True Knowledge is the Key of Character Formation

True Knowledge is the Key of Character Formation

Meaning: According to the Rigved 1/22/19 — "No benefit is achieved by mere parrot-like repetition of any religious scripture or a volume of the Vedas. We must follow those rules in our life."

Message: There is a tale of the time of the student days of dharmaraja Yudhishthir. Once their teacher taught them the famous Vedic mantra 'satyum vada, dharmum chara, swadhyayaanma pramadaha' i.e. speak the truth, conduct yourself religiously and do not neglect self study and asked all the students to memorize it. The next day all the students recited the mantra before their teacher, but Yudhishthir said that as yet he had not memorized it. In this way four to five days passed and then one day he said, "Now I have memorized the mantra". All were very much surprised that Yudhishthir took so many days to memorize such a small mantra. On being asked the reason, he explained that despite making strong efforts, he could not prevent himself from uttering lies, but yesterday he had not uttered any lie at all, and in this way by implementing it in his conduct, he has now thoroughly memorized it.

This is the essence of Nepalese culture. It will not do good to merely recite any mantra, or religious book or a passage. It must be absorbed in one's heart and become a part one's conduct. There should be harmony of knowledge and deed. Only that is the real knowledge which manifests in beneficial acts. 'Knowledge' which produces arrogance, hypocrisy, desire for fame among people is not real knowledge. Only that is real knowledge which gives peace, satisfaction and spiritual uplift. One which makes a person realize his ignorance makes him humble and fully absorbed (in spirituality), is original knowledge. That which does not manifest in life, which cannot mould life, which cannot make for beauty, excellence and simplicity in every field, how can it be called knowledge?

Today unfortunately, the opposite situation exists. Whatever moral policy we read about, we think it merely a decorative piece of literature. The best philosophies are ridiculed. It is believed by people that 'satya (truth), ahimsa (non-violence) etc, are all needed for lectures and religious discourses only. They think that in practical life, only those indulging in untruthful and violent conduct, become successful. Only this untruthful knowledge is the main reason for all the present day ills. People talk big (i.e. high ideals), but the inferiority of conduct by itself disregards the rules of truth and indulges in wickedness in every way. They forget that by such pretense they deceive themselves only.

Unless and until there is harmony of knowledge and action, we cannot achieve success in personal life nor there peace and happiness in society. Whatever small and big philosophies we have read, we should try to implement them in our conduct. If we start with small matters, then in future wee can also fulfill big 'vruts', (giving up bad tendencies and imbibing good qualities) and resolves easily. Learning the scriptures will be meaningful only when the knowledge of so many scriptures like the Vedas, Purans, etc enters the heart and becomes a part of our conduct.

Character-formation means nothing but making our conduct shiningly bright with true knowledge.

Thought should be clean

Meaning:  The line of Athervaved 12/2/28 has given the instruction to us about the help, which means — "May our thoughts always be clean and pure. May we save others from going on the wrong path and take them onto the good path so that all together achieve full longevity of life."

Message: All the troubles of the world are because of warped intelligence and wicked activity. That is why after diagnosing the cause of a disease, it should be attacked at its very roots. The best method of social-service is to rescue the people from lowly thinking and activity and direct them towards excellence.

If people change their methods, then on the strength of their tremendous inner capacity, they themselves can solve their backwardness and difficulties. We should cooperate in directing their activities on to the good moral path. They should be led with such qualitative leadership that they will give up their destructive activities and themselves start taking interest in constructive works.

The only way to self-development is that we spread our friendliness in a wider area. Bu considering others' happiness as ours and their sorrow too as ours, let us think and act to reduce their sorrow and increase their happiness. No man has that much capacity that he will employ all his wealth in removing others' wants. Neither can the 24 hours of the day be employed for public service. Even then, there should be a strong sentiment that after fulfilling our minimum requirements, the entire remnant should be dedicated for the removal of societal backwardness, difficulties, wants and grief.

Today the world has discarded the robe of excellence and replaced it with the cloak of meanness. Life itself has become hellish because of the entry of meanness in our methods of thinking and working.

Gradually we are proceeding towards collective suicide by being busy in internal squabbles, quarrels in homes and mutual torture. In such a situation, human race can be served in only one way, that is, it should be saved from illusory, indiscreet and immoral thinking and prepared to develop logical discretion and to take shelter of turambhara pragya (pure intelligence). In today's situation, that is the greatest service to the society. By revolutionary thinking, the current miserable condition can be changed and heaven made to descend on earth. There is unlimited strength in purity of thinking. Whenever thinking is done on any subject with purity in viewpoint, then a situation can be assessed in n impartial and neutral way and any decision taken is also in the interest of all. Divinity is the natural quality in men which they have received right from their childhood. This divinity gradually gets lost only because of polluted thinking is extremely necessary.

Only those men are able to rouse discretionary thinking in people, who establish idealistic thinking for moral regeneration. It is our pious duty to include this excellence in our character.

Vaishwadevim varchasa aa raabhdhvum

shuddhaa bhavantaha

shuchayaha paavakaahaa

atikraamanto duritaa padaani

shutum himaahaa sarvaviraa madem. (Athervaved 12/2/28)

The Squatters in the Basement

It is commonly accepted fact that we human beings are utilizing only a fraction of our mental potential. As one scientist sail, "probably 99% of human ability has been wholly wasted; even today, those of us who consider ourselves cultured and educated operate for most of our time as automatic machines and glimpse the profounder resources of our minds only once or twice in a lifetime."

It has taken evolution ten million years to equip us with an incredible brain with seemingly unlimited capacity, but we use only a minute part of it. We are like a small family of squatters who have taken over a vast palace but prefer to live in a corner of the basement.

