Magazine - Year 2009 - Version 1
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Our Great Heritage of Yagya- II - Amritvani
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(Translation of a discourse by Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya on
“Hamara Yagyiya Paramparaa” - continued from the previous issue)
Friends,
The gist of what I have told you is that — if you are kind, cooperating, caring and diligent, know how to be cheerful and how to channelize your thoughts; if you have the sense of responsibility and necessary skill of self-management, you manage your familial and social duties well and spend money as per the planned economic budget, then in my views you are a great devotee of Gayatri and a good yajaka1.
Doing yagya is referred in our shastras as a great puñya – an auspicious welfare activity, which brings enormous benefits. The fire of yagya sublimates the herbal preparations sacrificed in it and spreads the healthy effects thereof all around. It purifies the atmosphere and also has enormous healing effects on the mind-body-system. That is the great science of yagya about which I shall talk some other time. Here we are discussing the philosophy of yagya and its relevance and need in today’s world.
The cycle of Nature itself is a yagya and every component of Nature, from the sea to the clouds, from trees to the rivers, from planets to atoms, etc reflects the philosophy of yagya, which is – distribute and expand the good; serve your level best for others’ welfare.
Every step in the process of yagya, which we perform as a sacrament (fire-ritual), resonates its philosophy in one form or the other. Yagya is basically a collective activity. Several people perform it simultaneously. Organizing a major yagya requires cooperation and contributions of many people. This way, knowingly or unknowingly, people learn to work together amicably and share their resources for one common goal that is beneficial to all of them and also to many others in the surroundings. At global level it means bridging all the gaps and disseminating the message of peace and benevolence. That is why I am repeatedly telling you that the effects, implications and teachings of yagya hold the key to resolving many of the challenging problems of today’s world.
Every one who thinks would agree that all kinds of adversities can’t be fought by intelligence and worldly efforts alone; all kind of problems of the world can’t be tackled or resolved only by intellectual property, financial strength and political influence alone. No such effort could provide viable solutions without nurturing the sentiments of humanity.
The path of humanism – humanity as one global family - can take us to the goal of world peace. Global march along this path would itself lessen and remove most of the tussle, mistrust and threat among all the nations. The issues of national territories, religious intolerance, inter-state fights for regional boundaries, water-sharing, language biases, racism, casteism, communalism, and other contentious issues, all can be solved effectively if there is a spirit of humanism among more and more people.
It may sound naïve or utopia-like imagination to some of you. But the fact remains that nothing else would work unless the concerned parties have this spirit – which demands sensitivity and respect for human values, feeling of welfare for all – in their hearts. Enlightened wisdom is a mirage without a humane heart. You may have great organizations like the UN, may hold thousands of peace-talks and globally applauded summits. But all attempts, howsoever appealing and politically correct they may be, will remain incomplete sans the willingness through heart to let all humans, all beings live happily as one would like himself, his near and dear ones, his countrymen to be. Unfortunately all the efforts we make today are superficial like curing the leaves of a diseased plant rather than its roots. It is very simple to see that, explicitly or implicitly, lack of human values and sensitivity lies at the root of all problems of today.
Ego and selfishness, power-hungry attitude, rigid outlook, false prestige and passions for sensual pleasures, illusive goals, have over-ruled the sense of humanism within us. Most people are cheating their own selves. You salute Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, applaud his moral principles and great values, but your actions and your character are just the opposite. You don’t hesitate in using any unethical means to grab success and power. Your fight for chair is no better than dogs’ fight for a piece of bread. If you had remembered the sincerity, sacrifice and altruistic services of our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, followed even one of their ideals, or adopted even a fraction of the values bequeathed by the founders and protectors of our divine Indian Culture, your life would have been so fulfilling!
If you, the modern leaders, would have followed the attitude of Bharat – the younger brother of Lord Ram, and told a more deserving colleague to accept the chair and powerful position and chosen service for yourself, the face of politics and governance would have been so different, so glorifying! But look, in what state you have put your nation, your people and yourselves?
