BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Bal/Kishore Pravrutti Central Office
Forest Road, Nairobi P.O.Box: 40570‐00100 Tel: (254) 020 ‐ 8015999, (254) 737 590 999 Email : bkpco@africa.baps.org
Back To Values
Presenters Notes
The blurring of value‐oriented living has spawned a plethora of problems and conflicts.
Out of our appetites for power, wealth and mundane joys we dump our principles, our
morality and our traditions. How can we stop this moral decadence? In the chronicles
of history life has been chequered with conflicts. The different hues of strife on a
micro and macro level are basically nothing but power struggles. Through the
intoxication of power, man has sought to rule, suppress, and acquire wealth, material
joy and happiness.
Anthony Robbins in his national bestseller Unlimited Power describes how the power
to control lives have changed through time. "In the earliest times, power was simply
the result of physiology. He who was the strongest and the fastest had the power to
direct his own life as well as the lives of those around him. As civilisation developed
power resulted from heritage. The king ruled with unmistakable authority... Then, in
the early days of the Industrial Age, capital was power. Those who had access to it
dominated the industrial process... However, today, one of the largest sources of
power is derived from specialised knowledge."
Slide 2
But despite all the advancements and changing faces of power it has not made man
happier. It has blessed him with comforts but taken him further from inner peace. The
growing surge in materialistic pursuits and power is eroding family values, cultural
values, social values, moral values, spiritual values, etc. People have become
habituated to achieving mundane goals at the cost of principles and decorum. We
indulge in the fruits of success at the cost of whittling people psychologically, verbally,
monetarily, morally and physically.
'Back to Basics' was the slogan of John Major, former prime minister of the UK. He
appealed to the British population to put more focus on the basics of environment,
life, culture, character and religion.
Back To Nature
We find an increase in trend of people reverting to natural things or going back to
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Slide 3
nature's ways. Initially, our ancestors lived in the forests, caves and rural surroundings.
Today, in our urban sprawls and city atmosphere we create waterfalls and forests in
our homes to soothe our frayed nerves. Wini Brewer, an artist in Morongo Valley,
California, purchased five acres of property in a desert for its starry vista in 1996. All
because the city's whitewashed skies, due to excessive commercial lighting, did not
allow her to savor the starry heavens. It is mind‐relaxing and heartening to look at the
natural, glittering sky.
Even getting away from the din of urban life and listening to nature's sounds rubs‐off
mental tranquility. Nature has the power to infuse energy, enthusiasm and peace in
our minds. In the town of Miyazaki on the Japanese island of Kyushu, 1500km south of
Tokyo, there is an artificial beach. The chlorinated, salt‐free waters surge and roll like
an ocean. The 140m wide ocean, 85m shoreline, 600 tons of crushed, polished pebbles
are canopied by a 200m retractable roof. The chirping of birds filter through a sound
system and synthetic palm trees flutter in a piped‐in breeze. About 10,000 people can
frolic and swim in the temperature‐controlled waters.
Recreating nature's shores with a guarantee of a perfectly controlled weather echoes
man's affinity for the joys of nature. People in Gujarat flock to restaurants that have a
natural ambience. The soft illumination of oil lamps, rural seating arrangements,
traditional village flavor of singing bards and puppet shows and menu of rotla, khichdi,
makhan and pickled chillies are the in‐things. The pastoral character provides a
tranquil change and satisfies the inner cry to be rustic.
Presenters Notes
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
When nature's wealth of beauty and serenity has the power to bestow happiness and
vitality to man, then what of the joys he would be blessed with if he focuses on God ‐
the creator of nature! The more he imbibes God's virtues and follows His decrees, the
permanent his experience of happiness becomes. To solve the raging conflicts within
and without there is a dire need to reinforce values and faith in our lives.
Back to Morality & Spirituality
Henry David Thoreau, the American poet,
prods America to give precedence to and
foster morality in life. He said, "Through
your scientific genius you have made of the
world a neighborhood but you have failed
to employ your moral and spiritual genius
to make it into a brotherhood. So, America,
the atomic bombs you have to fear today is
not merely that deadly weapon which can
be dropped from an aeroplane on the
heads of millions of people, but that atomic
bomb which lies in the hearts of men,
capable of exploding into the most
staggering hate and the most devastating
selfishness. Therefore I urge you to keep
your moral advances abreast of your
scientific advances."
T.S. Eliot, the English poet and writer of plays was born in the USA. He emphatically
trumpets the need for inner tranquility, saying,
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Slide 7
The endless cycle of ideas and actions,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings us knowledge of motion but not of silence.
Knowledge of words and ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God.
Where is the life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowedge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries,
Brings us farther from God and nearer to dust.
The surgical eloquence of T.S. Eliot has revealed the stark consequences of all our
materialistic endeavors. One often gets so consumed or lost in mundane effort that
one fails to grasp the spirit in one's actions.
The Mundaka Upanishad tells the story of Naradji, who in spite of having attained
scholarly accomplishments felt unhappy. He went to sage Sanatkumar and requested
him to show him the path of knowledge. Sanatkumar enquired what he had learnt.
Naradji replied: "I have learnt the four Vedas, Puranas and Itihas (history), the method
of remembering and repeating the Vedas, the technique of shraddha ceremony,
grammar, philology (study of literature and disciplines relevant to literature),
mathematics, astronomy, astrology, science of augury, jugglery, logic, ethics,
knowledge of gods of different forces, science of animals, science of war and many
others. I feel I have only verbal knowledge but not knowledge about the Supreme. I
am full of sorrow and grief. I hope you will lead me out of all these by favoring me
with true knowledge."
Sanatkumar then instructed him upon the knowledge of God and he experienced
peace.
So mere knowledge, wealth, power, fame, etc. leaves the individual with temporary
elation and joy. Once its intoxication wears off one is left in misery and conflict. 'Back
to Basics' is the watchword to remedy the sickness of one's soul.
Steven Covey in his international bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
distils 200 years of success literature and arrives at two types of ethics: Personality
Ethic and Character Ethic. The former, Personality Ethic, he says, is superficial and
focuses on social image consciousness, techniques and quick‐fix solutions. And
Character Ethic focuses on the foundation of success ‐ things like integrity, humility,
fidelity, justice, patience, simplicity. The Character Ethic deals with basic principles of
effective living, and that people can experience true success and enduring happiness
as they integrate these principles into their basic character.
Benjamin Franklin (1706‐1790), the American scientist, inventor, educator, diplomat,
politician and humorist, resolved at the age of twenty‐two to integrate virtues in his
life. In his project to achieve moral perfection he decided to focus on thirteen virtues
for a period of thirteen weeks and repeat the cycle four times every year. Every week
he would give strict attention to one virtue and avoid breaking it. Whenever he lapsed
he made a note of it. The virtues, of which he focussed on some aspects only and
experimented were:
1.
Temperance: to eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation
2.
Silence: Speak only that which benefits others and yourself. Avoid trifling
conversation.
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Presenters Notes
Slide 8
3.
Order: Let all your things have their places.
4.
Resolution: Resolve to perform and perform what you resolve.
5.
Frugality: Waste nothing and make expenses to do good to others.
6.
Industry: Lose no time and do something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly.
8.
Justice: Do no wrong.
9.
Moderation: Avoid extremes.
10.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes and habitation.
11.
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles.
12.
Chastity: Rarely engage in sexual activity and that too never to dullness,
weakness, or injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13.
Humility: Imitate Christ and Socrates.
During the course Benjamin Franklin realised the extent of faults he had and the
satisfaction of seeing them diminish. Though he was unable to repeat or sustain his
efforts in pursuing the virtues, the experiment blessed him with a better conviction to
permanent happiness.
An interesting example of Spiritual Ethic‐oriented people are the Mennonite and
Amish Christian communities in N.America and 60 countries of the world. Members of
the old order, have maintained their puritanical traditions ever since its birth in 1525
and 1693 respectively. Most Old Order Amish drive horse drawn carriages, dress
plainly, refrain from the use of electricity, emphasise occupations close to the farm
and home. The Amish and Mennonites believe that one's faith is reflected through the
way one lives. They practice humility, simplicity and modesty. Most Old Order
members manage to enjoy life without the help of the entertainment industry. Many
have fun without television, toys, golf clubs, etc. And in the more traditional homes
books are at a minimum. They read the Bible, have some prayer and inspirational
books, but almost no modern non‐fiction books.
To preserve values and their religious traditions, many of the orthodox Amish and
Mennonite members have adopted a life of discipline and restraint. Their focus is
religion and values for a happier existence.
The orthodox Jews abstain from use of electric light, travel and work on every Sabbath
day and spend the day in prayer, reading and introspection.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781‐1830) established an illustrious community of sadhus
and devotees strictly wedded to moral and spiritual disciplines. He advocated five
strict cardinal disciplines for His sadhus, namely, Nishkam (absolute brahmacharya),
Nirlobh (vow of poverty), Niswad (non‐taste), Nisneh (detachment from family and
mundane things) and Nirman (humility). For the householders He prescribed social
purity, abstinence from liquor, meat, stealing and illicit sex. His emphasis on a
Character Ethic and Spiritual Ethic on life for permanent happiness spread to form the
Swaminarayan Sampraday.
In short, to grasp the true spirit of life and savor permanent joy one has to be wedded
to morality and religion.
In 1995, Mumbai, a reporter asked Pramukh Swami Maharaj, "Looking at our
discrepant world today which is full of crime, immorality and all sorts of sins, do you
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Presenters Notes
Slide 9
Slide 10
think things will improve?"
Swamishri replied, "Only if we go back to our culture and become rooted in morality
and spirituality will we be able to resist and fight off the growing influences of
materialism."
On 24 November 1999, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was engaged in doing darshan of
Thakorji in Bochasan mandir. When he came before the shrine of Laxmi Narayan Dev,
Laxmiji was adorned in a yellow sari. A sadhu then told Swamishri that a senior sadhu
had suggested that the chandlo on Laxmiji's head should be red instead of yellow.
Swamishri nodded affirmatively saying, "Yes, that's right because Narayan has a red
chandlo."
"But Swamiji, since Laxmiji is adorned in a yellow sari the chandlo should also be
yellow to match the sari. Whatever color the sari be that should be the color of the
chandlo," argued the sadhu. Swamishri tellingly responded, "Should one match with
the sari or with Narayan!"
Swamishri's reply underlined the necessity to be God‐centred, rather than mundane‐
centred.
Back to basics means having a value‐oriented, God‐centred life. Today, we knowingly
or unknowingly twist our values to mundane statements of fashion, entertainment,
modernity and indulgence. We are prone to changing our modes of living, eating and
working according to the fast moving fads in society. And that is why Pramukh Swami
Maharaj often cautions, "We have become modern but not civilised." We should not
relegate ourselves by trading our values for material pleasures. We should not crucify
our traditions and morals for the sake of indulgence or lucrative opportunities. Neither
should we compromise or take liberties with the fundamentals of life for wanton
behavior. A person anchored to values, morality and spirituality is blessed with power,
tranquility and eternal happiness.
Dr. Radhakrishnan, former President of India and a great scholar who held a seat at
Oxford University, says, "The glory of India is not in her industrial development or
material welfare or nuclear progress, but is in the maintenance of its spiritual heritage
intact." He also stated, "What is missing in our age is the soul; there is nothing wrong
with the body. We suffer from the sickness of spirit. We must discover our roots in the
eternal and regain faith in the transcendent truth which will order life, discipline
discordant elements, and bring unity and purpose into it."
A return to values is the only panacea to all our inner conflicts. Without it we shall live
a life of turmoil and slavishness.
Solutions
To reinstate ourselves we need, along with our mundane duties, to practice dharma.
Going back to values means being committed to:

Reading the holy scriptures.

Weekly attendance to the Mandir.

Listening to spiritual discourses.

Spending time with one's family.

Engaging oneself in volunteer work to reinforce the spirit of service.

Good company.

And the spiritual association of a bona fide guru.
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Presenters Notes
Slide 11