Mahaji (left) and Guruji (far right) preside over a wedding for two students.
Revered Self:
This week's teaching (see below) has been chosen because it coincides with the completion of another very successful Vedic Meditation Class by the School of Life's dear friend, Dr. Mahapatra Gyanendra, who partnered with Guruji in 2001 to create a weekly Meditation for World Peace, which has been held every Saturday at 6 p.m. since.
The more people who can be trained in meditation and learn the philosophy of non-violence, the greater are the chances for World Peace.
Guruji's warning below is stern, yet, as always, the purpose is to inspire us and give practical tools to make the desired change.
You may listen to him speak this teaching by clicking here
(Please note, for part 1, the sound is garbled until .29 seconds. )
Also, note that the transcript below has been slightly rearranged and edited for clarity.
Jai Gurudev!
Om Shanti,
Peace be with you
...as we know, the destruction of the human race is moving forward, even though there are many people trying to counteract it. But, as long there is no transformation in the way society thinks and acts, it is going to be very difficult to avoid what we have seen happen before, many times: that the majority of the human race has to be erased, because separation from the Law [see note 1] has reached such a point that the only course left is the downward path: more violence, more hatred, selfishness, egoism and so forth. And we know that that’s not the destiny for which this planet was created.
All planets are in a process of transformation, of evolution, and that process is inevitable because it is the Law. [see note 2] But if the human race does not abide by the Law, it has to be replaced. That has happened with Lemuria, it has happened with Atlantis, and others-- those are the two we still have some reference for because they were most recent, but there were others before that, that were similarly wiped out because of their lack of respect and adherence to the Law.
There are millions of people who die of starvation and malnutrition. How is it possible? What kind of mentality is there that allows us to get all these developments and ignore fellow human beings dying in the most desperate conditions? That is how alienated we have become from our humanity. Materialism has taken over, and deluded all these minds.
How is it possible that we are still killing millions of people through violence? How is it possible that we torture people to death and accept that as something that ‘needs to be done’? Such a degree of insensitivity is really something that is difficult to fathom. And yet, it keeps happening. Our country, like many other countries, are perpetrators, and have a tremendous responsibility, and yet, do not face the challenge but on the contrary, work against it.... [see note 3]
We are blessed with the fact that there are spiritual forces operating and trying to awaken people to the fact that if there is no turn-around in the way they think and act, the outcome is inevitable. Therefore, it is our job to continue alerting people, and letting them know that it’s necessary to change their ways of living.
There’s more and more awareness of this fact, but still not enough action.
And by action I do not mean going and screaming in the streets and asking [the government] for change; by action I mean the individual's change in attitude, the individual realization that there has to be a substantial change. One example is vegetarianism; it has been said that if the population reduces 10%--only 10%! --of the amount of meat they eat, that will help to reduce the toxic condition of our atmosphere more than even car and train exhaust and so forth.
So, it is that kind of action-- personal transformation, in simple things—that is all that is required.
Yet, people are too caught up in their daily life activities, that are more “important”, like making money to have more and more things. We have said several times that the true God has been replaced by the new “god”, money. Most people do not trust God anymore. They trust more in their money. And they’ll do anything to get it.
Drug addiction, alcohol addiction, gambling, all those have become a way of life for millions of people. And that is difficult to change.
But even then, if the rest of the population would take action in correcting their own ways, things could be turned around.
Therefore, we should continue praying for world peace, because peace is the root of all this transformation. We should continue week after week, with more and more clarity of mind on the purpose of our prayers. We have been doing this [weekly meditation for world peace] since 2001, and we shall continue-- non-stop. Each person should do as much as they can.
And as we say, we “preach through example” and we “worship through service”. That’s what we need to do.
Note 1: “The Law” is synonymous with God in the Essene teachings, which Vyasa is referring to. The Essenes teach that there are natural, spiritual and cosmic laws; if individuals and collectivities live in harmony with them, life, peace, harmony, and all good things flourish; the opposite is also true. Vyasa taught that the main law is that of Love, because “the essence of God is Love.”
Note 2: Guruji's point here is that while each planet’s evolution is assured, because planets are ensouled by a Cosmic Being, that is not the case with the mass of humankind; although, he also teaches that eventually "every individual without exception will attain perfection” i.e. liberation from the wheel of birth and death. However, this personal process can be hindered for vast lengths of time, pertly through collective karma.
Note 3: By way of example, esoteric science teaches that the slaughter of millions of innocent animals daily for human consumption creates a severe collective karmic load, especially when cultures such as India prove that excellent health is possible with a meatless diet.
This is one reason why vegetarianism is an important component of the School of Life's practice.
Vyasa advocated a lacto-ovo whole foods vegetarian diet.