My Life = Pujya Gurudev

Invisible Boons of My Life

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

To me my Guru was everything; his instructions were gospel truth for me; discipline was everything; my submission to his will was total. To a soldier discipline is dearer than life. Call it blind faith, or love for discipline, whatever duty was assigned to me or whatever life routine I was asked to follow have been carried out with utmost devotion and dedication. Two phases of my spiritual life have been completed in 24 years between the age-span of 15 and 40. Deviations from the precepts of "Matrivat Paradashu" and "Lohavat Paradravyeshu" normally occur during this phase of life. This is the period when normally the pull of cravings, lust, greed and ambitions is almost irresistible. This period in my case was spent in studying, thinking, introspecting, self-restraint, meditation and Sadhana. 

Generally persons past adulthood are selected for spiritual Sadhana. People of young age can, and should, shoulder the responsibilities ranging from financial management to military service. There is enough scope in these fields for fulfilling ambitions. The youth can also contribute in service activities. But youth is not the appropriate phase of life for spiritual leadership. There are a few exceptions like Shankaracharya, Dayanand, Vivekanand, Ramdas, Meera, Nivedita etc., who right in their early youth, successfully shouldered the responsibility of spiritual leadership. Generally raw youth is devoid of mature wisdom. Those who enter the public field while still gripped by greed for power and fame and are prone to temptations and sensual attractions, create problems for themselves and the society. Downfall of even the best institutions is caused by such novices. 

Though evil is not restricted to any particular age, the normal perception is that youth is for pursuing ego-centric ambitions. With receding age, a person grows physically weak and so do his material desires. With lurking fear of death entering the mind, an interest in inner life, and religious activities develops. Hence scholarly seers have considered the post-adulthood phase of life appropriate for Vanaprastha (transition from material pursuits to spiritual aspirations) and for Sanyas (renunciation of all worldly pursuits).

I do not know as to why my master engaged me in tapaicarya (life of devout austerity) at a very young age and in accomplishing it when I reached the age of 40. Maybe, he apprehended that I may slip down and get carried off by temptations of name, fame, pelf and power. He must have visualized that without inner strength and maturity, accomplishment of a great missionary task would not be possible; and that it was essential to inculcate in me the qualities of firmness, patience, courage and equanimity as pre-requisites before entrusting me with the great task. Thus, my youth and adulthood were spent in austere Sadhana. Everything went on normally during that period. The only uncommon feature was the "Akhand Deepak" burning day and night with ghee of cow milk. It was kept incessantly burning in the prayer room. Its spiritual or scientific secret was not exactly known to me. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru

Shiv Sharma

Yugarishi’s Advent-vi

Yugarishi’s Advent and India’s Destiny

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Dev Kanyas reciting japa near Akhand Deep in Shantikunj also had almost a similar vision. Before the news of the retreat of Seventh Fleet broke out, Vandaniya Mataji told the sadhakswho came for pranam in the early morning, “A disaster has been averted. Now India will surely win this war; no power in the world can defeat it. You will see that, once the war is over, India will progress day by day.

 It has to shoulder the responsibility of leading the world and very soon it is going to become capable of it.” Ten days after Mother’s forecast and omens and dream-visions of the sadhaks , India won the war; and demonstrated to the world that in spite of its being a developing country, it was capable of facing any challenge and no one could defeat it.

After this victory, India progressed day by day on all the fronts. In fact this destiny of India was written long back. ‘The Tryst with Destiny’ that India’s first Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru mentioned in his famous speech on August 15, 1947 had already been announced long time back; but it was made manifest in the year 1911, when Yugarishi, Acharya Sriram Sharma was born. (To be continued)

Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Yugarishi’s Advent-III

Yugarishi’s Advent and India’s Destiny

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

India too could not remain unaffected by this freedom struggle of Bangla Desh. Those who could not bear the prevailing fiery circumstances started fleeing the country; and for them the natural destination was India. The number of people reaching India went on increasing from thousands to lakhs to crores. India had to bear the burden of feeding these refugees. Those days, the resources were meager; so by levying extra taxes on citizens, the Indian Government was somehow managing the situation.