Ever increasing and ever more demoralizing problems are generated by your rigid and narrow attitudes and dry hearts. The self-created barriers and blocks in your minds and hearts have divided a great nation into two – as India and Pakistan, have virtually turned you into instruments of devil in human form. Who else but the devil’s representatives would have created the horrifying scenario of blood-stained partition of this land?
Not only that, you continue to fight, though at a milder scale for more states, for naming the cities and roads, for water, land, and what not? Why don’t you behave like matured citizens at least if you can’t like wise thinkers? Why are you eager to cut the roots of humanism? Terrorism in one form or the other is an extended byproduct of the declining humaneness and rising evils, delusions and fundamentalism/separatism in your minds and hearts. When will you understand? When will you behave like a human being? Where is your soul? Shame on you!
If you ever think of your soul, listen to your conscience and recognize your powers and duties as a human being, most of your troubles and worries would vanish automatically. You would also contribute towards solving the problems of many others and uplifting the attitudes of many more. The chain of collective efforts can bring revolutionary changes beyond the barriers of current trends and circumstances and thus help the whole society and the nation. Eventually the whole world would come out of the self-created web of tensions and sufferings.
Dear friends, the solutions to man-made problems cannot always be found in the assemblies and offices; because the roots of many of these, as I told you earlier, lie in our hearts and minds. We need to peep in there and honestly analyze our beliefs, attitudes, weaknesses, and strengths and try to refine and broaden our sentiments, our thoughts and try to inculcate prudent outlook in the light of the philosophy of yagya.
The very existence of human race is at stake today. The world is surviving under the fearsome shadow of the risk of another world war. The sword of terror is swinging manacingly on every country. There is an ever-growing threat of atomic warfare, chemical warfare, biological weapons, and what not? Who knows which country will be the victim of a real or proxy war and when? The risk is looming large for every one. Every day, twenty-four hours, humanity is being tortured and we are either ignoring it apathetically or watching helplessly. Nowhere there is peace and tranquility. No one is fully tension-free or happy. In the absence of the elixir of inner joy, everyone is suffering like a fish without water.
Who will liberate humanity and human society from this frustrating state of torment and agony? Who will be the savior? Well, it will be no one else but the humans with purity and generosity of minds and hearts. All the terrors, all the misdeeds, all the atom bombs and other threats, will disappear like fog on a sunny day, once the Human-Self expresses its real nature in totality. Lizards and scorpions run away when we clean and illuminate a room. The same way all negativity, all filth of the world will be swept in proportion to widening of our liberal attitude, amity and commitment to altruistic service. The time will come when the kindness, sensitivity and selflessness of people will be honored the most; virtuous qualities will be preferred over materialistic wealth. Tyranny, terror and wars will be discarded as abominable. Who will torture or kill whom when all hearts will be full of love and all people will treat others as their dear ones? This will be the Age of Gayatri and Yagya – the Age of sadbuddhi, sadgyana, tyaga and sadbhavana2.
It is bound to happen. If not tomorrow, then day after tomorrow! Or, after hundred years! But it will certainly happen. The whole world will then follow the philosophy of yagya, the “Rishi Culture”, the Divine Indian Culture will be the global culture. Magnanimity and benevolence of thoughts and sentiments will replace the weapons and jealous competitions. Humane values will be integral part of all dimensions of development. Humanity will blossom with pride and delight. Everyone will enjoy happy and healthy life. Progress and peace will sparkle from every corner of the globe. In short, this world will be transformed into heavens! Yes, this is what the Will of God is. Nature has already prepared the grounds for it in the subtle world. The spiritual endeavors of the saints-sages whose life is a live manifestation of yagya has inspired this change. Gayatrº Sadhana and revival of the Vedic tradition of performing yagya is essential part of this mission of Mahakala3. These have helped purification of the subtle ambience.
