👉 The supremacy of wisdom in the Yug Nirman solemn pledge

In Yug Nirman Sat-sankalpa* (the solemn pledge for ushering in the new era of bright future for all), there is an ardent call for making wisdom excel everywhere. We should learn to make use of our wisdom to rationalize each and every thing. We should do only what is right and worth doing and adopt only that which is worth adopting. If a question crops up in our mind about what people might think or say about our out of the ordinary actions or conduct, we should recall that there are two types of people—those who are sensible and those who are senseless

The voice of a few sensible people is as powerful as that of the hordes of senseless people. There has always been dearth of sensible people in this world. There may be a very few lions compared to flocks of jackals living in a forest. However, the roar of only one lion stands out a mile among the yells and yaps of thousands of jackals. In the same way, if only a few of sensible people happen to firmly resolve to take some prudent initiatives, they can make widely prevalent badness crumble to pieces in the same way as the sunrise makes the early morning mist disappear. This need to be done and must be done to steer the capabilities and resources of the mankind into desirable positive direction.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojana- Darshan, swaroop, va Karyakrma- 66 (5.12)

👉 Prepare Yourself to Receive God's Grace

Someone had left two tubs out in the open. One was facing up, the other was facing down. Rains came and filled the tub with its face up. The other one, facing down remained totally empty. The empty tub was furious. He cursed the other tub as well as the rain. The rain told him, "Don't be upset. I am not prejudiced. I provide water everywhere. The fault is entirely yours. If you turn your face up, I will fill you with water as well."  

The tub got the point and accepted his mistake. Telling this story to his disciples a monk said, "Just like rains, God's grace is showering down everywhere. We must prepare ourselves to receive it by performing Upasana. Worship is not begging for alms, it is about preparing oneself to receive the grace of God.

📖 From Pragya Puran

👉 One who has conquered the Self, can conquer the World

The essence of Sadhana is ‘self-discipline’. One who has conquered the ego-centered self is the true warrior. It is easy to subdue others with brute force; it involves no virtuous valor.

Our real enemies are our evil impressions and animal tendencies deeply entrenched in our psyche. They keep suppressed the inner virtues and prove to be heavy obstacles in the path of inner growth. Rooting them out is real bravery.

The woodlouse eats the wood and the virus seriously disturbs the natural harmonies of the psychosomatic organism. Likewise the vices and addictions of a person relentlessly push him downwards; and none of his efforts to rise up gets successful.

If we can identify our real enemies – the evil impressions - and resolutely eradicate them, then will we be successful in achieving the Supreme goal of life. That is why seers and thinkers have been stressing again and again that – true seekers must do the inner Inquiry – Who am I? Who can know us better than ourselves? It is really simple to point to other’s faults, but being continuously aware of our own faults and sweep them out of our minds is indeed a tough task. However, one who accomplishes such a self-refinement is a conqueror of the lower self; and such a person indeed possesses the power to conquer the world. Self-conquest is the greatest conquest.

 

 ✍🏻 Pt Shriram Sharma Acharya

👉 The key to success and self-fulfillment

Thus the key to a person’s success and fulfillment in life is the intensity and focus of his will and faith in his ability to manifest his indwelling divine potentialities. He works with the available resources and gets results according to the circumstances created by his deeds. One may call it destiny, fortune or the result of karma, but by and large it is the outcome of one’s own will and faith.

That is why it has been said that a man is the maker of his own destiny. Whosoever has achieved success and fulfillment in this world has worked whole heartedly to achieve his set goal. Such people have been ever active, with unwavering will, to achieve their aims. This strong will enabled them to overcome all the obstacles, keep hope and faith alive in the hour of failure and make fresh attempts, leading to ultimate success. Therefore, in one word, a strong will alone may be called the real basis of success.

👉 Heard the Bhagwat four times

Parikshit Maharaj heard Bhagwat Puran from Shukdeo and attained salvation. A rich man on hearing this, developed great respect for the Bhagwat, and got eager to listen to it from a Brahmin to get liberated.

He searched and found a profound priest of Bhagwat. He told him his intention of hearing the Bhagwat. The priest told him that this is Kaliyug, all the pious activities in this age is reduced four times, thus he had to listen to it for four times. The reason behind the priest’s proposition was to get enough money out of the deal. He gave the fees to the priest and heard four Bhagwat lectures but it was of no use. The man then met a higher level of saint. He asked him, how Parikshit could get and he didn’t after listening to the Bhagwat.

