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