The Great Way of Life
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
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The Essence of Sanathana Dharma
s One Great Power pervades all and sustains everything
s We are that One, potentially
s There is a past and hence a future
s Every soul transmigrates
s Creation is the biggest blessing
s To be born as a human being is a rare privilege and a
great responsibility
s Self Realization is the individual goal
s Active concern for the welfare of all living beings is
everyone’s responsibility
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The Essence of Sanathana Dharma
s Every one has a right to design his own path. No one has
a right to interfere in other’s faith.
s Everything in creation has come to be on the basis of
trigunaas
s Ignorance causes karma. Karma results in birth. Birth is
the opportunity to achieve freedom.
s Each one to his destiny
s Mind is the reason for bondage and freedom
s Freedom here and now is the goal
s Every plane in cosmos and every field of life has its own
set of rules. They must not be mixed up.
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Dharma governed Life
s Dharma is appropriateness in thought, action and attitude
Satguru Sivananda Murty
s Differs from plane to plane, time to time, circumstance to
circumstance and person to person
s Dharma is like the cow. It nourishes him who protects it.
Satguru Sivananda Murty
s The basis for any thought, word and deed
s No one is above dharma
s Spirituality is the goal, backdrop and undercurrent. Every
aspect of life was considered as an avenue leading
towards that.
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Everything in its place
s Four stages of life – childhood, youth, adulthood,
and old age
s Four stations in life – student, householder, mendicant,
and the ultimate walker
s Four concepts of life – dharma, material life, desire,
and deliverance
s Dharma rules all
s Inter-dependence is creation’s mega message
s Dharma ensures order, civility, ethics, and morality. It is
the platform for conducting life and launch pad for soaring
unto the sky.
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Why was the past glorious?
s The highest wisdom was available even before the first
human being was born here, like milk being ready in
mother’s bosom even before the child is born Satguru Sivananda Murty
s Nothing can be created. Experience is discovery and not
creation. Creation is for experience.
s Truth is the height of wisdom and its basis at once
s A transparent and open system
s Religion was a part of culture
Satguru Sivananda Murty
s Where religion ends, spirituality begins Satguru Sivananda Murty
s Wisdom was not a classified secret. Nor was it easy to
obtain. The highest wisdom demanded sustained tapas.
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Civility at its best?
s Vedas are revelations of the experience of Truth, as
perceived by the Rishis
s They are universal, secular and all encompassing
s Truth was offered. Nothing was imposed on anyone.
s The disciple could differ from the Guru. There was no
dispute. They agreed to disagree!
s Truth alone was sought and spoken
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Bharath, the glorious land
s Cradle of Wisdom. Origin of Yoga. Fountainhead of fine
arts. Pinnacle of civilizations.
s Gods walked and lived among men
s Rishis could even correct Gods. They lived like ordinary
men.
s Spirituality is the core-character of Bharath
s The Guru of mankind
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What went wrong?
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The Story of Decline
s Tapas...Vedas...Yagnaas...Temples...
s Intellectualism – spirit of experience overshadowed by
schools of philosophy
s Vain display of wealth
s Arts became avenues of pleasure
s Personal whims imposed on people at large
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The Intellectual Onslaught
s Philosophies at loggerheads
s Neglect of the common man
s Voluminous works confused the average man
s Religions forgot the original purpose and the essential
unity
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The Invasions
s Islam
s Christianity – Europeans
s Communism
s The IT onslaught and the Western Influence
s Inner enemies
s Lack of Unity
s Values not passed on to the next generation
s Confusion, pressure, conflict, guilt etc.
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The Impact
s Mediocrity replacing quality in all aspects of life
s Corruption in society
s Absence of citizenship
s Loss of knowledge and values
s Prophetiesm – spurious religious schools
s Patriotism eroded. No sense of belonging.
s Values ridiculed today, will not even be remembered
tomorrow. Two generations are at crossroads.
s Whatever we lose by way of ancient Indian values will be
lost to humanity forever
Satguru Sivananda Murty
s Humanity’s well-being depends on the health of Indian
values
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What can we do?
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Home sweet home…
s Pray we must
s Take marriage seriously
s Treat family as priority
s Celebrate festivals with awareness/knowledge
s Observe occasions like Guru Poornima
s Plan pilgrimages
s Practice vegetarianism
s Eat together at least once every day
s Have time for discussion
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Read History With…
s Eyes and mind wide open
s Some knowledge of astrology
s Study of Astronomy
s A sense of responsibility
s Children
s Establish the truth
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Read Scriptures
s The Originals
s Bhagavad Gita for Attitude
s Patanjali Yoga Sutras for yoga
s Ramayana for Idealism in routine life
s Mahabharatha for understanding dharma
s Biographies/works of Saints
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Active Citizenship
s Citizenship is seizing initiative; collective functioning
s Collect facts, discuss with friends and circulate comments
s Practice reaction as a religion
s Create websites in English, Tamil, and Hindi
s Pressure the media
s Address two generations
s Organize campaigns, protests
s Do not miss the opportunity to appreciate
s Have a citizens’ forum
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Collective Functioning
s Letters... letters… letters
s Observe National Days
s Remember the poignant moments in our history and keep
the children enlightened
s Cultural Events during festivals
s Worship a Deity together every month
s Booklets on symbolism, burning socio-religious issues,
worship and important quotes from scriptures
s Organize Satsanghs and Sankeertans
s Stay together under one umbrella
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Basic Questions
s What have you done with yourself?
s What has been your contribution to society?
s What do you represent?
s When do you propose to retire?
s Do you consider your life a success?
s What have you understood of life?
s What is your message?
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“India’s future lies in its past,
not the recent past, but the remote past”
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“Humanity’s future lies in India’s past,
not the recent past, but the remote past”
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Thank you
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