…the Proper Study of Mankind is Man…

It is often said, ‘The Proper Study of Mankind is Man’. For, man is the center of things in this world. And to understand human nature, the mind has to be studied. Thoughts originate in mind, they express themselves through words and are manifested as deeds. Humanity or humanness is the confluence of the mind, speech and body. If man is such that he has one thought, says something else and does something different, he should not call himself a man. How can such a man, who is afraid of truth within himself, search for the cosmic truth? It is only when there is a harmony between this thought, word and action that man will be in a position to recognise his own true nature. That is why it is said Manasyekam Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanaam.

A thorough investigation of the human body reveals that the entire power of the material world is contained in a single finger of the human being. But, usually, we do not think much about the finger, which is considered as a small insignificant weakling. This is the mistake that all of us commit, since we are swayed away by the appearances. It is not the form of man that matters, but it is the Divine essence encased in man that counts most. First of all, most of us do not live like humans at all. What is the true mark of a human being? Head, heart and hands must work in unity. There must be harmony among thoughts, words and actions. But mankind today is fast deteriorating into inhuman nature of animals and demons. Mankind today has performed wonders in the field of Science and Technology, has done marvels in space and in atom. But on the other hand there is a rapid decline in the realm of morality and spirituality. The world is overwhelmed by economic upheavals, political conflicts and student agitations. What is the cause for all this chaos and confusion? It is the presence of demon of disharmony within man, which is the cause of all this strife and tension. The pure human quality of oneness in thought, word and deed is absent everywhere.

When we able to put these three, viz., thought, word and action, along the right path, then we earn Punya (good results); but if we put them along the wrong path, then it is sin that we beget. Thus, for good as well as bad, the three basic things needed are thought, word and deed. Therefore, we should undertake spiritual practices in order to achieve Trikarana Shuddhi, i.e., purification and unification of our thoughts, words and actions.