The saint told him, that Parikshit Maharaj had known the death to be imminent and was completely detached from the world while hearing and Shukdeo Muni was narrating without the feeling of any kind of greed.

Whoever has got the knowledge in the form of an advice, free of any kind of self vested interests, that has produced desired results.

📖 Pragya Puran Stories

👉 Due to bad karma, fallen ascetic became demons

Ravana was a wise man. Through his austerities he had acquired great capabilities. In spite of all this, due to his abominable behavior, God himself had to take birth on the planet to kill him. Example of Bhasmasur, illustrates that even after having reached a high spiritual state, without any compellations, due to ill state of mind one digs a hole for himself. Similarly, great powerful fighters like Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashyapu had to die due to evil state of mind and behavior. 

Durga killed Shumbh-Nishumbh, Madhukaitabh and Mahishasur. Parshuramji killed Sahasrabahu and Shri Krishna killed Vanasur. Bhim killed Jarasandh. Shoorpnakha used to tease Rishis performing austerities in Khardooshan forest. Tadka used to disturb the yagyas. Bali had out thrown his younger brother and kept his wife with him. Ram and Lakshman killed all of them and ended their tyranny.

Pragya Puran Part 1

👉 Some Thoughts on Religion and Spirituality

Spirituality is the science of consciousness; and religion is the art of living.

Spirituality is the ‘knowledge’ aspect of creation; and religion is the ‘activity’ aspect of it.

Spirituality is idealism; and religion is the method of imbibing it in real life.

Spirituality leads to self-realization; and religion shows the way to attain it.

The focus of spirituality is the Supreme Spirit; and that of religion is the individual soul.

Religion is the sadhana (ritualistic modes / methods / traditions) of uplifting the human consciousness. The ultimate aim of all the methods of sadhana is same.

Religion is a sky which is open to all to fly in their own way irrespective of caste, color, creed, nationality, etc.
Those, who know the essence of spirituality and follow the righteous path of religion, are sure to achieve the boons of peace and prosperity at the individual level; and contribute to social harmony at large.

Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya

👉 Gyan Yagya The greatest movement of the present Era

The core power of the human beings is the thought process. This has made it possible for the mankind to make so much of progress accomplished until now. Problems arise as a result of abnormalities or anomalies in thoughts and can be resolved by changing the way of thinking. A person really becomes the way he/she thinks. The direction of thoughts defines the deeds and the deeds give rise to relevant situations or circumstances we come across. The circumstances do not have any independent existence. They are merely the product of our deeds. Similarly, the actions do not take place automatically, they are driven by our thoughts which are totally responsible for our deeds. The true understanding of this fundamental truth can help us find the causes and solutions of all the present day problems.

It is very unfortunate that a very little thinking of this kind has ever been done so far and that too hasn’t been accorded much significance it deserves. The leaders kept on thinking that improving comforts and facilities (the standards of living) would make people happy and at ease, enabling them to solve their problems themselves.But it is well evident that this kind of misconceptions have proven wrong. The efforts made to improve the material standards of the administration have ended up with even more irregularities being committed.

The improved economy has no doubt yielded more facilities and conveniences but the ultimate outcome has always been the opposite.Such progress is superficial and fragile and can easily fall to pieces. A long-lasting progress and powerful capabilities need a very powerful character which can only develop on the solid foundation of eminent thinking.

The Gyan-yagya# can nurture with such thoughts. It may seemingly appear to be trivial campaign but has so much immense potential that if it can be run and managed properly, it could facilitate sound establishment of prudent thinking and noble deeds among the masses which can ultimately make the dream of a new era come true.

#A selfless work or campaign of disseminating life-elevating thoughts or knowledge

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojna-Philosophy,structure and Planning-66(4.44-46)

👉 Scientific Spirituality

Scientific spirituality is a virtuous fusion of scientific outlook and spiritual vision. In the scientific attitude, there is no place for prejudice, traditions, superstitions or dogma. Herein only those thoughts and actions are honored that are logical, appropriate and aim at investigating the truth. Instead of a convention or tradition, only the results of experimental findings are considered authentic. In short, the scientific outlook relies more on discernment than tradition. The seer of Manduka Upnishada declares the same as ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (meaning -Truth alone triumphs).

This scientific outlook is perfected by the refined perception of the spiritual values of life. It is this perception that gives birth to all kinds of noble virtues. Wherever this perception is absent, nobility will also be absent there. Sometimes, due to confusion, the truth and this kind of inner vision are considered irreconcilably opposite. Truth and intuitive vision, like science and spirituality, are not opposite but complementary to each other. The truth makes the perception resolute and the perception makes truth purposeful.

