Amrit Chintan : Pujya Gurudev

         MeaningfulUtilization of Time

       =Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

There is not a single moment of life that may be called ordinary. Every moment is extraordinary and unique. It was some moment which gave life to us. It is also some
moment which makes us feel good or bad, gives the blessing of success or the bane of
failure. Every moment brings with it a unique experience.

True wisdom lies in proper utilization of that moment. Time is full of boons. Awakened persons fully live in the present moment and utilize their time wisely. But most of us go through life 

unconsciously and aimlessly. Thus nothing worthwhile is gained. On the other hand,
whatever is already available also gets wasted. If one searches the cause of failures,
one will easily find it to be the laziness that has unconsciously crept into the psyche.
This vice burns time like a firework.

Therefore there is need to cultivate the habit of
learning new techniques that save time and make the tasks easy. It requires making
disorganized lifestyle orderly and moulding the thoughts according to the task at hand.
Then only will it be possible to utilize the time in a meaningful way. The present
moment is the only moment we have and we must utilize it wisely.
Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Attitudes and Thoughts : Pujya Gurudev

Sowing of the Seeds for Sublimation of Attitudes and Thoughts

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

(Akhand Jyoti,Nov.Dec.2004)

The movement for sublimation of attitudes and thoughts of the masses, known as Vichar Kranti Abhiyan, was born at Mathura. My determination to sublimate the attitudes and thoughts of crores of people is being materialised through this movement. The Sahastra-kundi yagya performed in 1958 was simply a medium for the meeting of parijans who were connected with me since previous births and who had to play an important role in the fulfilment of the mission of my present life. About one-lakh persons took a pledge in this yagya to root out the vices from their families, their personal lives and from the society.

This was a Narmedh yagya. In this yagya, I invited and called upon public-spirited, other-centred persons to join the movement as my colleagues and dedicate themselves to selfless service of society .In fact, I was a mere channel for the flow of divine energy of the invisible miracle-worker, my Gurudev, for building up the structure of a mighty movement for bringing about a total transformation in the hearts and minds of the masses. It was in Mathura that a comprehensive scheme was chalked out to spread the light in every village, by organising Gayatri yagyas and Yug Nirman sammelans for moral, intellectual and social upliftment. All dynamic and inspired persons who had participated in the Sahastra- kundi yagya at Mathura took up the responsibility to set up the branches of the mission at their respective places and perform similar yagyas there. In other words, in that spiritually surcharged atmosphere of Mahayagya, each of these vibrantly alive persons was inspired to take upon himself the responsibility of finding out at least a thousand thoughtful persons from the surrounding area and enlist them as active workers of the mission.

All these celebrations were planned for four days each. Music and discourses were to be organised for three days in which detailed outline and working methods for implementing the three transformations were explained, and on the fourth day people were asked to take a pledge in the presence of sacrificial fire of yagya to give up vices and adopt a righteous way of life. 

These celebrations were most successful. About a crore of people listened to the ideology of the mission and millions took a pledge to give up vices, blind faith and evil customs. In most of these functions, marriages without dowry and pomp and show were also solemnised. Later, in Mathura a yagya of hundred kunds was performed in which ideal marriages of one hundred couples were celebrated. Since then, such celebrations have become a regular feature of the missions activities and every year many persons are being benefited by this movement. It is not in public interest to disclose details of several mysterious events which are linked with the important occasion of Sahastra-kundi yagya. Gurudev has forbidden their disclosure during my present life span. 

There were great tangible benefits from this yagya. A huge organisation of Gayatri parivar was formed within no time. An infrastructure of a moral-reawakening movement was built up for basic transformation of thoughts and attitudes of the society through mass moral education. Later, after two decades, Pragya sansthans and Svadhyaya mandals were formed at places where branches had been established after the Mahayagya.
A dedicated, whole time group of workers also emerged from this yagya, who later took full and independent charge of the press, publication and publicity at Mathura, after I had shifted to Shantikunj, Haridwar, for good. Thus this Mahayagya and subsequent celebrations throughout the country had played an important role as a background for the selection of volunteers and permanent workers at Shantikunj. My own organising capacity was further honed and developed. Several camps of one week, nine days and one month were organised in the limited campus of Gayatri Tapobhumi, Mathura. After Sahastra-kundi yagya and shat-kundi yagya, panckoshi sadhana, kayakalpa and jivan sadhana camps were organised at Mathura for integrated spiritual upliftment, holistic health and life-long pursuit of self-awakening respectively according to the instructions of Gurudev.
The love of parijans who visited Gayatri Tapobhumi and feelings of mutual intimate relationship with them gave birth to the huge organisation known as Gayatri parivar. Each member of this Gayatri parivar turns to me as a father figure, counsellor, guide and healer in his/her personal and domestic problems. In response to their affectionate invitations I visited several places from where people had come to Mathura for the Mahayagya. I attended several yagya celebrations, seminars and conferences in which several awakened intellectuals participated. When I decided to leave Mathura and shift to Haridwar, 1 toured almost the entire country for about two years. 

