The need of the Hour

 The crucial need today is to bring about a global revolution in existing ideologies. Let us open a front against corrupt practices and force, each and every human being to observe self- discipline of behavior conforming to human dignity. This is the only way to bring back the "Golden Age of Truth" (A reference to Satyug of Ramayana Era.) Let this be the norm for human life in all fields of activity. This is the path of the true believer of the devotee of truth, love and justice. There cannot be a greater act of virtue and service to humankind. This is the noble crusade in which "The supreme Commander" desires everyone to take part. This is going to be the decisive struggle for building a truly bright future for humanity. Wisdom would then no longer remain a Utopian attribute of the residents of Heaven of scriptures, but become a reality on this earth in the third millennium.

For establishing lasting reign of righteousness let us plan for an overall ideological revolution. Let us make the responsible citizens of the world realize how they have become irresponsible because of perverted and regressive ideologies. It would require an ideological crusade. Corrupt ideologies can be overcome only by progressive ones. Let us generate progressive ideas on such a large scale and make them so pervasive that not a single living being on this earth suffers from want and misery.

It is a gigantic challenge confronting the entire humankind. Cleansing the minds and hearts of millions of world's population is not an easy venture. Besides uprooting corrupt ideologies, wisdom worthy of humankind needs to be established to make man liberal and compassionate towards his fellow beings. In order to establish an era of global brotherhood and equality, we shall not only seek willing cooperation of all but also compel by examples the wafers to follow suit.

Where and how should this revolution begin? Who has the courage to bell the cat? For this purpose we would require extraordinarily zealous, courageous and inspired persons, who are prepared to sacrifice personal interests for this noble cause. Where could one find such individuals? Who will fire them with an all conquering zeal? Who would generate strong motivation and dedication for the cause? In the prevailing circumstances, there appears no other option but to make a beginning with one's own close associates. In this country (as well as elsewhere in the world) revolutionaries had always, without exception, started their work with a small nucleus of followers around them.

When Rishi Vishwamitra had sought the help of king Dashrath against the ubiquitous oppression by demons, the former sent none other than his own young sons for eliminating the demons. Likewise, kind Harishchandra had himself come forward to fulfill the wishes of his Guru. Prudence demands resurrection of this age-old tradition. In order to motivate others, one has to put forth our own example as the true followers of the ideals we swear by.

Vital Role of Gayatri Sakti in Human Life

There is no way of glorious success in human life without Sadbuddhi. The support of Gayatri in this form is inevitable for all aspirants of progress and blissful prosperity. There is no path to spiritual evolution, realization of God, or ultimate salvation that does not emanate from the spiritual element of Gayatri Sakti. The Sadhaks or seekers of God should also note that thee is infinity, beyond all perceptions and thoughts. Thou is omnipresent and loves all without any discrimination. No one could have direct reach to thy realization. The subliminal shield of wide separation between the individual self and thy-self could be pierced only by the spiritual force of the enlightened soul. The gamut of the science of spirituality, devotional practices and ascetic endeavors are devised for the sole purpose of arousing this force. Absolute evolution of the Satoguna in the individual-self alone can revoke the hidden spiritual force of the soul and enable its linkage with its divine origin and thy realization. Gayatri Sakti, being the genesis and eternal power of Satoguna is therefore revered as the cosmic impulse of divine conjugation between the soul and the God.

Gayatri Sadhana is the ideal medium for reaching thy realms. Indeed the ultimate realization is attainable only in the sublime core of Gaya tri Sakti. Before entering it, it is only the sentient perception; and beyond it there remains nothing - the subtle senses of the subtle and the astral bodies too get concealed in the absolute void.

Thy devotion and thou realization also attained by the Sadhana, Upasana of Adi Sakti Gayatri and its manifestations in Parvati,-Shiva, Lakshmi-Narayana, Rhadhe-Krishna or Sita-Rama. The devotion of Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali, Mahamaya, Savitri, Pravati, Sita or Radha is also the Upasana of Gayatri only.