The continuity of the experiments of scientific spirituality keeps the life busy in finding truth without losing the intuitive awareness of reality. It maintains a balance between the genius of a scientist and the intuition of a saint present in a human being. If this practice


Chota Sankalp Bhi Kese Bada Ho Sakta Hai
Dr Chinmay Pandya
👇👇👇
https://youtu.be/h7gipKIQeXQ

👉 Though Inconvenient, ‘Change’ is Inevitable

The juncture of the end of night and the beginning of day is called dawn. This period is filled with unique opportunities for self-growth for the early-risers; but for those who are still half – asleep, it appears as an unwelcome guest and as a burden loaded with new responsibilities. Howsoever unpleasant, they have to rise up and attend to their daily chores. Night does not return and the day does not stop. There is no other alternative than to adjust with the change. The cosmos is in perpetual movement. All our resistance is of no avail to hold back the incessant process of change.

The foetus manages happily in the dark cell of mother’s womb, but when it is fully developed, nature pushes it out of its cozy chamber, separates it from the mother’s umbilical cord and forces it to come out in free atmosphere. In the process of progress, this change is essential and unavoidable. The time of birth is painful and inconvenient to everyone. Mother, nurse, members of the family and friends – all have to abandon their normal routine and get ready to help in whatever way they can in the process of birth. Ultimately the result of this exercise is pleasant to all.

During the present momentous transition period of change of an era, the process of elimination of the Evil and establishment of the Good in human hearts is bound to appear painful for the rigidly orthodox. Other sections of the society may also feel it inconvenient to adopt new ways of life befitting a new era. But there is no other alternative than to adopt the discipline of ushering in of the new enlightened world order that has been ordained by Nature. Once we accept this Truth and are not resistant to change, we will find that change is seed of spiritual growth for all humanity. We will discover that the very change we were fleeing from had held the good we had prayed for.

👉 Quest for Joy

Man wanders all the time, throughout his life, in search of joy, blissful peace, but remains dismayed and astray…. Acquisition of hoards of wealth, worldly comforts, good health, delicious food, palatial house, vehicles, servants, gorgeous cloths, beauty, beloved family, faithful friends, supporters all around, powers, prestige, name and fame, security…., and what not he looks for? People who lack in any of these strive for their possession; those, who already have, try to possess more with new passions…

This scenario is like that of the tale of the swan (flamingo), which is hunting for the pearl since Ages, but finds nothing but a drop of dew… Why? Because, it did not really search for the pearl; did not even turn his face in the direction of the grand Ocean “Mansarovar” where the pearl is hidden in the depths… It did not gather the courage and strength to fly so long… Short-sighted intellect and pleasure-hungry mind advised it – “what is the guarantee that you will find that unseen “Mansarovar”; and who knows whether there will really be any pearl and you would trace it” so it satisfied itself with the shining drops of dew; licked it and thought it has quenched the thirst…; it flew for sometime and the thirst recurred with greater intensity.

The cycle continued… This is what happens with most of us who keep searching for ‘immortal’ joy in the mirage of perishable world, keep accumulating more of what gives only a momentary pleasure but keeps us away from the sight of real bliss…

📖 Akhand Jyoti, March. 1940

👉 "Avoid Wailing Over Circumstances

🔷 Instead of making big plans, the utilization of available tools and working on whatever small tasks are on our hands, can provide a sound footing for progress. It is far better to plunge into work with minimum available resources, rather than waiting for comfortable situation and abundance of instruments. For any task, small or big, success does not depend on tools and resources, but untiring efforts, perseverance and honesty are the roots for success.

🔶 If we see, all noble rich people of the world have risen from a very ordinary situation to the amazing level. Situations were always unfavorable and tools were limited, but with their sincere efforts and right attitude, they reached the pinnacle of success. Had they kept wailing over circumstances, they would have been sitting idle even today, pampering the mind in imagination of illusive riches.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Aacharya
📖 Not a Big-Shot, Be Super-Human, Page 13

👉 Know thyself

Wise Ibsen says, "The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone. He is weak who expects, waits for others [to help him]" (An Enemy of the People, 1882). Alone here means - self-reliant, one who is able to stand on one'||chr(39)||'s own two feet. In this context, alone does not mean an uncooperative individual. What Ibsen implies here is a person who knows his responsibilities, performs his duties, that person finds the necessary support he needs [for progress] from within. External resources easily come, drawn to him by his magnetism.

