Acharya Tulsi - Fifty Years Of Selfless Dedication: Acharya Tulsi Speaks Again: Preamble To Anuvrat Vows

The progress or regress of a society is best judged by the thoughts and behaviour of its people. The individual is a unit of society. Its progress or prosperity will be in proportion to his integrity and morality. The basis of moral progress lies in ethical thoughts. Thoughts and behaviour are mutually interactive. The development of will-power is essential for the purity of both.

A vow means the development of will-power. The greater its degree, the greater is one's success in life. It becomes stronger by regular practice and dedicated efforts (sadhana). For this reason the practice of Preksha Meditation has in recent years been added to that of anuvrat. It affects the secretion of the endocrine glands and this in turn brings about an inner transformation of the individual. As will-power cannot remain stable without an inner transformation, Preksha Meditation has become an integral part of the discipline of anuvrat. As a result it has been given prominence under the rules of anuvrat sadhana.

The developed form of a vow is acquired after a series of sustained efforts. It originates in the form of an atom. In truth the power of an atom is infinite.

anurapi vratasyaish trayate mahto bhayat
Even an atom of a vow can emancipate a man from the greatest fear.

The vow is the dividing line between one individual and another. It is a restraint a man subjects himself to willingly and not something imposed from the outside. Individuals differ in their capacity for exercising restraint. That is why vows are many and varied. How many vows one would observe depends upon one's innate capacity. Anuvrat represents the basic minimum limit of human restraint. It is a way of realizing the self through love, friendship and restraint. With the dawn of self-restraint in the individual all weaknesses disappear.

The context of morality is very wide. It is not confined to mere refraining from a resort to malpractices in business or bribery, for immorality can also take numerous other forms like hatred emanating from sectarianism, casteism, apartheid, manufacture of destructive weapons and desire for expansionism. From the above point of view the range between the extremes of morality and immorality is enormous. It is equally noteworthy that religion in essence ought not to be grounded in rituals but in the building of character. It is on these bases that the Anuvrat code of conduct has been designed.

ACHARVA TULSI
Balotra (Raj.)
October 16, 1983

Aims

1. To inspire people to observe self-restraint irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, country or language.
2. To establish the values of friendship, unity, peace and morality.
3. To create a free society without any kind of exploitation.

Means

1. To make maximum people anuvratis.
2. To bring about a revolution in thinking and acting.

Eligibility

All those who believe in leading a pure life will be entitled to become anuvratis.

Categories

1. One who subscribes to the rules of anuvrats and sadhana (dedicated practice) shall be called an anuvrati.
2. One who subscribes to the rules meant for his/her own class shall be called a vargiya anuvrati. For example, someone who accepts the anuvrats meant for students shall be called a vidyarthi anuvrati (Vidyarthi = student).

The Directive Principles of Anuvrat

1. Developing human unity
2. Developing the feeling of co-existence
3. Developing rectitude of behaviour
4. Developing the technique of introspection
5. Developing right standards in society
6. Developing trust in the purity of means
7. Developing will-power and self-restraint
8. Developing communal harmony
9. Developing inner purity
10. Developing fearlessness, objectivity and truthfulness
11. Developing non-attachment
12. Developing an awareness of the limits of individual possession and consumption
13. Developing a process of bringing about transformation of consciousness and emotional state.

Anuvrats (atomic or small vows)

1. I will not kill any innocent creature.
2. I will neither attack anybody nor support aggression and will endeavour to bring about world peace and disarmament.
3. I will not take part in violent agitations or in any destructive activities.
4. I will believe in human unity, will not discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, etc., and will not practise untouchability.
5. I will practise religious toleration.
6. I will observe rectitude in business and general behaviour.
7. I will by degrees develop a pure tenor of life and control over senses.
8. I will not resort to unethical practices in elections.
9. I will not encourage socially evil customs (dowry, big feasts following death, child marriage, old age marriage, etc.).
10. I will not use intoxicants like alcohol, hemp, heroin, etc.
11. I will lead a life free from addictions.
12. I will do my best to avoid contributing to pollution.
    (It will be obligatory for an anuvrati to observe the anuvrats meant for his class.)
    

1. I will practise Preksha Meditation.
2. I will have a reconciliatory attitude for the sake of a peaceful domestic life.
3. I will practise restraint in individual possession and consumption.
4. I will exercise control over eating.
5. I will practise diligence, self-reliance and simplicity.

Class Anuvrats (Anuvrat vows for different classes of people)

Students' Anuvrats

1. I will not resort to unfair means in the examinations.
2. I will not take part in violent agitations and destructive activities.
3. I will not use obscene language, will not read pornographic literature, and will not see obscene movies.
4. I will not use intoxicants.
5. I will not resort to unethical practices in elections.
6. I will be courteous towards my parents and teachers.

Teachers' Anuvrats

1. I will help as much in the building of students* character as in their mental development.
2. I will not resort to unfair means in helping students pass the examinations.
3. I will give no place to party politics in my educational institution; nor will I encourage my students to take part in it.
4. I will not use intoxicants.
5. I will cooperate in expanding the Anuvrat Movement.

Businessmen's Anuvrats

1. I will refrain from adulteration and from selling counterfeit goods.
2. I will not indulge in underweight or false measuring.
3. I will not trade in or undertake import/export of goods and articles banned by the State.
4. I will not go back on my pledge to return articles under my custody or mortgaged by others.
5. I will not indulge in hoarding.

Officers'/Employees' Anuvrats

1. I will not accept bribes.
2. I will not abuse my authority.
3. I will not deliberately make delays or do injustice in the exercise of my duties.
4. I will not use intoxicants.

Workers' Anuvrats

1. I will work with devotion.
2. I will not take part in violent agitations or destructive activities.
3. I will neither drink nor smoke, and will not use intoxicants.
4. I will not indulge in gambling.
   

Peasants' Anuvrats

1. I will not be cruel to the animals dependent on me.
2. I will not indulge in hoarding.
3. I will not use intoxicants.

The International Code of Conduct

1. No country should commit aggression against another country.
2. No country should try to occupy the territory or grab the property of another country.
3. No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another country.
4. No country should try to impose its form of government or ideology on another country.
5. In the event of differences between them countries should adopt a policy of reconciliation.
6. There must be efforts to bring about disarmament.
7. Developed countries must have goodwill towards underdeveloped countries.