Of Sanaskars

H N Tiku

 

Nowadays, a man is considered educated if he has qualified some prescribed examination or can talk eloquently, irrespective of his personal qualities i.e. value, character and conduct. The education which does not equip people to face the challenges of life; does not bring out the strength of character; does not promote a spirit of philanthropy and the courage of a lion:- Is it worth the name? Real education is that, which makes man a good human being.

 

For the wholesome development of a person, one needs to possess both – the knowledge of modern sciences and human values. It is the call of the day to integrate the modern science with human values. The education important then days in schools and colleges prepare us only for a wild goose chase, where we keep working endlessly like machines. The study of modern science and technology alone is not complete knowledge and incomplete knowledge is always dangerous. A person with incomplete knowledge may turn into a well-educated crook, a selfish and corrupt individual, who may be ultimately harmful to himself and society.

 

It is easy to teach science and technology but it is very difficult to teach human values. Whatever is taught generally gets stored in one’s brain, is no solution of the problem. Human values have to be imbibed in the subconscious’ of a person in such a way that these reflect in his conduct; become his guiding force and adherence to human value, becomes a part of his nature. To make it possible human values are to be imbibed by him during his formative years, for which ‘Sanskar’ has been the only scientific and time tested method since ancient ages.

 

‘Sanskar’ is the only scientific and time tested Solution

 

If the human values through the process of ‘Sanskar’ are inculcated in the subconscious (avachetan) of a person during his formative years, adherence to these values becomes his permanent habit and his nature. The actions of a person, to an extent, are governed by the feelings/emotions surging in his/her subconscious. These values ‘imbibed in his subconscious’ guide his thoughts and actions throughout his life. ‘Sanskar’ is the only way of ‘imbibing human value in the subconscious’. No other method can yield the desired result.

 

Need of the Time

 

Therefore inculcating human values in the subconscious of a child through the process of ‘Sanskar’ is a prime necessity, irrespective of his religion, faith, caste, creed and culture. We all reap what we slow. If human values are planted/sowed in the children of today, they will grow up into upright person who will form a value based society. They will, also, be effective instruments of reforming the society at macro level. Thus sowing/planting human values through the process of ‘Sanskar’ in a person during his childhood is the need of the time so that the next generation is not devoid of human values.

 

It is the moral duty of all of us to make children grow up to their optimum potential by enriching them emotionally, spiritually, intellectually and socially. This in turn will enrich and empower the society as such. It can not be possible without institutional mechanism. It becomes an actuality when efforts are put in thoughtfully, consistently and creatively to actualize it.

 

The Sanskar

 

‘Sanskar’ is different from culture. ‘Culture’ has been derived from word ‘cult’. Cult means the way of living, such as eating habit, attire, religious faith, customs, music, dance, art of a particular group of people/society. The word ‘Sanskar’ has a wider meaning and it is very difficult to define it in a few words. The word ‘Sanskar’ has its origin in the Sanskrit language. There is no word in other languages comparable to ‘Sanskar’. The surface meaning of the word ‘Sanskar’ is to purify, to refine, to supplement, to brighten, to adorn the inner conscious. However its meaning in wider sense is as deep as the depth of the ocean and as vast as the spread of the sky.

 

‘Sanskar’ is a process, which transforms a person into an ideal and outstanding personality by eradicating/diminishing the negative tendencies existing in him and by inculcating human values and qualities to make him more dynamic, valuable and responsible towards himself as well as the society.

 

‘Sanskar’ is like plantation of a seed of human values into the subconscious of a person during his childhood so that these values become part of his nature and keep on guiding him throughout his life. A person acts according to the ideals which exist in his subconscious without being aware of them. Thus his decisions, his reactions to actions of others and the quality of his actions depend upon the value existing in his subconscious.

 

The Process

 

Basically the process of ‘Sanskar’ has three components, namely:

 

* Purification (Dosapanayan)

 

* Making up Defficiency (Heenangpoorti)

 

* Value Enrichment (Gunaadhaan)

 

Examples:

 

a. We all know about diamonds, which reach us after undergoing many processes. A raw diamond stone when extracted from mines looks like an ordinary stone. In the first place dust and other foreign materials are removed by cleaning. Then the process of refinement, cutting, polishing etc. is carried out to transform it into finished diamond. Then only that diamond is made into an ornament so that it becomes more beautiful, useful and valueable. The process of transforming the raw diamond stone into a finished diamond is the ‘Sanskar’. The act of cleaning, removing dust and other foreign material is purification, the act of refinement, cutting, finishing, polishing is ‘supplementation or making up the deficiency’ and the act of making it into an ornament is ‘value enrichment.’

 

b. Similarly while making bread/chapaties, the raw wheat has to undergo many processes such as separation of wheat grain from straws and cleaning it, then grinding it into flour. Thereafter the water is mixed into it to make the dough the further with the help of fire, bread/chapaties are made. The act of separation of wheat from grain straws/dust and cleaning is purification, Grinding it to make flour is ‘value enrichment’ and then mixing appropriate amount of water/salt etc. for making dough can be compared with ‘making up deficiency, and making chapatti from the dough with the help of fire is again ‘value enrichment’. This process can be termed as the ‘Sanskar’ of wheat straw.

 

In the same way every man at the time of birth is like a raw diamond. With the help of the process of ‘Sanskar’ the negative thoughts/tendencies existing in him are eradicated/wiped out and human values are inculcated. Further, by adding more qualities he is transformed into an ideal and excellent personality, who is more valuable, useful and performs his duties diligently towards himself, the family, the society and the universe. The act of eradicating/wiping out of the negative thoughts/tendencies, which may be hereditary and/or may have been acquired from the surrounds is ‘purification’, the act of inculcating human values in his subconscious which he lacks is making up deficiency’ and further the act of instilling/adding more qualities and transforming him into an excellent and exemplary person is ‘value enrichment’.

 

Thus process of “Sanskar” is:

 

* To purify a person physically, mentally and spiritually and to eradicate/weed out the negative mental thoughts and tendencies which may exist in a person at time of his birth and/or which he may have acquired from his family and surrounding environment.

 

* To make up the deficiency of human values which he lacks.

 

* To inculcate qualities and transform him in to an ideal, compassionate, responsible, dutiful and outstanding person who follows his duties diligently towards himself, his family, the society and the universe.

 

‘Sanskar’ is the only scientific and time tested solution.

 

If the human values through the process of ‘Sanskar’ are inculcated in the subconscious (Avachetan) of a person during his formative years, adherence to these values becomes his permanent habit and his nature. The actions of a person, to an extent, are governed by the feelings/emotions surging in his/her subconscious. These values ‘imbibed in his subconscious’ guide his thoughts and actions throughout his life. ‘Sanskar’ is the only way of ‘imbibing human value in the subconscious’. No other method can yield the desired result.

 

You are the pure one; awake and arise

 

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