Guru-Tatva –III

The Grandeur and Glory of Guru-Tatva –III

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

                      sraddha means unflinching faith, intrinsic belief in and devotion for divine ideals and virtues. The inner force of sraddha makes one so firm and strong from within that nothing can perturb him from the chosen path of high ideals. It induces new strength and radiance in his personality and makes him worthy of divine grace and virtues. The sakti of Sri Ramkrishna Paramhans was bestowed upon Vivekanand because the latter deserved it; or, in other words, because his personality had that magnetism to attract the divine force.

                       The saints, the siddhas, bless the devotees and disciples according to their worthiness. Sraddha - to the extent of total surrender (of self-identity) before the noble Guru is the main criteria for the disciple’s spiritual elevation. The lives of the noble gurus - great rishis, sages and saints themselves stand as testimonies of absolute sraddha in divine disciplines and ideals. My divine Guru (angelic rishi from the Himalayas) had beatified my life on the auspicious Vasant Panchami day in 1926. If you find any siddhi in me, it is all because of my sraddha, my unconditional dedication to the noble ideals and duties set before me by him... Every breath of mine, every moment of my life is devoted to his work.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Guru-Tatva –II

The Grandeur and Glory of Guru-Tatva –II

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

           (Translation of a discourse in Hindi on "Guru-tatva Ki Mahima Aur Garima" Delivered by Rev. Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on Guru Purnima, 1981 -Continued from previous issue) The history of the world testifies that it is a handful of eminent personalities who shaped the fate of any society or nation in a given period of time. For example, if you remove the great saints, sages, reformers, patriotic leaders and other great personalities from the history of India, what will remain there? 

Our precious heritage and glorious history, which we feel so proud of, is in fact the history of the jewels of personalities. They might not have been learned or talented people, but such was the radiance of their character, the aura of their personalities, that mighty crowns and sparkling treasures and magnificent talents were voluntarily offered at their feet. Their nobility could rule over the hearts of the masses. Our divine culture, our majestic glory, our crowing history, our lovable nation is a creation, a gift, of the angelic personalities like - the Rishis of Vedic Age, Lord Buddha, King Harishchandra, Adi Shankaracharya, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekanand, etc. I was telling you that sraddha is the source of inculcation of divine virtues in the personality. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Occult Science = Pujya Gurudev

Occult Science of Astrology and its Role in Healing and Health

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The positive role of astrology in spiritual healing has been demonstrated through the ages. If the spiritual healer is well versed in astrology he can draw a very close estimate of the patients past and future courses of life. True, in modern times astrology has become a victim of many kinds of misconceptions and criticisms. Variety of malpractices and superstitions have tarnished and overshadowed the basic scientific premises of this great science. But if these layers of popular blind beliefs are unpeeled and its real character deciphered, its scientific worth becomes apparent. It is a very effective technique of personality assessment. It gives a glimpse into a persons latent potentialities and future prospects. It fairly accurately predicts what major hurdles one will be coming across in life or which ill-fortunes are likely to befall him at which specific points of time. But for this, it would be necessary to have a clear understanding of its nature and functioning. Modern science accepts the truth that this universe is instinct with energy. Indeed, the physicists have now gone to the extent of according primacy to energy waves over material particles. 

They hold that matter is only an illusive appearance; the substratal reality is nothing but energy. Everything in this creation whether animate or inanimate was pure energy before taking form, will dissolve into the cosmic formless energy waves after physical death. The scientist and the spiritualist both agree that this all-pervading energy has many levels and states, which are continually changing. This perpetual flux is the cause of the origin, sustenance and dissolution of the creation. 
There is, however, a theoretical disagreement though between the scientists and the spiritualists as to why this change occurs.

While science ascribes this to mere chance factor, the spiritual viewpoint considers it as born out of the cosmic consciousness-force as an absolute necessity for the creational process. According to this view, change in the circumstances of a human being, a higher order living being, is caused and guided by his actions, thoughts, emotions and resolves. 

