Wisdom from the Master: Guru Pournima - A Pillar of Indian Culture

Acharya Mahendranath

"My disciples often ask questions about certain festivals celebrated in our Indian culture. For example, they ask me what is Guru Pournima and also the difference between a guru/master and a teacher. And that’s why today on the auspicious day of Guru Pournima, I will talk about Guru Pournima and why it is celebrated as part of our tradition and Indian culture.

Before understanding Guru Pournima, it is important to understand the meaning of the word Guru. It is a very divine word from the Sanskrit language. The word Guru literally means dispeller of darkness or the one who dispels ignorance. A guru is also addressed as Master, Acharya, Swami, etc.

Just like the word, a Guru is divine. A guru is spiritual. Gurus are enlightened, selfless Masters who have understood themselves, life, and the existence. A Guru is “one with the existence”; which is also called “oneness”, “union”, “Yoga” or “Moksha”. A Guru’s energy and wisdom is invaluable in shaping human beings, the society, its culture, the environment, and the entire mother planet. Through centuries several great gurus have blessed our country with their presence, and our beautiful nation and its people flourished in the wake of their guidance.
(Read more about the richness of our ancient Indian culture The BlogTalk: 11th Question)

“Acharya Devo bhava” is a divine saying in Sanskrit that shows us that people in ancient India recognized the value of a Guru, whom they revered as bhagwaan (divine energy). People would consider it an honor for their children to be educated under the guidance of a guru. They would send their children to the Gurukulam, or the abode of the guru, where the guru would impart spiritual wisdom and knowledge. Also, under the guru’s guidance, master teachers would teach disciples various subjects such as arithmetic, science, medicine, yoga, martial arts, sangeet (gaayan/vocal, vaadan/instrumental and nritya/dance)  and various other arts and skills depending on their nature and their potential.
(Read more about our Gurukulam system BlogTalk:13th Question)

Such disciples would become great artists, scientists, healers, economists, politicians, warriors, and spiritual masters, and at the same time, they would be exemplary human beings with values like respect, responsibility, courage, and compassion.

But unfortunately, with the invasion of foreign forces over the past 1000 years, we got disconnected with our science, traditions, culture, and values. And finally, even though we got independence from British Raj and became a free nation, we adopted the western system of education, which I call qualification. The holistic system of education vanished from the mainline education system. Schools now just impart information and skills to earn a living, but the value system, culture, etc. is missing.
(Read more about the phasing out of our traditional Indian education system BlogTalk: 13th Question)

And therefore, now most don’t understand the meaning of words like Guru/Master, Master Teachers and Teachers, and they confuse one with the other. First, people started calling their academic and vocational teachers as their guru. And soon, the word Guru came into Western dictionary, which defines a guru as an influential teacher or popular expert! And therefore, expert technicians began to be called “tech gurus”, leading business persons began to be called “business gurus”, etc. And of late, just about anyone can be called a guru. It has become a fashionable term! In several television shows, young artists who are just 19-25 years of age who teach modern dance or music to other students are called Gurus or even “Super Gurus”!

It is important to understand the difference between a teacher and a guru. Teachers impart information and skill. At a primary level, they teach subjects like languages, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, and moral science. And at an advanced level they teach subjects like engineering, modern medicine, accounting, architecture, etc. Skills include painting, sculpting, farming, carpentry, etc.

The information and skill imparted by teachers helps a person get qualified to do a particular type of work and lead a good materialistic lifestyle. I call this “horizontal growth” of a person, or growth in the material world. And therefore, teachers are important and must be respected on the day dedicated to them, which is Teachers’ Day.

But a guru focuses on spiritual growth of a person, which I call vertical growth. For people who have a spiritual quest, a guru guides them in the ultimate journey, which is the spiritual journey toward enlightenment and moksha.

However, when one speaks of, or hears, the term “spiritual journey”, it is associated with giving up material life and retreating from society. But it is not like that.

According to me, a divine guru’s understanding of the material world is as deep as is the understanding of the spiritual world. Therefore, I bring about a balance of material and spiritual understanding within my disciples. This balance is very important, because both material and spiritual are parts of the same whole and must not be separated.

The word 'material' comes from the word 'matter', and 'spiritual' comes from the word 'spirit', which is the invisible and eternal energy. Material world includes all that we can see when our eyes are open and spiritual is that which we experience with our eyes closed.

There must be a balance between material and spiritual, active and passive, and outward and inward. If there is imbalance on any one side—for example, one becomes fully materialistic, or if one completely retreats into a cave—then there is a problem. The material-spiritual balance is the initial basic requirement for living a good life, which I call Moxshlife.
(Read more about the difference between Guru and teacher BlogTalk: 13th Question)

And Guru Pournima is a day for disciples to honour the presence of their guru in their life.

Since a Guru is spiritual, Guru Pournima is a spiritual day. It is celebrated on the full moon day or (Purnima) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashadha. It is a day that has been discovered by our ancient rishis and munis as a very auspicious day for disciples. The planetary alignment is powerful and auspicious and very divine energy reaches mother earth; the energy that intensifies disciples’ sadhana.

Many divine occurrences have also taken place on this day. According to the yogic tradition, on Guru Pournima, Mahadev Lord Shiva became the first Guru (Adi Guru), and began the transmission of the science of yoga to the Saptarishis.

The great sage Vyasa Muni, who is considered as one of the greatest Gurus in our ancient traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition, was not only born on this day, but also started writing the Brahma Sutras on this day.

Bhagwan Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon on this day.

According to Indian tradition, it is a day of celebration for disciples who are on the spiritual journey under the guidance of their guru. On this day, disciples thank the existence for bringing a guru in their lives, and meditate and contemplate on their spiritual journey as well as on their role in their mission. And they all come together and take their guru’s blessings for their spiritual journey. 

Bow to all those selfless Gurus all over the world who Enriched Lives, Purified Thoughts, Humbled Humanity, Lit the Lamp of Knowledge, and Dedicated their Lives to Guiding People to Lead a Harmonious and Happy Life!

May Adi Guru Lord Siva bless all on this auspicious day of Guru Pournima!"

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 13th Question: What is the difference between Gurukul & present-day school? A Guru and a teacher?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

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Dharmendra Awasthi

Q. 1. What is the difference between Gurukool & present-day school?
2. What is the difference between Guru & Teacher?
— Dharmendra Awasthi , Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s guidance: "Gurukul and modern-day schools are both places of education. The Gurukul system is based on our ancient Indian culture and manner of education, whereas modern schools are based on the western idea of education. There are many differences between the two, but before we go into it, it is important to understand the meaning of the word “education”.

Education is not just about learning. We think that because we learnt languages, mathematics, geography, etc., and we have a degree, we are educated. But education is more than that. Apart from learning different subjects, an educated person has the wisdom to be in harmony with all living things. Education means developing a student at a physical, psychological, and spiritual level.