Lord Krishna identifies thyself in the holy Bhagwat Gita as - "Gayatri Chandamaham" (I am immanent in the Gayatri Mantra). Gayatri Mantra is the universal Mantra of the Upasana of God. People might argue otherwise because of their ignorance and prejudices against a particular 'name' (manifestation) of thee, but every spiritually enlightened Sadhak, true devotee of divinity experiences and knows that there is no path isolated (insulated) from the sublime domains of Gayatri that could lead to spiritual illumination, divine attainments and realization of the Brahma.

Worshiping the Motherhood by Gayatri Upasana

Gayatri Upasana is the Upasana of the Viswa-Mata, Deva-Mata, Veda-Mata; it is the devotion of the eternal mother. The deity Gayatri is worshiped in the idol of a Goddess -the divine mother. Mother's love for the child is the most sacred, pure and supreme expression of love. Love experienced in other relationships, howsoever intimate or closed might be is not totally devoid of the influence of selfish attachments and expectations. But mother's love is truly selfless and free from all constraints and perturbations.

Fight from the stage of conceiving a child to raising and training him, she bears a lot and gives what all she has of the welfare of the child; she continuous to bless the child with abundant care and love. Her warm love demands to returns, has not expectations. The saying that "sons could be bad and ungrateful but the mother is never short in her love." Elucidates the limitless grandeur of motherhood. Worshipping God in a mother-form is a salute to the divine nature of motherhood. It also has great psychological benefits. Devotion develops an emotional relationship between the devotee and the deity. Needless to say, the intensity of this intimacy is most deep and natural when the devotee regards the deity as divine mother. The latter also responds accordingly and bestows motherly love upon its child - the devotee. As a child feels most secure and happy in the lap of his mother, the devotee also experiences the same while worshiping the omnipotent divine mother. The immediate psychological impact of this feeling induces soundness in his devotion and liberated the devotee from all tensions, doubts and illusions. When the Sadhak takes shelter in the lap of the Almighty Mother Gayatri and devotes himself, thou too embraces him with equal warmth and endowers the nectar of divine motherly love.

Womanhood is worship-able by men in all its expressions. What a woman gives him as a wife, sister, and mother at least deserves his acknowledgement in terms of amity, affection and respect in the respective relations. The science of psychology reveals that man would have been a cruel, harsh, desperate creature living in the primitive state (of civilization), had he not been fostered by the peerless love and aid of woman. The dry and thirsty land is delighted by the cool lashing of rains and expresses its joy by sprouting fresh greenery. The serene love and sympathy enshowered by woman similarly nurtures and helps excel the potentials of the man. However, the poison of uncontrolled lust, erogeneity and carnal desires often spoils the nectar-like effect that could be generated by healthy cooperation in a couple. The familial and social relations between men and women would have been far more beneficial for mutual welfare and progress had the purity of thoughts and affectionate emotions been insulated from the insidious sensuous passions. The toxic of licentious attitude and eroticism converts the nectar-fruit (of fulfilling relationship) into a deadly poisonous seed.

Gayatri Sadhana is an excellent spiritual remedy to naturally pacify the untoward passions and mental perversions and to purify the emotional fields. Worshiping Mother Gayatri as Vishwo-Mata - the genesis of motherhood the symbol of pristine womanhood gradually invokes sacred feelings and intrinsic respect for womanhood. The Sadhak's sincere attempts of continence over the sense organs, eliminating mental ailments - especially those driven by concupiscence, and his strive for mental concentration over constructive thoughts succeed effectively with the progress of this spiritual-conditioning. Beastly instincts cannot survive in the heart of a true devotee of motherhood. The Upasana of Gayatri as Viswa- Mata is the supreme experiment to educe this spiritual elevation.

Vocal Cord Internal Chanting

Some religions and spiritual practices use verbal chanting, prayer, or reading sacred books aloud in an effort to divert the mind from its ordinary mundane preoccupations and channel it towards the divine. Although this has a definite beneficial effect, it cannot elevate the mind to the highest state, because by this method, the vocal cord is still in operation, and also the ear organ is hearing one's own voice; and thus the conscious mind is still active. Yoga meditation, however, uses a process for concentration which is completely internal by which the vocal cord is not used at all - a process which we will discuss later.

