From the Editorial desk :

Dharma (virtuous living) is the Key to Success

How many of us have recourse to books, family members, friends, colleagues and experts in search
of the key to success? Do we listen to the inner voice (the inner feeling from the heart), the wake-
up call to duty?

A virtuous living is never irrational, though often it seems so to human intelligence. Dharma is
equated to ‘do not do unto others what we would not like others to do to us.’ An active listening of
the guidance of that voice within the self would first and foremost set our mind in action.

The actions of a normal reasonable person are, under no circumstances, impulsive. We would act
only when we have the feeling that before and after undertaking any action, we have has no ill-
feeling and, more importantly the aftermath leaves no bitterness amongst others in society. Such
position does not imply that one should bend before illogical demands and / or undue pressure.

The principles of the Arya Samaj requires that every individual should (i) be ever ready to accept
truth and to renounce untruth; (ii) perform all acts in accordance with Dharma (virtuous living) that
is, after deliberating what is right and wrong; (iii) do good to the world, that is, by promoting the
physical, spiritual and social uplift of everyone; (iv) be guided by love, righteousness and justice;
(v) dispel ignorance and promote knowledge; (vi) not be content with promoting his/her good only,
but should look for his/her good in promoting the good of all; (vii) regard oneself under restriction
to follow the rules of society calculated to promote the well being of all, while in following the
rules of individual welfare all should be free.

The law of Karma functions automatically and we are all bound to reap what we sown, yet to man
there seems no reason for disease, for a child to be born with physical deficiencies, for someone
who is capable and intelligent to fail financially, for someone else who seems not to have done
anything to achieve outstanding success to earn it.

The next question would be “Why be grateful without reason?” The answer is simply “We all
possess consciousness which acknowledges our gratitude and responds; and while expressing
gratitude we self-ennoble ourselves – Guna (moral fibre), Karma (actions) and Swabhava
(fundamental qualities.)”

Gratitude is merely an aspect of the pure joy of our existence. Success in life depends on how
faithfully we follow Dharma while performing Karma. Our karma should make us role models
which others would be thrilled to replicate and leading all life in the way of upward evolution.

There is no preferential treatment in the functioning of the law of karma. Whatever happens in life,
and even in lifeless-seeming matter, is a response to energy projected. Karma is the working of
what is commonly known as Newton’s law: for every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction!

Citizenship education (human values) for the physical, moral / mental / spiritual and social
development should always be given freely. However there is a strong misconception of the law of
Karma: we have no right to receive anything without offering anything in return! What should be
free is the willingness to help others, without the desire for the fruits of one’s action. As receiver
we should be grateful, we should express appreciation.

What are we doing in ‘practical’ ways to make our life successful? Faith is not superficial, it is
practical, and as a matter of fact religion is, by itself, practical. Material success follows the course
of concordance among Guna (moral fibre), Karma (actions) and Swabhava (fundamental qualities)
and between words and deeds. It requires the application of spiritual principles to whatever we do.

Unless something of true value happens within a person, nothing of tremendous value can be done
in the external world. Whatever you do, it is only your quality that you are going to spread. Whether
you like it or not, this is the reality. Who you are is what you are going to spread everywhere. If you
are concerned about the world, the first thing is that you must be willing to transform yourself.

Virtuous living is a process which involves an ongoing personal commitment “to change myself –
āhār (food habits), vichār (thoughts) and vyavahār (conduct.)” It is my commitment to change
and not about wanting to change the world!

A change can really happen in this world when each individual will transform himself by adopting
virtuous living. The statement “I want everybody else to change” always results in conflicts. Only
self-transformation will lead to true well-being for the individual, his family, the society and the
global village of Vasudaiva Kutunbakam. This is a true revolution.

Arya Updeshak Pt. Bramdeo Makoonlall

Project Manager, Arya Sabha Mauritius
Tel : 2122730 (office) ; 7950220 (cell)