I have seen the glimpses of this golden future when yagya will be performed everywhere – in emotions and conduct. The philosophy of yagya and the rishi culture will be revived and glorified. Every mind and heart would be awakened with the warmth and illumination of the sacred ‘fire’ of yagya. The philosophy of yagya will be the foundation of development of the family and the society. This is what our mission stands for. Our grand “Gayatri Parivar” is a large family of people from all walks of life, from different parts of the globe. Yagya is the foundation stone of such a grand organization.
You all participate in the ritual of Gayatri–Yagya; that is very fine. It has excellent effect on your mind, body and the surrounding atmosphere. Try also to implant the light of its teachings in your thoughts and aspirations. It will illumine and fulfill your life with peace and joy. Your goodwill will then transmit and expand among others in your contact. This way you will contribute to the descent of heaven on this earth. I have envisioned the bright future of this world. If you can’t do that, you may try to dream it. It will uplift your morals. Learn to think and act positively; you have to set examples of being followers of the divine culture of Gayatri and Yagya.
I will repeat it again and again that peace and happiness will be attained and stay in people’s lives only when the spirit of yagya will awaken in their minds and hearts. People across the globe should know it. I am confident that sooner or later it will happen. I want this world to be filled with joy and peace. The Indian science of spirituality, the Indian philosophy and culture of divine values have all that is required to create heaven on the earth. You all should understand it, adopt it in your deeds. You should dream of that day when this world will prosper with divine light of Gayatri and Yagya. Please strive your level best to make that dream a reality in the foreseeable future. I assure you once again that this day will definitely arrive.
It is good that you have come here and given your precious time to listen to the implications and importance of yagya. Through this medium of discourses, I try to explain to you some aspects of Gayatri and Yagya — the foundational element, the force of inspiration for the Divine Indian Culture. The Indian philosophy and science of spirituality is so vast and deep that no one can ever teach it completely. It can be realized only by spiritual enlightenment. What you have to do is to sincerely follow what you have been taught here. If you agree to what I have told you, if you want to see a brighter tomorrow for the entire world, then come with me. Try to adopt some ideals of the philosophy of Gayatri and Yagya. This beginning itself will be a leap towards great achievements.
It is my belief and experience of life-long research on spirituality and life that the superscience, the preeminent principles of Gayatri Mantra and Yagya as realized and disseminated by our rishis in the pre-historic times, are eternal guides of divine ascent of mankind. Our rishis had taken this light of knowledge to the distant part of the world in the Vedic Age. People around the world had benefited by their noble guidelines and had adopted these principles – the principles of Gayatri Mantra and Yagya, which I regard as the principles of sadvichara and satkarma; sadviveka4 and sadbhavana2 – and recognized their universal importance. This is why the rishis were revered everywhere and India was known as jagadguru (guide of the entire world) in the ancient times.
The inspiration of “Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachodayat5” implanted in the Gayatri Mantra and the feeling of “Idam Na Mama6” reverberated in Yagya continue to carry the same cosmic light. The era might have changed from Sat Yuga to Kali Yuga, civilizations and cultures might have diverged but the earth is the same, the same are the sky and the sun and the moon. Similarly the principles of Gayatri and Yagya – the principles of supreme ideals of humanity – remain the same. These are eternal sources of spiritual, emotional and intellectual illumination. They are again going to be adopted by the world, because it is only in their light that the world can find a path of peace, path of elevating progress and happiness for all…. May it happen soon!
|| OM SHANTI ||
Notes:
1. Yajaka: Who participates in the process of yagya (fire-ritual).
2. Sadbuddhi — enlightened intellect that enables prudent distinction between the truth and the false, the right and the wrong and guides correct decision making; Sadgyana — pure, sagacious knowledge; Tyaga —sacrifice for someone’s welfare; renouncement of worldly gains, self-interest for a noble cause; Sadbhavana — benevolent sentiments, saintly feelings.
3. Mahakala: the All-Conquering Time-Spirit
4. Sadvichara: righteous, reasoned thoughts; Satkarma: noble deeds (actions inspired by sadvichara); Sadviveka: Unalloyed, discerning intelligence (which generates Sadvichara).
5. Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachodayat: (May inspire) our wisdom to the righteous path.