Not satisfied with the brutal torture of the people of Bangla Desh, the rulers of Pakistan, under the compulsion of political upheaval, declared war on India. The pressure started increasing on eastern and western borders from July 1971, which took the shape of full-fledged war within a few weeks. Those days it appeared that the super powers too were with Pakistan. There was fierce fighting on both the fronts. Within 2-3 days Pakistan’s army was losing the war and it started retreating. When the countries friendly to the attacker sensed the marching forward of Indian army on the Bangla Desh front, they started preparing to take the matter to the Security Council; and USA was leading this initiative. The purpose of such an exercise was obviously to put moral pressure on India.

USA did not stop here. It also increased strategic pressure by ordering its Seventh Fleet to move towards Indian Ocean. At that time it was world’s mightiest warship which carried a fleet armed with warplanes, missiles, guns and sufficient arms and ammunition. From strategic point of view, it was so powerful that it could change the outcome of Indo-Pak war. At that time, Indian Navy too was not strong enough to confidently face the might of the US naval power. As Indo-Pak war turned fierce, the decision in India’s favour was certain within a week or ten days; but after the Seventh Fleet started moving towards Indian Ocean, the circumstances took a different turn. However, suddenly news came on the morning of 7 ^thDecember, 1971 that the Sleet Fleet had reversed its direction and that it was moving away from Indian shores.

What happened? How the circumstances changed overnight? There was no political initiative, no pressure of world polity. Analysts, who are pioneers in American administrative procedures, say that after reaching this stage, Pentagon (America’s Defence Headquarters) never changed its decision. There is no instance, of ordering a naval fleet to move forward and then ordering it to return, in the history of America or any other country. Why did the Defence Ministry of America reverse its decision? The power of declaring or stopping the war rests only with the American President. What was the sudden compulsion confronting the then President, Richard Nixon, which forced him to retreat? Strategic analysts could not find the answer to this puzzle till date.

Was there any Divine intervention? At that time too, there was such a curiosity among the people having faith in God. One sadhak Mohan Devangan of Rajnadgaon (Chhattisgarh) dreamt in the early morning of December 7, 1971 that the American Fleet after crossing the Indian Ocean was entering the Bay of Bengal. It was crossing the border of Sri Lanka and was accelerating its speed every minute. There seemed to be no visible signs of the place but it appeared the warship was right at that point where Rameshwaram Bridge was built. At that spot some stones seemed to be floating. On those stones ‘Ram’ was engraved. The sadhakwho was watching this scene in the dream further saw that a warship (obviously Seventh Fleet) was passing through that region.

Suddenly there was a flash of lightening and a hand with a clinched fist rose from the sea water. First of all the fist appeared, then the forearm, the elbow and the hand seemed to be touching the sky. The fist then opened up and the palm got wider and slowly fully covered the warship. The next moment the situation became normal. The sea appeared calm. The Sadhak in the dream was realizing that the shape of hand appeared to be similar to the one holding ‘Flaming Torch’ (the emblem of our mission).

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Yugarishi’s Advent-II

Yugarishi’s Advent and India’s Destiny

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The aim of research was to collect such material evidences. The findings of this research were later published in the form of a book titled ‘ Samast Vishwa ko Bharat ke Ajasra Anudan ’ (India’s Perennial Gifts to the World). In the writings and speeches of Gurudev, he stressed that India was the Land of Divine Play. A parijan asked him ‘Why is God specially attached to India and takes birth here? We consider ourselves the inheritors of the oldest civilization and culture in the world. If we are no less than others in power, knowledge, skills and organization, then why were we slaves for centuries? If we were very powerful and brave, the aggressors should have never succeeded.’

This question of the parijan was not to express doubt or blame anyone but was out of curiosity. Not many people had the information of the return of Gurudev from Himalayas. Hardly four-six persons used to visit him daily. At that time Gurudev used to work in a room adjacent to Matji’s chamber. In reply to the parijan’s query Gurudev gave a short answer: “India is a country preferred by God. Don’t you know that God has incarnated twenty four times in physical form in this land and has established Truth and Divinity? One cannot estimate the number of Indian sages, seers, saints, yogis, etc. If one counts the number of saints born in all other countries and weighs them with their Indian counterparts, the latter’s pan will be heavier.

