Thursday, December 9, 2010

Four Pillars of Self-Development - I. Pt.Shri Ram Sharma Acharya

Pujya Sadguru Pt. ShriRam Sharma's Thought
Pujya Sadguru Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya known as "Yugrishi" and also Great Scientific Thinker.Sadguru wrote about self -Development .

Four Pillars of Self-Development - I

(Translation of a discourse by Poojya Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on �Atmonnati Ke Char Adhara � delivered in 1980) Let us begin with the collective chanting of the Gayatri Mantra:
 �Om Bhur Buva� Swa�, Tatsaviturvare�yam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yona� Prachodayat ||�
Sisters and Brothers, Our �Yug Nirman� mission has been organized as a laboratory. In a laboratory of chemistry, new chemicals and compounds are invented and presented to the world with a demonstration of their properties and use. Our mission is experimenting on the �formulae�, on the workable and viable plans for spiritual ascent and reconstruction of the world. Our Yug Nirman mission is a man-making odyssey. It is developed like a nursery to nurture good qualities, to produce enlightened talents.
As you know, saplings of a variety of plants and trees are grown in a nursery and supplied to different gardens where they blossom with beautiful flowers and nutritious fruits. Our laboratory is like an agricultural farm where varieties of crops of better health-values are cultivated based on thorough research and the beneficial knowledge and technology is distributed for wider application. Our Yug Nirman mission is like a school for the training, development and chiseled refinement of personality. It is an academy to produce the future architects of a happier, harmonious, and integrated society. After all what is the society? It is a congregation, an ensemble of people. People make the society and their collective qualities and conduct shape up the �character� (reputation) of the society.
Transformation of individuals leads to transformation of the society. Therefore, illumined ascent of men and women to a higher level of consciousness leads to transmutation of the society, thus altering the trends of time and creating a new, better, world. This is what �Yug Nirman� aims at. The four definite steps to achieve this lofty goal are � vyakti nirma�a, pariwara nirma�a, samaj nirma�a and yug nirma�a (personal, familial, social and global transformation and evolution). We firmly believe in the pledge � �Hama Badalenge, Yuga Badalega�; �Hama Sudharenge, Yuga Sudhrega� (When we transform ourselves, the trends of our times will be transformed. When we reform ourselves, the world will be reformed). It is obvious that we cannot experiment on the entire world; all the people across the globe cannot even be reached in feasible time. As we know, charity begins at home.
So we have to begin with a small group, with our own selves, our families and friends. If all of you endeavor sincerely, the �Gayatri Pariwar� of our mission will become a model for others to follow. This way, gradually the ripples of change will encompass the whole ocean. So the first and most important task before us is self-refinement, self-development. For this we will have to first identify and focus our attention on the central root that directly or indirectly governs the course of our lives. Think and ponder over what really makes one what one is as a person? It is the force of intrinsic tendencies of the mind. The hidden desires activated by these tendencies drive the mind and generate the corresponding currents of thoughts and trigger the brain for matching actions. Although the conscious mind appears to be our decision maker and manager with the brain being its counterpart at the level of the physical body, the real ruler is our unconscious mind. The intrinsic impressions on it are so intense that these block even the voice of the soul. So, for self-refinement and self-transformation, it is essential that we first purify our inner self � especially the unconscious mind, reign in its passions and control its wayward tendencies that dominate our desires, thoughts and actions. Transformation of the central root will transform our life in no time.
Thousands of complications, adversities and problems in one�s life flow from one�s nature, outlook and inner personality. Negative attitude, deluded perspectives, one�s own vices and infirmities and wrong thinking often invite or add to adversities and problems. It is said that one becomes what one thinks and does. Indeed, most of the present circumstances of life are the results of one�s own past actions and aspirations. Well, whatever be the present situation of your life, the best you could do is to face and tackle the hardships with patience, courage and balanced reasoning. If the circumstances are favorable today, make the best use of them for a better future with farsighted vision and prudence. In any case, the process of your self-purification and improved thinking should not stop.
You might wonder what exactly is meant by self-refinement, self-transformation and self-development and how to go about it? To achieve this you will have to adopt four disciplines � samyam, swadhyaya, sadhana, and seva. These are like four essential steps of the excelsior of human life, four foundational pillars of the edifice of accomplished life, four resources of divine ascent of human self. All the fours are interwoven. We cannot expect elevating our life without anyone of them. For growing a crop, four things are crucial � seed (or sapling), soil, water and sunlight (or some source of vital elements). If you want to do a business, again a quadruple is a must; namely, capital, experience, demand and customer! Combination of four things � bricks, cement, iron and wood is essential for building even an ordinary house.
Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru
Shiv Sharma

 

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