I say this because we are in all these three. We have a body and the body needs to be fit. If it is not, then it will affect our mind. Similarly, if we are mentally disturbed, it will affect our body. Apart from body and mind, we also have a spirit. It needs to be nurtured for spiritual growth. When I say this, don’t think of things that one normally associates with the word “spiritual” like following organized religion, “God”, “sin and good deed (paap aur punya)”, “past life and next life”, “past life sins”, etc. When I say spiritual growth, I am talking about actual spiritual growth.

Let me explain: To develop our body, we need to eat right and exercise. Our mind gets developed as we learn things. How does spiritual growth happen? For that you need to practice dhyaana under the guidance of a spiritual guru.

And so, development of body, mind and spirit is what I call complete or holistic growth. Only then are we truly educated. We become responsible and develop understanding, and can play a positive role in this world.

Gurukuls were academies for holistic education. Students were taught a variety of subjects. For example, for physical development they were given guidance on right diet for body and mind and were also taught yoga asanas; they learnt mathematics and scientific subjects like astronomy, geography, chemistry, biology, medicines, and motor skills for developing the mind. Gurukuls also taught subjects like Rajneeti, which is the knowledge of governing. Gurukuls also provided training in farming, carpentry, sculpting, music, dance, etc. They chanted mantras for concentration, focus, clarity, and controlling the mind.

Students were also taught martial arts but not just to learn fighting or defense. The purpose of ancient Indian Martial arts was also to balance emotions (this quality is not there in the martial arts systems that are popular today, which focus only on competition, combat, and sports.) When emotions were balanced, students developed confidence; confidence to withstand attacks as well as to strike if necessary. Confidence in turn developed courage; courage not to fight, but to strive for peace.

And finally, for spiritual development students were taught dhyaana.

After 12 years of undergoing a complete education, students would inevitably understand what their skills or interests were and they would choose their profession accordingly.

Now compare this with what happens today. At the age of 17 most of the students decide—or rather it is decided by the parents—that they should become doctors or engineers. Why? Because they got good marks in science!

This is because modern schools “qualify” students, rather than educate them. The whole purpose is to qualify individuals so that they get a good job. A student of 4th standard becomes qualified for 5th standard; one in 10th standard gets qualified for 11th standard or college; and one who is pursuing higher levels at college gets qualified for a particular type of job. Students are becoming smart; they are becoming scholars. These days we hear of students scoring 98%, 99%, or even 100% marks in schools. But do you think they are developing or growing at a holistic level? Do they have the ability to deal with the ups and downs of life?

Because education is not really “education”, we hear of people giving up, getting depressed and stressed, and even hear news of people taking the extreme step. This mental imbalance, which begins in school life, continues well into the rest of the person’s life as well. If modern schools ‘educated’ students, would we be facing this situation?

This brings us to another differentiating factor between a gurukul and a modern school. In the gurukul, the guru and his/her disciples would teach students. And they did it as a service to society and humanity, and had no monetary or material expectations. Gurukuls were simple and were sustained by donations from the king or the people of the society.

Now compare this to schools today. In our country we mainly have two types of schools: Ones that are run by the government and ones run by private bodies. Both follow the western method of education.

In our country most of the parents are not keen on sending their children to government-run schools because of poor infrastructure, and this according to me is a very sad fact. But the joke is that these very same parents want their children to eventually get government jobs! They want their children to study in private schools so that they become IAS or IPS officers or get a good post in a government-run institution! But jokes apart, after getting those responsible positions in the government, they do not do anything to improve the conditions in government schools!

The same dire conditions exist in government-run hospitals as well, and we have seen this first-hand now during the pandemic. Even those who are really sick don't prefer going to government hospitals because of their poor condition.

I am not saying that none of the government-run schools are up to the mark. There are some schools where teachers are running the school very well despite the limited resources. I have heard of cases where a school has just one teacher and he/she is doing a fantastic job of teaching students. I have also heard in news that many youths have voluntarily set up schools and are running them very well and showing great results!

But such cases are few and far between. I am talking about the majority. And I feel that every school must have basic infrastructure like a good, sturdy and clean building, proper class rooms with benches, clean toilets, proper drinking water facilities, etc.

Also, according to me, education and healthcare must be provided by the government and it must be free for ALL citizens, irrespective of social or economic status. And the infrastructure must be good and standardized. Whichever part of the country you travel, whether rural or urban, the schools and hospitals must be easily identifiable because they look alike. And I believe it is very much possible to achieve this.

Our country has budgets for everything, including the defence, education, and healthcare. The government invests well in defence because it understands that it is the only way to protect the country. Similarly, the government needs to allocate better budgets for education and healthcare. Because if these three sectors—education, healthcare, and defence—are strong, everything else will automatically progress and flourish.

Now let’s look at schools run by private bodies. Most of these schools have become commercial institutions, that charge very high fees. They also have an aspirational value to them. Parents want to send their children to a particular school at any cost and are willing to pay exorbitant fees or donation for it.

Also, the dynamics of modern education system have become so complex that stress is a natural fallout. For example, students must score at least 90% in 10th standard. Even a 0.01% difference in percentage can mean missing the ‘cut off’ percentage and the child is “cut off” from his/her preferred college. To add to this, there are now separate entrance exams for almost every field—medical, engineering, CA, MBA, etc.—and which mean additional studies and more pressure. Even students in junior standards are not spared the stress. They have tuition, scholarship exams, Olympiads, and what-nots apart from regular school projects and homework!

It is no wonder then that students get competitive and highly stressed in schools. Some get depressed. And the schools have found a very fashionable solution to this problem: counselors!

Teachers now advice parents to take their child to a counselor! As ridiculous as it sounds, children—sometimes as young as 7 or 8-year-olds—are asked to visit counselors!

Parents of my students who are in 3rd or 4th standard have told me that their teacher advised them to take their child to a counselor. The worried parents asked me if there was something wrong with their child. I told them that their child was perfectly normal, and that it was the teacher who needed counselling. What is the role of the teacher if he/she has to send children to a third party?

Moreover, some parents who have other smaller children have told me that their teacher said the child was 'hyper'. They have said this about 3 and 4-year-old children! I asked the parents what the teacher meant by 'hyper'. To which they said that teachers say that the child does not pay attention, does not sit still, and keeps seeing here and there. I couldn't help but laugh. Firstly, I am surprised at the education system, which enrolls 3-year-olds in so-called 'preschools'. And then I am surprised that teachers don't understand the psychology of small children. How come they don't know that children are full of energy and curiosity and it is not in their nature to sit in one place? The jumping and playfulness is necessary for their growth. If you try to confine them to one small place and make them sit still, it will impair their body and mind development.