At Tatanagar, Mahasamund, Bahraich, Bhilwara and Porbandar, huge Sahastra-kundi yagyas were performed on the same scale at which the Mahayagya at Mathura was performed. I used to visit three places in a day and toured thousands of miles before I left for agyatvas (seclusion). As a result of these extensive tours I could lay my hands on several dedicated workers. Innumerable persons who had lived like Rishis in the past births came in my contact. I judged their capacity, enrolled them in the parivar and thus a huge organisation was set up. Gurudev had directed long back that I would have to go to the Himalayas again and stay there for six months. I was asked to break my emotional ties with Mathura, shift to Sapta Sarovar, Haridwar and initiate establishment of Rishi traditions at this place, which was once a tapasthali. I had gradually started entrusting my routine responsibilities to my wife. She had been my life-partner in two of the three previous births. During this life also, she has played the role of an inseparable soulmate and companion. In fact, her dedication, devotion and disposition for service has served as the bedrock for all my achievements. She gladly moulded herself according to my wishes and stood firm in all adverse circumstances. 

My family background was of a rural landlord while she hailed from an urban family. But when the question of merging with each other arose we effortlessly united and became one. I donated my village land for building a school there and the money received from zamindari bonds was used for purchasing land for Gayatri Tapobhumi. She donated all her ornaments for constructing the building of Gaayatri Tapobhumi. Her self-surrender and sacrifice have helped me in achieving exemplary heights in the realms of spiritual growth and service of the society. During my earlier pilgrimage to the Himalayas in the years 1959-60, when I stayed there for about one-and-a-half year, my wife had taken upon herself the responsibility of publication and organising the mission in my absence. 

Then, after ten years, I again went to the Himalayas in 1971 leaving behind a large far-flung spiritual family. Gayatri parivar needed a patron in visible form who could give them love, guidance and affection. Mother alone can console a child in moments of pain and distress. Mataji (my wife) undertook and ideally discharged this responsibility. Even three years before proceeding on the pilgrimage, I remained on long tours and at that time Mataji used to look after and give solace to parijans who visited Mathura. I received her constant cooperation in living a life totally dedicated to the well being and service of society. With a paltry amount of rupees two hundred she used to maintain a family of five persons and extend hospitality to the visitors. Never was anybody sent back disappointed. The life, which we lived at Mathura, was like a precious trust on which not only the foundation of the life-transforming mission was laid but persons having strong shoulders were also found who could carry the responsibility on my gradual withdrawal from the visible scene of day- to-day organizational work. 

Some mysterious events at Mathura The activities, which I was directed to undertake at Mathura, appeared to be difficult in the beginning, according to my knowledge and competence, in the absence of material and human resources, experience and wisdom. Then how could such a stupendous work be done? When Gurudev saw that I was losing courage he took the reins in his hands. Only my body was utilised. The work was done by the puppeteer himself to whose tune I simply danced as a puppet. The only credit that I can claim is that I gladly danced to his tune. I devoted four hours daily for writing work. It appeared as if the example of Vyas and Ganesh was being repeated, When Puranas were written, Vyas dictated to Ganesh. The same thing happened with me. The translation of voluminous ancient Sanskrit scriptural texts was a difficult task. Like Ganesh, I was used as a mere scribe for translating the four Vedas, 108 Upnishads, six Darshans, 24 Smritis; but the entity who gave dictation was some invisible power. Otherwise, so huge a task could not have been completed within so short a time. Hundreds of books relating to mass education through the agency of moral and spiritual instruction could not have been written on the strength of the talents of one single person. This writing work continues uninterrupted since the day it was started. 

The weight of my published works almost equals the weight of my body. For publication a press was needed. With my own limited resources I had somehow managed for a hand press.
The one who had to get all this work done through me laughed at my childishness. Miraculously there was steady development of the press and treadles, cylinder; automatic and offset machines were added one after the other. Their cost and those of the publications added upto lakhs of rupees. On my own human strength, the number of subscribers of Akhand Jyoti could reach two thousands only. The Guide then gave a push and the figure has now gone up to one and half lakhs. It is likely to register a tenfold increase in due course of time. In all, about one and half lakh copies of Yug Nirman Yojana (Hindi), Yug Shakti Gayati (Gujarati), Yug Shakti (Oriya) are also being published. It is an unprecedented record that magazine s wholly written by one person have such a large circulation, without incurring any loss and that too without accepting any advertisement. With a view to organising Gayatri parivar, Sahastra-kundi yagya was performed at Mathura by way of purnahuti of Mahapurashcarana. There is no exaggeration in saying that there has not been any celebration of this scale since Mahabharat times. Hardly does anybody know about some mysterious occurrences relating to this celebration. Devoted Gayatri sadhaks, about four lakh in numbers, were invited from all over the country.
They all took over charge of the work of educating the masses through moral and spiritual instruction. All these persons were unknown to me. But invitation letters reached them and they came at their own cost. It remains a riddle and a mystery. The number of daily visitors and participants in the yagya was about ten lakh persons.
The latter were all lodged in a number of huge camps covering an area of seven miles. No participant in the yagya was sent back without food. We had provisions sufficient only for feeding about twenty thousand people at one time. But the store became inexhaustible. More than five lakh persons were fed in this function, which lasted for five days. 