 The numerous schools of thought, faiths, sadhana -sects, that are alive and active here cannot be found elsewhere in the world. The remarkable thing is that there exists harmony among all the currents of intellectual and spiritual seekings. Had there been such diverse currents of thought elsewhere, the concerned scholars would have perpetually engaged in denunciation of each other. In India, there is diversity in nature, seasons, rivers, mountains, flora and fauna and even amongst the residents of different parts of the country. Observing this diversity can’t we realize that India is a country preferred by God? Here He is incessantly doing newer and newer experiments with human nature.”

After a moment’s pause Gurudev looked at the parijan intently. Whatever was said in words, far more was transmitted through that gaze. That parijan writes his experience as follows – “The incident inspired me to recollect the memory of my childhood. Whenever I used to encounter any complex question, I would go to my father. He would not directly answer my question nor would he quote any facts / figures; he would tell a few basic things and give an affectionate look. I would forget what the answer to my question was. After listening to his talk and absorbing his affectionate glance I used to get satisfied. It appeared as if I got the key. The book is a closed box which is locked. Get the key, open the lock and find the solution. A short address by Gurudev and his affectionate glance of few moments revived the memories of my childhood.”

“If you want the solution through logic that is also there” - Gurudev said again–“The world is like a wheel. When it revolves, some spokes go up while others come down. This is what exactly happened to India. No race remains on top for ever. The rise is followed by downfall. The slavery of few hundred years may be considered the downfall; but that did not ruin it. Several races have succumbed to the subjection of hardly a few hundred years. The ancient civilizations of Greece, Egypt, Iran and Rome could not survive. Their original civilizations have vanished long back. India was subjugated and suppressed far more longer than the civilizations of these countries. Even then, today it is standing on its own feet. Will you call it the destruction of India or the proof of its will to survive? Even if you see in the light of facts, you will find that there is something that has kept India intact and unconquerable.”

One more sample of the grace of Rishisatta was observed in the form of a major incident in December 1971. Those days India-Pakistan war was going on. Almost everyone knows the circumstances prior to this war. Thousands of refugees were crossing over to India everyday from East Pakistan (now Bangla Desh). The rulers of Pakistan were torturing the public brutally. The natural resources of East Pakistan were mostly used by the governing people in West Pakistan. People of East Pakistan bore this brunt for nearly twenty years and raised their voice for their just and lawful rights. Instead of fulfilling their genuine demands, the rulers adopted the policy of negligence and repression. When this repression and tyranny became unbearable, the people of East Pakistan revolted. When the government’s repressive measures took the form of brutality, the people’s resistance took the shape of the wild fire of a bloody revolution which resulted in the creation of Bagla Desh as an independent state.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Yugarishi’s Advent -I

Yugarishi’s Advent and India’s Destiny

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Twentieth century or the past hundred years had been the years of major upheaval and radical changes not only for Indian society but also the history of world. In the year 1905, the reaction that was witnessed in the entire country after the division of Bengal and the way in which the nationalist sentiments were aroused in the years to follow, ultimately resulted in the form of freedom of India 42 years later. The incident of ‘ Bang - Bhang ’ (division of Bengal) was only an instrument. In a broader perspective, however, it was not so significant that it could change the destiny of British Rule. Six years later in 1911, the division was revoked but that spark awakened the entire nation; and the thirst for freedom in the Indian public went on increasing.

The division of Bengal stirred up the emotions of millions of children of Mother India. They got united and organized and after passing through many stages like protest against the Rowlett Act, the tragedy of Jalianwala Bagh, Non-cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience, Satyagrah , Boycott of Simon Commission, Quit – India Movement, etc culminated in freedom of India on August 15, 1947.Did India really win Independence? The occult vision of Siddha Purushas , gifted with divine insight, sees something different. According to them, the freedom of India is a part of a larger Divine Plan. According to that Plan, the world has to enter a spiritual era. India is destined to play a crucial role in the ushering of the new era, because it has a unique message to deliver to the world. It is capable of giving a new direction to the destiny of the human race.