6. Idam Na Mama: It’s not mine (it’s for the welfare of everybody).
<>
“Hamara Yagyiya Paramparaa” - continued from the previous issue)
Friends,
The gist of what I have told you is that — if you are kind, cooperating, caring and diligent, know how to be cheerful and how to channelize your thoughts; if you have the sense of responsibility and necessary skill of self-management, you manage your familial and social duties well and spend money as per the planned economic budget, then in my views you are a great devotee of Gayatri and a good yajaka1.
Doing yagya is referred in our shastras as a great puñya – an auspicious welfare activity, which brings enormous benefits. The fire of yagya sublimates the herbal preparations sacrificed in it and spreads the healthy effects thereof all around. It purifies the atmosphere and also has enormous healing effects on the mind-body-system. That is the great science of yagya about which I shall talk some other time. Here we are discussing the philosophy of yagya and its relevance and need in today’s world.
The cycle of Nature itself is a yagya and every component of Nature, from the sea to the clouds, from trees to the rivers, from planets to atoms, etc reflects the philosophy of yagya, which is – distribute and expand the good; serve your level best for others’ welfare.
Every step in the process of yagya, which we perform as a sacrament (fire-ritual), resonates its philosophy in one form or the other. Yagya is basically a collective activity. Several people perform it simultaneously. Organizing a major yagya requires cooperation and contributions of many people. This way, knowingly or unknowingly, people learn to work together amicably and share their resources for one common goal that is beneficial to all of them and also to many others in the surroundings. At global level it means bridging all the gaps and disseminating the message of peace and benevolence. That is why I am repeatedly telling you that the effects, implications and teachings of yagya hold the key to resolving many of the challenging problems of today’s world.
Every one who thinks would agree that all kinds of adversities can’t be fought by intelligence and worldly efforts alone; all kind of problems of the world can’t be tackled or resolved only by intellectual property, financial strength and political influence alone. No such effort could provide viable solutions without nurturing the sentiments of humanity.
The path of humanism – humanity as one global family - can take us to the goal of world peace. Global march along this path would itself lessen and remove most of the tussle, mistrust and threat among all the nations. The issues of national territories, religious intolerance, inter-state fights for regional boundaries, water-sharing, language biases, racism, casteism, communalism, and other contentious issues, all can be solved effectively if there is a spirit of humanism among more and more people.
It may sound naïve or utopia-like imagination to some of you. But the fact remains that nothing else would work unless the concerned parties have this spirit – which demands sensitivity and respect for human values, feeling of welfare for all – in their hearts. Enlightened wisdom is a mirage without a humane heart. You may have great organizations like the UN, may hold thousands of peace-talks and globally applauded summits. But all attempts, howsoever appealing and politically correct they may be, will remain incomplete sans the willingness through heart to let all humans, all beings live happily as one would like himself, his near and dear ones, his countrymen to be. Unfortunately all the efforts we make today are superficial like curing the leaves of a diseased plant rather than its roots. It is very simple to see that, explicitly or implicitly, lack of human values and sensitivity lies at the root of all problems of today.
Ego and selfishness, power-hungry attitude, rigid outlook, false prestige and passions for sensual pleasures, illusive goals, have over-ruled the sense of humanism within us. Most people are cheating their own selves. You salute Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, applaud his moral principles and great values, but your actions and your character are just the opposite. You don’t hesitate in using any unethical means to grab success and power. Your fight for chair is no better than dogs’ fight for a piece of bread. If you had remembered the sincerity, sacrifice and altruistic services of our great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, followed even one of their ideals, or adopted even a fraction of the values bequeathed by the founders and protectors of our divine Indian Culture, your life would have been so fulfilling!
If you, the modern leaders, would have followed the attitude of Bharat – the younger brother of Lord Ram, and told a more deserving colleague to accept the chair and powerful position and chosen service for yourself, the face of politics and governance would have been so different, so glorifying! But look, in what state you have put your nation, your people and yourselves?
