. Vice Chancellor of DSVV, Sri Sharad Pardhi, spoke about ‘Holistic Approach for Development’. Dr. Shambhavi Misra, HOD of Center for Scientific Spirituality Studies presented a detailed report of the seminar and urged the participants to follow the precepts of scientific spirituality as propagated by Param Poojya Gurudev, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya.

Various aspects covered in the seminar were: Our universe and life on planets: Vedic and modern view; Spirituality in management; Spiritual psychology; Spiritual education to cultivate divine qualities in life; Scientific basis of rituals and festivals; Links between modern physics and ancient Indian philosophy; Ancient health sciences, spiritual therapies and healing techniques; Scientific basis of ancient linguistics; Scientific temper of ancient astronomy and astrology; Environmental pollution and the impact of yagya to control pollution; Role of vegetarianism in ecological balance and health conversation, Ancient history and development of basic and mathematical sciences; Information sciences in ancient India; Role of information technology in studying spiritual sciences; Spiritual tourism; Spiritual communication; Spiritual journalism, etc. Full proceedings of the seminar may be read at www.dsvv.ac.in.

(See the glimpses of the seminar on inner cover page 51.)

“There is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all. . . It seems as though somebody has fine-tuned nature’s numbers to make the Universe. . . The impression of design is overwhelming.” – Physicist Paul Davies

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