AWGP- Gurudev Literature: Beliefs are often shaped by the circumstances and the era in which they arise. It's possible that these beliefs were essential at a certain time in the past. However, it's crucial to assess whether they remain relevant and necessary in the present time and circumstances. If they are no longer needed, then change becomes essential, and this change constitutes a movement. For instance, consider a scenario where a family had to welcome a bride during a boy's wedding, but their house's cat was causing trouble. They decided to lock the cat in a basket and, being preoccupied with the wedding, paid no attention to it. After three days, when they finally noticed, the cat had died and was discarded. Subsequently, it became a tradition in that household to bring a cat to a boy's wedding, confine it in a basket, and dispose of it after three days.
Generations later, a young man grew curious about this practice and, upon investigation, discovered its origin. He initiated changes to break this tradition. Movements occur over time, but the need for a movement arises when a particular vice, deformity, or flaw spreads extensively within an individual, family, society, nation, or the world, rendering it incompatible with the prevailing circumstances. It is during such times that movements are necessary.
However, to drive a movement, one's life's spiritual practice becomes of utmost importance. Therefore, not everyone is capable of initiating such change. It is typically exceptional individuals who lead and bring about significant societal transformations through revolutions or movements. Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya ji aimed to reshape the era and initiated seven movements in his lifetime. He delineates three ways to drive a movement: worship, self-improvement, and service to humanity. There are three key principles to achieve this: maintaining a healthy body, nurturing a clean mind, and contributing to a civilized society. It is often said, "prevention is better than cure." One should exercise caution to prevent the formation of misconceptions and, if any misguided beliefs arise, they should be promptly rectified.
The movements launched by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya ji are as follows: Sadhana movement, health movement, education movement, self-reliance movement, environmental movement, women's awareness movement, and addiction freedom and evil eradication movement.
In the Sadhana movement, formulas for adopting various forms of self-restraint have been provided. In the health movement, attention is given to maintaining physical, mental, and social health through dietary considerations, the use of herbs, early sleeping and waking habits, and maintaining a busy yet calm lifestyle.
These movements have different names because their underlying reasons were also diverse. Why?
Movements occur in response to the needs of the time and circumstances. During the era of Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya ji, individual self-discipline had declined, health was deteriorating, education was deteriorating, and values were eroding. It was a time when society needed a new direction for progress.
In response to these challenges, the movements launched by him were revolutionary steps. For instance, the Sadhana movement emphasized the importance of individual development, while the Swasthya (health) movement focused on physical well-being, including teachings on home gardening. Similarly, the education movement promoted values such as Bal Sanskar Shala (child moral and cultural education), advanced education, and the encouragement of cottage industries to make individuals self-reliant. He advocated that every idle hand should find work.
In today's environmental movement, the emphasis is on countering the "use and throw" mentality, curbing noise pollution, and promoting tree planting and yagya (ritual offerings). Planting trees on his birthday and wedding anniversary became a tradition. Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya ji believed that the cornerstone of a cultured family is a progressive and cultured woman, leading to the initiation of the Nari Jagran (women's awareness) movement. To achieve freedom from addiction, he advised, "Save resources from addiction and use them for creation," and he launched movements against various societal ills such as lavish funeral feasts, extravagant banquets, the dowry system, and purdah (veil) practices.
All these movements initiated by him continue to be upheld and promoted by his disciples in society. It is often said that the wheel of a bicycle turns first up, then down, and then up again. Similarly, these movements can achieve success when individuals exercise self-control. In essence, the Sadhana movement is the cornerstone of all these endeavors.
http://literature.awgp.org/book/Hamare_Saat_Andolan/v1.9
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