If teachers cannot understand a child, why are they drawing the fat salary? Just to teach students A, B, C…?

Although the situation has worsened over the past one-two decades, western education has always focused on imparting subject knowledge. Which is why, moral science, ethics, etc. were taught in western religious institutions. And this splitting up of learning into two—schools and organized religion-based institutions—is probably what led to problems on both fronts.

Let me explain. So, while the schools imparted subject knowledge, their religion-based institutions invented “God”. They told people about an invisible God who sits high above in the sky and watches us at all times! Not only that, if you do anything sinful, God will punish you. How? For that they invented the hellfire! After death, sinners will be tossed into hellfire, in which they will burn for all eternity!

Whereas in Ancient India, there was no such organized religion. Our culture was so strong that thousands of years back we had understood the answers to fundamental questions like “Is there God?” “Who created the universe?” etc. We realized it didn’t matter. We understood that the existence exists. We focused on existence and what we can see and is visible and never looked up and prayed to an invisible God. We realized that we are all one, and are part of the same existence. We were not told about hellfire. We were told about Karma or action. It made us responsible. What Sir Isaac Newton said around three-and-a-half centuries ago, Bhagwaan Sri Krishna had said around 5000 years ago! Sir Newton said “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” And Bhagwaan Shri Krishna said, “Jaisa Karm, waisa fal,” or your actions are directly related to the results. And I say that you won't get results in next life. You will get them in this life and they are instantaneous!

For example, suppose a person starts smoking cigarettes. And after smoking the first few times, the person says, “What happened to me? Are my lungs damaged? Did I get cancer?” But that understanding is not correct. From the very first puff, the process of damage has begun. And as the person continues to smoke, over a period of time the damage will worsen to an extent that his/her lungs might get completely damaged, heart might get damaged, he/she may get cancer or suffer a stroke, etc.

At the same time, if you do something nice, the feeling of happiness within you is instantaneous. Even if you keep yourself happy, it effects every cell in your body, and results in healthy body and mind.

This knowledge was ours. But after around 400 years of subjugation by foreigners, we now value western philosophy more than our own treasures. Which is why Sir Newton’s saying is precious for us, but we never think of what Bhagwaan Sri Krishna said.

Our culture was so strong that it taught us to stand on our own feet and to live life. This wisdom was imparted during our education, which was holistic and made us wise. Which is why we had led the world in every aspect, and at one time, were the envy of the world. (For more details on this, read BlogTalk 11).

And therefore, in Ancient India we probably never had even a single case of such mental imbalance. Our system made us warriors. Warriors are not just those who wield a sword and fight. A warrior is one who tackles the ups and downs of life and emerges victorious. Modern schools don’t teach students how to comfortably navigate the journey of life and every situation that comes with it.

With that, I come to the last but the most important point of difference between gurukul and modern schools. The western education system is extrovert. Whereas the gurukul system of education was introvert, which means we focused more on “in search” or going within ourselves to find answers. And so, western educated people only developed things on the outside. They built high-rise buildings, dams, monuments like Eiffel Tower, etc. They invented telescopes through which they saw planets, stars and other celestial bodies. They invented rockets and went into space.

We also acquired the same knowledge thousands of years ago through “in search”. Without physically going anywhere, we understood everything through the practice of dhyaana. And when the source of the knowledge is from within, its external expression is not only wonderous and beautiful, but it also bears the mark of responsibility.

Which is why even though we built monuments and great structures thousands of years back, and which even today are architectural and scientific wonders, we did it without destroying nature. We built great cities, without polluting water, or flattening mountains. We measured the distance between the earth, sun, moon, etc. without littering space with debris. We acquired knowledge and did great things on the outside, while staying within the boundaries of nature.

Because western education lacks this introvert development, every creation, invention, discovery, and development that they have done has come with a price. All their so-called progress in every sector—agriculture, industry, technology, mechanics, pharmaceutical, etc.—has destroyed the quality of air, soil, water, and space. To the extent that they have made this once-beautiful Planet Earth almost uninhabitable.

In fact, experts and scientists say that in the next 10 years or so the quality of air will deteriorate to such an extent that we will not be able to breathe it! If this happens, then we will have to always wear a helmet-like device on our face and breathe using an oxygen cylinder! Today we are wearing masks to prevent Corona Virus infection and that is causing so much inconvenience. Imagine what it will be like to live in an oxygen bubble! Such artificial manner of breathing will keep us alive; but only for some time! And when this happens, trees will die. Already many trees are diseased and sick because they can only absorb the natural carbon dioxide released by humans and animals. They cannot process vehicle and factory emissions like particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and greenhouse gases, which we have been releasing into the atmosphere for decades now. You can find sick trees in cities. Can you imagine what will happen if all trees start dying? We can contemplate and understand this now in this pandemic situation.

And knowing that they will be faced with this deadly situation, they are trying to see if human beings can occupy another celestial body like the Moon or Mars! Why? To repeat the same story there?

In ancient India because we first understood ourselves and had our own experience, we respected ourselves and everything around us. And so, we took care of everything, including this planet earth and all other planets. We have even been taught to respect the 9 planets (Nav Graha).

Every so-called advancement by the West has been driven by a desire to dominate; to get to the top first and win all challenges. We also won, but not by domination, but by winning the heart. Our education made us creative and responsible, and not arrogant and reckless.

I want to tell you a story that will illustrate how we nurtured wisdom and internal strength. It is said that one day, Emperor Alexander came upon a mystic sleeping on a river bank. He asked the Mystic, “Who are you and why are you lying down like this?”

“Forget about me. Who are you?” asked the Mystic.

“I am Alexander and I am on my way to conquering the whole world.”

Hearing this, the Mystic asked him what he would do after he conquered the whole world. Alexander said, “I will be at ease, and I will happily rest and relax for the rest of my life.”

The Mystic started laughing. So hard did he laugh that it is said that his laughter echoed through the mountains. Alexander was surprised and asked the Mystic why he was laughing. The Mystic told him, “How can I not laugh? You want to conquer the world so that you can rest and relax. What am I doing now? Come. There is place next to me. You can rest now.”

Alexander said, “No. I will go now and rest later.” The Mystic said, “If you leave now, you will never be able to rest. If you want to relax, why get exhausted in the first place? After all your struggles and investment, you will not experience the ease that I am feeling.” Alexander was deeply affected by this and he said, “Oh Mystic, I will pray to God that in my next life I get to be a mystic like you.” To which the Mystic laughed once again. “In this life you have an opportunity. Why are you missing it? Come lie down next to me.”

Our country has nurtured several hundred such wise men and mystics. And the source of the wisdom is the core of our education system, which is introvert.

