Truth Does Not Change With Time

How are human qualities to be promoted in society? Society is made up of individuals. No man can be an island to himself. Living amidst fellow human beings, man has to sow the seeds of love, rear the plants of harmony and offer the fruits of peace to society. Thereby his humanness is manifested. In the Ashtaanga Yoga {the Eightfold Yoga), this figures as the first among the different disciplines: Yama (outer sense control), Niyama (inner sense control), Asana (seating posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara(sense withdrawal or detachment), Dhaarana (concetration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (inner communion).

Yama calls for the observance of the following practices: Ahimsa (non-violence), Sathyam (truth), Astheyam (non-stealing), Brahmacharyam (celibacy) and Aparigraha (nonacquisitiveness). These are the five human values-to be cultivated in the language of Vedanta. Ahimsa does not mean, as is commonly understood, not causing harm to others. It really means that one should not cause harm to anyone in thought, word or deed. This is the most important human quality. Only when this has been developed, will one be qualified to practise and experience Truth.

Truth does not mean merely telling the facts as one sees or knows them. Truth is that which does not change with time. It must be spoken with complete purity of mind, speech and body. Astheyam means refraining from stealing what belongs to others. Even the thought of taking another's property should not arise in the mind. Nor should one tell others to commit theft. This is the third human value. The fourth is Brahmacharya. Observance of Brahmacharya means that whatever one thinks, says or does should be filled with thoughts of Brahman, Supreme Divinity.

To be ever immersed in the consciousness of Brahman is Brahmacharya. All thoughts, words and deeds should be dedicated to the Divine. When the thoughts, which are prelude to action, are centered on God, they are unlikely to go astray.

Aham (the Ego) arises from the Atma. Thoughts are produced by the ego and give rise to speech. Hence all actions are based on the Atma. When all these are sanctified by dedication to God, the consciousness of oneness with Brahman---Aham Brahmaasmi (I am Brahman) ensues. That Brahman is Prajna (constant integrated awareness).