Changes

=== अहिंसा || Ahimsa ===

=== अहिंसा || Ahimsa ===

Ahimsa refers to Non-injury<ref name=":2" /> or Non-violence.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> It prohibits people from indulging in violence against other living beings.<ref name=":5" /> However, the violence or injury referred to here doesn't apply only to physical injuries. It is said that ahimsa should be practised not just in action but in speech and thought as well. The Kurma Purana says,<blockquote>कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा । अक्लेशजननं प्रोक्ता त्वहिंसा परमर्षिभिः ।। ११.१४<ref>Kurma Purana, Uttara Bhaga, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 11]</ref> karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā । akleśajananaṁ proktā tvahiṁsā paramarṣibhiḥ ।। 11.14</blockquote>Because, any physical action that causes harm or imposes pain on any living being be it a human, animal, insect, plant or any other living organism, is considered himsa or violence in action (karma). Similarly, words that cause mental agony to others or words that are intended to act as curses that create imbalance in the surroundings refer to violence in speech. And any thought about harming others either physically or mentally is considered violence in thought. Therefore, the practice of ahimsa includes non-injury to other living beings through action, speech as well as thought.<ref name=":7" />

Ahimsa refers to Non-injury<ref name=":2" /> or Non-violence.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> It prohibits people from indulging in violence against other living beings.<ref name=":5" /> However, the violence or injury referred to here doesn't apply only to physical injuries. It is said that ahimsa should be practised not just in action but in speech and thought as well. The Kurma Purana says,<blockquote>कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वभूतेषु सर्वदा । अक्लेशजननं प्रोक्ता त्वहिंसा परमर्षिभिः ।। ११.१४<ref name=":9">Kurma Purana, Uttara Bhaga, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 11]</ref> karmaṇā manasā vācā sarvabhūteṣu sarvadā । akleśajananaṁ proktā tvahiṁsā paramarṣibhiḥ ।। 11.14</blockquote>Because, any physical action that causes harm or imposes pain on any living being be it a human, animal, insect, plant or any other living organism, is considered himsa or violence in action (karma). Similarly, words that cause mental agony to others or words that are intended to act as curses that create imbalance in the surroundings refer to violence in speech. And any thought about harming others either physically or mentally is considered violence in thought. Therefore, the practice of ahimsa includes non-injury to other living beings through action, speech as well as thought.<ref name=":7" />

=== सत्यम् || Satya ===

=== सत्यम् || Satya ===

Kshama refers to ‘forgiveness’. The Shandilya Upanishad describes kshama as ‘forbearance of everything, the pleasant and the unpleasant, praise and insult’.<blockquote>क्षमा नाम प्रियाप्रियेषु सर्वेषु ताडनपूजनेषु सहनम् ।<ref name=":8" /> kṣamā nāma priyāpriyeṣu sarveṣu tāḍanapūjaneṣu sahanam ।</blockquote>Because, a person whose mind is unsteady and is affected by praise or criticism, will bear grudge when not praised or when criticised. This holding of grudge gives rise to frustration and anger which in turn deludes the intellect that prevents the person from forgiving those who appear to cause real or imagined harm.<ref name=":7" />

Kshama refers to ‘forgiveness’. The Shandilya Upanishad describes kshama as ‘forbearance of everything, the pleasant and the unpleasant, praise and insult’.<blockquote>क्षमा नाम प्रियाप्रियेषु सर्वेषु ताडनपूजनेषु सहनम् ।<ref name=":8" /> kṣamā nāma priyāpriyeṣu sarveṣu tāḍanapūjaneṣu sahanam ।</blockquote>Because, a person whose mind is unsteady and is affected by praise or criticism, will bear grudge when not praised or when criticised. This holding of grudge gives rise to frustration and anger which in turn deludes the intellect that prevents the person from forgiving those who appear to cause real or imagined harm.<ref name=":7" />

=== स्वाध्यायः ॥ ===

=== स्वाध्यायः ॥ Svadhyaya ===

Svadhyaya: It refers to the study of various scriptures and contemplating upon them. ‘The study of Vedanta, the chanting of Rudraprashna a hundred times, and the repetition of Om and other mantras, and that which makes one attain sattva, is called svadhyaya by the wise.’26 Those who are not competent to study Vedanta can read the Puranas and the epics like the Mahabharata.<ref name=":7" />

Svadhyaya refers to the study of various scriptures and contemplating upon them. The Kurma Purana says, <blockquote>वेदान्तशतरुद्रीयप्रणवादिजपं बुधाः । सत्त्वसिद्धिकरं पुंसां स्वाध्यायं परिचक्षते ।। ११.२२<ref name=":9" />

 

vedāntaśatarudrīyapraṇavādijapaṁ budhāḥ । sattvasiddhikaraṁ puṁsāṁ svādhyāyaṁ paricakṣate ।। 11.22</blockquote>Meaning: Study of Vedanta, the chanting of Rudraprashna a hundred times, and the repetition of Om and other mantras, and that which makes one attain sattva, is called svadhyaya by the wise.<ref name=":7" />

=== ब्रह्मचर्यम् ॥ ===

=== ब्रह्मचर्यम् ॥ ===