Provisions were left over after the celebration which were distributed free of cost to deserving persons. Arrangements were so meticulous that they could not have been made even by engaging a thousand paid employees. All these are mysterious matters. I have described only the factual aspect of this celebration, but the underlying mystery is confined to me. Nobody could imagine how all these arrangements were made and who was behind these accomplishments. It was all the play of an invisible power. Rishis whom I had met during my first visit to the Himalayas were also present in the yagya in their astral bodies. People said that it was a miracle wrought by me but the fact is that I was looking at the entire game as a mere spectator, like Jadbharat.
The third work which I had to do at Mathura was construction of Gayatri Tapobhumi. A small building could not have served the needs of such a stupendous programme. Its construction work is still going on even after my leaving Mathura. It has now been extended and developed in the form of Pragya Nagar. Those who have visited Mathura are amazed to see the campus of Gayatri Tapobhumi, its press, arrangements for the stay of visitors and the dedication of the workers. The credit for such a grand campus and its management cannot be given to an individual but to the invisible power, which is using me as an instrument. Arjuns chariot was driven by Shri Krishna as his charioteer. It may be said that Arjun and Pandavas fought the Mahabharat war and achieved victory by their own valour, courage and strength but it was not true. 

They were the same Pandavas in whose presence Draupadi was undraped and they could do nothing.
During the period of exile they remained under disguise and worked as mere servants. My competence is quite insignificant. If anybody wants to take account of my achievements at Mathura, he will have to bear in mind the facts about my life sadhana. I should not be regarded anything beyond a puppet who surrenders and dances to the tune of its master. This feeling of dedication and surrender is the central theme of the story of my life. I have taught this to all those who have come in my contact. I have simply revealed the importance of upasana, sadhana and aradhana and, as for myself; I have been only an instrument of the invisible power.

Sowing of the Seeds for Sublimation of Attitudes and Thoughts Another Invitation for Pilgrimage to the Himalayas (Autobiography of Poojya Gurudev Pt. Sriram Sharma Acharya) 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Amrit Chintan : Pujya Gurudev

                                                                                 

                    MeaningfulUtilization of Time

=Pujya Gurudev Pt ShriRam Sharma Acharya

There is not a single moment of life that may be called ordinary. Every moment is extraordinary and unique. It was some moment which gave life to us. It is also some moment which makes us feel good or bad, gives the blessing of success or the bane of failure. Every moment brings with it a unique experience. True wisdom lies in proper utilization of that moment. Time is full of boons. Awakened persons fully live in the present moment and utilize their time wisely. But most of us go through life unconsciously and aimlessly. Thus nothing worthwhile is gained. On the other hand, whatever is already available also gets wasted. If one searches the cause of failures, one will easily find it to be the laziness that has unconsciously crept into the psyche. 

This vice burns time like a firework. Therefore there is need to cultivate the habit of learning new techniques that save time and make the tasks easy. It requires making disorganized lifestyle orderly and moldings the thoughts according to the task at hand. 
Then only will it be possible to utilize the time in a meaningful way. The present 
moment is the only moment we have and we must utilize it wisely. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

                                                               

Science and Spirituality-1; Pujya Gurudev

Pujya Gurudev Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya’s Kripa

Healthcare and Spirituality

(Akhand Jyoti,Nov.-Dec.2008)

Health has become most sought after and precious asset these days. Even if one does not have any ailment or health problem today, he/she is not sure of remaining fit in the near future too. The fear and risk of physical and psychological diseases and disorders in the present times are unprecedented. The causes are numerous: air-water pollution, varieties of viruses, food adulteration, use of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals in day-to-day life in several forms, stresses of traffic, workload competition, financial insecurity, terror-attack, etc. What to control? What to change and how? Every one who thinks is confronted with these concerns in one way or the other. The rising cost of medication, hospitalization and health insurances adds to these concerns. Everyone who is health-conscious is in search of some guidance to minimize the risk to his/her health. Many doctors and medical scientists too have geared up with new interest in finding risk-free viable solutions.