Thus, merely by sitting in the lotus posture, silently and motionlessly, and folding the hands, we have succeeded in inactivating all the five motor organs, hands, feet, vocal cord gentry and excretory organs.

Suspending the sense organs: Closing the Eyes

Then the eyes are closed. In some forms of concentration, a candle is used, and the concentrator starts fixedly at the candle flame. Indeed, by this process one develops some psychic powers, for intense concentration always creates mental force. This technique is often employs by hypnotists and those interested only in utilizing the lower powers of the mind. But it cannot lead to the subtlest state of awareness because the eye organ and thus the conscious mind are still in operation, making it more difficult to dive deep inside the mind. So in meditation we close the eyes.

Turning off the Nose and Ears: Visualization

What about the nose and ears? They are not so easy to close! When you are sitting by an open window above the roar of traffic in the street below, and the next door neighbor is frying some savory dish, how to prevent these sensations from disturbing your mind? For this there is a specific process of visualization to withdraw the mind from all external vibrations. Now psychologists are realizing the tremendous power of visualization in creating mental states, particularly altered states of consciousness. In meditation, we use a specific visualization to imagine that we are far away from the external disturbances - sounds and smells - that may agitate our minds. By this technique, we completely isolate ourselves mentally from the external world; one may be sitting in the busiest city on earth and yet feel the same internal peace, silence and solitude as if he or she were sitting on a Himalayan peak. This is one of the higher practices of meditation, so it can only be learned personally from a trained instructor of Ananda Marga.

Tongue Turned Back and Skin Un-stimulated

To remove the sensation of taste, the tongue is turned back in the mouth in a specific position which effectively stops the operation of the taste organ. And by another internal visualization (which must also be learned individually from the instructor), the mediator withdraws all awareness from the physical body, so all tactile disappear and the skin organ becomes inactive.

All ten Sense and Motor Organs Inactive

Thus, by sitting motionlessly in the proper posture with the hands folded, eye closed, tongue turned back in the mouth, and mind withdrawn from external physicality, all the ten sense and motor organs have been controlled and the conscious mind completely stilled (silence have found in their experiments on yogis that in deep meditation they are completely oblivious to external stimuli. When a loud noise sounds in their ears, or a bright light shines on their eyes, or a hot iron rod touches their hands, they do not respond to the stimuli at all).

This is the correct process of sensory withdrawal, and at the end of it, without using a tube of warm water or any painful, difficult or complicated techniques, the mediator has easily transcended the conscious mind and enters deep into the subconscious state. Thus, it is said that meditation actually begins with the subconscious mind.

You are that which you think

Self is immutable and so is the Supreme self, therefore, be one with the immutable. Why do you allow yourself to be swept hither and thither like a straw? You become peace-less in the face of petty troubles - a notice from a government department, not being able to have your way, not being able to gratify your senses, a slight to your ego, a servant not saluting not getting approval or recognition in some matter….. How small you become!

As you think, so does your mind become? Therefore, please think of God.

Don't let your mind go towards any person or thing other than God. Focus.

You are told that God is in everybody and everything and that His will be done. It means the Lord abides in you. Thousand of gamblers are playing games; let them play. You think of playing with the indweller Lord and so turn your mind inward. You shouldn't exhaust yourself capitulating to kinsmen laboring under delusion. God's will be done means accepting whatever is happening whether or not it is to your liking.

Some people when they meditate expect some type or depth of meditation. Don't predetermine any type of meditation nor have preconceived notions of the results it should produce. As you sit for meditation, tell Him, 'O Lord! Hail to you! Thy will be done! This is meditation and reflection too.