Next you ask about the difference between a guru and a teacher. A teacher imparts knowledge and skill. Guru also imparts knowledge and skill and is capable of teaching all subjects. But then he/she also teaches us how and where to use the knowledge. Teachers focus on horizontal growth of students, which is growth in the material world. People learn to read, write and gain knowledge, so that they can get qualified and work in prestigious organizations, and have a great salary and a luxurious lifestyle.

Whereas a Guru focuses on vertical growth. To explain this, I want to bring to your attention two words: information and inquiry. In our life we get information; lots of it. Information is given to us from multiple sources and we use it to live our life. But in our life, there is also inquiry. Various questions pop up in our head at some time in life. These are directly related to us, but we don’t have answers to them.

For example:
What is the purpose of life?
Why is there sadness and suffering?
What is death? One moment the person is here and next moment they say he/she is no more or that he/she is dead. How come? The whole person is there including the heart, lungs, kidney, but something is missing, and so the person is dead.
Why are we given birth, if we are to eventually lose everything to death?

We realize that one day the same thing will happen to us. After everything we have gained—success, fame, riches, family, etc.—our end will be the same. We will probably die in some expensive hospital getting expensive treatment; but die we will! So, what is the point?

Answers to all these questions lie in the third dimension, which is the spiritual dimension. And we can understand the spiritual dimension and these answers with the guidance of a guru. The very word Guru is self-explanatory. In Sanskrit, guru is one who guides us from darkness to light.

A guru is Adhyatmik (spiritual). Adhyatmik comes from the word adhyatma. Adhyatma comes from two sanskrit words: adhyan and atma. Adhyan means study and atma means soul (spirit). The person who studies his own soul is called adhyatmik (spiritual). Spiritual studies are for those who seek answers about the third dimension of our being. A guru guides his disciples about birth, death, and life through experience.

Teachers teach us various subjects and teach us good behavior and manners, code of conduct, etc. They help us succeed in the professional world. A teacher’s training brings out the ‘I’ within us. ‘I’ am qualified. ‘I’ work for this famous company. ‘I’ won this award, etc. But a guru’s disciples talk about ‘we’. They show concern for everything.

A teacher’s students look at everything as it relates to them, and so they are only focused on themselves. But a guru’s disciples see themselves in everyone and everything. And so, they are responsible toward everything on this planet. When we think of everyone, then our vision spreads wide.

Teachers tell us about hard work; but guru tells us about “heart work”. Teachers' teachings are for mental development, but a guru helps us reach our soul through our heart.

Before I complete the answer to your question, I need to address some misconceptions that most people have about a guru. Mostly when people think of a spiritual guru, they think of someone sitting under a tree and meditating. While the picture is correct, its portrayal is misleading, in that people feel that they are always meditating. That is like assuming that a scientist is always looking under a microscope and has no normal life! Similarly, meditating was something that a Spiritual Guru did, but it was not the only thing they did. They were very much connected with material world. The word 'material' comes from the word 'matter', and 'spiritual' comes from the word 'spirit', which is the invisible and eternal energy. Material world includes all that we can see when our eyes are open and spiritual is that which we experience with our eyes closed. Both are parts of the same whole.

And so, a guru would guide us on how to maintain a balance between material and spiritual. This is because in order for us to live a happy life, both are important. We are born on the surface of this planet, so obviously we were not meant to live in a cave! There must be a balance between active and passive, and outward and inward. If there is imbalance on any one side—for example, one becomes fully materialistic, or if one completely retreats into a cave—then there is problem. The material-spiritual balance is the initial basic requirement for living a good life, which according to me is "Moxshlife". And only through a guru’s guidance can we learn to maintain the balance. And having this balance is what I call being spiritual.

I’ll give you an example to explain life and a guru’s role in life. Think about a person who goes to a showroom to collect the dream car that he has booked. It is his favorite car; one that he has dreamt of owning, and now finally his wish is fulfilled and he is very excited. He sits in the car and a representative from the showroom sits with him and this person understands from him all the functions of the car. He also understands how to maintain the car. He does this because he plans to thoroughly enjoy riding the car. If he has common sense, he will ask about troubleshooting, so that he can tackle any problem, including how to fix a flat tire and use a stepney tire. Because if he does not learn this then one day, he might end up wasting precious time until a mechanic arrives. But no matter what, he does not ask who created this car, how many people worked on the car in the factory, from which factory it came, etc. because this is already done.

A guru’s role is exactly like that of the showroom representative. A guru will tell you to forget about things like 'who made us', 'who made this universe', etc. We are here and we own this body and mind, so we must take care of them well, maintain them, learn to handle any difficulties, and ultimately learn how to drive ourselves through the journey of life, so that we can thoroughly enjoy the experience!"

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 12th Question: Is it good to leave our current place? Should we consume immunity boosters?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath (The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Snehal Pawar

Q. I am having two questions about current situation. Firstly, in this pandemic situation, everyone ran towards their hometown as they thought they will be safe there. But the problem is there is no specific place which is safe during this time. But now living in our surrounding is also dangerous for us. My question is, it is good for us to leave our current place or not? And another question is, medical retailers are selling different tablets and medicines to increase immunity. So, it is good to consume it or not?

— Snehal S. Pawar, Student of Keimoudo® — Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: "I am addressing your first question where you said that during this pandemic everyone is running to their hometown because they think they will be safe. And you asked whether it is a good decision.

The entire upheaval that we have been witnessing over the past couple of weeks has multiple, complex angles and there are no straightforward answers.

But here are some things you need to understand: 

When the government initially asked people to stay put and stay where they were, it was the right appeal and a very necessary step to take at that time. Because if people would have been told to go in the beginning of the lockdown, we would have witnessed total pandemonium. People from what have now been identified as Red Zones would have gone to Green Zones, and we would be facing a much bigger crisis than what we are facing today.

So, the government did the right thing, and for some time people complied. But when people began realizing the actual implications of the lockdown, the seriousness of the infection and its rate of spread, and the fact that the lockdown could go on for longer than a few weeks, things started getting out of hand. All those who had come to cities from other states or towns became desperate to go back home. Why?

There are multiple reasons. 

First is basic human psychology. When we are in trouble, we remember our home and our family. People leave their hometowns and come to cities for various reasons. And when things are normal their busy schedule keeps them occupied and they follow a mechanical routine. But when they get sick, or lose their job, or if there is a pandemic, etc. they yearn for their home. Even those who have been told they have very little time to live, prefer to go home and spend the remainder of their life with their family. This nature is there in our DNA.

Then there is the question of safety. You say that no specific places are safe. It is not like that. At the beginning of the pandemic, almost all the villages and small towns in India were safe. According to news reports, instances of coronavirus infection were first seen abroad, and it first came into Indian cities through international travelers who landed in our city airports. 