The upcoming trends of healthcare underline the need for holistic or multidimensional approach. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) defines health as “a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not necessarily the absence of disease and infirmity”. In a popular article^[1] Dr. HS Wasir, Head of Cardiology Department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences has pointed out the need of a fourth dimension: spiritual well-being. He asserts that spirituality energizes the other components of health, namely, physical, mental and social. Similar views are also expressed by several other doctors of international repute. For example, in one of his review articles on research in spirituality and health, Dr. Joel Tsevat, Director of Outcomes Research in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, USA has said — “We tend to focus just on what medical professional can address – physical functioning and mental health. In the scheme of things, I think, spiritual well-being is also an important component of someone’s quality of life”.

Without spirituality no resource or support – be that physical vigor, mental sharpness or prosperous social status – can ensure positivity and righteousness in one’s inter-personal dealings and responses to life’s many pressures and challenges and consequent stresses. The conventional approach of ‘clinical health’ cannot take care of tensions and stresses.

“Tension” and “stress” are two universally recognized causes of a wide range of diseases gripping larger and larger section of the developed, urban and upper middle class of the world. The other sections of the human society too are not free from their clutches. Stress is no longer regarded as only a psychological problem. It has been affirmed as a principal cause of psychosomatic disorders such as heart attacks, angina, arrhythmias, hypertension, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, some forms of cancers and certain skin diseases. The modern world has noticed it and efforts are also on to find feasible and effective modes of “stress management” via several kinds of seductive medicines, nerve-relaxing games, exercises, amusement tools and activities for mental diversion and rejuvenation. More and more people are also tending towardsyoga - ³sana practices ^[2] . But “stress” is too complex and deep-rooted to tackle and cannot be removed by external means alone.

The term stress is defined precisely in Physics (Mechanics) as force divided by area of impact. But there is no such pinpointed definition at physiological, neurological or psychological levels. For practical purposes, physicians and psychologists broadly describe ^[1] it as — “a disturbed state of mind resulting from the imbalance between the demands of a person’s environment and that person’s capability to meet this demand”. A close cousin of “stress” is “depression” which also causes or aggravates a wide spectrum of psychosomatic disorders, including low blood pressure, anxiety, suicidal tendency, insomnia, some kinds of cancers, amentia, epilepsy, sciatica etc. It mainly arises due to one’s inability to get what one expects and aspires from the world and from one’s own self.

Neither modern medical science nor any alternative medication mode has been able to ‘cure’ stress and depression without incorporating some sort of psycho-spiritual healing. But then a natural question arises — how spirituality could help combating these problems? In what respect would it be different from and would complement use of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology? Still broader question is what should be the mode of incorporating this new dimension into health care modules? Can health care system ensure health for all by focusing on this component?

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Amrit Chintan : Pujya Gurudev

  - Pujya Gurudev Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya’s Kripa

The Need of Jeevan Sadhana

(Akhand Jyoti,Nov.-Dec.2008)

The Need of Jeevan Sadhana Adopting a controlled, disciplined and well-organized life style is called Jeevan Sadhana. In essence, it is the focused process of cleansing and refining the inner self and making it a fit channel for the flow of divine energies. It involves rooting out the base and animal instincts deeply embedded in the human psyche and replacing them by divine virtues. This trove of virtues can be accessed only by adopting the path of faith, self-discipline and control over the senses. One does not need any outside help in this venture; it is accomplished by the self through sincere and sustained self-effort. It is neither inherited nor achieved as a gift/boon from someone. It is a promptly rewarding Sadhana . 

One does not have to wait for long to get its results, provided the effort is single-pointed and sincere. Its accomplishment can be accelerated by imbibing the virtues of mindfulness and full and unconditional engrossment in the work at hand. For this purpose, one has to develop inner strength to fight the undesirable habits/traits. In fact, earning the capacity/power to make life purposeful has been called chiseling and fine-tuning of personality; and this is J eevan Sadhana . This Sadhana of life spreads the fragrance of purity, love and compassion in the innerself and makes the personality illustrious in the external world. 
In today’s competitive world there is dire need of this Sadhana . 
Thanks GOD,Thamks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Jivan Sadhana-IV ; Pujya Gurudev

Jivan Sadhana - A practical path to fulfilling life 

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The requirement of rest and entertainment should not be confused with dullness or wastage of time. Every passing breath is reducing our life span further. We have to be most cautious of our time if we are to achieve something in life. Look at the accomplished lives in the history of the world; every great achiever, every successful man or woman has made wise and creative use of time. It is an absolute necessity for all those desirous of progress in life. Farsighted use of time becomes possible with zealous assiduity and motivated interest.
It is said that Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity, lives in the radiance of hard-working body.

