Yogakshemam 19102020
Remembered: Dr PS Krishnan, 86, a social justice warrior, warrior against Caste. His contributions include the concept of the Special Component Plan à Tribal Sub-plan. Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989 and subsequent amendments of 2015. Major role in the implementation of Mandal commission recommendations. Creation of National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a Constitutional body, in 1992. He advocated land for the marginalized for enhancing their dignity, and security; and education for advancement.
19 October – Human dignity day. Birthday of Pandurang Shastri Athawle. He turned 100 this time.
Shastri, referred as Dadaji, received Templeton Prize for Swaadhyaay Movement initiated by him through Swadhyay Parivar. Swadhyay. A movement to study the self. Response to Shastri’s uncomfortable questions about the dilemmas of modern man and the problems of material life, individual and social. His assessment – neither liberal welfarism nor socialism was capable of bridging the gulf between the haves and the have nots. Private charity or government doles only managed to erode human dignity and sense of self-worth. Materialism as well as fatalism may not work. Swadhyaya is a response from Shastri.
More than 10 million Swadhyay is a movement of self-study. In social and economic spheres. A process of self-transformation and self-empowerment. An experience that gives dignity, self-respect and self-esteem. Awareness of the divine presence in every human being. An understanding of man’s relationship with the divine and with others. Through action. Towards collective good. Usefulness. To all. Sum of all. Sacred, therefore it works. In business, in jobs, in families, in hearts. A commitment to continue in this path. Every day. No dichotomy. Integrity and responsibility hand-in-hand. Celebration of life. Appreciation that all have own skills and efficiencies of life. Security and equality. Status of the individual comes from commitment to a lived idea of divine presence.
Community, Brotherhood, Impersonal wealth, ‘experiments’ form part of the swadhyay. Wake-up, Food and Sleep prayers. Iterative stay-travels of intimacy with ‘life’. Learning/study Camps-workshops. Open amritaalayams – socio-economic learning centres. Voluntaru donations. Shram Bhakti. Yogeshwar Krishi, Sree Darshanam, Matsyagandha – collective farming/fishing for community. Vrkshmandirs – upavans. Madhav Vrund – Bhugarbh Jal, Nirmal Neer – watersheds. Patanjali Chikistalays. Local Consumption First Stores. Pathshalas. Gurukulams. Tattvajnana Vidyapith. Non-formal education. Vidya Prem Vardhan – informal certificate programs. Bal Sanskar and Mahila Kendras. Yuva/Yuvati Kendras.
Thus, it is a project of inner transformation and redefining human relationships. It meets individual and community needs of love, identity, humility, self-acceptance, and self-esteem. It is an inwardly focused spirituality concerned with human life.
The film, Shyam Benegal’s Antarnaad, is about Swadhyay.
Swadhyay is a free movement. No organization. No membership. It is about individual transformation. It appreciates – ‘God exists within me and within everyone else’. It works as an extended family with a definite vision. It neither seeks nor accepts financial help from governments or philanthropic agencies for any of its experiments, projects or gatherings. It values: right attitude, action, thoughts, feelings, surrender, group, culture, efforts, goodness, truth and righteousness.
Can our speech always be – truthful, pleasing and beneficial? Can we follow the dharma? Can we pursue – reality, truth, restraint, perseverance, tranquillity, peace and relationships? Can we learn and teach what we learn? Can we continue the study? Can we connect with U?
Can we connect with U? If not through N?
N is ready to take us in. For our local coexistence. We only have to get ready. Fully. Studying and getting ready for being useful. For 7L.
Join us in the world of yoga of learning to coexist in N, connected with U – swaadhyaayayoga for 7L.
G Muralidhar