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Probably a conscious decision to release any feelings of revenge towards any person who has harmed us or whom we feel, has harmed us. But are we sure, that, that person has really harmed us? Generally, and most of the times, what has actually hurt us is nothing but our own expectation(s). Expectations occur due to attachment towards someone or some inanimate thing and most of the time towards oneself, one’s thought and own possession. Jainism asks us to reflect upon the attachments and aversions and also to be devoid of them.

Gandhiji has quoted “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” saying that if we keep punishing, those we deem cruel, then we are no better than the bad guys ourselves.

Forgiving also helps us to break the cycle of inflow of new karmas. As otherwise this vicious cycle of getting back at each other will never end and rather it is noticed that everyone undeniably wants to have the last word. But if act of forgiveness is practiced, it will truly break this cycle. We don’t need other people’s character to have bearing on our character rather we should practice to be good even to those who are not good to us. If we accept fruition of karma with equanimity, it will act as Samvar, the stoppage of influx of karmas. The same can be well understood by recollecting the incident when cowherd pierced the ears of Mahavir Swami deeply by hammering the thorns, even under this excruciating pain, Mahavir Swami neither budged from meditation nor evoked any feeling of anger or aversion towards him, but he remained in equanimity and accepted as fruition of his own karma from his  past life.

Forgiving other is undoubtedly forgiving oneself and freeing ourselves from our previous karmas and those expectations we have from others. Basically, when someone is doing something in a way, we want it, we are happy but when otherwise, we are disturbed and angry. And that’s when we have a choice to make between Reacting or Responding i.e. react with spiteful retaliation or respond with acceptance or forgiveness. Expectations are like weeds, which grow on their own and Forgiveness is like seeds which needs to be nurtured and cultivated in such a way that it entwines within ourselves while doing every activity. Forgiveness not only frees others but most importantly it frees us from all resentment, bitterness, displeasures, aversions etc.

The secret of long lasting, sustainable relationship is forgiveness – to ask for forgiveness & to forgive.

When you say sorry when you are wrong – you are honest.

When you say sorry when you are not sure – you are wise.

When you say sorry when you are right – you value the relationship more than being right.

Forgiveness immediately enables us to realize the mind is not determined by the external circumstances (EGO). Unless we forgive, we are still locked by the environment. Forgiveness is the first step in the process of mind control. Let us keep working on our spirituality.

Let us move on, until we reach that platform where forgiving becomes a 2nd nature.  Forgiving should become a natural process and then we shall be free.

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Its 21st century, and almost everyone is health and self conscious. Everyone knows what is healthy and unhealthy to eat. But ever spared a thought on when is the right time of the day to eat?

We all focus on the right nutrition and are decisive about what and how much to eat in order to stay fit. Seldom do we think on when should one have a meal. Well, it turns out, ancient Indian thinkers have established a whole science behind the right time to eat in order to benefit psychologically, physiologically and spiritually.

Jainism, one of the oldest school of Indian philosophy has researched tremendously on food. Not only it stops at listing out and reasoning what to eat but also suggests when to eat. It proposes an habit of ‘Ratri-Bhojan-Tyag’ or abstinence of eating food anytime at night post sunset and before sunrise. The reasoning so strong that every Indian religion subscribes to this thought. Till date, a large number of Jains and Yogis strictly abide by this rule.

The ideal time to have the last meal of the day is before the sunsets.

One should never indulge in violence, should never be dishonest or speak lies and should never steal or even will to steal. These are the fundamental basic values of our culture. Just like that, is the fundamental basic value of ‘Ratribhojantyag’ ( Ratri = Night , Bhojan = Dinner , Tyag = Sacrifice ) or sacrificing/abandoning the habit/routine of having dinner post sunset. Ratribhojantyag means refraining from consuming any food substance or liquid after sunset till the Dawn of the next day.

Our culture is inherently, completely scientific – is something which even the renowned scientists of the world agree to. Why should one sacrifice having meals post sunset? Here are the reasons why.