Prudent industriousness is also a source of physical and mental health. Lethargy and poverty are inseparable companions; so also is true of shortsighted eagerness and failure. These facts should be always remembered as guiding principles. 

You should set a do-able goal along your path of ascent after thorough review of all aspects and organized planning and then do your level best to accomplish it; engage all your talents, efficiency and experience in this regard as though the work-in-hand is a mark of your prestige. Making a harmonious management of time, potentials and efforts is the key to excellence and recognized success. 

Disorganized or half-hearted efforts, idleness and haphazard use of time, on the contrary, retards the progress of even the otherwise skilled and able persons. It is said that one whose time is wasted in lethargy and craving for comfort and whose mind is hazed by dullness and attitude of negligence and delay is destined to meet adversities and decline. An alert and thoughtful combination of busy schedule, focused efforts and abilities is therefore a fundamental requirement for rise and advancement in every walk of life. The diligence and labor of the body will not be of much use and would be nothing more than a burden unless the mind is also engaged in the work at hand. In fact, thoughts lay the basis of actions.
Thought-power or the faculty of thinking is indeed a peerless, immeasurable possession of mankind. It is the source of expression of all mental and intellectual talents; imagination is also a silent reflection of thought-power. Idle mind is said to be the devil’s workshop. What we are, depends upon what we think and hence do. 

Our thoughts are the architects of our destiny. Mental concentration and positive and constructive orientation of thoughts is an arduous and ultimate goal. It is an achievement that may be compared with the attainment of divine boons. 

Thoughts should never be allowed to wander around like stray dogs and peep and lick into the rubbish or rest like pigs in mire and squalor. Training them for wise and constructive thinking should be attempted constantly at an accelerated pace. An army of good thoughts should be kept ready to expel out every vicious or untoward thought as soon as it enters the mind and to clean out the mental pollution. 

Thorn is removed by thorn; evil or negative thoughts should be removed with the help of enlightened thoughts and awakening of faith in divine values. Swadhyaya and Satsang are effective modes of refinement and righteous orientation of thought-power. A topic should be selected for a day or a specific time-slot for deeper and focused thinking. Thinking should always be preserved for a selected theme and should be constructively applied like that of the scientists, philosophers and great personalities. 

There is also a fourth faculty  wealth or materialistic resources. As such, it is earned in this world by human-efforts; but, behind this also lie the above discussed three grand gifts blessed by the Almighty. Earning by moral means and spending it for good purposes is a justified and wise use of this resource. Wealth and worldly resources should be employed in moral uplifting and righteous progress of the family and the society. Not a penny should be allowed to be spent on addictions. 

This discipline, if adopted honestly would help prevention of future-addictions as well and checking the spread of corruption and many other immoral ’uses’ of money. If proper budgeting is planned and the needs are reviewed from time to time to fit in the income, while also keeping some margin for welfare activities, you will find that your present income itself is quite sufficient for happy raising of your family. Restrained and conscious utilization of money and material resources, like that of the physical potentials, time and thought-power constitutes the tapashcarya towards jivana-sadhana. This is the key to perfecting the art-of-living and moving towards a fulfilling path of practical spirituality. 

  Notes: 1. Jivan - Sadhana means  Divine accomplishment of life through holistic refinement of body, mind and the inner self and manifestation of their inherent virtuous qualities. 

2. Sadhana: Dedicated and determined efforts aimed at spiritual elevation and noble accomplishments. 
3. Tapashcarya (tapa or tapasya): Devout endeavor of self-continence and ascetic disciplines motivated towards sadhana of self-refinement and spiritual sublimation. 
4. Satsang and Swadhyaya: Attending enlightening discourses, discussions and studying and contemplating over the sagacious thoughts and glorious works of great personalities on different aspects of life.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Jivan Sadhana -3 ; Pujya Gurudev

Jivan Sadhana - A practical path to fulfilling life 

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

You and the people interacting with you since earlier times would then experience the purification and refinement in your personality in few months’ time. Once the spiritual elevation begins, continuous and dedicated follow-up of these steps will become a natural part of your life. This will lead you to reach the higher goals of jivana-sadhana. It should be recalled that the human self, being a manifestation of the Absolute (the Almighty, Omniscient and Omnipresent Thyself), is also complete in itself. It is the ignorance, waste and misuse of the uncountable bequests available to it that cause the infirmities and defects and put a human being into the pitiable state of life. 

This is like dirtying one’s clothes by the nectar-milk of the Kamdhenu (heavenly cow) because of milking it in a porous pot and then cursing and complaining the latter or its milk. This erroneous, evil tendency of draining out and abusing the immense potentials is called incontinence. 