Confucius says, "What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others". Intellectuals and sages have always taught, God helps them who help themselves. One who has lost faith and confidence in himself, is counted amongst the unfaithful in the eyes of God.

Inside of us lies the most intense and nearest presence of the divine. One who does not experience that presence, that which is inside of him, from where will he be able to find a support [something to hold on to], which will save him and push him forward?

To not believe in ones own capabilities and possibilities is like refusing to accept the authority of God. In places, where such type of disbelief exists, there we can find the vilest form of atheism.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Chetan, Achetan Evum Super Chetan Mann Vangmay 22 Page- 3.1

👉 Eradication of evil tendencies

Many times, morally sound people are seen indulging in ill-stuffs. The reason for that is, the ill tendencies are deep-rooted somewhere inside them and they pop up as and when they get opportunity.Just like for a person who keeps thinking about stealing things, it's not difficult to do so whenever he gets a chance. A person who might be highly knowledgeable in his physical appearance but has evil tendencies in his mind, would be ultimately considered an immoral person. Because of pressure of social etiquette, even though the physical action did not take place but it was always present in its subtle form in his mind. Thus if opportunity was there, the sin would have been committed.

So continuous efforts must be made to remove bad tendencies hiding in subtle mind. Therefore it is absolutely necessary, that whatever bad tendencies we find in our actions, thoughts and personality, we gather positive thoughts contradictory to these tendencies and do arrangements to make them available to mind again and again.

The eradication of bad thoughts is only possible by current of good thoughts.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojana: Darsana, swarupa va karyakrama 66:2.18

👉 Praise be only unto those making meritorious use of money

These days money is commonly reckoned to be the loftiest blessing, gift or glory among all. However, it doesn’t deserve the honour of being the jewel in the crown of divine gifts which should actually belong to pre-eminent feelings like empathy, kindness, generosity, etc. Anyone endowed with such pre-eminent feelings becomes a divine being in person. Great people, sages, those having a simple-living-high-thinking way of austere life, and people who renounced their happiness or sacrificed their everything for others belong to this class of sublime people, i.e. the divine beings. They burn like a candle to impart the light of bliss everywhere. Whatever goodness, blessedness or bliss we experience everywhere are in reality the manifestations of pre-eminent feelings.

The second place among divine gifts goes to vidyā or wisdom. (This is a manifestation of brāhmaṇatva, i.e. a mental faculty of sublime thinking.) The third gift is that of the talents. (This can be classed as kshatriyatwa i.e. the physical expression of brave deeds.) Money comes next at the fourth place. Money basking the undeserving top praise has become a great misfortune for the human race. One of its offshoot is that people have become more inclined to amass as much money as possible so as to become more praiseworthy or respectable in society. On the contrary, such money should have been well utilised all the time to facilitate noble causes.

Money is indeed a divine gift. Wealth is a sign of a glimpse of divine grace. This is one of the reasons why we offer prayers to Mother Lakshmi—the Goddess of wealth and properity during Deepawali, the festival of light. However, any money that is wrongly used to provide luxuries to or to satisfy ego of just a few rather than aptly being used for the good of the masses isn’t at all worth of accolade. Such riches have been and should be disapproved of.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojana: Darsana, swarupa va karyakrama 66:1.38

👉 Writers are acting like hunters’ dogs!

🔶 Hunters keep dogs which run several miles, toils really hard to catch their preys like rabbit, fox, deer, etc. and bring them back to their masters. The hunters will keep the prey and toss a small portion of meat to reward the dog. Similar practice is followed in the field of publication and intellectual works wherein the publishers are playing the role of hunters and get work done by writers who act similar to hunters’ dogs. If we happen to gather all literature written on disgusting, vulgar, erotic, provoking themes as well as those which talk about the ways to carry out evils like stealing, robbery, cheating, etc. it could easily make a heap as tall as the Mount Everest. What is more, this type of voluminous literature is read by millions of naive readers! A bait made of food mixed with poison is used to kill rats. Rats eat the bait and get killed by the poison concealed in it. The aforesaid literature is just like these baits. The naive minds of the readers easily fall prey to the ideas expressed in these publications and is compelled to act them out.

🔷 Nowadays, many writers are behaving like hunters’ dogs. They are helping their masters—the publishers and distributors to become rich media moguls. The writers may well be contented with the little bounty they get for their work. However, in doing so they are recklessly demonstrating the ‘genius’ of their nasty work by making readers to rise to their baits and making them do what the publishers dream of. As if the Divine Mother of knowledge is being portrayed in an evil way. Such a sorry situation would make anyone sensible enough let out a sigh, “Oh God! Please take away all the knowledge, we would be far better off with being illiterate!”