The emphasis of Western civilization on external life, on the domination and mastery of nature, has produced monumental technological achievements, but it has exacted a price. It has almost totally ignored our inner experience, and the "Shrunken psyche" of human beings is now crying out for expansion. Thus, we see all over the world today feverish interest in spiritual disciplines and psychic powers, mind expanding drugs and mysticism, hypnosis and meditation, dreams and creativity. Humanity is becoming increasingly hungry for transcendence, and more and more people are embarking on an "inner odyssey" to realize their full potential and develop the tremendous powers hidden inside them. But as a contemporary biologist warned, "we must know where we are going, and how we are going to get there."

Where we are going, and how we are going to get there! If we are to journey into our inner spaces, we need a map of the realms to be explored. And we must learn how to travel.

The Saint and the Scorpion

One day a Sadhu went to the river to bathe. There he noticed a scorpion struggling in the water. Scorpions cannot swim and the sadhu knew that if he did not save the scorpion, it would drown. Therefore, carefully picking up the scorpion the monk rescued it from drowning and was just about to set it down gently on land when the scorpion stung his finger. In pain, the Sadhu instinctively flung his hand and the scorpion went flying, back into the river. As soon as the Sadhu regained his composure from the sting, he again lifted the scorpion out of the water. Again, before he could set the scorpion safely on land, the creature stung him. This drama went on for several minutes as the Sadhu continued to try to save the life of the drowning scorpion and the scorpion continued to sting his savior's hand before reaching the freedom of the riverbank.

A hunter watched as the saint carefully and gingerly lifted the creature out of the water, only to fling it back in as he convulsed in pain from each fresh sting. Finally, the hunter said to the Sadhu, "Forgive me for my frankness, but it is clear that the scorpion is simply going to continue to sting you each and every time you try to carry it to safety. Why don't you give up and just let it drawn?"

The sadhu replied. "My dear child, the scorpion is not stinging me out of malice or evil intent. Just as it is the water's nature to make me wet, so it is the scorpion's nature to sting. He doesn't realize that I am carrying him to safety. That is a level of conscious comprehension greater than what his brain can achieve. But just as it is the scorpion's nature to sting, so it is my nature to save. Just as he is not leaving his nature, why should I leave my nature? My dharma is to help any creature of any kind - human or animal why should I let a small scorpion rob me of the divine nature which I have cultivated through years of sadhana?"

In our lives we encounter people who harm us, insult us, plot against us, whose actions seems calculated to thwart the successful achievement of our goals. Sometimes these are obvious acts, such as a co-worker who continually steals our ideas or speaks badly of us to our boss. Sometimes these acts are subtle - a friend, relative or colleague who unexpectedly betrays us or who we find has been surreptitiously speaking negatively about us behind our back.

Slowly we find that our own actions, words and thoughts become driven by anger and pain. We find ourselves engaged in cunning thoughts of revenge. Before we realize it, we are injuring ourselves by allowing negative emotions dominate us. They insulted us or plotted against us and or sabotaged a well-deserved achievement at work. But we injure ourselves more deeply and more gravely by allowing our hearts and minds to darken.

Our dharma is to be kind, pure, honest, giving, sharing, and carrying others due to ignorance, lack of understanding or due to the way in which their own karmic dharma is unfolding, may act with malice, deceit, selfishness and indifference. But we must not let their actions or their ignorance deprive us of fulfilling our dharma. We must not allow ourselves to be lowered by their ignorance their habits or their greed. The darkness in their heart should not be allowed to penetrate into the lightness of our hearts.

(Earth, upon which this moving, breathing life exists: May she bestow on us the finest of her harvests! Earth, the al-sustaining, treasure-bearing resting-place" Golden breasted Earth, home of all life, Who bears the sacred fire. ……Set me, O earth, amidst the nourishing strength that emanates from the body. The Earth is my mother, her child as I.    (Athervaved)

The Pandora's Box

The placement of the brain at the top of the human body matches with the superiority of its role as compared to the other organs. It sits at the head of the body as if Lord Shiva divine glory is present on the sacred Kalish peak of the Himalayas. The strong fort of the skull protects it from pollution, harmful radiation, and effects of weather fluctuation and also prevents it from being hurt due to external stroke or hit. Further, the outer walls of this fort are also in contact with the external environment so as to allow important cosmic signals to reach the brain, this organization is most suitable for the healthy functioning of the brain as well as the body.

As infants brain weights only about 12 ounces. In a grownup youth it becomes about 3 pounds. Its functional capabilities increase at exponential rates as compared to the growth of its size and weight during this period. With the help of microfilms, we can store huge volumes of books in a tiny pocket. A healthy and normally developed human brain can store the amount of knowledge, which if printed, would require billions of huge volumes of books. Moreover, nature has endowed it with the potential to even double this capacity as and when required.

If one half of the brain is damaged or hurt due to some accident or similar causes, the remaining half fulfills the tasks of both. We normally have two hands, two legs, two eyes, two ears, two lungs, two kidneys etc. If one of these is lost, the normal functions of the body continue without much trouble because, the other member of the pair can compensate to a large extent for the lost or failed one. The brain does so despite being a single organ. It continues to perform its essential duties efficiently even if half portion becomes useless.

During the Second World War, about sixty-two soldiers had to undergo major surgical operations in which half portion of the brain was removed because of concussion. It was feared at that time that even if they survived, the memorizing capacity and efficiency of their brains would also be halved after such an operation. However, such apprehensions were found to be baseless as the half-brains of these soldiers worked normally like the complete ones.

Size, weight or physique of the body might be a good measure of its physical strength to some extent. However, that is certainly not the case with respect to the potentials of the brain. The brain of an elephant weight about 10 pounds and that of a human only 3 pounds. But, we all know that an elephant is not intelligent at all as compared to a normal human.

 Intelligence is found to be associated with the connectivity of the neurons in the cortex. More the number of active connections among these neurons, the higher will be the efficacy of information transmission and retrieval through them. The principle of cooperatively assures progress in every field of life. That it is also the basis of intelligence - can be easily seen in the structure and functional adaptability of the interconnected neurons.

The human brain controls every activity of life. The domain of its regulatory tasks ranges from the body-functions to mental faculties and from the wonderful creations of imaginations to the depths of sentiments and subtler fields of emotions and acumen. Every kind of experience is stored in its memory. Only the intelligent machinery of the brain performs the functions of reasoning, planning and decision making. Whatever be the external structure, appearance and activities of the body, the basic source of control of each and every component and function of the body lies in the brain (mind). All the macro and micro level physiological, biochemical, cellular and molecular activities inside the body are conducted under its regulatory mechanism. It is the core of the origin, cultivation and culmination of the endeavors and tendencies of inclination towards philosophy, science, business, technical skill, art, music, adventure etc. What is the present level of one's personality and what it would become in near future - this can be deciphered by the elucidation of his/her mentality and emotional propriety.

The amount of material substances in brain is very less but its structural complexity, flexibility, storage capacity and functional adaptation fro, the hidden stock of its memory almost instantaneously and its parallel processing at ultra fast speed make it a supreme computer. These together with the unbound intelligence of the human brain challenge that none of the advanced information systems, super computers or other man made artificially intelligent machines could ever match the functioning or human brain in Toto.

Man made devices perform only the particular tasks for which they are fabricated. Their power and efficiency depends upon their design. Such is not the case with the natural 'instruments' like the human body and brain. The brain automatically controls its own development and can expand its capacities, potentials, activities and efficiency beyond any limit. It begins to grow on its own since the time of birth of the fetus and continues to perfect its development till the time of death along with performing its duties towards the other organs without any pause. In this respect, it may be likened to a teacher, who besides teaching regularly in the school, also continues his own studies and gradually passes higher grades of examination to expand his own scholarly talents.

Recent developments in neurosciences have revealed many features of the structure and function of the human brain. The facts known till date are so starling that this organ appears to be superior to the collective accomplishments of the most advanced technologies. What remains to be known about it could be more astonishing. Many layers of this majestic Pandora's Box still remain closed. As stated earlier, in normal case a large number of neuronal connections remain inactivated throughout the life of a human being unless some extra efforts are made - for instance, by Yoga practices and other experiments of spirituality to stimulate them. Rousing of these latent centers of consciousness can bestow supernatural faculties. Then, an ordinary human can enhance his physical power to compete with that of a giant and develop divine talents and potentials at the mental, intellectual and spiritual levels too.

Regular physical exercises and massaging etc. are practiced in order to energize the functional centers, which maintain physical health. The metabolic activities are maintained by eating pure, nutritious and digestive food in balanced quantities. Such practices ensure happy and healthy survival of the body in normal cases. However, extra care is essential for the refinement of mental capabilities and talents. The food intake of a person engaged in such a endeavor should be pure and austere and should also be 'charged' by subtle energy. The latter helps stirring and arousing the reservoir of consciousness existing in the brain.

The food of one's own refined thoughts, sentiments and inner strength catalyses the actions of the subtle energy. The external means useful in this regard consist of - dedicated endeavors (Sadhanas) of practicing truth, austerity and penance in every aspect of life, ascetic contemplation and Swadhyaya coupled with the Sadhanas of spiritual elevation. Meditation (Dhyan) is the simplest kind of Sadhana, which sublimated the flow of subtle energy in the brain.

Focusing of sunrays on a convex lens results in generation of thermal energy and ignition, channelizing of steam in a single direction triggers motion of a steam engine, targeted attack of cannon gives rise to an explosion. These examples demonstrate the power of concentration .A large number of bio-electrical impulses and energetic currents continuously flow in the human brain … focusing these to refine and strengthen specific quality of mind - is accomplished by a Dhyan Sadhana. This also results in rousing the willpower and mental strength along with sharpening of the intellect.

The inner strength of the mind is more important than the might physical power of the body, the power of wealth and external resources or the impact of education and talents etc.. One can rise up to those heights of development which are unimaginable in today's world and gradually culminate the personality with the help of the awakened inner strength of the mind

The Eternal Origin of Thy Power and Absolute Knowledge - Gayatri

The Eternal Origin of Thy Power and Absolute Knowledge - Gayatri

Gayatri is the eternal source of thy willpower that motivated the origin and all activities of th visible and invisible forms of Nature. The rivers, oceans, the earth, the moon, the sun and the gamut of other planets, from tiniest particle to the universal expansion…, everything is moving because of this cosmic driving force. it is the root of the impulse of life in the blossoming plants and trees that beautify Nature. The force of life in all living beings originates from its presence. Its superior presence in the human beings is reflected in the intellect, which enables the progressive development of the world and ascent of human life. In extraordinary cases, this sublime power is expressed as spiritually evolved pure, discerning intelligence - Ritambhara Pragya. This enlightened wisdom helps one understand what is right and what is wrong and guides to choose the prudent path to the higher goals of life. This divine power mostly remains concealed in the inner cores of our minds. The activation of this subliminal force of Gayatri in the soul links the human self with the divine light and powers of 'thee'

God is omnipresent in infinite dimensions. Thee are immanent in every moment, every activity, yet remains absolutely unperturbed and stable in the eternity …. The origin of Nature and the creation of the world are manifestation of thy wish to express thyself in multiple forms. The evolutionary impulse of thy will gave rise to this cosmic creation. Being the original source of creation, existence and manifestation of Nature and the universe, this supreme power (Gayatri) was named Adi Shakti. The eternal cycle, order and harmony indwelling in the cosmic system and the laws of Nature and the existence and activities of the world are inspired and governed by the Adi Shakti Gayatri. This eternal presiding power is the cause of all energy and is subliminally governing the cosmic existence, expansion and activities towards the ultimate evolution.

Lord Brahma, the supreme creator is described in the scriptures to have attained the absolute knowledge of the universal creation and the limitless manifestations of Nature by the dedicated Sadhana of Adi Shakti Gayatri. This super mental knowledge and science constituted the Vedas. The Gayatri Mantra is regarded to enfold the essence, the seed of Vedas.

The divine powers governing the order of Nature also emanate from the Adi Shakti. As the same electricity flows in tube light, heater, refrigerator, cooler, etc and appears active in different forms. Similarly, the singular force of Adi Shakti is reflected in Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva - as thy powers of eternal creation, execution and evolution. The other manifestations of thy impulse (Deva Shakti) too are different expressions of the Adi Shakti. Thus, Adi Shakti being the absolute source of divine powers is also revered as Deva Mata. Beatitude of this Deva Mata endows a devoted Sadhak with divine virtues and vigor..

As the appearance of Nature and the world emanate from the infinite kernel of Adi Shakti, the latter is worshiped as Viswo Mata - the mother of the world. A true devotee of this realization of the Adi Shakti, unifies his self-identity with global unity and lives with the altruist feeling of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" the  whole world is like his family to such a generous fellow.

Study (Swadhaya) of Good Literature

Meaning: The line of Samved 1303 gives us instruction that — "With the study of the literature which inspires men's thinking towards good deeds, men and women feel joy. Imbibing good thoughts, they ultimately get the benefit of salvation."

Message: Man's mind is like a blank paper or a slate or photographic plate. The situations, events and thoughts, which come before it, get etched on it and then that type of mental ground or mindset is created. By nature, man is neither intelligent nor foolish nor good nor bad, but in reality he is a very sensitive animal. He accepts the nearby influences and gets cast in the mould of whatever atmosphere exists before his mind. This specialty of his gets him swept in situations which either led him to downfall or to uplift. The path to uplift or progress opens up only with worship of God, satsang and 'swadhaya' or study of scriptures.

There are tow meanings of the word 'swadhaya', first is the study of Vedas and scriptures which uphold the thinking in the Vedas. The second meaning is 'swadhaya' ('swa' means self and 'adhayayan' means study, which means study or observation of the self). An individual closely observing himself daily for a few moments makes it a habit to find out personal faults and also makes an effort to remove them.

The main interpretation of the word, 'swadhaya is the study of scriptures and good books. Their study is like drinking the sweet nectar, and does the work of a beam of light in the darkness of life. The study of good moral books is the basis of man's progress, whereas the reading of bad books becomes the cause of his downfall. Good books serve a man's need of good friends and through them he finds out the road of spiritual and moral uplift. The demoniac tendencies and events encourage us to adopt man, lowly beliefs and activities. To annihilate this wicked influence, the contact of saintly, great men and the study of their books act like magic. With the study and contemplation of such books, in fact, our mind establishes a sentimental unity with that great man, by which day by day there is an enhancement in our character, personality and willpower. Good holy literature has provided the opportunity to innumerable men for uplift and to be men with strong willpower. The enunciation of the holy Gita benefited not only Arjun who was the first to hear it from Lord Krishna, but has helped millions of people in achieving their objectives of life.

Today's irony is the availability of rotten, irrelevant, obscene and perverse literature at every street-corner. People buy it for its cheap entertainment. On the contrary, one must make an effort to get only the literature with good thoughts for self-study. If we employ regularly one hour's time for study, in a short time, our thoughts will become excellent.

The habit to study must be made the daily indivisible deed of our life.

Paavamaanihi swastyayanistaabhirgachhati naandanum

Punyaanshcha bhakshaanbhakshayamrutatvum cha gachhati

(Samved 1303)

Excellent Moral character from Religion

Meaning: The line of Athervaved 17/1/29 has described about our deeds, that can be expressed as — "Human life will be safe only with good deeds and religious conduct. Therefore let us be sinless and praise worthy and always go on acquiring higher knowledge".

Message: Religiousness means religious conduct. To respect religion in every field of life to follow the injunctions of religions, is itself called 'dharma-achaaran' (or religious conduct).'Dharma' not only means religion (as regards spiritual science and worship), but it has several other meaning including 'moral duty', but unfortunately politicians and the so-called intellectuals are twisting the interpretation of the word 'dharma' to suit their selfish ends.

In reality religion is beneficial to man in every field. The question of narrowness does not at all arise in religion. In fact religion contributes to a wide and vast viewpoint. Real religion does not talk of putting blindfolds on the eyes, but enjoins us to remove them. No religion produces jealousy, malice and such perversities. Religion in the real moral sense creates an atmosphere of good thinking and love. Religion and humanity are mutually complementary. Man can never remain without religion and religion cannot remain any where except in man.

Religion means a rule for carrying out one's responsibility, in other words, 'self-accepted imposition for achieving excellence'. Every field of activity has its own 'dharma' such as teacher's dharma, student's dharma, people's dharma, leader's dharma, soldier's dharma, servant's dharma, father's dharma, women's dharma etc. Religion does not mean mere worship or rituals. Dharma is a symbol of the entire life, because it pervades every aspect of life.

Dharma is good activities, good deeds and truthful conduct. A dharmik man is a man of good conduct, is satisfied, quiet (at peace), disciplined and restrained. Never does he get angry, has no malice, does not ridicule others, nor disrespect others. His main qualities are mental purity, truthfulness in conduct and excellent sentiments for public-welfare. A religious man does not show off his religion. He is busy in his duties with a quiet and unselfish attitude. He relies upon excellence in thinking and simplicity in life. He always utilizes his total capacity and insight for deeds of public-welfare and removes the obstacles in the path with patience and firmness. A life of simplicity propounded the ideal of high thinking. Prosperity lays in simplicity only and in that only lies one's reputation.

To disrespect religion is like discarding humanness and acknowledging animal-ness. For animals there is no religion except fulfilling the needs of their bodies. If an animal coming in the path creates an obstacle, then to drive it away with its horns, to frighten it or to kill it (i.e. selfish survival) is the only 'dharma' of animals. Animals do not have a sense of respect, sentiments, discretion, tradition, society and culture. These exist for man only and therefore at every step in life he has to conduct himself according to the rules laid down in religion. The essence of religion lies only in obliging or helping others, mutual cooperation, compassion, and living together.

Conduct according to the rules laid down in the religion is the only basis for excellent character.

Please Value Compromise

If you can't go that extra mile, meet someone halfway. Value compromise, but don't compromise your value. Life is not a smooth journey. It should not be. It is marked by ups and downs. People and situations move in and out of life. Some are easy to handle while others are difficult to deal with. It is the difficult ones that always come to us to test out abilities of how smoothly we manage to cope with them with least resistance and friction offered in the effort.

We may not always get what we want. Does that mean we should not seek to get what we want? Or rue over the fact that what we set out to achieve is different from what we actually did?

Disagreement occurs, not so much for want of agreement as to the lack of our desire to agree. Our entrenched disinclination disposes us not to agree to something or with someone that is half as good. When we say half as good, we presuppose the half as bad already. This conflict between half as good and half as bad holds us back to arrive at a solution with regard to people and situations that are not past resolve in themselves.

When faced with people and situations caught in the patio-temporal warp, different from our own, we fall to see them in objective light. Our subjective thinking gets the better of us. As a result what's obvious to others is not so to us.

The solution to resolve a deadlocked situation or parties involved in it exists outside this warp. But for that to happen, people need to cede their stance.

This ceding of position is not acceptance of defeat or meek surrender. It is not something to be ashamed of or to feel conscious stricken about. Rather it is the brave attempt at surmounting the inflated sense of ego that comes in the way of us arriving at an agreement. It is a conscious choice.

Adoption of such a way requires us to recognize others' point of view. We can start looking for merit in others' cane only. When we presume an element of demerit in ours. For truth is never absolute. We mistakenly chase the shadow and miss the image.

Compromise is intrinsic to nature's scheme of things to avoid resistance. When a fierce wind threatens to blow away and uproot all that comes in its path, even the mighty tree, otherwise firmly standing begins to sway and bends and bows.

The fury of wind doesn't last but the submissive bending of tree manages to see it through the rough path. A blade of grass flattens itself against the swift current of water only to pop up its head when the current slackens. Nature uses this defense mechanism for survival. It also teaches us to live in harmony with one another and at peace with ourselves.

Nature provides us with the option of compromise as an effective means to achieve harmony and peace in times of personal conflict and emotional turmoil and interpersonal clash and collective wars. We only need to wake up to the idea and bring it into play to attain peace with in and outside.

It is certainly not a big price, rather welcome value addition in the objective evaluation of compromise. What are we waiting for?

Path of Moral Goodness

Meaning: The line of Rigved 1/97/3 has given us the key information about character formation. According to the line we can explain as — "Man should worship God, tread the good path but he develops grace only when he takes others on the path of worship of God and the path of moral goodness."

Message: The reason for the progress of man, compared to other animals, is only because of his socially collective attitude. His nature of mixing and helping each other has made him progress in various fields such as education, health, culture, science, architecture, etc. Marriage, family, caste sect, nation etcetera are also formed because of this tendency only. Man has understood that he can progress only by mixing and cooperating with each other, and not by remaining aloof. Similarly he can also remove his difficulties and faults.

This attitude is also necessary in the spiritual field. We may worship God, conduct ourselves according to religious rules and tread the path of moral goodness, but is life possible when all around in the society there is the pollution of bad customs, bad thinking and bad culture? Can our worship and spiritual endeavor be meaningful in such an atmosphere?

Along with increasing the spiritual wealth within us and along with the adoption of good conduct and good activities we will also have to exert for the eradication of demoniac activities. For this purpose the qualities of abnegation, restraint, service, love and helping others have to be adopted.

In the majority of men and society the collective process gets reduced because of the tremendous strength of demoniac elements and as compared to the gentleness in divinity. The real adoration of God lies only in removing this imbalance. Wicked temptations are capable enough to trap man in their net. With that, only his selfishness and ego increases and his activities for children, money and praise for the self increase. He looks only at his self-interest and does not shy away from harming others. It is well-known that gentlemen are of a quiet, peaceful and simple nature and do not like to come into conflict with wicked, demonic elements. Only because of this attitude of theirs to avoid conflict, the wicked people get encouragement. Thus they go on increasing disturbances and anarchy in the society. The gap between good and bad people widens even more. Real 'Ishwar-Bhakti' (i.e. worship of God) lies in reducing this gap, reforming the wicked persons and making them full of divine qualities. That only is called spirituality and religiousness.

The detailed structure of spirituality is made only for the purpose that all the men in the society adopt within their hearts the thoughts, trust, sentiments and culture, for reducing their individual selfishness and in becoming enthused for changing their inferiority into greatness and in trying to merge their souls with the supreme for spiritual development.

The peace and happiness of man and world is dependent only on this sentiment in his heart for collectiveness or togetherness, which inspires all to tread the path of goodness.

With that only is formed the character of the nation.

Pra yadbhandishtha eshaam

praasmaakasashcha surayaha

apa naha shoshuchagham (Rigved 1/97/3)

Of Passion and Compassion

We know what passion is hence it is not very difficult to understand what compassion may be Passion means a state of biological fever - it is hot. You are almost possessed by biological unconscious energies. You are no longer your own master, you are just a slave.

Compassion means you have transcended biology and physiology. You are no more a slave, you are master. Now you function consciously. You are not driven, pulled and pushed by unconscious forces; you can decide what you want to do with your energies. You are totally free. Then the same energy that becomes passion is transformed into compassion.

Passion is lust, compassion is love. Passion is desire; compassion is desire-less-ness. Passion is greed, compassion is sharing. Passion wants to use the other as a means; compassion respects the other as an end unto himself or herself. Passion keeps you tethered to earth, to mud and you never become a lotus. Compassion makes you a lotus. You start rising above the muddy world of desires, greed and anger. Compassion is a transformation of your energies.

Ordinarily you are scattered fragmentary. Some energy is being absorbed by your anger, some by your greed, by your lust, and so on. You are left hollow, empty.

All your energy keeps on going down the drain. When all these energies are no longer being wasted they start filling your inner lake, your inner being. You become full. A great delight arises in you. When you start overflowing you have become a Buddha and you have come upon an inexhaustible source.

Compassion is a key word, but you will understand it only if you go deep into meditation. Meditation is the key to transform passion into compassion. You will have to become more conscious. Right now you are unconscious.

We live like robots…. The more like a robot you are the better you function, the better the society feels with you - because it is a society of robots. To be awakened, alert, and conscious is dangerous. It is a society of blind people; to have eyes, to become.

Socrates says, "If you know that you don't know, that is a great beginning. Then it is possible for you to know". To be aware that "I am ignorant" creates the possibility of seeking searching in your own interiority for the truth - for your truth.

Compassion is the ultimate transformation of passion. You are in passion, but you go on thinking that you are right as you are. You go on defending yourself. And anything that disturbs your comfortable, mechanical life, you go against…

When you come to me you don't come to be awakened, you come to me so that you can dream beautiful, sweet dreams. That is your purpose in coming; that is not my purpose in being here. Once you are here you are caught. Then, slowly, slowly I start taking your dreams away. Then slowly, slowly I go on destroying your illusions. Once your illusions are dropped, your dreams shattered, a great awakening is waiting you for you - a great awakening which makes you a Buddha. And compassionate.

Learned People Never Quarrel and Gives us right Path.

Meaning: According to the line of Athervaved 3/30/4 — "The learned people never quarrel or indulge in jealousy and malice. Study of good literature is required to make man's thinking appropriate."

Message: The world is full of men with different streams of thought. Each one's method of assessing a situation, arriving at a conclusion and then acting on its basis is different. It is not at all necessary that every man's thinking is in agreement with ours and that he will act accordingly. Jealousy and malice are born out of conflicts in thinking only. What follows is criticism and counter criticism, increasing bitterness and difficulties in the road of progress. People slander each other as a result of obstinate insistence for their vain knowledge, vain pride, vain talk and falsehoods. The mind becomes malicious because of frequent slander and with repeated talking about others' bad tendencies; those very bad tendencies crop up in the slanderer also.

Spiritually inclined people must completely give up malice to make their material lives happy. Where there is malice, there is jealousy, arrogance and enmity, which create doubts and gear. It is necessary to free our hearts from malice. Love gives rise to love and despise creates despise. Only the atmosphere of love is the happy alternative of freedom from fear.

For freedom from fear and for proper organization, happiness and peace in the society, men who are always busy in their jealousies and malice, who create everywhere an atmosphere of quarrel, must be despised. Such men because of their selfishness, continuously exploit others, keep them trapped in arguments and quarrels and try to humiliate them.

Only the study of good books has the power to inspire man's thinking for treading the path beneficial to all. Men develop real knowledge and their difference of opinion gets dissolved and their thinking gets in the right direction. Through self-study the cobwebs of false thinking and false-beliefs get removed, the hunger of intelligence for proper guidance is satisfied and mental excellence gets enhanced. It develops the feeling of generous cooperation in the society, and doubts and fears are replaced by deep love and trust and the mutual feeling of brotherhood is increased. Swadhaya is like the 'kalpavruksh' (the wish granting tree in the Nepalese religious lore). Sitting under this kalvavruksh-like tree of self-study, one's desires are fulfilled, all worries are dispelled and life becomes pleasant and filled with moral simplicity. Through self-study we get the benefit of satsang (the good company) of learned men who were the ornaments of this earth. Through their books, our contact is established with them and we get a feeling that we are actually talking with them and they are solving our difficulties and showing us the right path.

Just like our daily prayers, we must also include self-study in our daily routine. This is the key formula for every individual to walk in the righteous path…..

Pleasantness in Speech, dealing and Action

Meaning: According to Athervaved 1/34/3 — "All people love him whose speech, dealings and actions re pleasant. Only they do good deeds and oblige others in the world whose nature is pleasant."

Message: Pleasantness, gentleness and humility are the characteristics of excellent men. As against that, people of mean activities are always hard and of harsh speech. Generous people, with a tendency to help others, are also very polite. Just as the fruit-laden branches of a tree hang downwards, clouds filled with water come downwards, similarly those who are excellent and obliging they are not proud of their wealth or luxuries and are always polite. One in whose heart there is the feeling of divine spirituality for every life; his dealings are also polite and pleasant. He always makes an effort not to cause pain or unhappiness to anyone.

Many people have that false belief that harsh behavior or harsh is more impressive and gives an impression about their greatness. But if we give it a little thought, and experiment a little, then we find out that instead of harsh words, sweet and pleasant words influence more. There is very great capacity in pleasantness. Only because of the lack of capacity and self-confidence, people use harsh words and try to cover up their defects by falsely accusing others. People who are untruthful and who possess false beliefs get joy and fulfillment in obscene and harsh speech. Unfortunately today harshness and obscenity are getting into literature also. Harsh words influence somewhat temporarily, people may obey such words out of fear, but behind their back, speak ill of them. Although people get their work done with harsh words and egoistically move around in a vulgar manner, they are not able to understand that their respect has been undermined. No doubt, harsh words are occasionally necessary. Sometimes we have to resort to harshness to bring children, those working under us or bad men, on the good path, but the use of harsh words should be with discretion.

