Art with Homa cow dung cookies by M. Carmen, Piura

..."The key is not to meditate deeply once a week but to observe strictly, exactly all meditation timings each day. Most people find it difficult to free their minds in order to attain some ‘higher states’ during meditations. This, although it may be a benefit, should not be a goal in meditating. Goals should be relaxing, training the mind to be better able to absorb the tension placed upon it by outside sources–for example, pollution."
 
-Master Shree Vasant-

"Offer to help others any chance you get. Don’t worry whether your help will prove to be adequate or not for another. Your responsibility is to serve. So, you do that. Where is the question of adequacy?

¿You offer yourself to be of service to others. Finished. Serve, serve, serve. That is the way."  

- Master Shree Vasant -

"If you keep silence more, you will come to know you can effectively respond to situations in a calm, eased manner. Silence helps to turn thoughts inward and you momentarily take pressure off the mind.

It is a time of concentrating and practicing Mantra. It is an extremely useful tool. Keeping silence for just a few hours every morning can set the whole mood in a correct balance for the day. This does not mean that no outside tensions will be there. Of course, they are going to be there no matter where you go, alone or with others. But practice of minimum silence in mornings is going to serve as an aid in coping with these day-to-day affairs."

 - Master Shree Vasant - 

"You cannot have any expectations whatsoever. You have to realize that whatever happens you take your mind with you.

You cannot leave it. And along with the mind come all of its past impressions and desires. The only way to overcome these pulls of desires is

to sublimate this mind and the only way to sublimate the mind is to perform YAJNYA, do your disciplines, meditation

and the Mantra. Then and only then Grace takes over."

 - Master Shree Vasant -

"El Agnihotra tiene un muy buen efecto inmediato en los niños. Pueden beneficiarse mucho con ello. Suelen estar menos concentrados que los adultos y por lo tanto es
más fácil ver el efecto del Agnihotra en un niño.
En ese sentido son como las plantas, más simples que algunos de nosotros".

 - Master Shree Vasant -

 Photos: Reiner in Turkey; Gabriel and Nathaniel in Czech Republic;
Pol Kiran with his mom in Spain.

Homa is the Solution
"EL MENSAJE ES CLARO. EL FINAL ESTÁ CERCA. Los lugares donde se practiquen los fuegos sanadores HOMA estarán a salvo. Ellos serán santuarios. El agua alrededor de estos lugares estará libre de contaminación. El AGNIHOTRA es el HOMA básico.."

  - Master Shree Vasant -  
 
 Photos: above - Agnihotra with children in Bombay; with kids and their parents in Sangli, Maharashtra; Highway brake for the practice of Agnihotra
Photos: below and to the left: a powerful Somayag by a group of priests trained for many years in this technique. The participants enlisting for the Agnihotra.
Mr. Ramanaji organized the Somayag in Sangola, Solapur, Maharashtra.

As we approach the festive season and the solstice, traditionally a time of celebration and high energies, we’d like to write about Tulsi.
Tulsi is a sacred herb in Ayurveda and  strengthens the immune system, among other properties.

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum)
Holy Basil, or Tulsi, is a perennial or annual herb which in India is planted in temples and near homes for protection and to sanctify the ground upon which it grows. There are several varieties, some hardier than others, and in temperate climates they can be grown as an annual in a greenhouse. It is an easy herb to grow from seed that can be started early indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out after all threat of frost has gone. Do not cover the seed as it needs light to germinate. It grows to 45-60 cm high and has small white flowers and ovate leaves that when dry easily fall from the stem. Tulsi is a great container herb to have growing in the house all year as in Ayurveda it has a positive effect on the atmosphere. Plus the fresh leaves are then readily available.

The aerial parts of the plant- leaves, stems and flowers - are used medicinally and to prepare an infusion pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons of dried Tulsi leaves, add a pinch of Agnihotra ash powder, and steep for 10-15 minutes.

Tulsi is regarded as an adaptogen herb, which are a category of herbs that  strengthen the immune system and balance the body and hormones during times of chronic stress.

It is a powerful anti-viral and is high in antioxidants. In today’s fast paced lifestyle, Tulsi is a useful tonic for the body and mind.

It can be included in sore throat, cold and flu remedies, helping reduce fever and eliminate catarrh. It is a popular herb for all respiratory tract ailments for which the herb can also be juiced and mixed with organic raw honey. Tulsi is prescribed for asthma and also tuberculosis. Its antibacterial properties are said to protect one from epidemics.

Tulsi is a tonic for the heart and blood and has natural pain-relieving properties. It is recommended for arthritis and rheumatism, it calms the nerves, clears the mind and sharpens memory. As a tea it can ease headaches and topically it is used for eczema, ringworm, and insect bites. Fresh leaves are chewed for gum infection. With all these attributes you can see why in Ayurveda it is known as the ‘Queen of Herbs’.