 If India’s independence is a part of the Divine Plan, why did this country become slave at all? Answering this question Sri Aurobindo wrote at length in the April 1908 issues of ‘Bande Mataram’. Its essence is as follows: “England’s time is over in Hindustan. It is God’s will that England should rule India for sometime. The entire world was surprised to see how easily British rulers captured the entire country. People thought that this was made possible due to extraordinary genius and power of British rulers. Indeed, England helped propagate this notion and got greatly benefited by it.

“But the truth is that England never won India. Before it could know ‘why and how’, they returned India to its natives. In general, those who worked for England were really trivial people, leaving aside a few exceptions. Without God’s grace they would not have been able to make place in history or elsewhere. The defeat of India can neither be attributed to the genius or power of the winning side nor to the weakness of the dependent race. It is such a miracle of the history that cannot be explained. It may be said that it is such an example in which without any specific virtues, a great task was assigned to an agency; and an angel was supervising that the given task was completed in time.

“Once that goal is achieved, the messenger of God who is protecting England and is removing its obstacles and solving its problems will no longer serve as its shield. England will remain here so long as India needs it. Once this need is fulfilled, it will have to go back; because the British rule neither came here by virtue of its own power, nor it is surviving on its strength. India will achieve its goal whether England helps it or not or even if it opposes.”

In the first decade of twentieth century, except for Bang-Bhang movement, there was hardly any incident, by which it would appear that the dormant consciousness of India was getting awakened. There was certainly fierce opposition to the division of Bengal. However it was not that strong that one could forecast on its basis the independence of India. Yogi Vishnu Bhaskar Lele, who initiated Sri Aurobindo into Yogavidya, called the revolutionaries opposing this division as the instruments of God. He also said that India is a nation that will achieve freedom through Divine Dispensation.

In the following lines the context that is being described matches very well with this message of Yogi Lele. It was the year 1972, when Param Poojya Gurudev Pt Sriram Sharma Acharyaji had just returned from the Himalayas after spending about six months in some spiritually surcharged esoteric regions. Gurudev was sitting on a chair on the first floor of the main building of Shantikunj, where now his and Mataji’s Padukas (wooden slippers) are kept. A discussion on the research on how to acquaint the world about the grandeur and glory of India was going on. If we wish to tell the world about our greatness and glory, we need the facts and figures too. (Countinue)

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Health Tips-III, Pujya Gurudev

Your Health: Guidelines from Ayurved

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Common Modes of Medication in Ayurveda: Ayurvedic medicines are usually available in the forms of vati (tablets), curna (powder of herbs), ras-bhasma (specially grinded, prepared fine powders of processed herbs), syrups and decoctions of different types asava, arishta, kwatha or kadha etc. Apart from these, some herbal oils and ointments are also prescribed for external use. The following are general guidelines for using the different classes of Ayurvedic medicines. 

For vati and churna: These types are usually recommended to be taken around 10-20 minutes after meal. Should be taken with warm water in case of diseases due to vataj-kapha dosha, and with normal water in case of pitta doshas. Unless they taste bitter or pungent, the tablets (vatis) should preferably be chewed rather than gulped down with water. The special tablets like muktadi, madhunashini and kayakalpa vatis are recommended to be taken with fresh water about one hour before meals. Often people use some curnas just because of their taste and soothing effects on digestion. This is not correct, such curnas are also medicinal e.g. for controlling acidity and might cause imbalance in the dosha levels; these should also be taken only as per the doctors advice. 
For rasa and bhasmas: These are usually eaten with honey, fresh cream of milk or with warm water (depending upon the dosha and ailment type) at least half-an-hour before meals. 
For asava and arishta: These are drunk with fresh water (mixed in equal proportion) about 10 to 15 minutes after meals. 