Gentleness does not mean weakness. To say 'yes' to whatever the other person says, sycophancy and cleverness cannot be termed pleasantness. It is worth observing the pleasantness and humility when people come to request for vote or for donations, but anyone can understand how much truth lies in it! A thug and hypocrite also use very sweet language, but can we really call it pleasantness?

Real pleasantness lies in conduct, not only in speech. We find the ideal of pleasantness in the character of Shri Krishna, the incarnation of God. Whether it is play as a child, or raasleela (dancing), recalling childhood lovingly with Sudama or battlefield, political negotiations or the use of 'sudarshan chakra' (the ultimate weapon), we find everywhere a harmonious blend of pleasantness and harshness. He is pleasant In all respects hence the Sanskrit couplet from Madhurashtaka:

Vachanam madhuram, charitam madhurum, vasanam madhuram, lalitam madhuram, chalitam madhuram, bhramitam madhuram, madhuradhipate rakhilam madhuram.

Faithful Deeds

Meaning: The line of Rigved 10/151/1 states that — "Only the deeds performed with faith have the capability of achieving the goal. Therefore a man should be full of faith".

Message: Faith is the basis of human life. There is great inspiring power hidden in it. Nothing is possible without solid support. If someone wants to take a jump, the ground from where he wants to jump, must be firm. If it is hollow, granular or muddy, the jumper will fall down, and cannot reach the goal. The support must be strong. The support for water, i.e. its container must not be cracked. The stand for the pot must not be wobbly, and the ground must not be slopping or slanting. Similarly if we want to hang something on the wall, the peg must be strong, otherwise the peg will break and the material will fall down. In the same way, faith also must be traditionally strong and by observing, identifying and testing it, its due (important) place must be fixed.

A person, who wants to learn swimming, is at first afraid of entering the water. The teacher gives him an assurance that he will not allow him to drown and asks him to jump, but the learner does not develop faith. He has more faith in the rope kept for practicing, so he gets done into the water while holding the rope. Gradually he gives up holding the rope and becomes bold to move his hands and legs. The teacher helps him and takes care to see that he does not drown. So after a few days his faith is transferred from the rope to the teacher. Then he becomes free from worry and jumps into the water with full faith in his teacher. Let any one call it blind-faith, but nobody can shake his faith in the teacher. Similarly those who have faith in the existence of God, they have this faith every moment that He will help their passage from this world and will not allow them to sink.

Faith, trust and love are the three steps of progress. Everything is possible with faith. Trust makes difficult things easy, and love makes them the easiest. Those who practice these three qualities, their path become free from difficulties and hardships. A person with faith finds that his every task gets performed with ease. When the faith becomes firm, it protects us like our own benevolent mother in every situation.

We too must keep the flame of faith burning. We cannot take even one step forward. Let our life be fully soaked in faith. Our prayers should be with faith, meals with faith, charity with faith and attending religious discourses should also be with faith. Whatever work we do we do with full faith. When there is faith in the work, there is concentration also. That develops a liking for the work. The possibility of smoothness in carrying out the work increases in whatever work is done with mental involvement. Just as the rays of the sun can be converged on a point with a lens and fire can be lights, similarly through the medium of faith, all the powers of the mind can be concentrated. The power obtained with faith makes every task easy

Make faith the basis of your character.

Shraddhayaagnihi samidhyate

shraddhaaya huyate havihi

shraddhaam bhagasya moordhani

vachasaa vedayaamasi (Rigved 10/151/1)

Excellent Moral character from Religion

Meaning: The line of Athervaved 17/1/29 has described about our deeds, that can be expressed as — "Human life will be safe only with good deeds and religious conduct. Therefore let us be sinless and praise worthy and always go on acquiring higher knowledge".

Message: Religiousness means religious conduct. To respect religion in every field of life to follow the injunctions of religions, is itself called 'dharma-achaaran' (or religious conduct).'Dharma' not only means religion (as regards spiritual science and worship), but it has several other meaning including 'moral duty', but unfortunately politicians and the so-called intellectuals are twisting the interpretation of the word 'dharma' to suit their selfish ends.

In reality religion is beneficial to man in every field. The question of narrowness does not at all arise in religion. In fact religion contributes to a wide and vast viewpoint. Real religion does not talk of putting blindfolds on the eyes, but enjoins us to remove them. No religion produces jealousy, malice and such perversities. Religion in the real moral sense creates an atmosphere of good thinking and love. Religion and humanity are mutually complementary. Man can never remain without religion and religion cannot remain any where except in man.

Religion means a rule for carrying out one's responsibility, in other words, 'self-accepted imposition for achieving excellence'. Every field of activity has its own 'dharma' such as teacher's dharma, student's dharma, people's dharma, leader's dharma, soldier's dharma, servant's dharma, father's dharma, women's dharma etc. Religion does not mean mere worship or rituals. Dharma is a symbol of the entire life, because it pervades every aspect of life.

Dharma is good activities, good deeds and truthful conduct. A dharmik man is a man of good conduct, is satisfied, quiet (at peace), disciplined and restrained. Never does he get angry, has no malice, does not ridicule others, nor disrespect others. His main qualities are mental purity, truthfulness in conduct and excellent sentiments for public-welfare. A religious man does not show off his religion. He is busy in his duties with a quiet and unselfish attitude. He relies upon excellence in thinking and simplicity in life. He always utilizes his total capacity and insight for deeds of public-welfare and removes the obstacles in the path with patience and firmness. A life of simplicity propounded the ideal of high thinking. Prosperity lays in simplicity only and in that only lies one's reputation.

