Editorial: seven steps to live by

Making a vow is a great challenge in life. It is a challenge against our inertia, laziness, and procrastination. Making a vow is like putting a bridle on the untamed, wild horse called our mind. If we can keep the horse under control, riding not only becomes an enjoyment in itself, it also takes us to our goal much more quickly. On the other hand, if we mount an unsaddled, wild horse, the ride will be dreadful, and will surely end up in disaster or even death.

Anything, when repeated over a period of time, becomes a habit. Habits become part and parcel of our character. Good character is the foundation for success in life. However, we all know that it's impossible for us to develop all the good qualities in life overnight. The only possibility is to develop a few good qualities over a long period of time, so that they may eventually become second nature to us. Just as a daily bath keeps the body clean and healthy, vows help us to keep our mind free of mental impurities, such as jealousy, hatred, anger and fear.

Mother says, "Mother has a strong wish that all of her children will become so pure that they will spread light and love to whoever they meet. It is living examples that this world needs now -- not preachers."

So let all of us who are Mother's children start this New Year by making a vow that during the coming year we will make a real effort to develop a few of the most essential good qualities within ourselves. Let us truly be Her children, so that we, in our own small way, may reflect to the world a little of the light, love, goodness and glory of our Beloved Mother.

Here are enumerated, as the ABCs of spiritual life, seven vows based on Mother's teachings. God's Grace is always flowing towards us. However, just as pure milk poured into a contaminated vessel turns sour, even if Grace descends into an impure mind, it cannot be of any benefit. These vows help us to purify our mind and to bring it under our control. They can easily be practiced by anyone under any living conditions. The gains of following these vows will be experienced within a short time. Make a firm resolve to live by one vow a day. If, by chance, a vow cannot be carried out on a particular day, or if you begin but can't compete it, try to do it together with the next day's vow. If even that isn't possible, you can make an earnest effort to fulfil all of the vows during one day a week. Mother says, "Real worship is to practice good qualities. Spirituality without practice is like trying to reside in the blueprint of a house."

Take, for example, anger. Everyone knows that anger is bad. Yet how many of us can live by the vow, "I will never get angry for as long as I live?" Hardly anyone. As a first step, if we make a firm decision to control our anger and our tendency to blame and speak ill of others, just for one day a week, then it becomes a possibility. At least during that day we will create a wonderful atmosphere in our homes and at our work sites. Similarly, it doesn't take very long to see the beautiful response from others when we decide to speak each and every word preceded with a smile. Again, we can start by doing this just one day a week. Even if we have to shout, scold or nag, let it be with a smile for a day, and see what a different world it creates!

Mother guarantees that in any household where the Sri Lalita Sahasranama Archana is chanted everyday with devotion, the minimal requirement of food and clothing will always be provided by the Divine Mother. A beginner may find the daily chanting of 1000 Sanskrit names too difficult a task. Instead, you can chant Mother's 108 names. We recommend that you spend at least an hour on weekends in remembrance of God, chanting, meditating, doing japa and puja, singing bhajans, etc. Likewise, a habitual smoker or someone who is addicted to drugs or drinking may find it hard to stop his bad habit despite his best efforts. So he can try to abstain from these habits just on Thursdays, in observance of the Day of the Guru.

Slowly, as the person gains more control over his mind, he will be able to get rid of any deep-rooted habits at will. Others, who are free from such bad habits, can train their minds by abstaining from tea, coffee, meat and fish just for one day a week. Mother says that spirituality means the ability to stop the flow of the mind anytime at will, like applying the brakes of a good car.

Those who are suffering from an addiction and those who find it very difficult to keep their vows shouldn't feel discouraged if at first they don't succeed in keeping their vow for a whole day. You can always try again; and who knows, perhaps you will succeed the next time. It is your effort and your sincerity that is important, as well as your patience and enthusiasm. Mother says, "Look at a toddler who is trying to stand up and walk. The child will fall again and again, failing in its every attempt. But again and again, he will stubbornly try to get up and walk, until he finally succeeds. Though the child fails, not once but countless times, he is patient and enthusiastic. These qualities finally help him to succeed in his attempts."

Having only one meal a day, or a simple diet of fruits, once a week, gives relief to the digestive system, and is therefore also good for one's health. On such days, one should drink a sufficient quantity of water. Sick people who are advised by their doctors not to fast need not observe the vow of one meal a day.

When Mother says that we should do some selfless service for others, it means that we should try within our means and our capacity to help people who are not related to us, or who do not belong to our circle of friends and acquaintances. For example, we can visit a destitute patient in a hospital and provide them with the medicines, food or clothing that they need; or sit by a sick person's bedside; or visit a lonely person in an old age home; or we can find some deserving student in dire need of money for his studies. There are so many new vistas of service if we are on the lookout for them. If we are not able to find any avenue for extending our service, we can give a donation to a charitable organization. But we should never have a desire to be praised or appreciated for our deeds.

The only thing Mother wants us to offer Her is our bad habits. In return, we should imbibe some of Mother's divine qualities as her prasad. Mother's children can use these vows as a lamp that will light their path towards the goal. Those who are interested can display the list of these vows in a prominent place in their home, so that everybody is able to see it every day. This will encourage you to abide by them. Try to maintain these vows, even if others at home are not interested in them.

What a great opportunity this is to begin a process of positive change and transformation in our lives! May our Beloved Mother bless us with the strength and willpower to make these vows and to keep them. If we simply refuse to give up -- if we make an effort each day to the best of our ability, 1999 will certainly be a year of great progress and Grace in our lives; and this will have an effect, not only on ourselves, but on everyone around us as well. So let us pray for Mother's Grace. And let us begin…

The seven vows to live by:

Just for today I will….

Sunday … Spare a minimum of one hour in remembrance of God -- in prayer, doing japa, archana, singing bhajans and/or meditation.

Monday … Not express any anger towards anyone, nor blame or speak ill of anyone or complain about any situation.

Tuesday … Do some selfless service for someone, or donate something to charity.

Wednesday … Spend at least fifteen minutes reading spiritual books or learning one verse from a sacred text.

Thursday … Abstain from alcohol, smoking, tobacco, coffee, tea and non-vegetarian food.

Friday … Not speak to anyone without a smile.

Saturday … Have only one meal, consisting of healthy food in a moderate quantity. I will also exercise self-restraint