Whatever you do with your body, do it for the pleasure of indweller Lord. Don't work for sense-gratification or for ego trip. Works with a view of propitiate the Lord. This is real service. If people seek your help or service by flattering you, be careful and examine yourself whether you are being motivated by adulation or you are rendering service for the pleasure of the Guru or the Indweller Lord. If you exercise this care, your service will become much rewarding and your nature will be sweet.

Those who work for appreciation and fame end up quarrelling and fighting with each other.

Reject your ego. Doing so is good for you. Give your acceptance by saying. "O Lord! What you will is for the best of all! They will be done! God the knowledge Absolute, Bliss to be like Him. God's will being fulfilled means God will make you God. The Supreme Brahman for you is in substance one and the same as Himself.

Instead of praying for a particular kind of weather, pray to Him, O Lord! Thy will be done! Then whatever the weather may be, it will not cause any trouble to you. Just give your consent. If somebody hurls abuses at you, say in your mind, 'God! You are great! Through these cuss words, you are destroying my ego. O Lord! Thy will be done! This in itself is a great sadhana. If you think 'oh my God! It is very hot………' you will be tormented by hot weather. But you want to enjoy the rain - summer heat is essential for the rains to come.

Summer heat is essential also for making one strong enough to tolerate cold as cold is essential for making one strong enough to tolerate the summer heat. Insults are necessary to make one able to assimilate appreciation and fame. Death is necessary for one to assimilate life. The Lord is doing all that is necessary for you.

'That man is disciplined and happy who can prevail over the turmoil that springs from desire and anger, here on earth, before hi leaves his body.

(Bhagavad Gita 5.21-23)

Change Your Programming

Why do we fear?

Most fears are nothing but movements of thoughts. A thought is a language that we give for words, pictures and feelings. Put in a different way, a thought is just a movement of word, picture and feeling…….. You interpret a thought in your mind in a language that you are afraid, and your experience fear.

What happens when you are in a state of deep sleep? In that state there are no thoughts, and you experience no fear at all. If there is no thought, there is no fear. When you are in deep sleep, a snake may glide close to you, but you are not afraid of that snake in such proximity because you are not thinking about the snake. On the other hand, when you are awake, the sight of even a coiled piece of rope can fill you with fear, because you think the rope is a snake.

Fears that are physical in their origin arise from a threat perceived in our immediate physical surroundings. For example, you may be in the jungle, and you know there are tigers in the jungle. You will genuinely be afraid. Even then, you can turn that fear into an enjoyable experience, what advertisers of adventure sports call an "adrenaline-pumping" or "hair-raising" experience. Such fear also has great survival value. Ask professional hunters and experienced trekkers and they will tell you that it is fear that keeps them alert and alertness that keeps them alive.

You can work on reducing or eliminating your fear. If you have a fear, first understand the nature of the object that arouses it. Let us say you are afraid of your future. What you really fear is the uncertainty that surrounds events yet to happen. By living totality in the present and by planning ahead you can reduce the uncertainty and fear. If you do not know how to plan, you can take the guidance of consultants and counselors. You cannot plan for all uncertainties but being prepared to an extent reduces your fear of uncertainties. Learn the art of enjoying it, too

At times, even when we are thinking positively, negative thoughts and images intrude. How to prevent this?

I will begin my answer with n analogy. You have a computer and you switch it on. Windows 98 comes on. You don't want windows 998. You get angry. You switch off the computer, and switch it on again. Still you see only windows 98. Switching the computer on and off repeatedly will not change the situation. For, the built-in programming environment is windows 98. You have to change the programming. Similarly, the psychological programming inside you, your subconscious mind, should change before any real change can happen. Your subconscious mind comprises engrams - mental traces that have been created over life experiences. These consist of both positive and negative associations and act like computer programmes. So long as the programming remains the same, the computer will function only in the manner dictated by that programme.

Similarly, we have to change the programming of our mind. When you have changed your programming, you start perceiving and acting positively. So it is wise thinking tht holds the key to positive frame of mind.

Food for thought

The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. (Bible 34.3)

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings. (Gautam Buddha)

Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food (Jim Rohm)