To disrespect religion is like discarding humanness and acknowledging animal-ness. For animals there is no religion except fulfilling the needs of their bodies. If an animal coming in the path creates an obstacle, then to drive it away with its horns, to frighten it or to kill it (i.e. selfish survival) is the only 'dharma' of animals. Animals do not have a sense of respect, sentiments, discretion, tradition, society and culture. These exist for man only and therefore at every step in life he has to conduct himself according to the rules laid down in religion. The essence of religion lies only in obliging or helping others, mutual cooperation, compassion, and living together.

Conduct according to the rules laid down in the religion is the only basis for excellent character.

Duty of the Learned Man

Meaning: According to the Rigved 6/10/7 — "It is the duty of learned men that they should carry out excellent deeds and make others do the same. By such deeds, bad tendencies get eradicated and there is an increase in strength, intelligence, learning and longevity."

Message: Whom can we call a learned person? Those who have the knowledge of physical matter and creation, those who keep themselves in formed about the human society, those who understand the principles of life and are familiar with spiritual knowledge, they are called the learned ones. Knowledge means to know and understand anything in its proper form.

The learned person knows the difference between knowledge and ignorance. 'Avidya' or ignorance means to understand that the world and body and similar temporary matter as permanent, to understand meaningless, worthless talk, stealing etc as refinement, to understand the sorrowful activity such as indulging the desires as bringing joy and to understand the physical body and similar physical matter as live. The opposite of it i.e. the knowledge of reality and proper knowledge of the fundamentals means proper learning or 'vidya'.

Learning and knowledge is commonly expressed as social and scientific subjects and languages. Especially, it refers to spiritual knowledge, which includes the knowledge of God as well as the soul and regarding the physical matter (or jad) and chetan (which means the vitality or spark of life). Knowledge is also expressed in the axioms which salvage a fallen person or which awaken an ignorant soul. Only the wealth of learning is the best among all the wealth. Only a man completes with such learning and knowledge is called a learned person. Austerity destroys our sins and with learning we achieve nectarine bliss.

With the contact of such knowledgeable and learned persons, there is constant increase in the willingness to donate for charity and good causes, in the sentiment of non-violence, and in acquiring the knowledge. With 'satsang' (keeping the company of truth, i.e. truthful saintly persons and God) there is always salvation. With 'satsang' terribly depraved men also have realized themselves from the mire of a depraved life and attained heavenly bliss. The change of the lives of the killer-dacoit Angulimaal and the dancer Amrapali after meeting Lord Buddha are already a part of religious lore in Nepal. Maharshi Balmiki, who was the terrible dacoit was changed by a chance meeting with the sage Narad and became a Maharshi so much so that when Ram wanted a safe place for his wife Sita to stay in the jungle, he chose the hermitage of Maharshi Balmiki.

It is the duty of excellent and knowledgeable men that they should not use their acquired knowledge only for self, but give its benefit to everyone coming in their contact. By imparting knowledge, it never diminishes but increases. With the destruction of bad tendencies and increase in good qualities, people's discretionary powers are awakened, and men, doing 'satkarma' (good deeds) achieves longevity.

Those men, who are miserly in giving the benefit of their knowledge and experience to others, are like beasts. Their accumulated knowledge is not useful even to them and gradually their profundity is lost. It is man's duty to give the benefit of his knowledge to the entire society. They only are 'vidwan' (learned) in the true sense.

This is the only duty of knowledgeable men with character.

Divine Sentiment is the Part of our Character

Meaning: According to the line of Yajurved 38/21 has given us instruction about the formation of character, that can be explain as — "O men, just as Good protects and nurtures everyone by being everywhere, similarly you protect and nourish all the living beings by achieving excellence."

Message: The desire for progress and the fulfillment of one's material desires are two entirely different matters. The common forms of both appear similar, but on minute observation, the vast difference as between the sky and the earth, can be seen. Progress is the name for that need in life which illuminates the individuality, unfolds the personality and increases the worthiness. It means the development of those capabilities which can make the body, mind, nature and the deeds clean and will developed. This itself is realistic progress. Only such an evolved individuality is capable of taking courageous steps and achieving miraculous powers.

The condition of a man involved in satisfying material desires is like an intoxicated man's. Mostly, the man keeps uncontrollable desires of achieving heaven and earth without having any assessment of his own situation, worth and means. These desires are never fulfilled; on the contrary they make him restless and unhappy. If someone does achieve something, then such undeserving person, because of his unsuitability, causes harm to himself and others by the suddenly gained wealth.

The real meaning of progress is to achieve progress in the creation of a well developed personality based on a clean body and pure mind. Only with progress do brightness and excellence arise in man and he shines like deities, complete with divine qualities.

The scriptures mention three classes, viz, devata, manav and danav. Danavs (or demons) are inferior or lowly, manav or man is in the middle category and devata or deity or divine man is in the superior category. Today man is heading towards 'danavta' (or demonism). He is badly trapped in the sole desire for more and more money, for the welfare of his progeny (children), and achieving fame at any cost. He is ready to do anything for his selfish ends, and does not care at all for what is proper or improper. Every type of bad tendency and wicked action is becoming an inseparable part of his character and despite knowing it; he does not want to give up any of them. Such a man, trapped in demoniac activity, goes on destroying himself.

On the other hand, deities are complete with all the qualities. They have extraordinary capacity and brightness of intelligence. They are full of supremacy, enthusiasm, and wealth (of various types such as knowledge, wisdom, discretion and so on). A man replete with such divine qualities is called 'nara-ratna' (or gems among men). Just like the deities, such a man, wishes always to protect and nourish all, seeing in them al the same soul as is in him. All the great men in the world have seen the peaceful light of God, the Supreme Father in all the living beings and opened up the path of uplift and progress for all.

If this divine sentiment becomes a part of our character, we too can go unto the highest step of progress.