HEALTH

1. The science of Yoga and consuming dinner before sunset. 

After evening, the organs in our digestive system functions only at 20% efficiency rate compared to normal. Hence even if light food is consumed after sunset, it proves to be difficult for the digestive system to digest that.

‘Ajirnprabhaava Rogahaah‘ – the root of any disease is dyspepsia or apepsia which in simple words is an upset stomach. Various kinds of diseases can enter ones body through an upset stomach. Contemporary Yoga trainers also oppose consuming any liquid after sunset. 

In a Sanskrit Text namely Neetivaakyamrutm, there is an excellent collection of principles which should be governing ones life. In this Sanskrit text there is this life principle quoted – 

 “Bhuktvo Vyayamvyavaayo sadhyo vyaaptokaaranam“

To rest or laze around after having food, has devastating effects on the health. Meaning, if there is not a considerable long gap between consuming food then it harms our health. The ones consuming food after sunset violate this principle and as a result invite a host of illnesses in their body. 

2. Causation of Diabetes and having dinner post sunset

Our saliva doesn’t dilute well with the food which we consume at night. Hence the Saliva doesn’t mix well with the food morsels and dilute the sugary substance within the food. This increases the chances of getting Diabetes. In present day lifestyle, as and how late night dinners have increased, so have increased simultaneously the patients of diabetes.

In a 2017 study, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that eating late at night raises glucose and insulin levels, both of which are causes of type 2 diabetes.

Due to having dinner post sunset, the digestion process of enzymes doesn’t remain active. Due to which the glycogen present in our food doesn’t turn into glucose. Sufficient amount of saliva is secreted when One consumes food at day time. Even the Tairolin Amino Acid is present in the food at that time. The food is digested properly when all the digestive juices and mix well with the food and breaks the food to digestible chunks. This reduces the possibility of getting diabetes. 

Due to having dinner post sunset, the hydrochloric acid in our body increases and this leads to acidity. 

3. Fitness and having dinner before sunset

When one doesn’t consume anything at night and keeps the stomach empty,  then this leads to our intestines cleansing itself better and at a faster rate. The body doesn’t become weak when One doesn’t consume food at night, rather it freshens up and becomes more energetic. By not having dinner post sunset, our body still functions and becomes more active and smooth. This leads to a healthy and long life ahead.

When one skips having dinner post sunset, the phenacites and lymphocytes molecules in our blood starts aging considerably. This leads to our immune system strengthening manifold. Having dinner before sunset can also instil the habit of sleeping early and waking up early. This gives complete rest to our mind. The pulse rate remains stable and calm. The liver is circulated with sufficient blood. One gets rid of mental stress.

4. Medical science and harms of having dinner post sunset

Lecturer of Mumbai administered college, Dr. Yuvraj Bhonsle informs on this subject that 

As time passes, the people who have the habit of having their dinner late at night develop diseases like Gastrointestinal Oesophageal Reflex Disease (GERD). Due to these diseases one gets heartburn and a burning sensation behind their chest bone. Even the Oesophagus swells up due to this. 

“The biological clock of our body is set according to the rising and setting of the sun. When the sun is flaring it’s heat in afternoon, the digestive heat in our belly is also at its peak. In short, one can have heavy meals in the afternoon. Hence, on this logic, science says that one must have their dinner at least 2-3 hours before sleeping so that their food can be digested properly before they lie down. 

Above the stomach is Oesophagus and below it is the small intestine. When one sleeps or lies down right after having the digestive acid in our stomach seeps in the Oesophagus or the intestine and cause harm to it. The trend of having dinner late at night is at an increase and so is oesophageal Cancer in people. 

5. Heart disease and it’s relation with having dinner post sunset

A renowned doctor from Ahmadabad, Doctor V. N. Shah is researching on the diseases which one get during their day to day lifestyle. He says

“Most of the heart attack cases have been observed to occur during evening or early in the morning. Which signifies that the attack came after having dinner late at night. There might be many reasons at the core of it but one reason is surely there, which is the gas which got produced due to indigestion and gushed towards the attack. A research done in Hong Kong and China also proves that the ones who habitually have their dinner early in evening have lesser chances of getting heart attack.

