Dr. Sohan Lal Gandhi
The most important thing about the Movement is that it strives after the middle path steering clear of the two extremes of absolute asceticism (mahavratas) an unbridled materialism resulting in moral torpor. The Anuvrata Movement aims at ushering in an era of self-awakening - the antithesis of the Atomic Age.
Acarya carries his message far and wide covering thousands of miles on foot, enjoining on the people the discipline of anuvrats. The voice of the Movement has by now permeated the masses focussing their attention on the importance of self-restraint. The phenomenal rise in incidents of communal clashes and racial riots in the fast-growing multicultural societies mushrooming all over the world giving rise to frenzied massacres like the ones the world watched helplessly in Sri Lanka, Lebanon, South Africa, Middle east and Bosnia makes it imperative for everyone to carry the Movement across the seas to ensure amity and reconciliation between differing groups and cultures.
Acarya Sri realized in the wake of his experiment of enjoining the discipline of anuvrats on the individuals that a radical attitudinal change in man was not possible merely through the advocacy of the anuvrata code of conduct. It must be accompanied by another effective tool that can gradually induce him to introspect. Yuvacarya Mahaprajna (now an Acarya) came up with bright idea of a unique technique of meditation calledPreksa Dhyana as a means to bring about a mass psychological transformation. Acarya Sri added Preksa meditation to his programme of reconstruction of moral and spiritual values. Fortified with this potent means of an attitudinal change in man, the Anuvrata Movement has added a new and important dimension. A follower of anuvrata code has to practise Preksa meditation every day, which inclines him naturally to imbibe the anuvrata discipline. It ultimately becomes an integral part of his character. After the nuclear holocaust witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki thousands of peace organizations sprang up in all parts of the world raising their voices against nuclear weapons and demanding complete disarmament. We feel heartened to note that some success has been achieved in reducing nuclear arsenal. These people say that their main aim is to save the world from the third world war but as a matter of fact many will agree with me when I say that the third world war has already begun. It is war against nature. Environmental and ecological disaster that closes in on humanity now will result in the annihilation of all forms of life on this earth. Its impact is likely to be more ghastly and horrible than the tragedy of Hiroshima. It is the duty of the Parliament of the World's Religions to let the world know that if our life style doesn't change, if we continue to destroy forests, plants and other species just to satiate our thirst for physical comforts, fashions and grab all resources for our family and for a few people ignoring national and social interests, we are in for a bigger catastrophe and that is the end of life itself on this planet.
We must spread the message of deep ecology that all life is bound together. We must limit our needs. Anuvrata Movement is in fact an ecological and environmental ethic which all should join to save the world. It is not an organization. It is a self-transformation network. Everyone irrespective of his caste and creed is invited to join it.
The Rajsamand Declaration and Ladnun Declaration issued by the First and Second International Conferences in 1988 and 1991 at Ladnun and Rajsamand, set forth a concrete action plan based on deep ecology for saving this planet from ruination.
This ecological ethic is summed up in the following vows:
- I will not kill any innocent creature.
- I will neither attack anybody nor support aggression and will endeavour to bring about world peace and disarmament.
- I will not take part in violent agitations or in any destructive activities.
- I will believe in human unity, will not discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, etc. and will not practise untouchability.
- I will practise religious tolerance.
- I will observe rectitude in business and general behaviour.
- I will by degrees develop a pure tenor of life and control over senses.
- I will not resort to unethical practices in elections.
- I will not use intoxicants like alcohol, hemp, heroin, etc.
- I will lead a life free from addictions.
- I will do my best to avoid contributing to pollution.
Commenting upon the Anuvrata Movement, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the former President of India has made the following observations in his article on Acarya Tulasi published in the book Living with a Purpose: "Acarya Sri Tulasi has been the head of the order of Terapanthis for twenty-five years. It has large number of monks and lacs of laymen. The great respect, which they all have for Acarya Tulasi, is a sign of his outstanding personality.
Acarya Sri Tulasi's impact on the Indian community is due to the Anuvrata Movement, which he has started. There is a general feeling in the country that while we are attending to the material progress and doing substantial work in that direction, we are neglecting the human side of true progress. A civilized human being must be free from greed, vanity, passions, anger etc. Civilizations decline if there is a coarsening of moral fibre, if there is a callousness of heart. Man is tending to become a robot, a mechanical instrument caring for nothing except his material welfare, incapable of exercising his intelligence and responsibility. He seems to prefer comfort to liberty. Our politicians are resorting to direct action to enforce their particular viewpoints or to fulfil their desires. This is unfortunate and to remedy this growing indiscipline, lack of rectitude, egotism, the Anuvrata Movement was started on March 1, 1949. It requires strict adherence to the principles of good life. It is intended to impart education in moral and spiritual values.
We cannot say that, as a result of this movement, things have improved very considerably. Public spirit, commercial integrity, individual rectitude, family life, peaceful behaviour, these require to be cultivated. These cannot be achieved by merely talking about them. The only way in which this can be brought about is by imparting to our young people the essentials of our culture. These may be summarized in the three great words - abhaya, ahimsa, asanga which are the common possessions of all systems of religious thought."