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[In order to give impetus to the activities of Yug Nirman Mission, Poojya Gurudev urged his followers to bring about upliftment in the quality of their lives.  In this connection, he circulated the following guidelines. On Guru Poornima Parva, let us resolve to put into practice, with all humility, his advice to the Yug Shilpis. – Editor]

The members of Gayatri Pariwar (Pragya Parijans) have to perform the double role as spiritual aspirants and social welfare workers.  For this purpose, resolute endeavors need to be made to inculcate the following virtues. 

1. True purpose of life and the way to achieve it

Life need to be perceived as the highest gift of God.  Its aim is to develop excellently and elegantly the garden of God, this world.  In this endeavor both the objectives of self-development and well-being of the society are to be pursued simultaneously. Therefore, do not get snared into worldly ties of passions, longings, avarice and infatuation.  Play a pious drama and spread out the wings of noble disposition in the empyrean of exalted aspirations; and, like a liberated soul, soar high to accomplish the ultimate aim of the supreme good.  Never look back; work for the bright and prosperous future.

Lead life like an ascetic of true knowledge (Gyan Yogi), put human efforts like an ascetic of detached action (Karma Yogi), spread good-will like an ascetic of devotion (Bhakti Yogi).

Think, each morning as a new birth and each night a death.  Keep company of the enlightened and the wise.  Chant at least three rosaries of Gayatri Mantra daily, meditating on the effulgence of Sun with deep reverence. 

2. Diligence

Time is life. Keeping this fact in mind, each moment need be devoted to diligent work.  Consider laziness and negligence as the worst enemies.  In this context perverted habits need be rooted out mercilessly. Ensure that the work undertaken is done sincerely, steadfastly and with perfection. This trait will lead to success in all your endeavors.

Never consider any work as low.  Working in the right time and right manner, utilizing the best capabilities, should be considered as a question of honour.  During free hours pick up work for yourself, without waiting for instructions from others.  There is only one measuring scale to judge progress: to what extent has one shown zeal and zest for what he is doing.

3. Tidiness

Be a lover of beauty. Cleanliness, simplicity and good-taste jointly form beauty.  In this context, be vigilant and careful about your own body, clothes, bed-roll, home and place of work. 

In addition to making your workplace tidy and well organized; help in keeping those of your friends similarly clean and tidy.  In case you fail to understand a certain thing, ask friends.  Complete the work with humility and good-will.  Finding faults with others, accusations, and deriding others create bitterness even when helping and rendering service.  Keeping these things in mind, gladly cooperate with your friends in organizing things well.

Follow the dictum 'early to bed and early to rise' and keep a diary of what you do.  Ensure best utilization of your time, effort, thought, money and influence.  Inveterate habitual ways of life need be brought under scrutiny.  Be attentive and work according to the plan.


4. Exemplary Conduct

Respectful and refined talk combined with gracefulness is an important component of exemplary conduct.  It ought to be made an integral part of your disposition.  Practice restraint. Rectify wayward habits. Extend warm courtesies at partings and meetings.  Be pleasant and inculcate the habit of smiling softly.  Never show your tiredness, nor sullenness; speak less and listen more.  Display no arrogance.  Instead of 'I' use 'we'.  No sycophancy. Keep excess of sentimentality, excitement, harshness, irritation, craziness at a bay.  Express yourself with sweetness and urbanity.  Show no anger.  Never jump into conclusions in haste.  Try to understand the facts.  Reach conclusion after comprehensive consideration.

Perform civic duties.  Give attention to moral code of conduct.  Keep yourself away from criticism and demerits of deriding, blaming or slandering.  Where there is a need to rectify the behaviour of others, expound the merits and expose the demerits; then put forward your suggestions for improvement politely.

5. Restraints

Realize the capabilities you have attained as regards your human efforts, time, thought, money and talent and think of further developing the same.  Never allow even a moment to go waste.

Restrain the senses.  Guard against temptation for delicious food and amorous thoughts.  Make a daily routine and follow meticulously.  Never shirk your responsibility of doing your part in any work.  Imbibe healthy habit of studying good literature.  Engage your mind in meditation and in chiseling your personality.  To drive out evil thoughts, position an army of noble thoughts.  Keep accounts clean and detailed. Avoid hoarding.  Never live beyond your means.  Be wary of taking loans.  Nurture noble traits.  Follow the maxim of 'simple living and high thinking'.  Save yourself from degrading habits of luxurious life style. Austerities and restraints make individuals strong: bodily, mentally, morally and spiritually.

6. Intimacy of Soul Kinship

Be a retrospective, but do not suffer the curse of isolation.  Live and work together with others harmoniously. Consider yourself a part of the society and your well-being as a part of the public good. In thoughts and conducts adopt an attitude of familial relationship with your colleagues.

Organize people's cooperation in place of separate entities.  Exchange of mutual cooperation and help to the best possible degree need be nurtured.  Never adopt or accept cooperation for intrigue.

Scope of intimacy is quite vast.  To consider a few as one's own and trying to fulfill their demands is infatuation.  Utilize your capabilities to foster noble disposition.  Love your country, religion, society and culture.  Consider all your own and yourself as of others.  The practical form of this 'Self' shines in the welfare of the people.  Practice generosity and attain boons of contentment and self-esteem.

7.  Use discernment regarding customs and rituals

Adopt foresightedness and discernment regarding the welfare of the masses, instead of giving importance to popular views.  If popular customs are undesirable, never get swayed by them.  To every aspect of personal and social life apply your own judicious intelligence. Support righteousness and oppose unrighteousness.  This rule need be followed in every case, even if it is the case of your own self or of your friends or relatives.

At present, in most of the social customs, we find immorality, stupidity and undesirability in abundance. This requires revolutionary changes in the moral, intellectual and social fields.  Feel the necessity of these and set about accomplishing them.  Play the role of an ascetic for self-refinement, role of a spiritualist in shaping and nurturing the family and that of a brilliant leader for social activities and environment.  Be virtuous, cultivate valor and courage, and demonstrate acrid vigor in rooting out immorality and in fostering morality.

Few rules of thumb for mass contact

Those Parijans who want to enter the field of social service should be attentive as regards some restraints.  Service is important, no doubt, but the personality level of a social worker is more important.  Turning the mission into a popular movement needs inspiring, changing and reforming the masses. It is quite urgent, but more important is the quality of personality of the volunteer.  Thought, character and intrinsic behavior of the volunteers need to be imbued with nobility. It applies to a great extent for each and every Parijan.  In this context following basic restraints are advocated.

1. Give up the craving for delicious food.  Never express your preference for a
particular dish. 

2. Do not talk with a woman all alone.  If there is anything to say, express it
modestly, looking down. 

3. Keep the accounts crystal-clear.  Issue receipts for the amounts received.  Note
down the expenditure, supported by valid invoices / documents against each 
entry.

4. Give particular attention to personal behaviour and conduct.  It should be polite 
and respectful. 

5. Have simplicity of a 'Brahman' as regards dress and demeanour.   


I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.                                                       
                               
-    Helen Keller  

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