It is the time after graduation. For many it is time to spread their wings and seek jobs and careers. For others it is time to enter their programs for further studies! Let us take the liberty to offer the following “Message” along with our very best wishes to all the graduates, as they venture into their world of higher studies and new opportunities!
The traditional views and teachings of “Be good, do good and be blessed with all that is good – health, wealth, happiness, …” might have been OK, when the youngsters simply accepted the tradition and followed what is “good” and “proper” as told by their elders! Over time these instructions and guidelines have changed to rituals and practices, which are truly appalling even for those with minimal capacity to think. For example:
People flock to the temples paying whatever they need to pay, to get the glimpse of the Lord in the form of the idol – Darshan – for a few seconds. Then off they rush to the next temple! Lavish prayer services inside the temples can be seen while countless go starving in the neighborhood or begging to make a living. Such developments are not unique to India. We see anger and animosity intense across nations claiming to stand for Jewish, Islamic or Christian faiths. Every one of these religions would claim to preach “Be good, carry out good deeds and be blessed with all that is good, …”. When religious motives are used to uphold the roots of any nation, without reasoning and logic, these nations have also become victims of extremists and religious fundamentalism. Secular Democracies like the USA are feeling the impact of such bias and polarization!
Even at a personal level negative news that excite emotions spread faster than positive and uplifting messages. Social media has its own impact to isolate people into self-selected groups and echo chambers without room for reflection and reasoning. It would appear that such appeal and attention getting capabilities of the negative and angry messages seem to have become successful business model in news media and politics. One could reasonably ask, where is the role of “be good, carry out only good and well meaning acts” as your way of life?
All of these turn off the younger generation, leaving them in their world of tumult, like boats without a sail or paddle to steer clear in the wavy and turbulent ocean of life. Increased anxiety and mental health concerns would appear to be the prevailing mood for these youngsters.
Instead, the graduates could use all their energy, skills and resources to reflect on the following essentials from Vedic Philosophy, captured in three axioms (self-evident truths):
- The entire Universe – which includes you and I – is enabled, the enabler being the infinite number of forces or phenomena of nature, collectively known as Brahman. Hence the grand pronouncements from the Upanishads:
- Tat Twam Asi (You exist as part of the Universe)
- Aham Brahma (I am Brahman)
- Pagjnanam Brahma (Consciousness is Brahman)
- Sarvam Brahma Mayam (Everything is Brahman).
Yes, you are an individual with your name, family, identity, education, height, weight, job, health, …. But you are not “unique” no matter how much you think of yourself like that. You are like a drop of water in the ocean, indivisible, inseparable! You are enabled, a product of nature, like everyone on the planet or everything in the Universe. Let this single thought erase all your feelings of isolation from others in the name of religion, race, gender, nationality, preferences, etc.
- “I” – Consciousness / Soul – of an individual, is connected to anything external through our brain(physical organ) and its function (mind) through perception of objects, feelings/emotions and thoughts. This connection is made through the prevailing Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance at any time, on any matter, in any course of action, …. We relate to these connections as Tranquil, Turbulent and Inertial “Experience”
Hence you are NOT merely a product of your experiences that occur randomly. You are indeed evidence of your Knowledge, Bias and Ignorance and their relative roles! Like the reflections on the waves, your “experience” changes all the time thanks to the play of the prevailing K, B and I in you and around you!
Keep this in mind all the time – as the oars or sails – as you steer over the waves (activities), which we call life! The more you are capable of discriminating and using your “knowledge” and steer clear of your “bias” and “ignorance”, more likely that your actions will be “good” and your experience will be “joyful” to you, others around you and for as many as you can reach out!
This is the “Self-control” taught elaborately in all Upanishads, Bhagawath Geetha and other scriptures. Make this learning and experiment with it, as part of your self-study, a way of living as part of your graduatuin, as tools in the pursuit of your careers and dreams!
Oh, by the way, there is also a third axiom:
- The “enabler” (i.e.) phenemena of nature – axiom 1 – and the “enabled” (i.e.) all our experiences – axiom 2 – co-exist all the time. It is like the deep ocean (enabler) and the surface level waves (enabled) inseparable and always coexisting! It is also like two sides of a coin ever co-existing, inseperable. It is also like the rider and his/her bicycle or the driver and the car. In Vedic Philosophy the parable given is that of a Charioteer and his horses, all of which are part of nature (Axiom 1), while the reins (Knowledge, bias and Ignorance) – Axiom 2 – are used to control the horses (i.e.) our mind in the journey we callas our life!
Do not indulge in thoughts that you are unique, different and hence isolated from others. You are as much part of nature as anyone and anything! Let that thought relieve you of the shackles and pains of your self-driven needs and wants. Let that expand your mind and bring forth a freedom in your thoughts, feelings and actions that are universal in their outlook as well as in the goal! That is being “Spiritual” – in union with the “spirit”, being one with nature!
With that liberated outlook:
- Smile at a stranger, for no reason, as they are merely part of you! Let that elicit a warm and welcoming smile, in return, the way nature responds!
- Help someone, anyone in need, because you see such a need. Let that be your parents, teacher, family, neighbor, elders, children, volunteering, …. You begin to see the true meaning of the injunction from Thaittriya Upanishad :Treat your father, mother, teacher, guest, …. as God”!
- You are somebody who can make anybody feel like somebody!
- Include yourself in that “someone”! You are part of the Universe at large!
- Let that lead to self-compassion, not self-pity.
- Let your self-compassion lead to compassion for all. In return let them be the seeds for noble and uplifting goals, efforts, thoughts, feelings and actions. Whatever they are, since they are Objective (inclusive of all and exclusive of none) and Unattached (intended to meet the common needs, which also includes your needs), your life will be fulfilling and meaningful.
That is the guidance to you from Bagawath Geetha:
“May all manners of living be dedicated to total self-control and Unattached active engagement”.
Here are a few other links for further reading:
https://sipractce.com/2025/05/11/resilience/
https://sipractce.com/2025/07/31/spirituality-in-practice-being-and-becoming-a-good-samaritan/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va6mrqK4uog
https://vedasamskrutisamiti.org.in/old/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/S2.-Message-for-Graduating-Students_63-66.pdf
Spirituality In Practice 
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