The courageous, farsighted, devout endeavor of restraining it is called "tapashcarya" or "tapa". Tapa is said to be the source of riddhis-siddhis (supramental talents and preeminent, extrasensory powers). Let us imbibe adoption of tapa in practice in our present-day life. God is invisible. The soul also has no perceivable form. What is visible is � the gross manifestation of Nature and Life. Of all the beings, the life of humans alone has been endowed with three magnificent accessories, which can get it all that it aspires for; these divine gifts are.... 
(i) Highly evolved physical body 

(ii) Time and 

(iii) Thought-power. 

These three can effectuate tapping any potential and achieving any goal whatsoever depending upon how wisely and to what extent one makes use of them. Wealth or materialistic success is not the measure of one’s true intelligence because this can also be acquired by destiny or earned by unfair means. 

The real test of wisdom or farsighted reasoning lies in  how and for what purposes is one spending and employing his potentials and available resources? Those having self-discipline and sagacious control over the mind and the senses gain the truly durable affluence and abilities. Conscious control of senses; quietude of mind; judicious and wise use of time and material resources are the four basic and essential disciplines to be mastered for jivana-sadhana.
The sense of true self-identity as a spiritual being, the remarkable potentials of the physical body and the invaluable faculties of its sense organs are ideally used and their capabilities demonstrated in vigilant self-continence and self-refinement and effacement of the ego through selfless service. 

The treasure of time is indeed invaluable. Every moment of it should be used carefully and constructively. Each one of us must have a timetable to schedule our activities in such a way that there could be no room for idleness and misuse of time.

Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Jivan Sadhana : Pujya Gurudev

Jivan Sadhana - A practical path to fulfilling life 

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

A particle of soil as such has negligible status in external appearance and gross physical terms. But controlled fission (breaking) of its nucleus generates mammoth atomic energy that can shake big mountains and even the entire earth. Similar is true of the human life. If we peep into its deeper structure and sublime domains, we shall find infinite powers in this otherwise perishable and apparently purposeless ’free gift’ of Nature. Even a precious diamond could be thrown away as a mere piece of broken glass because of ignorance and neglect. Then, why should one blame others or the destiny, if one has to face infirmities, failures, sorrows and regression for want of jivana-sadhana for awareness of the mystery and majesty of life?

Negligence of (the sadhana of) life is a sin that most of us continue to commit inadvertently throughout our lives. Other immoral actions or offences might offer some benefits at the gross worldly level, for some time, but the sin of refusal to understand the importance of life and ruining it in evil and meaningless activities always results in further sinking in darkness, diversion and decline. It can never give anything except evaporating one’s potentials, time and resources and making one’s life a virtual hell from one end to the other. If there is any positive sign of the rise of one’s fate, it is his awakening and understanding of the immense potentials of his life and prompt action for its refinement, ascent and constructive channelization. It is a prophesy of the seers that heavens will descend on the earth in the coming "Age of Divine Intelligence" (Pragya-Yug). Its ultimate expression would be realized as the emergence of divinity in humans. Its arrival would be experienced as elimination of vices impregnated in the subtle orbits of mind, purification of thoughts and intrinsic emotional tendencies and virtuous enlightenment of attitude and conduct. The warriors engaged in the battlefield of emotional and mental purification are the truly deserving claimants of everlasting victory. 

The holy Gita describes one’s own self as his most affectionate and all-capable mentor as well as his nearest and most dangerous enemy. Ignorant, disorderly and unobservant life is indeed a curse under which even Kuber (the Lord of heavenly wealth) could be seen trapped in poverty and Indra (the emperor of heavens) could be found suffering from infirmities and helplessness. 

One who succeeds in the graceful Art-of-Living is a true artist. Whatever be his present talents, training and abilities, he would eventually be embraced by triumph from all directions. Rigorous training makes monkeys, snakes, beers, tigers and other animals and birds perfect in amazing skills and performances in the zoos and circuses. Likewise, an uncultured, uncivilized, untrained, ignorant, perverted mentality and character could also be refined and molded in the fire of dedicated sadhana. 

The efforts and resources people spend in defeating the opponents or moving ahead in the rat-race of materialistic attainments, if even half of that is used in self-analysis, self-purification and self-development, it would prove to be a most beneficial, prudent and far-reaching attempt towards lasting satisfaction and nobler achievements. Human personality possesses a kind of magnetic force that is further activated with determination and attracts all the help, opportunities and resources compatible to it. It is not all that difficult to carve one’s chosen course of life, as one often presumes. 