   It might be said that one positive result of the pandemic is that we are much more aware that we cannot be lazy when it comes to our health—both from preventative and curative aspects. Vigilance is not a luxury right now. It is totally required.

Those who wish we could return to life as it was before 2020 likely have quite a long time to wait to see this unfold.

If we survive Covid-19, then we have Climate Change to deal with. The fallout from financial disturbances—and other lifestyle parameters—likewise present challenges that cannot be taken lightly.

So an increased reliance on SELF to navigate the troubled waters is prescribed for us all. The formerly respected and trusted pillars of our societies—governments, media, big business, banks, etc.—seem to have worn out their welcomes. We are thus left with little choice than to look within for answers. It may have always been this way, but its truth is now staring at us without respite.

As Homa Organic Farming suggests that we grow our own food, make our own folk remedies and such, the role of the individual takes on significantly greater import. Big Pharma does not market Agnihotra Ash—no profit in it. We must make our own healing ash.

(Perhaps later we might study whether things might have turned out differently if the Garden of Eden apple had been Homa Organic.)

In Vedic writings, performance of daily sunrise and sunset Agnihotra is something we are told to do, in part to replace what we have taken from the planet.

Think of it as spiritual and material Carbon Offset. The two concepts seem quite

similar actually. To say the least, doing Agnihotra is very good karma.

In today's ‘risky world,’ risk aversion takes on a more serious approach.

Add to this the plethora—bombardment actually—of information, disinformation, misinformation, conspiracy theories, ad nauseam, it may not be surprising for one’s mantra to morph into, “What ever should I do”?

Certainly Homa Therapy—a derivation from Vedas—helps with intuition especially in grey areas when knowing which way to turn defies easy analysis or even clear awareness of feelings.

But, as the snake oil and electric blender salesmen like to say, “That’s not all folks.’ It is one thing to know what to do; it is quite another to summon up the willpower and tenacity—and resistance to laziness—to do what you know is right to do.

As in my recent story of the dog attacking me when I knew I was in the wrong place, pursuing less than noble intentions, etc., my hormones trumped my power of discrimination (or will power). The Law of Karma was conveniently forgotten—until the dog bit me.

Presumably bank robbers know they should not be doing that, but the promise of a payday without the effort of working at a real job is just too much of a temptation.

Just as it said that Agnihotra gives the mind a push in the direction of love, it similarly pushes us—sometimes ever so subtly and slightly, sometimes more energetically—in the directions of proper behaviour and more useful decisions.

How? Not easy to say. Theories abound and Vedas gives hints. Some may say who cares how or even why. Pizzas can be enjoyed without knowing the recipe, the type of oven or the mindset of the pizza maker.

Cutting to the chase, try Agnihotra for 2 weeks and perhaps you will like it—another way of saying ‘Believe what you Experience.’ Then you will be in a better position to know whether what we write here is true. If you already perform Agnihotra, perhaps do it more regularly.

The expression ‘These are the times that try humans’ souls,’’ could certainly be an apt description of late 2021—not to mention all or most of the previous year and a half.

The world currently has moved on from lockdown mode and into unlocked, but caution mode.

Not to take stock of lessons that we may learn from all of this would be unfortunate because many of us have paid prices ranging from catastrophic to severe, to greatly disturbing to the great unknown. It is this last category that currently marks these soul-trying days.

 There is just so much that is not known about several life-compromising and life-threatening aspects of our lives.

We began this piece discussing our powers of discrimination, the ability and responsibility to choose between right and

wrong as well as to choose among the many shades of grey.

When faced with the great unknown, might not it be best to concentrate on what we do know?

I know that I am loved by benevolent forces that provide this love unconditionally. I know that when I love unconditionally, my life is enhanced beyond expectation .

So in a sense, it’s OUR game to win, lose or draw (tie). We are our own judge, jury, and cop. I can choose the Path of Light, or Path of Darkness (and the in between). I need not judge myself as my actions will result in certain consequences regardless of any judging of self.

If I learn from what I did yesterday and the yesterdays that preceded it, I will be that much better and less likely to repeat less than optimal choices. I can create a momentum of positive thoughts and deeds.

But this road requires patience and, at times, hard work. There is little room for laziness.

That Agnihotra has been revealed to serve as a substantial aid is widely known and accepted. Should you not know this yet through your own experience, the time may be now to find out.

But the clock is ticking.

The whole of the Vedas as Science of all that is or of the Totality of Being is consubstantial with the Absolute and with the existing Reality as a whole.

In the beginning the Vedas are a perfect Unity, in other words there is only One Veda. Later on the Vedas became a triple or threefold manifestation, the so called Vedatrayī and finally they became the fourfold manifestation known as Chaturveda, consisting of Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.