Ever increasing and ever more demoralizing problems are generated by your rigid and narrow attitudes and dry hearts. The self-created barriers and blocks in your minds and hearts have divided a great nation into two – as India and Pakistan, have virtually turned you into instruments of devil in human form. Who else but the devil’s representatives would have created the horrifying scenario of blood-stained partition of this land?
Not only that, you continue to fight, though at a milder scale for more states, for naming the cities and roads, for water, land, and what not? Why don’t you behave like matured citizens at least if you can’t like wise thinkers? Why are you eager to cut the roots of humanism? Terrorism in one form or the other is an extended byproduct of the declining humaneness and rising evils, delusions and fundamentalism/separatism in your minds and hearts. When will you understand? When will you behave like a human being? Where is your soul? Shame on you!
If you ever think of your soul, listen to your conscience and recognize your powers and duties as a human being, most of your troubles and worries would vanish automatically. You would also contribute towards solving the problems of many others and uplifting the attitudes of many more. The chain of collective efforts can bring revolutionary changes beyond the barriers of current trends and circumstances and thus help the whole society and the nation. Eventually the whole world would come out of the self-created web of tensions and sufferings.
Dear friends, the solutions to man-made problems cannot always be found in the assemblies and offices; because the roots of many of these, as I told you earlier, lie in our hearts and minds. We need to peep in there and honestly analyze our beliefs, attitudes, weaknesses, and strengths and try to refine and broaden our sentiments, our thoughts and try to inculcate prudent outlook in the light of the philosophy of yagya.
The very existence of human race is at stake today. The world is surviving under the fearsome shadow of the risk of another world war. The sword of terror is swinging manacingly on every country. There is an ever-growing threat of atomic warfare, chemical warfare, biological weapons, and what not? Who knows which country will be the victim of a real or proxy war and when? The risk is looming large for every one. Every day, twenty-four hours, humanity is being tortured and we are either ignoring it apathetically or watching helplessly. Nowhere there is peace and tranquility. No one is fully tension-free or happy. In the absence of the elixir of inner joy, everyone is suffering like a fish without water.
Who will liberate humanity and human society from this frustrating state of torment and agony? Who will be the savior? Well, it will be no one else but the humans with purity and generosity of minds and hearts. All the terrors, all the misdeeds, all the atom bombs and other threats, will disappear like fog on a sunny day, once the Human-Self expresses its real nature in totality. Lizards and scorpions run away when we clean and illuminate a room. The same way all negativity, all filth of the world will be swept in proportion to widening of our liberal attitude, amity and commitment to altruistic service. The time will come when the kindness, sensitivity and selflessness of people will be honored the most; virtuous qualities will be preferred over materialistic wealth. Tyranny, terror and wars will be discarded as abominable. Who will torture or kill whom when all hearts will be full of love and all people will treat others as their dear ones? This will be the Age of Gayatri and Yagya – the Age of sadbuddhi, sadgyana, tyaga and sadbhavana2.
It is bound to happen. If not tomorrow, then day after tomorrow! Or, after hundred years! But it will certainly happen. The whole world will then follow the philosophy of yagya, the “Rishi Culture”, the Divine Indian Culture will be the global culture. Magnanimity and benevolence of thoughts and sentiments will replace the weapons and jealous competitions. Humane values will be integral part of all dimensions of development. Humanity will blossom with pride and delight. Everyone will enjoy happy and healthy life. Progress and peace will sparkle from every corner of the globe. In short, this world will be transformed into heavens! Yes, this is what the Will of God is. Nature has already prepared the grounds for it in the subtle world. The spiritual endeavors of the saints-sages whose life is a live manifestation of yagya has inspired this change. Gayatrº Sadhana and revival of the Vedic tradition of performing yagya is essential part of this mission of Mahakala3. These have helped purification of the subtle ambience.
I have seen the glimpses of this golden future when yagya will be performed everywhere – in emotions and conduct. The philosophy of yagya and the rishi culture will be revived and glorified. Every mind and heart would be awakened with the warmth and illumination of the sacred ‘fire’ of yagya. The philosophy of yagya will be the foundation of development of the family and the society. This is what our mission stands for. Our grand “Gayatri Parivar” is a large family of people from all walks of life, from different parts of the globe. Yagya is the foundation stone of such a grand organization.