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojana: Darsana, swarupa va karyakrama Vangmay 66 Page 1.35

👉 You O awakened one! shall inherit the Earth !

This dear reader is about you, you are the awakend soul that is talked about in this excrept -

🔶 Awakened souls shall have the earnest desire to bring about necessary transformation within themselves. They shall carry out thorough examination of their own thoughts, feeling, actions and behavior. They shall stop being blind followers of widely prevalent trends, traditions and practices and would start using their own independent thinking. They shall also stop being foolish copycat of others. This is where the revolution would start. This will be the very first step in the process of transformation.

🔷 The change in era will kick start with a powerful process of change in character at individual level. God has been emitting such a powerful subtle current of inspiration which is touching and stirring up every sensible and awakened individuals, instigating them every moment to keep reviewing their existing situation and make all necessary changes that would empower them with independent thinking.

🔶 The light of prudence, discretion and good judgment shall eliminate all doubts of the unknown, fears of any disaster, pre-conceived notions and meek tendency of doing what others do.

🔷 You would feel so much empowered from within that you shall set off, all alone, on the path you feel to be worthy of, turning a blind eye to any words of advice, opinions or discouragement by your so-called well-wishers.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Yug Nirman Yojana: Darsana, swarupa va karyakrama Vangmay 66 Page 1.16

👉 Refinement of aspirations

🔷 A lack of harmony between inner life (aspirations, thinking, character, etc.) and outer life (actions, interactions, conduct, etc.) of an individual may give rise to muddled and mismatched aspirations as well as the feelings of inner dissatisfaction. Many individuals happen be deeply idealistic, however, sometimes they might commit something undesirable out of their instincts or inner traits which would then make them regret and feel discontent for having failed to practice the ideals they staunchly believed in.

🔶 This could also happen when an individual may desire to be idealistic but cannot refine or make his aspirations compatible with his aforesaid desire. For example, an individual may wish to be honest in his life and to serve the masses, however, he also has some parallel aspirations which compels him to live a lavish and luxurious life. This might make it difficult for him to prove his integrity and commitment and to have any desirable impact of his service to humanity leading to inner dissatisfaction.Anyone who desires to serve the humanity need to adopt a simplicity in their life if they wish to have any impact on masses. For that reason, it is necessary for them to shape their aspirations in such a way that they harmonize well with their ideals.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Jivan Devtā kī sādhanā-ārādhanā Vangmay 2 Page 2.16

👉 Each thing is relevant where it belongs

🔶 Prayer, compassion, politeness, charity etc. are all undoubtedly very good things indeed and can readily earn appreciation and admiration of most people, especially those who happen to be right-minded. However good these virtues may be, they cannot yield success all the time because wicked people would hardly ever bother about them and what is more, they may regard such polite people being weak and thus, try to intimidate and exploit them. In such a sorry situation, one may have to resort to handling it tactfully by giving them a taste of their own medicine.

🔷 Each thing is pertinent where it belongs. A lotus flower may stand out in a muddy pond. Even a thorny plant like cactus are of the essence and useful too.

🔶 All the incarnations of God described in Hindu sacred texts have adopted a three-pronged approach of breaking, making and sustaining as and when they were deemed necessary. Even the high and mighty powers like them had to employ all these elements of contradictory nature to accomplish the noble task of salvaging the humanity.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Jivan Devta ki sadhana-aradhana Vangmay 53 Page 8.26

👉 Boredom in serving humanity!?

🔷 “I have done this much, I have gone this far. Why is it only me who should be doing the work of serving people? Others too ought to do their part.” This is the common scenario witnessed among the workers engaged in serving humanity, however, it is utterly erroneous thinking and one should never resort to it. Serving humanity is the need of our soul and it nourishes our soul.

🔶 The core purpose of taking part in the tasks of serving people or helping them is not to make them feel grateful to us or to prove our greatness or to earn fame but, as a matter of fact, to uphold the glory of our soul and to keep nurturing it. Love is the inherent nature of the soul and that love can be expressed through serving humanity. Hence, how can we ever cut ourselves off from serving humanity? Why should we ever get bored of it? How can we ever abandon it?

🔷 Anyone who understands the necessity and importance of serving humanity would never ever get bored of it. And if someone does become bored, he haven’t actually understood the essence of serving humanity.

✍🏻 Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya
📖 Dharma tattwa kā darśana aura marma Vangmay 53 Page 6.58