Vedic Heritage

It is that time of the year again. According to the English calendar, we have just started a new year, a new century. What can we do to improve our lives and that of everyone around us? What 'new year' or 'new century' resolutions should we be making? The most common New Year resolutions are: lose weight, stop smoking, stick to a budget, save more money, find a better job, become more organised, exercise more, be more patient, eat better and become a better person. What are your New Year resolutions? Have you succeeded in following your resolutions? Have you generally failed and stopped making resolutions?

The most important rule to ensure that we succeed in following our resolutions is that you make a 'sankalp' in a temple in front of your Guru, with His/Her blessings, and where applicable with the right mantras. We do not have to make this only before the dawn of the New Year according to the western calendar. We can do it before the start of the Indian New Year, or during the holy month of Sraavan or some other important festival or date (e.g. Guru's or father's birthday.) In our Ashram in New York, Her Holiness GuruMaa Jyotishanand Saraswati has started a rich tradition of these sankalps before the start of the 21-day Akhand Ram Charitra Manas Path, which coincides, with the holy month of Sraavan. She also said during one of Her birthday parties: ' the best gift you can give me is to get rid of a 'vikaar' or a bad habit/trait in your life.

The other principles you must remember in making 'sankalp' or resolutions are: set goals which are realistic, set achievable target dates, set goals which are specific and measurable, have fun in implementing your goals, and celebrate once you achieve them! Finally, document your goals in writing or on a well-placed poster in your room, and share them with your family-members, friends and colleagues.

In thinking about the resolutions as we are approaching the new century, I have thought about the following 'top three' which will help us improve our
motherland, our adopted country, our family, our selves and our Ashram/Mandir:

For our motherland/home country:
1. Weed out corruption
2. Clean the environment
3. Ban sonography which encourages female abortions

For our adopted country:
1. Perform community service
2. Drive safely
3. Increased environment consciousness

For our family:
1. Fulfil your duty as a father, mother, son, etc, as prescribed by our scriptures
2. Create or enhance a spiritual environment in the home
3. Lead a balanced life (e.g. Between work and home)

For our selves:
1. Lessen, and eventually stop 'expectations' from everyone around you
2. Devote to increased spiritual activities
3. Lessen, and eventually remove at least one 'vikaar' or bad habit (such as smoking, eating non-vegetarian food, anger, lust, etc)

For our Ashram or Mandir:
1. Perform selfless service (physical and/or financial) for the Mandir or Ashram
2. Be at the Mandir on all Tuesdays/Saturdays and major programs without exception
3. Introduce the Ashram or temple activities to at least one other new family every month.

Of course, we must convert this generic resolutions into very specific goals as mentioned earlier, and take a sankalp at the temple in front of our Guru
and seek His/Her blessings!! I am convinced that we will have a much better future! On behalf of Vedic Heritage, I wish you a most Happy New Year and Century!

Jai Sri Hanuman!