And this pandemic spread at a very fast rate in cities because our cities are crowded, congested, houses are close by, and many people use common toilets, etc. But things are different in villages.

Villages are not congested and there the houses have bigger premises. People know that their villages and hometowns are safe and they can be fully isolated in their homes, and they know that their chances of getting infected by Coronavirus is very less in their hometowns.

The third factor is practical and financial. Most people don’t have jobs and they have to still pay house rent and pay for food in the city. They also don’t know what the future holds for them. They don’t know how long the lockdown will last, whether they will get a job later, etc. But if they go back to their villages, they don’t have to pay their house rent and they can get food.

Why do you think people walked or cycled thousands of kilometres, traveled by trucks and other vehicles and generally risked their lives to go home? If people were happy where they were, they would not have done this. If they had a proper and safe place to stay and had money, they would not have taken such drastic steps. Given these factors, their decision to go home seems very obvious.

But in their hurry to escape the risk of infection and other uncertainties, they failed to realize that the very journey they planned to undertake was fraught with even bigger risks. The crowds—whether on roads where people were walking in hundreds, or in trucks/tempos that were packed to capacity with people, or at ticketing areas, bus depots, and in train stations where people would gather in thousands—were so great that maintaining social distancing was near impossible. And people didn’t understand that the journey could make them a carrier of the infection and that they could infect their entire family or village after they go home. This is, in fact, happening right now.

The deadly virus, which was so far contained within urban areas, has now reached the rural areas. This, according to me is a very dangerous thing, and will make the situation worse.

And so, is it good to leave the current place? There is no simple answer. If people who are not affected by the virus are able to find a safe way to go home without getting affected during the travel, then going back is fine. But on the other hand, if people travel in a risky manner and contract the infection then they can affect their home and village. This can be an even bigger problem because arranging the required medical facilities in most villages might be difficult.

So, we cannot label the decision of people wanting to leave for their hometown as right or wrong; good or bad. There are pros and cons to everything.

Your next question is about medical retailers selling tablets and medicines to increase immunity and whether it is good to consume them.

Doctors and healthcare experts around the world are now saying that people with good immune system have a lesser chance of contracting coronavirus as well as greater chance of recovery if they do get infected.

Immune system can be boosted in a natural manner by eating proper food, getting good sleep, taking in fresh air and water, exercising, and keeping stress at bay. You need to get 7- 8 hours of sleep. Proper food includes green leafy vegetables, pulses, roots, nuts, and fruits. Most of our traditional food has ingredients like turmeric, ginger, black pepper, jaggery, cinnamon, garlic, onion, cloves, fresh coconut, etc. which are good immune boosters. You can also consume black raisins, honey, coconut water, and fruits like papaya and orange that help keep many infections at bay. You can have herbal tea. You need to exercise regularly.

This is the natural way. But if you feel you are deficient in any way or you cannot manage most of this, then for this particular situation you may take supplements. But don’t buy directly from medical retailers. Consult your doctor and ask them to prescribe, as it is the safest way to take any medicine or supplements. But remember it is just for this situation and I would always recommend the natural way to boost the immune system."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 11th Question: India has such a strong culture. Can we guide the world out of this pandemic situation?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Venkatesh Katkar

Q. Looking at the current situation of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on entire world I always think that India as a country can lead the world out of this crisis. Looking back at our ancient times we see that Master Boddhidharma went to China and guided them to a spiritual path and taught how to live a healthy life. We have different ancient Healing Techniques, Mantras and Medicinal formulations. 

Also, India is called as the land of mystics and have a strong culture of Vedas, Vajras, Yoga and Ayurveda. 

Now based on this my question is that India as a nation with such a strong heritage can lead by example and guide the world out of this pandemic situation. How far this thought is correct? Master please put light on this and guide us.

— Venkatesh Katkar, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: “You are ‘Venkatesh’, the one who saves the people from troubles, and yet you ask me this question?” jokes the Master. 
“You say that we had medicinal formulations. What are you trying to say? That there is a formulation present in some book and we can use it to make a medicine and send it across the world to cure the pandemic?” (The Master laughs)
“Your question is whether India can lead the world out of this pandemic and become an example. You base this given our rich history, culture, and science. 

Which India are you talking about? Is India the same today like it was when Ayurveda flourished and we were discovering medicinal formulations? Your question contains the answer.

‘Ancient India’ was the land of the wise and the mystics. It had a rich culture and several branches of science flourished. It was a country with wealthy people having good virtues and thoughts. This land nourished the spiritual quests of several great Masters and Spiritual Gurus, including Lord Shri Krishna, Lord Gautam Buddha, Acharya Chanakya, Lord Mahavira, Lord Guru Nanak, Master Bodhidharma, and hundreds of others.

Are we connected with this science and these Masters’ teachings? You know the answer to that question.
We are disconnected from it. We talk about Vedas, Yoga, Ayurveda, Martial Arts, etc. But these are mere fragments of the remnants of a very vast culture. What we have with us now is just superficial knowledge, which we put to superficial use as we boast about our ‘culture’.

But the very fact that these remnants are there is a very good thing. Using this, we can revive our science and culture and rise up once more.

But in order for us to reconnect with our culture and science and bring back the Glorious India, it is important for us to understand how we got disconnected from it. How from being the land that was once known as Sone ki Chidiya or “Golden Sparrow”, we are now identified as a land of snake charmers, and Western media and film makers, since the time of our independence in 1947, have shown dirty villages and cities, where people are struggling in abject poverty and hunger.

This is not how we were. We were economically, scientifically, culturally, and spiritually rich since the beginning of history. We lived in highly planned cities and towns like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro as far back as 2,600 BCE, and Takshashila around 1,000 BCE. We had great seats of learning. Takshashila had one of the world’s first universities. Nalanda University in present-day Bihar came into being about 2,500 years ago and is considered the second-oldest university in the world. Our land was adorned by graceful forts, and beautiful temples and monuments, which are still architectural wonders. Examples of this are still visible in almost all states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. Throughout these times, our skills in handicrafts, metallurgy, exotic weaves of cotton and silk, etc. were the envy of the world and the motivation for people from across the planet to undertake thousands of kilometres of journey to this land of abundance.

If we were indeed as poor as depicted in today’s images, would we have been able to create all of the above? Even in ancient India, don’t you think building cities and monuments would have cost money? And if all the artists were subjugated, poor, and unhappy, would it have been possible for them to bring out their artistry?

We flourished because our people were guided by great Acharyas, Wise scholars and Spiritual Gurus. Even our kings had “Raj Gurus” or royal Gurus who played a very important role in nurturing the kingdoms. They helped the kings have a balanced mind, kept a check on them, and advised them against doing anything that would have dire consequences or went against the greater good of humankind. One such great example is Acharya Chanakya, a Guru, royal advisor, and a pioneer in the field of political science and economics.