For kwatha (kadha): Kwatha should be best drunk freshly prepared at timings as prescribed by the doctor. It is recommended that nothing should be mixed in it. However, if it is bitter in taste and one just can't bear that bitterness then minimal quantity of honey or sugar-crystals (mishri) could be mixed. 
For kwatha-bathing: At times, depending upon the type and state of disease, bathing or fomenting in the steam of boiling kwatha of specific types are advised. In such cases, the prescribed herbal medicines are to be cooked in a pressure cooker with about 1-1.5 kg water. A tube of appropriate size (and of material that could bear the high temperature) is to be connected at the outlet for steam (where usually a weight-whistle is kept on the cooker). A small piece of cloth is tied on the other end of the cloth; the desired body-part is exposed to this end at a safe distance so that direct spray of steam does not burn the skin. If available, an appropriate steaming device should be used instead of pressure-cooker. After steaming for prescribed duration of time, the desired body part should be fomented by gently bathing it in the medicinal solution (left in the cooker) while the latter is cooled up to a bearable temperature. 
For Massaging (by Ayurvedic oils): Massaging of the particular body-part should always be done gently and at a slow pace. Its direction should always be towards the heart. If the guidelines and disciplines of Ayurvedic medication and preventive care are followed strictly, the patients enjoy fast recovery and natural vigor thereafter. In the succeeding issues we shall look at the therapeutic and other important aspects of Ayurveda.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

The Triad of Personality = Pujya Gurudev

Thought, Character and Conduct - The Triad of Personality

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

“Sam vah prchyantam tanvah sam manamsi samuvrrata Sam vonyam brahmanaspatirbhargah sam vo ajigamat”.- Atharvaveda: 6/74/1

"May your body, mind (thought), dharma (character) and action (conduct) be in synergy. May God, the Lord of knowledge, harmonize you, and the Lord of splendour integrate you." Understanding the different dimensions of personality and a proper synthesis between them provides energy for jivana sadhana. It is absolutely essential for such a sadhaka to become fully familiar with his own personality and know which are the aspects, that express his inner consciousness. Personality is a widely used term. It is used in different meanings and connotations in psychology. Psychologists have written much about it. But still most of the people remain ignorant of the essence or real meaning of the term. 

The depths of personality yet remain unfathomed. In the beginning, the psychologists may have understood the word personality simply as a derivative of the Latin persona, meaning a mask or facade or outer covering. But now it is commonly accepted that the real reasons behind human behavior remain hidden in the depths of his interior. If we are to reach at the root of a mans conduct, we will have to dig through the layers of his character and mind. Without properly knowing these entities an objective explanation of his conduct will be impossible.
A meaningful definition of personality may be given as the aggregate of a persons characteristic features and qualities. These features and qualities are manifested in his external conduct but their origins go far deeper and remain hidden in his thoughts and samskars (persistent mental impressions). This is also spoken of by the rishis  "yanmanasa dhyayati tadvacha vadati; yadvacha vadati, tatkarma karoti; yat karmaa karoti, tadbhisampadyate". Meaning: As a man thinks in his mind, so is his speech; as he speaks, so does he conduct himself; as is his conduct, so does he become.

Thought, character and conduct - these form the three-dimensional identity of personality. Between these three, the first dimension is of thought. It consists of that which we think and keeps cropping up and circulating in our ideas and imaginations. 

The continuity and intensity of this thought shapes our character. The process of this character building is very gradual, because the underlying basis of character is the samskars or innate dispositions which lie dormant in the depths of the unconscious mind. As long as the intensity of thought does not reach the stage where it can refine the samskars, the character remains totally unaffected. This very composite of thought and character is reflected in the conduct. So, if the personality is to be refined and developed to its fullest potential, and along the right path, it would be imperative to mould its three-dimensional nature afresh. 

There is an instructive anecdote about moulding the personality in this way. In South India there was a very learned and tapasvi sage, Sadashiva Brahmendra Swami. Those days he was studying vedanta in his gurus ashrama. His whole time was spent in study, contemplation and tapa. Once a renowned scholar, Pandit Mahashaya, visited the ashrama. It so happened that soon he and Sadashiva Swami were locked in a debate. In no time, Sadashiva Swami, with his dazzling scholarship, tore all his adversarys arguments to shreds and reduced him to a position where the Pandit Mahashaya had to apologize and retreat.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma