The Purpose and Significance of Pilgrimage (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 10)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Mar_Apr/v1.SignificancePilgrimage)    

You have come here to the Gayatri-Tirtha (Shantikunj) for a sadhana camp.

You must understand that this kalpa - sadhana experiment is not going to transform you from a physically old or weak person into a young and stout one; rather, it is actually meant to transform your inner personality.

You should therefore make the best possible use of your free time here in -
- introspection
- swadhyaya
- contemplation
- japa-upasana, and
- discussions with enlightened sadhaks around.

Go over to the banks of Ganga nearby, take a stroll there in the evening, sit and meditate, or relax and energize yourself in the purifying vicinity of the holy river.

Don't let any part of your routine be wasted in wayward activities and thoughts.

This is what would justify your being here in a real tirtha.

I have attempted to make this tirtha as a living replica of the tirthas of the ancient times.

It has been established in the sacred Saptasarovara region on the banks of Ganga, right at the place where Maharshi Vishwamitra's Tapasthali was located in the Vedic Age.

The Purpose and Significance of Pilgrimage (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 08)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Mar_Apr/v1.SignificancePilgrimage)  

The monasteries established by Lord Buddha were also like Aranyaks.

Those who used to renounce their worldly attachments, and were dedicated to selfless service and dissemination of the divine teachings of Lord Buddha for the welfare of all, used to be the permanent inmates of these monasteries.

Well, you may call them as "Bauddha-vihars" instead of Aranyaks; it hardly makes any intrinsic difference.

Such sacred centers of learning and training, where every moment of life is dedicated to tapa-sadhana and service, are tirthas indeed.

The Purpose and Significance of Pilgrimage (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 07)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Mar_Apr/v1.SignificancePilgrimage)  

This place is like a sanatorium for spiritual healing.

Doctors and medical experts may be there in any conventional hospital, but sanatoriums are equipped with a distinct additional facility – viz., health restoring atmosphere in a natural setting.

What patients now a days gain in good sanatoriums in terms of health benefits, used to be provided in the Gurukuls and Aranyaks to the aspirants in ancient times, in terms of virtuous and spiritual growth.

In ancient India, Gurukuls were educational tirthas for young children, where they used to gain in-depth knowledge of life and existence, from their mentor Rishis, on all aspects of life.

They also used to get thorough training for activation, refinement and growth of their talents, and for overall development of their personalities.

Aranyaks also used to serve as centers for training of the elders (vanaprasthis) in the sadhana of altruistic service and social welfare.

The Purpose and Significance of Pilgrimage (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 06)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Mar_Apr/v1.SignificancePilgrimage) 

If you regard Shantikunj as Gayatri-Tirth (a Tirtha for Gayatri Sadhana), you must follow the disciplines here and make the best use of every moment of your stay for your spiritual enlightenment.

Here we have strict timetable from the moment you get up (early in the morning at 3:30 am) till you go to bed (at 9pm).

The arrangements, activities and time-schedule are so designed that if you follow them sincerely, within a few days, you would imbibe a regimen of self-restraint and moral discipline.

Interaction with people here will also inculcate in you, the art of living a truly civilized and cultured social life.

You will get an opportunity to know the fundamentals of spiritual Sadhana and Indian Culture, and also gain an experience and practical guidance for imbibing an austere, ascetic life, with dignified simplicity.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 13)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

Brahmvarchas Shodh Sansthan has been established to
- revive the scientific basis and training practices of
     - elevation of vital energy,
     - hidden talents, and
     - spiritual awakening of consciousness force by tapashcharya (tapa).

Gayatri Nagar, Shantikunj has been built for
- the renaissance of theism by nurturing a community of divine-centered human beings, as a model of heavenly ambience on this earth;
- manifesting the virtues of selflessness, simplicity, duty, service, endurance, benevolence and co-operation in their day to day lives.

Thousands of people come here to receive our love, guidance and help; they come here to seek the light of knowledge and wisdom, and to get inspirations to progress along the righteous path.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 12)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

If you cannot develop sanskaras (virtuous tendencies) in your children, send them here, send them to me.

Why?

What will I do?

Like Rishi Valmiki,
- I can transform your children into Lava-Kush;
- can make their mother a blessed tapswini (performing spiritual austerities) like Devi Sita,
- and endow you with the ideals of Ram-Lakshaman.

This is why Shantikunj and Brahmavarchas Ashrams were founded on the auspicious parva (festival) of Vasant Panchami, as nuclei of our mission of Yug Nirman, for worldwide dissemination of the light of knowledge, theism, and divine Vedic cultural values.

The Spirit of Spring and Awakening of Kundalini (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 11)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2005/Jan_Feb/v1.AwakeningKundalini)

I have only two dreams:
1. inculcation of divinity in humans, and
2. creation of divine life on the earth.

My supramental attainments of Shaktipata and Kundalini are dedicated only for materialization of these objectives and for nothing else.

Blossoming of Brahmvarchas in every dimension, every impulse of life – this is incarnation of divinity in the human self.

And what is the descent of heaven on the earth?

Well, heaven or paradise is not some God's capital (Vaikuntha) in the subtle world.

It can very well be created on this earth, in the very world we are living in.

The ambience and circumstances of a paradise are created wherever good people live in moral discipline, with mutual love and cooperation.

I wanted to build a model colony, village or town:
- where elevated personalities could live simple, happy, dignified lives, devoted to high ideals;
- where people could set a living example of what an altruistic, purposeful, glorious life, engaged in welfare of all, is like.

Gayatrinagar, Shantikunj amply demonstrates the realization of this dream.

Let the Spirit of Spring Permeate and Uplift Your Life (Translation of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya)

(Post 11)

(http://literature.awgp.org/akhandjyoti/2004/Jan_Feb/v1.SpiritSpringPermeateUplift)

My Guru had asked for my time and efforts. I dedicated every moment of my life for His work. Well! in return, he bestowed on me so many boons, endowed me with gifts that could not have been attainable by tapa and upasana for several lives.

This is what I am entreating you to do. Please give me a fraction of your time and effort to disseminate the knowledge and ideals of spirituality.

If you expect to gain something, you will also have to give something. Higher attainments demand greater sacrifices.

The Shastric (ancient) Scriptures describe - "Ekada Naimisharanye" - referring to the conversation of Rishis - Shaunak and Soota - that focuses on the sagacious discussions of the saints, the thinkers, the Brahmins of that time, in the lush forest-fields of Naimisharanya. I had also wanted to develop a Naimisharanya for the present Age, where people would live for pure selfless love, enlightenment and high ideals; where they would amicably share each other's joy and sorrows; where they would happily sacrifice their selfish desires and comforts for the welfare of the world.

This is what I expect to happen in Shantikunj and its newer expansion Gayatri Nagar. I inaugurate the Gayatri Nagar with this expectation, and with full confidence in my Guru's assurance that all my aims devoted to attainment of divine goals would be accomplished gloriously.
                                      
        || OM SHANTI ||