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Thought for the day JANUARY 2004 |
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Theory & Practice of DHARMA |
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At Global DHARMA Conference, New Jersey in July 2003, DHARMA was interpreted in various ways by the Seers and Spiritual scientists. Some Dharmic quotes are -
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Dharma
is the matrix of norms and is the basis for human interaction with the world.
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Dharma
means the laws of nature and the duties that must be performed.
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Dharma
spells out the principles that govern human growth and happiness - natural laws.
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Dharma
is nothing but the real nature of an object. Just as the nature of fire is to
burn and the nature of water is to produce a cooling effect, in the same manner,
the essential nature of the soul is to seek self – realization and spiritual
elevation.
* Dharma is universal. It transcends race, religion, gender and even species.
The
Dharmic traditions of India (Sanatana or Eternal Dharma, Buddha Dharma, Sikh
Dharma, Jain Dharma etc.) share the Core values of Dharma which are ethical
principles like ahimsa, truthfulness, compassion and renunciation. They require
a respect for all life as sacred and recognition of a single consciousness as
pervading the entire universe, living and nonliving.
There
is no radical difference in the opinions expressed by the Enlightened on the
theoretical aspects of Dharma. However when institutionalized the Core Dharma
was dressed up with rituals and practices in various ways to propagate as
Religion by ardent followers. In the process with time, the outfit was given
more prominence than Core part of it, thus creating intolerance between
individuals and communities.
Practice
of Dharma in simple terms boils down to few words ‘Learn
to Love and Serve all’. The Enlightened have shown the way-
1. Simple living in Harmony with Nature. 2. Not developing self- destructive anger, hatred, jealousy, self-centeredness, selfishness and greediness. 3. Performing one’s duty with devotion and enjoying the work –big or small. 4. Having concern for less fortunate. 5. Extending helping hand and experiencing the joy of giving and 6. Sparing few minutes to meditate on the purpose of LIFE.
-BCH
APRIL 2004
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Yoga and Success in Life |
Some
of the qualities successful people have are concentration, steadiness,
perseverance, inner motivation, acceptance, the ability to say ‘No’ and the
ability to get along with other people.
By
practising yoga, one develops these qualities without inviting ulcers or
courting angina or finding oneself in a psychiatrist’s couch.
Yoga
is the art of living. It helps one
to achieve perfect health - physically, mentally, morally and spiritually.
This state of complete health equips one to take on life’s challenges
with equanimity. A disturbed mind
cannot solve any problem, personal or organisational. Yoga helps one to achieve a tranquil mind with energy, clarity and the
sense of purpose to tackle problems successfully.
A successful person has an alert mind, is free from fear and anxiety and has positive attitudes that help in interpersonal relationships. His life is free from petty jealousy, prejudice and the feeling of insecurity. He is self-motivated and acts as a source of motivation for others. To achieve such an all-round development of personality, yoga has prescribed Yama and Niyama (code of ethics), Asanas (the right postures), Sattvik Ahar (the right food), Pranayama (control of bioenergy, the most easily recognized form of which is breathing) and Pratayahara (withdrawing the mind from sense objects).
Yoga
says ‘action’ and ‘reaction’ are animal instincts. Stop reacting in
life, but concentrate on action at the right time and in the right manner. Thus,
yoga is a complete practical system of self-culture, working through the
harmonious development of one’s body, mind and dormant spiritual potencies.
- From: ‘Yoga for All’ of The Yoga Institute
JULY 2004
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Vedic Rashtra / Rama Rajya Vedic Rashtra in an instrumentality for creating and sustaining the state
of society under the world-view described here as the Rama
Rajya. The creation of the Vedic Rashtra means neither harm to any
community nor appeasement of any group, community, sex or individual.
Creation of the Vedic Rashtra in Bharat is a matter of historical
exigency. The
ideological basis of the existing civilization is essentially sensate
(truth subjected to the testimony of sense organs), materialistic (an
irrevocable denial of divine purpose and the spiritual meaning of life),
nihilistic (reckless denial of everything worthwhile, meaningful,
intrinsic, transcendental and purposeful), technocratic (practically
making human dignity and freedom subservient to technology: man for
machine) and market oriented (man treated at par with goods, commodities,
objects: his value determined by the currency). Under the impact of its
poisonous thoughtways man is increasingly growing into a beast in terms of
his attitudes, feelings, interactions with his fellow-beings, and above
all, in his thinking: survival of the fittest. Stripped
of his human attributes, man is reduced to a mere competitor, a
money-maker, and worst of all, a robot. We are now witnessing a global
insanity; drive for death and an increasing desensitization as regards the
human feelings for the human beings. The psychological consequences are
de-humanized societies and cultures resulting in conflicts, wars, genocide
and mental and psychosomatic disorders. The
philosophy of Rama Rajya derived from the Vedas and the Upanishads,
counteracts this most destructive character of the existing civilization
because it increases the distance between man and the beast, which is
surely the goal of human evolution. The philosophy of Rama Rajya is
therefore essentially evolutionary, and powerful enough to avert the
crisis of our age, created by the anti-evolutionary forces. The
philosophy of Rama Rajya can effectively provide an alternative to
Dialectical Materialism of Marx. I call it Dialectical Idealism. It gives
us a wisdom contained in the Isa Upanishad. Hence, ‘the wise man, who
realizes all beings as not distinct from his own Self and his own Self as
the Self of all beings, does not by virtue of that perception hate anyone’. LOVE, AND NOT HATRED, SHALL BE THE BASIS OF THE VEDIC
RASHTRA. Bhavan’s Journal, April 2004 Prof. Moazziz Ali Beg |
OCTOBER 2004
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India, the Homeland of the Vedic Heritage India
must be protected and kept as the homeland of the Vedic heritage, Sanatana-Dharma,
Hinduism. After a study of some forty years and more of the great
religions of the world, I find none so perfect, none so scientific, none
so philosophic, and none so spiritual as the great religion known by the
name of Hinduism. The more you know it, the more you will love it; the
more you try to understand it, the more deeply you will value it. Make no
mistake; without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil into
which India’s roots are struck, and torn of that she will inevitably
wither, as a tree torn out from its place. Many are the religions and many
are the races flourishing in India, but none of them stretches back into
the far dawn of her past, nor are they necessary for her endurance as a
nation. Everyone might pass away as they came and India would still
remain. But let Hinduism vanish and what is she? A geographical expression
of the past, a dim memory of a perished glory, her literature, her art,
her monuments, all have Hindudom written across them. And if Hindus do not
maintain Hinduism, who shall save it? If India’s own children do not
cling to her faith, who shall guard it? India alone can save India, and
India & Hinduism are one.” Yuva Bharti, May 2004 Dr. Annie Besant |