You all participate in the ritual of Gayatri–Yagya; that is very fine. It has excellent effect on your mind, body and the surrounding atmosphere. Try also to implant the light of its teachings in your thoughts and aspirations. It will illumine and fulfill your life with peace and joy. Your goodwill will then transmit and expand among others in your contact. This way you will contribute to the descent of heaven on this earth. I have envisioned the bright future of this world. If you can’t do that, you may try to dream it. It will uplift your morals. Learn to think and act positively; you have to set examples of being followers of the divine culture of Gayatri and Yagya.
I will repeat it again and again that peace and happiness will be attained and stay in people’s lives only when the spirit of yagya will awaken in their minds and hearts. People across the globe should know it. I am confident that sooner or later it will happen. I want this world to be filled with joy and peace. The Indian science of spirituality, the Indian philosophy and culture of divine values have all that is required to create heaven on the earth. You all should understand it, adopt it in your deeds. You should dream of that day when this world will prosper with divine light of Gayatri and Yagya. Please strive your level best to make that dream a reality in the foreseeable future. I assure you once again that this day will definitely arrive.
It is good that you have come here and given your precious time to listen to the implications and importance of yagya. Through this medium of discourses, I try to explain to you some aspects of Gayatri and Yagya — the foundational element, the force of inspiration for the Divine Indian Culture. The Indian philosophy and science of spirituality is so vast and deep that no one can ever teach it completely. It can be realized only by spiritual enlightenment. What you have to do is to sincerely follow what you have been taught here. If you agree to what I have told you, if you want to see a brighter tomorrow for the entire world, then come with me. Try to adopt some ideals of the philosophy of Gayatri and Yagya. This beginning itself will be a leap towards great achievements.
It is my belief and experience of life-long research on spirituality and life that the superscience, the preeminent principles of Gayatri Mantra and Yagya as realized and disseminated by our rishis in the pre-historic times, are eternal guides of divine ascent of mankind. Our rishis had taken this light of knowledge to the distant part of the world in the Vedic Age. People around the world had benefited by their noble guidelines and had adopted these principles – the principles of Gayatri Mantra and Yagya, which I regard as the principles of sadvichara and satkarma; sadviveka4 and sadbhavana2 – and recognized their universal importance. This is why the rishis were revered everywhere and India was known as jagadguru (guide of the entire world) in the ancient times.
The inspiration of “Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachodayat5” implanted in the Gayatri Mantra and the feeling of “Idam Na Mama6” reverberated in Yagya continue to carry the same cosmic light. The era might have changed from Sat Yuga to Kali Yuga, civilizations and cultures might have diverged but the earth is the same, the same are the sky and the sun and the moon. Similarly the principles of Gayatri and Yagya – the principles of supreme ideals of humanity – remain the same. These are eternal sources of spiritual, emotional and intellectual illumination. They are again going to be adopted by the world, because it is only in their light that the world can find a path of peace, path of elevating progress and happiness for all…. May it happen soon!
|| OM SHANTI ||
Notes:
1. Yajaka: Who participates in the process of yagya (fire-ritual).
2. Sadbuddhi — enlightened intellect that enables prudent distinction between the truth and the false, the right and the wrong and guides correct decision making; Sadgyana — pure, sagacious knowledge; Tyaga —sacrifice for someone’s welfare; renouncement of worldly gains, self-interest for a noble cause; Sadbhavana — benevolent sentiments, saintly feelings.
3. Mahakala: the All-Conquering Time-Spirit
4. Sadvichara: righteous, reasoned thoughts; Satkarma: noble deeds (actions inspired by sadvichara); Sadviveka: Unalloyed, discerning intelligence (which generates Sadvichara).
5. Dhiyo Yona¡ Prachodayat: (May inspire) our wisdom to the righteous path.
6. Idam Na Mama: It’s not mine (it’s for the welfare of everybody).
<>