This is the core premise of the science of astrology. This science also postulates that in this life-long cycle of changes the different levels of the cosmic energy are also affected in some way. These different energy levels have been classified by the experts of astrology in symbolic codes, which are expressed as navagraha (the nine planets), twelve zodiac signs, twenty-seven naksatras (constellations), etc.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Faith =Pujya Gurudev

Enlightened Faith is the Need of the Hour

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

We are living in one of the most crucial periods of history, when humanity is passing through a momentous inner churning and transition into a new era of unitary consciousness. The voices of unrest, the sighs of disappointment, which we see throughout the entire world, demand a revolutionary change in our outlook and behavior, exemplifying the noblest ideals of humanity understanding, compassion, mutual sharing and caring. If we do not consciously live these noble virtues and resolutely throw out of our psyches the devils of hatred, anger, avarice, etc, we will be committing collective suicide. We have acquired enough knowledge to create a great civilization and a bright future, but have not gained enough wisdom to apply this knowledge for the good of all. In the form of ideals, thoughts and principles, we have the rich treasures of the ages, but lack the wisdom, foresight and will to put them into practice. 

Our achievements in terms of fathoming and discovering the underlying principles of nature and its workings are mind-boggling, but we need more earnestness, nobility, courage and discipline to harness them for positive ends. Man is in agonizing search of the purpose of his life which is enlightened awareness of his identity with the immutable and eternal Supreme substratum of the cosmic foam and flux of creation. Despite all our material progress, the degree of insecurity, the worthlessness and futility of life that we experience today were never felt by the preceding generations because of an all-pervading loss of faith in our Divine origin. Such a firm faith has ever been the force that kept common people dedicated to nobility and goodwill. 

Lack of such a living and unwavering faith is the root cause of our plight. What we need today is an all-encompassing faith in Divinity for the entire humanity, to which all existing religions can make their contributions. We direly need such a redeeming and unifying faith; otherwise our very existence as a species is in mortal peril. Let us listen to the wakeup call of the scriptural admonishment What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

Possible = Pujya Gurudev

Possible in the Mist of Impossible 

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The life is filled so much with uncertainty, doubt and obstructions that it appears almost impossible to overcome these road-blocks. Every moment, a person has to wage a Mahabharat-like war within himself. In Srimad Bhagwadgita, Kurukshetra (the battlefield of Mahabharat) has been called Dharmakshetra (the field of righteousness), because it is here that the battle for the victory of the divine over the devil, light over darkness and love over hate has to be accomplished. In the war of Mahabharat, the army of Yadavas & Sri Krishna's clan lost in sensual indulgence and hence instruments of evil - was with the Kauravas (symbol of evil). Krishna (The Divine Incarnate) alone, that too weaponless, was with Pandavas (chosen instruments of the Divine). Life too is like that. 

All the powers of the physical world (rhetorically the mighty army of Yadavas) are allies of Adharma. A sadhak has to choose between the Divine and his mighty army. It is not that Krishna was the charioteer of Arjun alone; He is eternally sitting in the heart of everyone of us and controlling our chariots of life. However, when we as sadhaks face the legions of devilish tendencies of greed, selfishness, cunningness, etc in our surroundings and evil traditions in the society, our nervousness is but natural. Arjun, too, was initially nervous and unsure of victory but he did win, once he unconditionally offered himself to serve as an instrument of the Divine Charioteer & in response to the Divine Teacher's assurance & Ma ekam sharanam vrij. 

 "Similarly, when a sadhak puts aside all ego-based self-effort and surrenders to the Divine alone and trusts His sole guidance with all his soul, mind and body, he is sure to overcome all the obstacles of the path and reach the ultimate goal. It is such sadhaks who can make possible all the impossible " looking tasks.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma

My Life-III, Pujya Gurudev

Invisible Boons of My Life

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

The illumination I was feeling within my body, mind and soul - in the gross, astral and causal bodies - might have been its repercussion. Throughout the duration of Upasana this light was glowing in the senses, just like the room was illuminated by the ever alight lamp. Everything about me became illuminated, the veil of darkness was removed, desires and cravings vanished. Mind and body were radiating illumined feelings, thoughts and actions. The ocean of light was undulating everywhere and I was merrily swimming in it, like a fish in the lake. The role played by these sensations in the development of the power of self, divine outlook, and joy is beyond description.