At late night party’s usually those food items are served which are difficult for the stomach to digest. When one consumes cake, one consumes 500 calories. When one consumes pizza, one consumes 800 calories. At night, no such activity is done which can burn these extra excess of calories. This leads to heart attacks, diabetes and problems like high blood pressure. 

Nature

1. The science of sleep and consuming dinner before sunset.

It is obvious that when the stomach is completely full and the digestion process has just begun, then sleep is not bound to come. And if sleep is purposely induced at that time then the whole digestive system will get disturbed which in turn becomes an invitation for various diseases. To save oneself from it if one stays awake till late at night then even that is set to upset the stomach and invite diseases.

To sleep late at night and then wake up late in morning is also something which is against the sleep cycle of our body. The deep sleep between hours 21:00 to 01:00 is very crucial for the body which cannot be compensated by mornings sleep. Hence it is said “Early to bed and early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise!”

Eating late at night can also raise your cholesterol and triglycerides, which are types of fat in your blood that can increase your risk of heart disease. If a lifestyle change is not made once diabetes develops, this could lead to other health problems such as kidney disease, heart disease, and blindness.

Scientists have long known that the human body has a master clock in the brain, located in the hypothalamus, that governs our sleep-wake cycles in response to bright light exposure. A couple of decades ago, researchers discovered that there is not just one clock in the body but a collection of them. Every organ has an internal clock that governs its daily cycle of activity.

2. The science of sun cycle and having dinner before sunset.

Oxygen plays a vital role in the digestion of our food. Sunlight – daylight has the potential to give our body oxygen to its full extent. Sunlight has ultraviolet rays and infrared rays which destroys all the harmful microorganisms and keep the air and environment our from it. So when we have our meals when during the sprawl of day light, even our immune system gets boosted up. 

At night due to absence of sunlight, hormones gets depleted in our blood. Consequently, this reduces the vitality and energy in the operation of our physical and mental activities. It makes our physical and cognitive actives less efficient. This in turn leads to depletion in efficiency of functioning of our organs. Our digestive process then demands more time. And due to sufficient blood not reaching our brain, it can become prey to some of the serious illnesses.

Due to digestion not happening properly, the gas elevates upwards our body and increases the possibility of problems like painful Ulcers. The pregnant women who abstain themselves from sunlight and consume meals post sunset have children who are not completely healthy and fine. 

3. Nature and having dinner before sunset

Having dinner post sunset is an act which is against nature and its cycle. The rule of nature is to  consume food during day time and work hard and toil during time and then sleep and rest during night time.  If contrary this law of nature is done, like if one sleeps during day time and stays awake during night time, then this can cause a lot of illnesses.

This has been proven and accepted by the Science of Ayurveda and modern science. The same law of nature applies to our eating habits as well. When one observes nature, one finds that the higher order life forms like birds, cows, etc do not have food post sunset. Birds eat during day time, and then return back to their nests right before sunset, is something which we notice daily. It is our  culture that the cowherd takes his cattle to graze during day time and returns back during night time.

“We’ve inhabited this planet for thousands of years, and while many things have changed, there has always been one constant: Every single day the sun rises and at night it falls,” Dr. Panda says, the author of the book ‘The Circadian Code’.

4. Family life and having dinner before sunset

When one dines late at night then even other household chores like washing dishes get postponed because of that. Sometimes this prolonged period of doing household chores becomes stressful and eventually becomes the cause of fights at home between family members.

5. Ayurveda and having dinner before sunset

In Ayurveda, our digestive organs are metaphorically compared to the lotus flower. As the sun rises so does the digestive efficiency in our digestive organs rises like the lotus flower blooms. And as and how the sunsets, so does the digestive capability of our digestive organs decreases. The food which goes inside the digestive organs which have their digestive efficiency decreased, that food doesn’t digest properly. This undigested food then either becomes an unhealthy part of the organs or gets stuck in the intestines. That’s why it is said in Ayurveda!

After sunset the digestive organs loose their efficiency and hence one must not have food after sunset. At night, even micro-organisms mix into the food, hence one must avoid having dinner post sunset. 

