For this Sunday, we have the transcript of a talk delivered by Mr. P. Sairaj in the Morning Prayer session of Bhagavan’s College in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Dharmaiva hato hanti
Dharmo rakshati rakshita:
Tasmath dharmo na hantavyo
Mano dharma: hatho avadheeth
If you protect dharma, then dharma intern will protect you.
And if you violate dharma, then dharma too will punish you.
This Sanskrit sloka finds immense significance in the present day world, especially in this Kali Age. The Kali Age commenced at the time of Krishna’s death, Feb. 20, 3102 B.C. It is said that it will have a duration of 11, 000 years. But we are all indeed fortunate to be born in this Kaliyuga at this time when the Poorna Avatar Himself has come down to earth in the human form. At the same time we should be also aware of the fact that the basic Human values, namely Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa have also completely vanished from the human hearts. It is for the re-establishment of these lost human values, the Avatar has comedown in the human form.
In the present day world, what is the most challenging problem facing mankind? Is it not the erosion of human values? Yes, it is. In fact, it is the biggest threat that mankind is facing now. What are the causes for this challenge? Swami says there are many reasons. First and foremost, is ‘Violation of Natural Harmony’. In this vast cosmos, man is like a speck. Essentially there is no conflict between man and creation. Just as a child is entitled to enjoy milk from its mother, and the bee is entitled to enjoy honey from the flowers, there can be no objection to man enjoying the resources of nature. But as a result of his uncontrolled desires and reckless exploitation of the natural resources, nature is exhibiting frightening disorders. Natural calamities like earthquakes and floods are the visible proof. Mankind today appears like a foolish man who is wielding the axe on the branch of a tree on which he is sitting.
The second cause of the decline of human values, according to Swami, is ‘Faulty Vision’. Swami says, there is nothing evil in His Creation; not even an iota. Evil appears as such only through one's flawed vision. This ‘Faulty Vision’ leads to ‘Rampant Indulgence’, which, according to Swami, is the third cause for the decline of human values.
World problems now are assuming stranger forms and larger proportions. On one side, there is science and technology advancing with cosmic developments. Through plastics, electronics and computer technologies the wonder of science has reached even greater heights. But on the other hand, mankind is afflicted with recurring political and economic crisis, national, provincial, religious, racial and cast rivalries, narrow loyalties and outbursts of disturbances. These have spread indiscipline and licentiousness all over the world. This is an unbalanced and mutually contradicting situation. What really is the cause for this? If we really introspect, we can see that mankind has within its reach many means and methods through which it can earn wisdom and peace. It can secure invaluable guidance from the Vedas and the scriptures, the Bible, the Quoran, the Zend Avesta, the Granth Sahib and other holy texts whose number exceeds a thousand.
All the 'Rampant Indulgence' leads to man's sorrow or klesha. The delusion that he is the body and divinity is different from him is the main cause for his klesha. Such an unfortunate person is an easy prey to distress and dissappointments. Swami says that there are 5 fold basic causes for man's sorrow. They are Avidya Klesha, Abhinava Klesha, Asthita Klesha, Raga Klesha, And Dwesha Klesha.
Avidya Klesha is ignorance or misery that creates a distance between man and god. It causes anguish in man. Abhinava Klesha or complaisance is due to sensual pleasures. Man forgets the fact that these pleasures are poisonous. He loses discrimination and suffers sorrows. Asthitha klesha is because man takes materialistic joys as the summum bonum of life and suffers untold miseries. In Raga Klesha man is lured away by the desire to acquire wealth and prosperities. He toils day and night to satisfy his insatiable cravings, disregarding food, sleep and rest. Infatuation to satisfy his greed afflicts him. Dwesha Klesha is due to hatred born out of frustrations. Anger arises and there begins the tragedy of man. When a sinner finds prosperity coming his way he feels like challenging even the Lord. But when his prosperity disappears he becomes humble and will begin to see the truth.
The greatest tragedy of man is that he forgets the creator. Man covers his mind in a cloak of ignorance, blinks his eyes with egoism and closes his heart with the doors of pride. He forgets the Lord who created him and protects him. Let us all fill our minds with wisdom, let us all blinker our eyes with compassion, let us all open our heart and fill it with selfless love. Let us all become the golden instruments in the Divine Hand, and bring back the Golden Age that is suffused with human values.
Jai Sai Ram.