It is quite natural if others don’t understand or obey us, but it is beyond comprehension that our own bodies, our own minds do not listen to us and that we are unable to shape our own attitudes, aspirations and behavior. Then where and why do we fail in controlling our own mind and actions? We need to put this question before ourselves repeatedly and honestly search for the answer. Downward flow of water, or fall of a stone thrown from above are natural; an external force (against the gravitational one) and extra tools are essential for their upthrust. Extra courage, extra effort is also required to adopt a new pattern of life.
It is a challenging task, a truly valorous attempt, a real tapashcarya to break the shell of our own untoward habits, cautiously deviate the set system of our life and bring the positive changes, and amend our thinking and conduct towards higher ideals. It requires an awakened will and zealous attempt to begin with. 

Your own life is your most intimate and loving companion. Before proceeding towards any other goal, you should first see whether you have taken care of this inseparable fellow, which is totally dependent upon you; whether you have fulfilled your most immediate and vital duty of its well-being and graceful progress? It should be clearly understood here that possession of worldly prosperity and resources is relevant only for the body; we need to have the wealth of virtuous qualities, behavior and character for the dignified progress of life. There are two definite and essential ways to prosperous ascent  one, check the loopholes and sources of losses; two, adopt the currently feasible remedies and modes of enhancing the beneficial effects. Some people are seen being bankrupted or ruined while some others attain great achievements on the financial, mental, familial and physical fronts. Neglect of the above two ways or their prudent adoption works behind the failures or successes in such cases. 

This is what applies in the field of jivana-sadhana and radiant development of personality as well. Whether small or big in its dimension, every work needs proper care, planning and thoughtful analysis of all relevant aspects for desired results. Attempting things at random or working in a haphazard way does not lead anywhere; getting results without substantial efforts could be just a coincidence or a matter of chance which certainly can’t be considered a correct or sustainable approach. Discipline, dedication, wisdom, vision and thorough and vigilant attempt become all the more significant in case of enlightened development and progress of life by jivana-sadhana. Continuous and gradually deeper process of manan and chintan (contemplation and thinking) is regarded necessary in jivana-sadhana. Some time in the morning and some time in the evening should be used for this practice, when the mind is in calm and peaceful state. 

A thorough stocktaking of the external and internal states of your life should be taken and possibilities of amending the defects and mistakes, eliminating the deficiencies and furthering and expanding the positive qualities and virtuous potentials should be thought over. The decisions and planned measures of action should be such that whatever is envisaged could be easily and immediately implemented in practice in the present ambience and the current state of one’s mind. Self-analysis, Self-refinement, Self-development and Self-evolution  these four steps like the four legs of the bed or four walls of the room are regarded as most essential and important in manan-chintan for jivana-sadhana. The partisan tendency of being blind to one’s own vices and weaknesses is quite common among most people. Self-analysis corresponds to a fair and thorough review of the negative and positive facets of the external as well as internal personality in the personal, familial, professional and social spheres of life.
This self-study should be such that it allows for objective search of feasible solutions and their adoption towards self-refinement and improvement in terms of present inclinations, physical and mental condition, behavior, work-quality, etc. 

These first two steps constitute the "manan" part. "Chintan" involves the last two steps of development and evolution. Self-refinement and self-development are like regimen and medicament; both are ineffective without the other in the sequence. Constructive thinking and follow-up planning of the actions towards elimination of the wrong or the bad and adoption and augmentation of the good or the brighter features of one’s personality vis--vis the outcome of manan is attempted here. "What is the most avoidable ill tendency that could be easily uprooted at the earliest, and how?"  is thought over and resolved by chintan. Similarly, the positive qualities and refined abilities that purify and glorify the human personality are identified with a focused view on their possible adoption or inculcation in near future considering the present state of body, mind and the external circumstances. Moral grace and virtuous talents both should be incorporated in one’s qualities, deeds and conduct. This is essential for self-development. It is equally important here, to also take care of righteous and creative use of what is available to one as the materialistic resources and talents. Possession is meaningful only if it is employed constructively. Otherwise, if whatever is earned or developed continues to be drained or misused, prosperity would prove to be worse than poverty. Self-evolution means expansion of the self; i.e. relaxing and gradually unwinding the bonds of selfishness, avarice, ambitions and possessive attachments. It includes self-recognition via a deep thinking and feeling of the existence of the self as an integral unit of the entire existence. 

The expansion of the self eventually leads to the unification of the individual consciousness with the cosmic consciousness. While the behavior, character and deeds in day-to-day life are indicative of the level of progress in the other steps of manan-chintan, broadening of attitude, expression of love, generosity and compassion are the immediate indications of self-evolution. 