6. Modern Science and having dinner post sunset

There is a principle in science ‘where there is darkness there are germs’. This proves that there are more number of germs at night time. Hence there is a risk associated while eating or drinking at night. No artificial man made light can replace sunlight. Rather when at night light is switched on, it attracts more number of germs.

Many times even bigger insects enter our stomach and people face problems right from vomiting to undergoing surgical operations. To prevent insects entering our stomach through food, there is only one practical way which is to have dinner before sunset in daylight. As prevention is better than cure. Many doctors abroad prefer doing Operations during day time only because of the reason that at night time there are more number of micro organisms in air. 

Culture

1. Vedic science on having dinner before sunset.

The Vedas prohibit Ratri Bhojan. It specifies – 

देवस्तु भत्कं पूर्वाहणे , मध्याह्ने ऋषिभिस्तथा। अपराह्णे तु पितृभिः सायं भुज्जन्ति दानवा।। 

सन्ध्यायां यक्षरक्षोभि : सदा भुक कुलोदृह !। । सर्ववेलां व्यतिक्रम्य , रात्रौ भुकमभोजनम् ।।

– Yajurveda

It means Gods have food in the morning, saints in the noon, sages in the afternoon and Evils in the evening. Food consumed after evening is counted as Abhojan = Bad Food.

2. Puranas and ratri bhojan

Many puranas out of 18 advise strongly to avoid ratri bhojan.

Padmapurana says –

चत्वारो नरकद्वारा प्रथमं रात्रिभोजनम्। परस्त्रीगमन चैव, सन्धानानन्तकायिके।।

There are four doors to Hell. 1) Ratri bhojan 2) Vyabhichar 3) Bokhathanu 4) Kandmul Bhakshan

Markandpurana says – अस्तंगते दिवानाथे, आपो रुधिरमुच्य अन्नं मांसमं प्रोच्क मार्कंडेयमहर्षिणा । ।

Drinking water and eating food after sunset is equal to drinking blood and eating meat respectively. 

नोदकमपि पातव्यं, रात्रावत्र युधिष्ठिर! । तपस्विना विशेषेण गृहिणा ‘ च विवेकिना।।

Oh! Yudhishtira we shouldn’t even drink water after sunset.

Skandapurana says –

एकभत्त्काशनान्नित्य – मग्रिहोत्रफलं लभेत्। अनेस्तभोजनो नित्यं, तीर्थयात्राफलं लभेत्।।

The person eating only one time in a day gets the goodwill of an AGNIHOTRA. a person gets the oodwill of travelling to a temple if he doesn’t eat at night.

त्वया सर्वमिदं व्याप्तं, ध्येयोऽसि जगतां रवे!।

त्वयि चास्तमिते देव! आपो रुधिरमुच्यते।।

Oh Lord Sun! People worship you. Water is said to be blood after you set.

3. Yogavyashishtha on ratri bhojan

नल्कं न भोजयेद्यस्तु, चातुर्मास्ये विशेषत। सर्वकामानवाप्नोति इहलोके परत्र च ।। १०८।। पूर्वार्ध 

Person, not having food at night (specially during monsoon), such person’s all wishes get fulfilled.

4. Mahabharat on Ratri Bhojan

रक्तीभवन्ति तोयानि अन्ननि पिशितान्यपि। रात्रौ भोजनसन्कस्य ग्रासे तन् मांसक्षमणम्।

eating and drinking water at night is and parallel to eating me and drinking blood respectively.

योग शास्त्र says-

अलूककाकमार्जार – गृध्रशम्बरशूकरा। अहिवृश्र्चिकगोधाश्र्च , जायन्ते रात्रि भोजनात्।।

5. Lord Mahaveer on Ratri Bhojan

Jain Aagam‘s have strictly prohibited Ratri Bhojan.

एं च दोसं दट्टणं , नायपूत्तेण भाषियों। सव्वाहारं न भुंजंति , नित्म्म निग्गंथा राइभोयणं।।

Lord Mahaveer had looked this sins and said that we shouldn’t take even sounf after sunset. Our saints (Sadhu and Sadhvi) obey his words and don’t drink a single drop of water after the sunset in the summer season too. People strictly following Jainism also follow this rule. Ahimsa is the base of all religions. Jainism prohibits ratri bhojan to follow this law of ahimsa. There are 22 Abhaksha in Jainism. Out of these the 14th one is ratri bhojan.

6. Gautam Buddha and Ratri Bhojan

Tripitaka is a popular Buddhist Text. It is written in the Pali language

रतिं विकालभोजनं पयहेत्था।

It means stop Ratri Bhojan.

CONCLUSION

We have to eat for living and not live for eating. food is just a support of our body. Intake of bad food and at wrong time on the contrary becomes destroyer rather than being a supporter. If we do this, we cannot live a long life. So “If you wanna stay healthy and fit, you gotta know When to eat!! Animals spend most of their life in search of food. Humans are different to them. We shouldn’t be like them.

Scientifically or from a religious point of view, Ratri Bhojan is prohibited. Thing/food which is injurious for others is also injurious for us. Our happiness lies in others happiness – this is evitable in today’s scientific and fast world. People leaving Ratri Bhojan with the intention of saving the life of other organisms, saves one’s own self also. Lakhs of Jains and Yogis are living testimony of how abstaining late night dinner after sunset is the most practical thing.

Credits: https://veershasansevak.com/know-when-to-eat/

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Jainism has some powerful Mantras like ‘Navkar Mantra’, which is the most powerful than the others. But today we’ll talk about the Mantra composed by the great Acharya Pujya BhadhraBahu Swami, who lived in around 2^nd to 4^th century AD, ‘Uvasaggaharam Stotra’. It is believed to eliminate obstacles, hardships, and miseries, if chanted with complete faith. This Sutra is associated with its ‘Yantra’, known as ‘Uvasaggaharam Yantra’. At the centre if this Yantra there is a Magical 5×5 Magic Square with many peculiarities and specialities.

Note: A magic square is a ‘n x n’ square grid (where ‘n’ is the number of cells on each side) filled with distinct positive integers in the range 1,2,…,n² such that each cell contains a different integer and the sum of the integers in each row, column and diagonal is equal. The sum is called the ‘Magic Constant’ or ‘Magic Sum’ of the magic square.

1. Numbers used in the Magic Square
2. Number of ways we get the ‘Magic Constant’
3. The Yantra Itself

Let’s discuss them all.

Numbers used in the Magic Square

Per definition, a normal magic square of ‘n x n’ will have numbers with the below specifications: –

1. Numbers are in sequence
2. Numbers starting from 1
3. Up to n²

Figure (A) shows the ‘Uvasaggaharam Magic Square’ known as non-normal magic square.

On initial look it seems it has some random numbers.

1. Numbers are out of sequence
2. Numbers are starting from 0
3. Up to 3n²-1

Here are the numbers in ascending order – [0,5,10,15,20,26,27,28,31,32,33,36,37,38,41,42,43,46,47,48,54,59,64,69,74] which doesn’t give any pattern. But when we take the difference of the consecutive numbers (m – m_-1) we have beautiful palindrome number sequence – [5,5,5,5,6,1,1,3,1,1,3,1,1,3,1,1,3,1,1,6,5,5,5,5]. Plotting a line graph in Figure (B) which is symmetric on ‘Y’ axis, meaning there is a sequence/pattern followed.

Trying a different approach, write all the number from 0 to 74 in group of 5 and highlighting the magic numbers give the ‘Glide Reflection Symmetric’ Figure (C)

 Number of ways we get the ‘Magic Constant’

Per definition, a regular 5×5 will have a magic constant of 65, but this ‘Uvasaggaharam Magic Square’ has it as 185. Since the ‘Uvasaggaharam Sotra’ has 185 characters the Magic Square is constructed for the constant of 185. A normal 5×5 magic square has 12 different quintets to get the magic constant as 65. Let’s see how many ways we get 185.

Considering the rows

Figure (1) to (5) shows all the individual rows adds up to 185

Considering the Columns

Figure (6) to (10) shows all the individual rows adds up to 185

Considering the Diagonals

Diagonals are further divided into 2 parts

Normal Diagonals

Figure (11) and (12) shows the 2 normal diagonals adds up to 185

Broken Diagonals

A Broken diagonal is a set of n cells forming two parallel diagonal lines in the square. Alternatively, these two lines can be thought of as wrapping around the boundaries of the square to form a single sequence. Figures (13) to (16) & (17) to (20) corresponds to the 2 sets of Broken Diagonal making this Magic Square as ‘Pandiagonal Magic Square’

Subset of 3×3

Every 5×5 square has 9 different 3×3 internal squares as show below in figures ‘a’ to ‘i’.

And each of these 3×3 squares has 2 set of quintets as below.

Thus we have total of 18 new quintets with the sum of 185 as shown in figures (21) to (38)

Special Ones

In the above all the 3×3 the 2 quintets are formed as

1. 4 Edges and the Centre of the 3×3
2. 4 Corners and the Centre of the 3×3

Applying the same logic to 5×5 square we get 2 more quintets of 185, Figures (39) and (40)

In this way we see a total of 40 Quintets formed in this 5×5 Magic Square.

Bonus

The Scriptures of this Yantra were having a very good hold in Maths and they hide a group of 9 digits to give a sum of 185 – 4 Broken Diagonals and a Centre. Figure (41)

Author: Bhavin Mehta

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Over the years, Ahimsa has become synonymous with Jainism. This is natural given the importance it finds in Jain philosophy. However, reference of this term Ahimsa is often limited to killing of animals/ humans. Whereas in reality, the Jain conception of ahimsa is quite different from what is commonly understood by violence. Let us dive deeper to know some more aspects of Ahimsa and how it touches our daily activities.

Ahimsa is one of the 12 primary vratas (vows) prescribed for continuous observance in one’s daily life. Since this ahimsa vrata is based on the fundamental principle of avoidance of or abstention of Himsa, it is imperative for us to understand the concept of Himsa as delineated by Jainism.

Dravya (External) & Bhaav (Internal) Himsa

Dravya means any physical thing/ object and Bhaav means intention or feelings. Dravya Himsa will cover any sort of external physical violence. This includes killing of animals, human beings, mosquitos, flies, other insects and pests etc. Apart from killing, any type of physical harm caused to them by hitting, pelting stones at them would also amount to Dravya Ahimsa. Cutting trees, burning down forests and jungles, training animals for circus all of this also forms part of Dravya Himsa.

Similarly Bhaav Himsa would mean intention to hurt/ kill or cause injury to any living being. Even though one may not actually go and kill an animal but the mere thought in one’s mind regarding an act of violence itself construes violence. Whether you think of harming yourself or someone else it would amount to Bhaav Himsa. The violence is defined more by the motives and the consequences to the self rather than by the act itself.

While we are able to classify Himsa as Internal/ External (Dravya/ Bhaav) the impact of it varies significantly based on the form of himsa itself. While some Dravya Himsa might be less cruel or cause less of karma-bandh, other type may be more severe. Similar is the case for Bhaav Himsa. From the image we see that the severity has been split into 4 parts being Low, Moderate, High and Very High. In any scenario, one must not mistake that any violence in lesser severity is allowed and fine to be done. Himsa of any severity should be avoided.

Low Severity:

Dravya Himsa falling in this category would include violence to one sense beings like plants, flower, water etc, and violence towards environment via use of gasoline products, pesticides or anything causing pollution in the environment. Resource consumption of any form falls here as it would inevitably cause harm to the environment and hence should be limited. Bhaav Himsa in this category would include materialism. The thought of accumulating things would eventually take a more serious form of possessiveness and be the reason for causing more violence. Hence, the idea of materialism should be avoided right from the beginning.

Medium Severity

Violence towards beings with two to four senses (viklendriya) like worms, insects, pearls, bacteria, shells and all others are examples of medium severe Dravya Himsa. Hurtful thoughts, severe intention to gather more material things at any cost would be medium severe Bhaav Himsa.

High Severity

A relatively more severe himsa would include violence towards five sense beings (humans, animals etc) which includes animals hurt in circus, caged in zoo, economic and political war, mass violence, genocide, rape cases etc. These are examples of Dravya Himsa. Similarly, hurtful speeches, resentment, artadhyan i.e. excessive worrying about your own well-being are all very severe types of himsa. These types of himsa get classified as Bhaav Himsa. It does not actually cause any physical harm to other living beings, but the intensity of thoughts to commit the violence itself causes highly severe himsa.

Very High Severity

Of all the other types of himsa these classify as very severe and ones that we should avoid at any cost. Violence to 5 sense beings in leather industry, poultry, testing carried out on rats, pigs etc, extracting fur from animals, abortion all these are very severe types of Dravya Himsa which are visible and we must avoid at any cost. Bhaav Himsa falling in this category would primarily be violence to oneself, suicide, remaining under influence of alcohol, drugs or any similar substance, anger, ego, deceit, greed. All these himsa types might seem routine and prima facie not causing any harm, but these are silent killers. One which we can definitely do without. 

The above listed types of Himsa gives a perspective and an insight that things like anger, ego which we used daily are as grave as killing animals and equally to be done away with.

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In order to beautify the life, our soul needs many qualities. A quality less life cannot be termed as a human life, rather it is equivalent to an animal’s life. We should adorn our soul by developing qualities like forgiveness, simplicity, gratitude, non-violence, truth, invincibility, candidness etc.

How should a person speak? The wise people/scholars have mentioned four things in this regard.

1. Speak the truth

It means to speak only what is appropriate to be spoken in practice. Do not speak the naked truth, choose your words appropriately. If you address your mother as ‘ my father’s wife’,  then although it is true, but yet it is said to be an offending truth/a naked truth which cannot be stated in this manner. And so, this is not the way to speak a truth on day to day basis.

2. Speak in a way that someone would like to listen to you.

Truth must not be stated in such a manner that person listening to you would become angry, ridiculous or offended. The words which cause anger or offense to someone are disliked words.

Once a king called upon an astrologer to find out about his own life-period. After looking at the longevity of the king’s life, the astrologer said : ‘Dear King! Your life is too long. You will be alive to see the death of seven generations which would come after you’. When the king heard this, he was angry and he ran to kill the astrologer. The agile ministers then brought the situation under control and they called for another good astrologer. The astrologer saw the king’s palm-lines and said: ‘O Dear king ! You are very lucky. You are going to encounter an incredible event in your life and it would be such which would be one of the rarest to find for all. Your seven generations will be able to see you rule … you have such a long longevity in your life. On listening to these words, the king was pleased. He gave nice gifts to the astrologer and made him happy. Although both of the astrologers had mentioned the same thing, yet there was a difference in their manner of speaking which made a difference in the same  situation.

3. Speak for other’s benevolence.

The words that we state should not prove to be harmful, disrespectful for others. It should not be said just for buttering others. If sweet words are used for buttering people, then it can be felt as a good thing for a little time but

if  this type of our behavior causes suffering to someone, then is not called benevolent.

If we would be standing on the road and if we find four deer running away towards the right direction. Then in a few minutes if a hunter comes to the same place and asks us if we have seen the deer passing away from here, then what should we answer? If we insist on blindly speaking the truth, then we will show the hunter the way on which the deer would have gone running. But our such deed would cause significant damage/loss to the deer and also to the hunter. In that case due to our this action, the death of the deer would become certain and also it would  become certain that even the hunter will have to suffer  in the next birth. So, in such a situation, we deliberately need to say that yes, I have just seen four deer running on the left path. In such situations, our words may seem to be false, but still it is right because ultimately they would prove to be beneficial for others.

4. Speak softly and speak less

Even elongated truth is considered ugly/ deformed. Some people have the habit of speaking a lot, more than even needed. Due to this habit, at times the person listening to them gets bored of their talks.

In case, if we get a boil in one part of our body, then we utilize  an  entire tube of ointment at a time, the ointment is applied as per needed. In the same manner we must speak only as per needed. Remember, the one who speaks truth without any specific reason, that person’s truth also is not considered as truth, rather it is considered fake.

There is a proverb in Sanskrit … ‘ अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् ‘! [ Always avoid the extreme]

Extreme is not needed at any place.

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• STIR YOUR IMAGINATION

Internet has killed the imagination skills of an m any people. Instead of Googling out a solution, try to solve the problem on your ow n for the first 10 minutes. Use Google only if you are not able to find a solution. Try this activity consciously.

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• NO SMARTPHONE TO BED

Kick your smartphone from your bed. With the advent of m any entertainment apps, m any people end up watching something and falling asleep. The radiations from the phone has the potential to hurt the hum an brain. This will be sticky at the start but you will get used to it.

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• TALK TO UNPLUG

Research has show n the people feel better w hen they talk face to face rather than over text messages or social media chatting tools. Take some time every w eek to meet your friends or family m remember and share your weekly experiences.

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• GET SOME QUIET TIME

Set sometime every day for praying or meditation. During this activity, turn off your mobile devices and routers. Start off this activity for 15 minutes every day and gradually increase it to 45- 60 minutes in a day. Also, try some breathing exercises during this time. It refreshes your m ind and keeps you prim ed for an awesome productive day.

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• JOG TO UNPLUG

If meditation is not your thing. try getting some exercise everyday in the morning. Even a 20 minute jog will help you unwind and clear your m ind. Research has show n that some kind of cardio activity early in the morning pumps up your adrenaline and helps you in motoring through your day.

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• SOCIAL MEDIA APPS

It is completely okay if you don’t have personal life presence on social media. You can log off few social media apps and check for updates from one or two social media apps. Unless you are using social media to earn money, don’t get consumed by it.

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Many of us believe that there are four holes or pits that govern us. These pits can never be truly full even after we employ all our efforts towards satisfying them. Let us have a look at the four pits of life.

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1. Pit of Stomach – One pit that we encounter everyday is the pit of our stomach. It is present within our body hence we will find it very surprising that we have such a hole in our body. Despite filling our stomachs with our favourite foods all the time we find that it becomes empty again the next morning. Hence it ideally fits the concept of a pit. Even if we consume loads of today we will again be hungry the next day.

2. Pit of Ocean – This is a pit which most of us do not encounter in our daily lives but we are well aware of its existence. The ocean is a large water body. We should notice that even after the river empties itself into the sea, the sea is still never full. It never rejects the river.

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3. Pit of Cemetery – Another common element of the world that we all are aware of is the pit of cemetery. None of us would have thought that a cemetery could put a board saying they have no space. This is because it never refuses anyone just like the ocean. It does not matter how many bodies are brought to the cemetery, one will always find a place in the cemetery. Hence we can say that it is indeed an endless pit which will always have a place for us.

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4. Pit of Greed – A very common emotion that we come across most people in todays harsh world is greed. Someone rightly said “Greed is the operative word instead of need and its taking its toll.” Greed can be best described as the selfish desire of oneself to have wealth, power and food. This desire is so intense it can end up ruining our life and making us inhumane human beings. This is truly an endless pit and is quite different from the above three pits. It is far more superior in its intensity and can ruin one’s mindset. For example, a person having rupees 100 wishes for rupees 1000, a person having rupees 1000 wishes for one lakh, a person with one lakh wishes for one crore it carries on and on. A wealthy business man wants to have a greater business and become a king, a king wants to become an even powerful king, a powerful king wants to become a dev, a dev would want to become Indra and even Indra himself is not satisfied with his position. This situation can be best described with the help of a Sanskrit proverb “Labhollabhate Pravardhate” which means that as the gain keeps on increasing, greed also keeps on rising.

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We can easily conclude all of this with a statement that we can reach to the end of the world but we would not find an end to our greed, our wants and desires. The solution to overcome greed is contentment or Aparigraha. We will elaborate more about Aparigraha in one of our future blogs.

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