We were skilled, wise and had good virtues, because we had the Gurukulam-based education system. Pupils stayed with the guru and learnt to become responsible individuals in society. Apart from teaching virtues, the Guru taught various arts and science, including the art of warfare, economic science, medicines, etc. as well as spiritual science like Yoga Vedanta.

We were technologically and scientifically advanced. We had developed agricultural technology and medicines. Ayurveda, which means ‘the knowledge (science) of life’ is said to have originated almost 5000 years ago in India. It was a divine healing science. Medicines made from ayurvedic principles using herbs, roots, plants, seeds, etc. were used for treating all kinds of diseases; and even during pandemics! A student of Ayurveda would study in the lap of nature and under the guidance of the Guru. It didn’t include memorizing the names of chemicals or herbs and their effects and prescribing it to treat various ailments.

The whole approach was meditative in nature where students would reach their higher self and identify plants, herbs and other materials, and understand their qualities and transform them into various types of medicines.

The very word “medicine” is very pure. There are two aspects to it. The first is “Meditate upon your sins.” Here don’t think of ‘sin’ in terms of everything that has been said to scare us (we will burn in hellfire, or our next life will be bad, etc.). Here sin means grave mistake. While doing a grave mistake is a sin, we must and should understand it, contemplate on it, and resolve never do it again. Then a large part of our problem will disappear! In the second aspect it means Medicine in physical form that is prepared in a deep meditative state.

And yes, we strived hard for people everywhere to benefit from our wisdom and science. You mention Master Bodhidharma who went to China and taught many things to the Chinese. Just think: He was a King’s son. But on his Guru’s orders he left everything and undertook such a long journey for the betterment of human kind. “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha” was part of our culture and when we said ‘sarve’ we meant every creature and entity that shares this planet with us. Our Upanishads taught us about Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, which means “the world is one family”.

But ever since the invasion by Alexander, we were continuously attacked by foreign forces who not only stole our wealth, but through every possible means also disconnected us from our science, culture and virtues. All the foreigners who came here got dazzled by our richness, befriended us, and then stabbed us in the back. To take over our kingdoms, spread their religion, plunder our wealth, and various other selfish desires, they stole everything from us. They brutally slaughtered the wise men, Gurus, and Masters who opposed them. They destroyed many monuments and temples, religious texts, and historical documents. Most of our records and documents didn’t survive their brutality.

For example, we know that Master Bodhidharma went from South India to China in about 5th Century CE to teach Dhyaana (Dhyaana became known as ‘Chan’ in Chinese and Zen in Japanese). But he saw that their physical condition was weak and so He also taught them martial techniques as a form of exercise. This martial arts form later came to be known as Shaolin Kung Fu, which later became the source of Karate, Taekwondo, and other systems of martial arts that are now popular around the world. And about 40 years ago when Karate was introduced in India, we came to know about Master Bodhidharma. And while all of Master Bodhidharma’s teachings, records, place of stay, etc. are intact in China, if you go to Tamil Nadu where he was born, there are no records of his early life in India or of his ancestors.

Even if you consider just the period from the Mughal invasion until the end of the British Raj, we are looking at approximately 400 years where our people lived a subjugated life. This itself is enough to change the people of a country.

But even after we got independence, we could have used our freedom to reconnect.

For example, one of the most important things from which the foreigners disconnected us are our languages. Before finally leaving us in 1947, the British introduced us to English which replaced every other language.

This had two effects: first was on our mother tongue, or regional/state languages. After they left, English took prominence instead of our mother tongue. We preferred (and still prefer) going to, and sending our children to, English medium schools. We learn “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water”! How does that help us? Ironically, I have to give this BlogTalk in English in order for a majority of you to understand!

Today there are very few state languages that are pure and without English influence. Otherwise, most state languages are spoken by mixing quite a few English words. There is nothing wrong with this, but our language holds the essence of our culture; it is the foundation on which our culture is based. And it is sad that we have lost quite a bit of this fragrance.

The second effect was on Sanskrit. We were completely disconnected from it. I say that while our mother tongue connects us to our country and our culture, Sanskrit is a Scientific language that connects us to our science.

The Vedas, Upanishads, and even the Medicinal formulations that you mentioned were written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a complete language and it is very difficult to translate it to any language. Translation cannot retain the same meaning and the essence is lost. Very often, there are no exact terms for Sanskrit words or phrases. For example, the word Dhyaana has no synonym that exactly translates the word. In English, the word meditation comes closest but still does not mean Dhyaana. Also, most of our scriptures are written in the form of Sutras, which literally mean thread or that which holds things together. Sutras are condensed rules that succinctly states the message. Minimal words are used to communicate the teachings within the Sutra. The ability to create sutras are the specialty of the Sanskrit language. And therefore, without knowing Sanskrit well, we cannot unlock the essence of our scriptures.

But like I said before, it is possible for us to revive and fully connect with everything. We and our ancestors belong to the same land that nourished the great Masters. And so, we also have the potential to discover what they discovered. The knowledge and spirit are there in our DNA as well.

And the key is the Sanskrit language. And so, if we study the Sanskrit language, we will be able to study these texts and understand them in totality. If we will study the Vedas in Sanskrit, they will act as the password that will activate and unlock the memories in our DNA. The Vedas will make us capable to see for ourselves and find answers to everything.

Again, I don’t want you to misunderstand that the scriptures themselves have the answers. If you compare studying of scriptures to the modern western education, then again you will go in the wrong direction.

But for us to reconnect ourselves and get our strength back, we need to pursue it seriously and invest time. The government and our citizens must work together and over the next 10-15 years, if the coming generations learn Sanskrit, then we will be able to study and understand our Vedas, Upanishads, mantras, etc.

But unfortunately, today in our country Sanskrit is associated with religion, even though all over the world youngsters are learning Sanskrit and Sanskrit Mantras because they have understood its true nature and view it as a source of knowledge and not as religious texts! Click this link to see how after giving us the English language, Britain is taking learning Sanskrit very seriously. Click here

Against that, look at what’s happening in India: Click here  

Vedas and scriptures came into being thousands of years ago before any organized religion came into existence. For us organized religion was a foreign concept. We had enlightened people whom we called Gurus. A Guru was one who could guide us out from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge.

Which is why when foreign organized religious people came, we accepted them as one of us and welcomed them wholeheartedly. Our scriptures tell us about “Atithi Devo Bhava”, which means every guest is God. But unfortunately, we did not understand this phrase then, nor do we understand it now. Let me explain. The “atithi” or guest referred to in our scriptures means every little creature and plant that is a guest on this planet; everything that has been born to go back to its source. This phrase was meant to teach us to treat every creature and being on this planet as God's (existence's) guest and to treat it with respect.

But we applied this saying only to human beings who came as guests! We did not stop to see whether they had any selfish intentions or if they were invaders. We welcomed them all. And look at what happened? Not only did they torture us, slay our kings and wise men, and destroy our heritage structures, books, and records, but also introduced their organized religion in our country!

Having said that, the same trait of humanity and concern for all is there within us even today. Which is why during the pandemic, in the spirit of universal brotherhood we gave allopathy medicines to countries across the world. Whenever possible we have also helped rescue non-Indians as well. Our management of the pandemic is being appreciated by people all over the world.

But we can and will do much more. If any part of the world needs anything, I am sure our country will do everything possible to help those people or country, even as we ourselves struggle with the same crisis. Such is the power of our culture.

And after the Pandemic dies down and the lockdown ends, if we all work to rise up once again, we can help nourish a new world. We can guide people in every field and can help take care of every being on this planet. With our spirit of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, we can aspire for

‘Sarvesham swasthir bhavatu,
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Poornam Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu,’ 
which means
May auspiciousness be unto all.
May peace be unto all.
May fullness be unto all.
May prosperity be unto all.”

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 10th Question: Will covid-19 have a long-lasting effect on our life? Will our life be the same as it was before?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centers, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Q. Will covid-19 have a long-lasting effect on our social life? Will our life be the same as it was before? Will people become more afraid to socialise?
We have been already living a digital life than social life, as today people are connected with each other mainly via Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc. and meeting or socializing with each other only occasionally due to current lifestyle and professional commitments. So, with this covid-19 situation, this type of lifestyle will become prominent and balance will be lost.
As there is no medicine for this disease as of now, this fear is increasing day by day. Also, what effect is it going to have on employment? Please advise, Master.

—  Shashikant Pawade, Parent of Dhruv & Kshitij Pawade, Students of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: "There are multiple aspects to your question, so I will address them one by one. You first asked if covid-19 will have an effect on our social life. Well I guess that depends on covid-19 and how long it will stay among us! If a medicine or vaccine is discovered or the virus becomes dormant on its own in the next few months, then things will come back to normal almost immediately. But if it lasts longer than that, then definitely social life will get affected and it won’t be like it is now. However, we will find newer and better ways, and with time we will completely adjust to it.

Then you ask if life will be the same as it was before and if people will be afraid to socialize. I want to ask you: do you think our life was better before this pandemic? We had made a complete mess of our lives as well as of the planet (read the 6th BlogTalk: This pandemic - A call from Nature? Or just a co-incidence?). And now we have got the time to contemplate and an opportunity to learn from all the mistakes we have made and create a much better life once we come out of the lockdown. So, I say there’s nothing to fear because things will be much better. But again, that depends on us.

What you said about the digital mediums replacing every aspect of our social life before the pandemic is true. For some years now, our hectic and demanding lifestyles gave us very little time. And so, digital media became an alternative. It even affected us on a cultural level. For example, even wedding invitations were being sent on WhatsApp! But of course, you must also be aware that we did misuse it a lot as well.

But don’t you think that perhaps all these technological inventions happened so that we can pull through during this situation? Can you imagine how difficult things would have been if there was no Mobile, WhatsApp, Video Conferencing, etc.?

Even though there might be physical distance between us and the people we love, we can still stay in touch using these means. Also, Mobile, 4G network, and the ability to use WhatsApp and other digital platforms have permeated every level of the society. Quite a few people in rural areas also have smart phones and access to good mobile and internet network. At this time, most of the migrant workers and those away from their family are able to speak to their family who are in villages or in other cities or countries, and they are able to entertain themselves by watching programs and movies online. Imagine how difficult life would have been if this technology had not existed! Thanks to modern videoconferencing technology, students can continue with their school and college education, and people can stay connected with their office colleagues and work from home. These are examples of putting technology to good use.

Even if the pandemic extends, then don’t worry. In fact, you should be happy that you can communicate without risking your life as well as the lives of others. We should consider this a very big blessing. If the crisis extends, then we will find different ways to do our work.

Next you say that fear is increasing as there is no medicine or cure for this disease. This is very obvious. Coronavirus can be fatal and so we are afraid for our lives. And that fear is very important and needed. It is this fear that will help us take care of ourselves and others, and follow the lockdown and social distancing norms.

Let me give you an example. One of my friends once asked me to suggest a good breed of dog to intimidate outsiders and strangers coming to his house. So, I told him that for his house any breed of dog would do, because people are not afraid of any particular breed. They are afraid of the 14 injections that they will have to take if they get bitten by the dog! (This incident happened when anti rabies vaccine required taking 14 injections around the stomach region!). Fear stops people from going near a dog, just like the fear of coronavirus will make us adhere to lockdown and social distancing norms.

But fear is okay only to that extent. Beyond that if the fear turns into panic, then it will affect your health. Fear should guide you to do the right thing and not cause problems for you.

Finally, you ask about employment. Employment and the fate of the economy are biggest cause of worry among people all over the world these days. So great is their stress that some are even willing to put their life at stake to keep their job or to boost the economy.

But what can happen? There are two possibilities: The pandemic might die down completely within a few months. In such a case, nothing will happen and we can get back to the way we were. Across the world, governments, industrialists, and other experts and innovators are constantly striving to bring life back in order. Work is happening to discover medicines and vaccines for Coronavirus as well as to minimize damage to the economy. And so, chances are that things will come back on track sooner than later.

But even if we think of the worst-case scenario, wherein we are not able to find a medicine or vaccine on time and the crisis continues for a longer duration, don’t worry. Sure, for some time things will be a bit difficult. But remember, you will not be the only one affected. Professions in every sector of the economy, and every person doing all kinds of jobs will be affected, because that’s how strongly we are linked to one another within the economy.

And therefore, there is a very good chance that other innovators and scientists will soon come up with brilliant, breakthrough technological inventions to resume work. Who knows, we might develop the technology to enable us to be present in another location without leaving our homes using technology like 3D hologram! Other advanced technologies that are being experimented and are under development, such as teleportation (which means the ability to travel instantaneously between two locations without crossing the intervening space) might also get introduced! 

You might laugh when I say this, but remember that everything that we have invented so far and everything we find common today was at one time a fantastic dream or science fiction. About 150 years ago if people were told that in future, we would be able to travel thousands of kilometres in one day and be back home by the end of the day, would they have believed it? And yet, inventions like the aeroplane, which were an object of fascination some time back, are now routine. Regular business travelers don’t even realize they have traveled half way around the world and back in a few hours!

So, don’t think that things will be bad if the pandemic lasts long. Our fear and worry are rooted in the fact that we get attached to the current way of doing things and we see everything based on where we are today. Also, most of us are unable to think that something better will come. We have so many brilliant scientists, and technology is so advanced and at such a peak that what will come will be a much better version of what we have now. And even that will soon become common and a way of life. The nature of employment will change and our manner of travelling and communicating will change, and the change will be for the better. I agree that all the great inventions and our improved life and lifestyle will come at the cost of the tragic loss left behind by the Coronavirus pandemic. But as sad as that is, it is a part of the change that is coming.

All I want to tell you, and everyone else, is to not be afraid. The world will not end. In fact, this is an opportunity to make the world even better. For now, we just need to take care of ourselves and our family and cooperate with the system as it tries to come out of this situation."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 9th Question: How to stay calm and mentally strong during the lockdown?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the corona virus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Kundan Bhosale

Q. How to stay calm and mentally strong during lockdown period or difficult time or any bad situation? Because we need to be patient in this situation. But we are losing our patience.
— Kundan Bhosale, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: “I am not sure what you mean when you talk about losing patience and an inability to stay calm. What will you do if you completely lose patience? Will you start dancing at home? Will you rush out and climb the trees in your society? Besides, what were you doing before the lockdown that was so critically important that the world will now suffer because you are at home!” (The Master laughs!)

“Also, all those of us who are from this state, who have a proper house with running water and electricity, and enough food to sustain us for some time, and who are staying with our family should not be losing patience or mental strength. If our situation was like those of the migrant workers, who are away from their family, have no proper place to stay, no money and no food; for whom the availability of the next meal is a question mark, and who are dependent on NGOs (who are doing a good job) for each meal, then what would you have done? Think about everything before you use such terms like losing patience.

These words should not even enter your mind, because they make you weak. Please understand that these are concepts that have been borrowed or have been implanted in us from the society. When we use any such borrowed or implanted words without understanding, then problems do not get resolved. Instead they get multiplied.

If people have not yet understood the gravity of the situation or the deadliness of the virus, then I am very surprised! Just seeing news of the extent of the tragedy in countries like Italy, Spain, France, the UK, and the US etc. should knock some sense into us. Look at the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading. Look at the number of people losing their lives every day. Just watching that should be enough for us to understand the reason for the lockdown and the reason why we are at home.

Nobody is sitting at home by choice. It is not a compulsion either. We are at home because it is our duty and our responsibility towards ourselves, our family, and our society. But if we think of it as some kind of compulsion, burden or a draconian measure, then things like losing patience, calm, and mental strength, etc. come in our minds.

Having said that even I can understand that it is very difficult for people today to stay at home indefinitely and not go out. I can understand that people are worried about many things. Thoughts of the plights of daily wage earners, fear of scarcity of essential items like food etc. in the future, worries about the economy, job, and many more things keep coming in our minds. It is obvious and understandable. But we must bundle all these things together and keep it aside for now. We have no choice but to do that.

The whole world is worried about this situation. Doctors are working day and night to treat the patients. Scientists are working tirelessly to find a medicine for treatment or a vaccine. Governments are thinking of ways to sustain the economy in the best possible manner. But until such medicine is identified, a vaccine is discovered, or the virus calms down on its own, we have no choice but to wait it out and sit at home.

It has just been about a month and a half since the lockdown, but people have been growing anxious and aggressive from the very first day! I said this in my previous blog talk as well. That if we give in to our fears (of economy, daily sustenance, etc.), and go out, not follow the rules of the lockdown and other guidelines given by the government, then we will be in for very disastrous consequences. On the other hand, if we sit at home and have these thoughts—like losing patience and mental strength, etc.—it will affect our health and our immune system, which is very important for resuming our routine life after lockdown.

They say time heals. So, give this some time and develop understanding.

Become action oriented. Then when any situation presents itself—I do not say good or bad situation, because every situation is an opportunity to learn and grow—you will look at ways to work around it and get the best out of it. To help you come on the right track, developing understanding is the only way.

I have said this time and again: This is a golden opportunity. You have actually been given an opportunity to do nothing! Isn’t it the best gift and the best state to be in? You get to be yourself; to rejuvenate and refresh yourself.

But because you are not used to doing nothing, you are losing your patience. So, the next best thing to do is to keep yourself busy. And like I said at the beginning of the lockdown in my article “Don’t let the “Lockdown” Lock You Down!", there are many, many things you can do.

Right from spending time with your family, and learning new skills like cooking, doing domestic chores, studying, reading, or watching movies (preferably comedy movies and cartoons like Tom and Jerry, etc.); to using the internet to gain knowledge about a lot of things that are relevant to your job or career; watching informative documentaries on TV; and practicing martial arts and yoga regularly, there are so many things that you can do. I had asked all my students to make a time table. If you had done that, even 24 hours would not have been enough. You wouldn’t have had the time to lose patience. In fact, you would have enjoyed!

Life’s journey is a constant series of ups and downs and you need to be able to navigate both. Without sadness we cannot appreciate happiness. Without disease we cannot understand the value of health.

Let me give you an example. If you come across a steep rise while driving a car, what will you do? You will judge the steepness and then change gears. You will probably come down to 3rd, 2nd or even 1st gear depending on how steep the climb is. Life is like that. When situations change, you have to change your life’s gear to move forward.

Don’t demand things from life. Become sensible. If you get happiness for 365 days in a year, you will get bored. Similarly, if you get sadness all the time you will be fed up. But life is not like that. There is a balance. Otherwise we would not have valued anything. We would never have saved, or planned anything. We would have squandered everything away because we know we will get it tomorrow.

Finally, I want to give you one more example to deepen your understanding. You must have seen people climbing mountains—either for a reason or because they are mountaineers. You will notice that they have very less baggage. In fact, mountaineers have specially designed equipment that is extremely lightweight. Even if you add an extra kilo to it, it will make climbing that much harder.

This situation is just like climbing a mountain. And you need to keep yourself light. Patience, calm, mental strength, and other things like fear of death, economy, boredom, frustration, etc. all add up to hundreds of kilos and you will get exhausted.

Throw these terms out of your mind. They are the rubbish that are holding you back. Your body and mind are the temple of your soul and it is a gift from God. And just like we leave our footwear outside temples to keep it clean and pure, leave these words and thoughts out too.

In such situations, people often ask me whether meditation techniques or mantras etc. can help them develop patience, become calm, gain mental strength, release stress, and get peace of mind. I tell them that meditation and mantras are for divine purpose and not for solving these problems. But still, if people will do meditation or mantra chanting, they will get some temporary feeling of relief. But as soon as they are out of that state, the thoughts will come back because the root cause of the above problems is still there within. And so, it is important to get to the root of the problem in order to completely uproot it.

And everything I have said in this BlogTalk has been to do just that. Everything I have told you is to make you understand and every example I have given you has been to help you to get to the root cause and permanently get rid of these thoughts. Then you will automatically find the strength and understanding to live life in all circumstances."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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