This is a clear reflection of spiritual enlightenment, if the inner self begins to live in the feeling of "vasudhaive kutumbkam" (entire world as one family) and the soul aspires for shedding all thoughts and feelings of selfishness and ego-centered personality. With evolution of your individual self, your mind and heart won’t just allow you to live without sharing your possessions for the welfare of others, donating your time and efforts for altruistic causes and distributing your love and benevolence for all. At the outset manan and chintan may appear to be mere mental exercises, but practicing them sincerely every day at regular intervals of time will begin to show the gradually intensifying impact of these simple but effective spiritual experiments. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

guide the world : Pujya Gurudev

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya’s Kripa

How can the sick nation guide the world?

(Akhand Jyoti,July-Aug.2010)

Are we healthy?

It is a known fact that if we are healthy then we cherish various offerings of life better. We can also use all tools at our disposal more effectively to achieve happiness. On the other hand, if somebody in the house falls sick, the whole atmosphere of the house becomes dull and gloomy, house members start worrying, relatives and friends start asking questions about the health of the sick family member.  Health is considered a great gift of God. We feel blessed if we are able to perform our daily tasks without any problems or depending on anyone. 

If there are sick people in our nation who are not able to carry on with their daily lives because of their illnesses, then not caring for them amounts to apathy. But, somehow the pains of others do not affect us. We are not leading perfect lives either; we all have some or the other form of physical or mental issues to deal with. Why does the suffering of other people in our country does not bother us? Why don’t we sound an alarm at the national level to deal with it? 

Let’s look at some statistics that form our discussion. 
1)    India has become the diabetes capital of the world. By the end of 2010, we will have 5 crore (50 million) diabetes patients. This disease is mainly hereditary but has drastically increased in the past few years due to change in our lifestyles and diet patterns. China is closest to us and may exceed us by year 2015 with 9 crore (90 million) people suffering from diabetes. There are 33.2 crore (332 million) diabetics in the world, majority of them living in cities. It is estimated that this figure might increase by 170 % by year 2015. 

2)    Cancer is another profoundly increasing condition. Every year 3 lakh (300,000) people die from this disease. After year 2025 this will increase to 14 lakhs (1.4 million) annually; this is the opinion of National Cancer Registry. Currently 20 lakh (2 million) people are getting treated for various types of cancer and 40% of them have very slim chances of survival. 
3)    India is also gradually becoming the hub of Heart ailments. There will be 10 crore (100 million) people suffering from heart related problems by year 2020. Currently this number is around 5 crores (50 million). 15 % of these people need angioplasty right now. 80% of the new cases are from the low and middle income group nations. 

Illnesses from lifestyle: 

Sedentary lifestyle, increasing conveniences, changes in daily routines have lead to an increase in incidences of stroke, cancer, diabetes and heart ailments. These are very painful, life threatening conditions because cost of treatment is very high; and not everybody can afford it. India has spent about Rs 950 hundred millions to fight these diseases in the past five years and will have to spend another Rs 270 thousand millions  in the next five years to deal with these diseases.  This amount is in addition to the money spent on the treatment of communicable diseases like fever, dysentery, diarrhea etc. An important fact is that India is a young nation, which means that nearly half of the patients are below the age of 35. If no attention is paid on the diet and lifestyle of the youth, the nation will continue on the path of illness. 

Increasing death rates of new born babies :Out of every 1 lakh (100,000) babies born, 149 die at the time of the birth and a high percentage of babies die within the first 28 days of birth. There are number of reasons for this; primarily, absence of good medical facilities in rural areas, premature birth, asphyxia, pneumonia and a host of communicable diseases. Female death rates are higher, probably due to negligence. The infant mortality rate has surely come down in recent years due to rising awareness but still the overall rate is higher compared to other nations. 

Junk food and increasing obesity The bad lifestyle and the habit of junk food have badly affected the health of the nation. This is a prime cause of obesity in teenagers and chronic diseases in youth. People eating junk food like pizza, pasta, burgers, samosas, non-vegetarian food can get addicted to it, similar to an addiction of smoking and drinking. Scripps Research Institute of Florida did a research on the effects of potato chips and found that subjects regularly lost control, overate and slowly moved away from a healthy diet. The chances of them getting obese were very high. Rats which were fed the diet of junk food were found to have incidences of obesity. Their brains showed similar addiction symptoms as of users of drugs like heroine or cocaine. 
Obesity and other diseases are increasing rapidly in children in cities and towns of India. The I.Q. of children is also getting affected and western food habits are largely responsible for that.

Traits of a man 

Overeating causes stomach disorders not just in India but in every country. Param Pujya Gurudev observed that,”man is the only animal who can eat whenever he wants”. Animals don’t eat till they feel hungry whereas humans can eat without really feeling hungry and eat a lot more than what is required to satisfy their hunger. If we find tasty food then we stuff ourselves and overeat even if it gives us stomach ache and disorders. Antacids and pain killers have become our best friends. 
Imbalance in diet, lack of physical activity, lack of proper sleep has accelerated our march towards stomach disorders, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma