How to Manage Oneself
It is interesting and useful
to know about the functioning of our body. It is also equally interesting to
know that our heart is said to be the seat of ‘Jivatma’ or the individual self
which is the basis of every life. The Physical Science reveals that the
purifying process of our blood and pumping of the pure blood to every part of
our body which is absolutely needed for its survival is taking place every
moment without any interruption. We breathe in air and the oxygen which is
needed to purify the blood is used and the impure air or carbon dioxide is
thrown out. This process goes on even while we are sleeping; it happens by the
grace of Mother Nature.
At the same time, it is also
our spiritual understanding that the power which is making this process working
within is a spark of spirituality, which is called Soul or Atma or self. There
is no death for this spark and it cannot be destroyed by any means. It
exercised Its own free will to come in a body and leave the same. When It comes
in a body, we call it birth and when It leaves the body we call death. When It
continues to remain in a body It helps the growth of it. When It leaves the
abode it causes the body to degenerate. Therefore the Soul or Atma or Self is
the real sustainer of this physical body. After It leaves the body It goes back
to its source. This body which is made of five elements, namely Earth, Water,
Fire, Air and Space goes back to its source, i.e., the subtle elements known as
‘Tanmatras’, under Natural Law.
In order to make progress in
spiritual life, one of the techniques used by spiritual aspirants is
‘Pranayama’ or breath control. In this process, breathing is regulated to
purify the heart. In order to empty impurities from the heart, desires for
sensual pleasures, all impurities such as lust, greed, anger, fear are thrown
out along with the outgoing breath. Truth, Non-injury, continence, absence of a
tendency to grab others’ wealth, contentment etc., are taken in along with
inward breath which helps a practitioner to maintain smooth functioning of his
heart.
Then, the spiritual aspirant expands
his spiritual thought which originates from the heart, the seat of self, in
absolute purity by doing certain purificatory process such as repeating the
name of his favourite deity and concentrating and meditating on It. This helps
an individual to integrate his thoughts, words and actions to enable him to
make further progress till he attains the goal of realising spirituality.
There are two important things
in this life. One thing is this body. The other one is the soul or Atma or
Self, which is the Deathless source of life in every body. Now every individual
who has a physical form on which his or her entire personality depends, should
keep this form in a healthy condition so long as the self remains within the
individual form, so that it can be used for further progress in spiritual life.
Therefore, one should know the art of managing the above-mentioned two aspects
in life so that individual life becomes healthy and happy.
Why is this management of
oneself needed? Nowadays, professionals who are well-versed in their own
subject are seeking an additional qualification in management. A scientist
feels that he should possess the knowledge of managing his own work or a
Medical Doctor, who wants to know how to manage a hospital, or an engineer who
wants to manage an Industrial establishment or an Administrator who wants to
manage an Office. Therefore Management studies are made popular in all the
universities to raise all-round efficiency in many professions, carried out in
a fiercely competitive world.
It is proved beyond doubt that
better management either of government of any country or a business
establishment or an Industrial establishment or a spiritual establishment or an
individual’s own house brings on better efficiency which ultimately brings in
the progress of a country and the well-being of living beings at large. When we
consider the problems and techniques of management, it is always done by human
beings and it is man that remains as the backbone of this process. Therefore
the management of human beings is not only important, but also a necessity for
a better life.
In order to manage an
industrial, business or any other establishment, the activities reorganised
under various heads like Personnel, Works, Sales, Accounts etc. But these
activities are managed by Man, Money, Material, Marketing and Management. This
ensures efficiency, discipline and progress in any business concern. Where it
is not properly managed, the progress is always retarded. In Spiritual
Establishments also, the activities are regulated under Service, Devotion,
Self-discipline, Dedication, Publishing and Study of Scriptures and Practice of
Yoga Exercises and Meditation. In all such activities, their management is
placed under the charge of well-qualified persons. This leads to better
production or Service by any establishment to ensure economic as well as total
Well-being of man and to know how to manage oneself and to make men happy.
Swami Sivananda, the Founder-President of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh,
taught a unique and modern method of management under SERVE, LOVE, GIVE,
PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALISE, ‘BE GOOD, DO GOOD,’ in order to attain the
betterment of the entire living beings and realization of God Almighty by human
beings. The Rig Veda Says: “Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti” (The One truth is
named by the wise in many ways). He is that which is in everybody and in
everything in this Universe: this one God manages everybody and everything
individually. He manages the microcosm and macrocosm through the Universal
Divine Mother Nature and provides us with water, air, fire and space and
everything useful for the survival of living beings, in this Universe.
The first one word ‘SERVE’
contains the entire philosophy of action which is known as ‘Karma Yoga’ as
mentioned in various Scriptures, the essence of which is ‘Yogah karmasu
kausalam’—B.G. 2:50) or ‘Skill in action is Yoga’; and
‘Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana’—B.G. 2:47) or ‘You are only to
perform your duty well without thinking of the fruits thereof’. All the good
work done by many noble people, saints and sages in this world have been done
only in this spirit. The Great Saint Vasishtha asked Sri Rama to do his duties
well in a spirit of ‘Purushartha’ or personal effort. Nobody can prosper in
this world without properly serving oneself or others. When a man recognises
that, That which is in him is also in everybody else in this world, it becomes
easy for him to really understand the spirit of ‘SERVE’.
The next word is ‘LOVE’.
Everybody in this world owes allegiance to Love as we come into existence on
account of the Love of God. Love thy neighbour as thyself is a quotation from
the Bible. Because God loves us, He has provided everything essential for our
survival in this world. This is done in a spirit of Love only and therefore we
are to love God, as well as His Creations. Solid, Liquid, Light, Air and Space
which are needed for keeping our life to continue are always there in this
universe to meet our requirements. There is no lust in pure Love which we get
from God, our Creator; we are to learn to love everybody alike. When we
cultivate ‘SERVE’ and ‘LOVE’ in its true spirit, we become part and parcel of a
society where do good and be good alone govern the social quality cultivated by
each member of such a society. In this manner the entire humanity can become
happy.
‘GIVE’ means sharing what one
has with others who are in need of it. It should be done within one’s means,
without expecting anything in return. When charity is done in this spirit,
purification of mind comes to oneself easily. A pure mind alone can do
meditation on God who is actually keeping us alive, living within one’s heart
as the Self. We are bound to realise God in and through meditation in daily
life which is made pure by serving and loving others, thus observing ‘Be good
and do good’. Therefore what Swami Sivananda asked everyone of us through his
spiritual instructions, conveyed in a few words, namely, SERVE, LOVE, GIVE,
PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALISE, BE GOOD and DO GOOD is Yoga in itself. Swami
Sivananda’s aim was to make the entire humanity healthy, happy and prosperous
in life in and through cultivation of spiritual values of life to realise God
in this very life.
Excerpts from:
How to Manage
Oneself by Sri A.K.Krishna Nambiar
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