The Ṛg/Ṛig Veda Saṁhitā contains 1028 Sūktas or Hymns. The word Sūkta is composed of two sanskrit particles, “Su” = “good, well, excellent” and “ukta” = “said, uttered, recited”. Both components united mean “well-said” or “wise saying” or “song of praise”. Each Sūkta contains one or more Ṛks/Ṛiks or verses. Each Ṛk/Ṛik is a Mantra. The Ṛigvedic Saṁhitā has 10 550 Ṛks/Ṛiks. The word Ṛk or Ṛc means “verse, stanza, hymnic text, a verse typical of the Ṛg/Ṛig Veda in contrast with the mantric verses of the Yajur Veda and of the Sāma Veda named Yajus and Sāman respectively. The expression Ṛk or Ṛc comes from the sanskrit verb “Ṛc, ṛcati, arcituṁ” that means “to praise, extol, laud, celebrate and shine”.

The 1028 ṛigvedic Sūktas/Hymns are divided into ten maṇḍalas or sections. Another type of later division was into aṣṭakas or eighths. Each aṣṭaka was again subdivided into eight adhyāyas (sections or lessons) and each adhyāya into vargas or groups of five or six hymns. For practical purposes, the 10 maṇḍalas are also divided into anuvākas or recitations.  In the beginning (Upakrama) and in the end (Upasaṁhāra), the Vedas talk of

Agni/Feuer.

This exhibits the great spiritual and material importance of Agni/Fire which is a strong purifying factor of Mind and Matter.

In the maṇḍala 7, anuvāka 4, sūkta 59, ṛk or verse 12 of the brilliant Ṛg/Ṛig Veda Saṁhitā (RV 7.4.59.12), we may find one of the most powerful and beautiful Vedic Mantras.

It is the Oṁ Tryambakaṁ Mantra technically known as Mahāmṛtyuñjaya Mantra or Mrtyuvimocanī Ṛk. The meaning of both denominations is Mantra or Ṛk/Ṛik that exterminates and vanquishes Death.

The Ṛṣi/Ṛiṣhi or Vedic Sage who received the revelation of the Mantra is the notable Vasiṣṭhaḥ Maitrāvaruṇiḥ. The Chandas or Vedic Metre of the Mantra is called Anuṣṭup or Anuṣṭhubh. It is also named Śloka. This metre has 8 syllables (akṣaras) in each pada, that is to say, 32 syllables in short.

The Devatā, Deity or Spiritual Power invoked is the Lord Rudra. This is the ancient vedic name for the Lord Śiva Maheśvara, the Almighty Father.

This rigvedic Sūkta, the number 59 of the tenth maṇḍala contains 12 ślokas or verses. The first 11 ślokas or mantric verses are consecrated to the Marudgaṇāḥ, Marutaḥ or Maruts, a group of powerful atmospheric Deities. The last verse or ṛk, id est, the twelfth is consecrated to the Lord Rudra/Śiva Maheśvara as it has been said.

If this Mantra is chanted or recited with Yajña or Homa undergoes change, because it becomes intensely amplified.

In order to perform this Homa, this Tryambakaṁ Mantra is to be certainly chanted with fire and after the word Svāhā/Swāhā we must add a drop of Ghee into the fire. Then we repeat the Mantra and again add a drop of Ghee. We can do this for any period of time continuously at will. However, if it is Sunset time/Sūryāstakāla or Sunrise Time/Sūryōdayakāla, while we are doing this Homa, then actually at that precise time we perform Agnihotra as stated in Agnihotra Homa modus operandi.
It is advisable to perform Tryambakaṁ Homa in places where Agnihotra is regularly practiced.

In the context of Homa Farming, it is prescribed to do this Homa and chant this Mantra for at least four or five hours consecutively by people taking turns.

If there are enough qualified people, that is to say, regular practitioners of Agnihotra, they can perform twenty-four hours Oṁ Tryambakaṁ 

Homa on New Moon/Novilunium/Amāvasyā days and on Full Moon/Plenilunium/Pūrṇimā days.

New Moon/Amāvasyā and Full Moon/Pūrṇimā are phases of a very special cycle with exceedingly intense impact on the Mind.

Tryambakaṁ Mantra

“Oṁ Tryambakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam | urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyormuksīya mā´mṛtāt ||” (Svāhā/Swāhā).

“Oṁ We offer (Yajāmahe) oblations to Lord Tryambaka/Lord Rudra/Lord Śiva Maheśvara/Almighty Father) who exhales excellent fragrance and bestows prosperity (Spiritual and Material). May we be freed of the bonds of Death, just as the cucumber gets itself free from its vines (stems). May we never be separated from Immortality”.