Pujya Gurudev used his ashram Shantikunj as a means of inspiring personality development in his volunteers, which he believed would make the mission’s activities more dynamic and effective. For this purpose, he issued these directions.
Pragya Parijans must shoulder the dual responsibility for themselves as well as society. They must give special attention to making their personalities more impressive and organized, which will require continuous effort in order to enhance certain skills. Every parijan must understand and practice the following points.
Aspiration and thinking
Life is the most precious of God’s gifts. Aim to use every minute of it in nurturing this garden which is the world. This will benefit both the individual and society.
Abandon worldly ambitions and aim instead to achieve true greatness. Make every effort to break free of lust, greed, and attachment. Intentions must be noble, and efforts to achieve goals honest. Enjoy the present. Do not look back. Pay close attention to the present; keep the future in mind.
Think like a scholar (a gyan yogi), make efforts wholeheartedly and full of energy like an achiever (a karm yogi), and be kind like a devotee (a bhakti yogi). Focus on eliminating destructive influences.
Treat the morning as the beginning of a new life, and night as the end of life. When planning for the day, plan as though there will be no tomorrow and make a promise to use every opportunity wisely. Make a commitment to participate wholeheartedly in mission activities. It is essential to perform the Sun meditation every morning, and at least three mala of the Gayatri Mantra jap every day, without missing any.
Diligence
Time is life. Keep this in mind, and spend every minute of it in meaningful and constructive activities. Laziness and negligence
should be treated as one’s worst enemies and should be cautiously avoided. Take responsibility for all habits, whether good or bad. Be introspective, examine your efforts to make sure they are not laidback or indifferent. Proper planning, hard work, and sincere effort are the only ways to succeed in any endeavour.
No task should be considered inferior. It should be a matter of pride to complete it in time, applying all available resources and skills, whatever the assignment may be. When there is spare time do not wait for others to assign a task. There is plenty of work waiting to be completed, it could be as simple as restoring order in own or nearby surroundings or something that seems quite trivial. The only measure of progress is the amount of initiative and enthusiasm applied to a task.
Orderly living
Become a lover of beauty. Cleanliness, simplicity, and good thoughts make something beautiful. Be attentive to the surroundings and maintain cleanliness and order in every aspect of life, in body and clothing and in the living and work areas.
In addition to keeping personal workspaces clean, encourage and help colleagues to do the same. The importance of cleanliness should be explained in a friendly way: do not sound critical or sarcastic, as this might create bitterness. Keeping that in mind, attempt to get everyone involved in creating organized surroundings.
The maxim of “early to bed and early to rise” should be followed, and journal-writing should be a part of the daily routine. This must be done in order to keep an account of every day’s activities, in order to identify areas in need of improvement and attempt to rectify them. Daily routine must be carefully and regularly analysed, and constant efforts should be made to improve it.
Remember that the one who has an organized mind plans carefully, considers every aspect, brings about change, and helps gather resources and support. Only such a mind can help earn status, respect, and success in society.
Courtesy
Courtesy is respect for others that is expressed by humility in speech and behaviour. This virtue must be integrated into one’s nature. Restraint in speech and behaviour must be practiced. If it is not, there will be a degradation of positive qualities and painful situations will result. There must be a thorough introspection, and if one is afflicted with this problem, it must be identified and annihilated with a strong resolve. If such a neglect occurs out of habit, every attempt should be made to rectify it immediately.
The courtesies of meeting and parting should always be remembered. Keep a cheerful, smiling face, and do not show tiredness or disappointment. Become an active listener and a restrained speaker. Do not boast of personal accomplishments, and use “we” rather than “I”. Do not engage in flattery; and be careful to never sound excited, frustrated, or harsh. Always speak politely and use civil language. There are ways to express disappointment without creating an embarrassing situation. Do not jump to conclusions, but try to analyse the facts of both sides before making any decision.
A moral code of conduct must be kept in mind while performing civic duties. Avoid conversation that criticizes, taunts, or slanders anyone. When an opinion is needed, offer suggestions in a cordial tone, without passing judgment, and by highlighting both the pros and cons of the argument.
Self-restraint
The value of hard work, thoughts, money, and talent must be understood, and efforts should be made to use them in a constructive manner. Do not waste even a single bit of this precious wealth, as extravagance will only ruin the possibility of a bright future.
Control the senses; do not become tempted by delicious food or amorous thoughts. Make a daily schedule and follow it religiously. Avoid laziness but not hard work, and develop the habit of self-study so that the mind is engaged in finding ways for self-refinement. An evil thought can easily be countered by a good thought, so be generous with positive thoughts. Be prudent in spending, save a little, and do not get into the habit of borrowing. Utilize talents and reputation in society to reduce bad feelings and encourage positive thinking among others. Follow the principle of “simple living and high thinking” and avoid extravagance and luxuries, as they tend to become the reason for not only one’s own, but the followers’ downfall as well.
Identify any thought of ill-will and eliminate it with strong resolve. Practicing discipline, enduring, and adapting to unfavourable conditions is called tapa, or penance. This self-discipline is what makes a man powerful in the true sense.
Generous affection
A reserved manner is appropriate for the practice of self-refinement, but one should not attempt to become isolated. Mingle with others, work as a team, and make sure that everyone gets his reward. Consider the self to be a unit of society, and acknowledge that its growth is tied to that of society. Do not be self-centred. Maintain a family-oriented perspective in all thoughts and actions.
Realize the power of the collective and encourage united rather than individual effort. Mutual cooperation is very important, but it must be directed towards a noble cause. Avoid organizations which are involved in bad practices.
Expand the horizons of love and affection and do not merely save them for a select group of people. Use talents and abilities to instil positive thoughts in society; loving the entire society, culture, and country. Extend the boundaries of love to consider everyone part of one’s family and oneself as part of their family. The feeling of affection, in practical life, is enhanced by engaging in selfless service. Be generous with it and receive the reward of contentment, social respect, and divine blessings.
Courage and fearlessness
Adopt foresight and discernment, and make decisions in life based on these. Accept from traditional thinking only that which makes sense. Aim for social betterment, but do not be confined to social norms. Public sentiment may be undesirable; it need not be followed. Use rational judgment in every circumstance and be brave enough to face people who may not agree. Believe in the principle of “one eye to shower love and the other to bring discipline.” Support the truth and disagree with what is inappropriate, and be ready to oppose it if needed. Even friends must not receive cooperation if they are engaged in some sort of wrongdoing.
There are many evil traditions and immoral thoughts rampant in today’s society. Each must be treated with its own remedy. If this requires moral, social, and intellectual revolution, then be ready for it, and leave nothing undone to achieve it. Behave as an ascetic for self-refinement, a thinker for betterment, and a leader for bringing about positive change in society. Do not remain a silent observer in a time of injustice. Enrich the quality of courage, and become truly fearless in uprooting immorality and fostering excellence.
Some ground rules for public interaction
Pragya Parijans willing to step into the field of social service are advised to follow certain rules. The qualities of a loksevi are always valued more than his work. His character outweighs the actual effort to popularize the Pragya Mission and attract more people. Character is the first requirement for becoming a volunteer of the Pragya Mission.
Here are a few of the rules:
• Give up desire for delicious food. Never express preference for a particular dish.
• Do not speak with a member of the opposite sex in private. If there is anything to be said, express it with humility.
• Be transparent in financial dealings. Issue receipts for amounts received and record all expenditures.
• Pay special attention when interacting with others, and endeavour to be polite and respectful.
• Keep attire simple. Follow a simple, non-provocative dress code.
Source: Guidelines for the Aspiring Loksevi