Maybe it is my imagination, but had not the Akhand Deepak been kindled my inside too would have perhaps remained as dimly lighted as the prayer room. Now it is seen glittering like the festive light of Diwali. It is in this emotional flow that the magazine I started years back in 1937 was christened "Akhand Jyoti ", the name that I liked the most in the world. Maybe it is due to this devotional start that the small sapling has now grown so large that its present circulation is estimated to be over 10 lakhs and the magazine is spreading its enlightened message all over the world. 

On entering the third phase of Sadhana, the rays of "matrivat Sarvabhuteshu" began to illuminate my soul. The first two phases i.e. "Matrivat Paradareshu" and "Lobhavat Paradravyeshu" were concerned with my own body only. When sin entered in the two eyes, the third eye of discernment made it beat a hasty retreat. The body was subjected to austere discipline and snapped the roots out of which sinful sprouts originated. So the evil tendencies had no soil to take roots. The "Sadhana of Matrivat Paradareshu" was mastered without any difficulty. Mind created a little trouble in the beginning, but the body was always at my command and control.

 The mind ultimately accepted defeat and began to cooperate like a good friend. By voluntary adoption of poverty and minimizing the needs to the barest, as well as giving up the tendency to hoard, there was no question of coveting "paradravya" (others wealth). When ones own earning was adequate to feed the stomach and cover the body, why to covet others things? Whatever could be saved after meeting the minimal needs was distributed among others. Those who are by nature prone to giving and distributing and deriving joy out of it can never hoard. 

A life style based on minimum needs, simplicity and a non-hoarding Brahmana (One who is devoted to spiritual pursuits and leads a simple altruistic life) has filled my inner-self with unexplainable happiness and contentment. Had this happiness and contentment been the way of life of masses, there would have been hardly anyone wanting to earn sin, by coveting others wealth. Merely boasting to be an Aparigrahi (non-coveter) would not do. How many can feel in themselves the unique joy that comes out of giving? In my case, I got the treasure of these divine gifts effortlessly.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru

Shiv Sharma

My Life II, 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. The installation of Akhand Deepak in the prayer room is part of this process. After relying on the Guide and fully submitting to him, there was no question of doubt or debate. On being told that Akhand Deepak had a role in the Sadhana prescribed to me, I simply complied with it and kept it burning throughout the duration of 24 Puraicaranas. Later on, it became dearer than life. It could be put out after 24 years, but such a thought was tantamount to extinguishing my own lamp of life. Hence it was decided to keep it lighted.

When I was away in unknown parts of Himalayas, my dedicated soulmate (my wife) would take care of it. Had I been alone without a soulmate, I would not have been able to do any other Sadhana. It was very difficult to keep the Akhand Deepak ever lighted. Servants, disciples or people of weak spiritual conviction would not have been able to do so. It could not have been possible by mere external alertness; it needed total inner dedication, which only a true soulmate could provide. Maybe, this Akhand Deepak is symbolic of Akhand Yagya. The joss sticks may be playing the role of material for oblation, japa playing the part of recitation of mantras, and the Deepak (Lamp) playing the part of offering of ghee in the sacrificial fire.

In this way an automatic process of sacrificial offering may be getting accomplished. The pitcher of water and the lamp kept together could be instrumental in producing vaporization in a subtle way and be generating some subtle power, like steam in an engine. Or it may be that this external light is helpful in kindling the light within. Whatever it may be, I have been getting spiritual light and inner bliss from this Akhand Deepak in ample measure. This lamp placed on the pedestal was burning externally in the beginning. Later I experienced that the lamp was burning within me in the same form and was illuminating my entire inner being as the outer one illuminated the room. 

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru

Shiv Sharma