Ten Commandments
From 1944 to 1948 Shree wrote several handwritten letters which contain information about His life, His work and His philosophy. Although addressed to individual persons, they are nevertheless universal. One of these letters, addressed to Kantilal Patel from Mumbai, is titled
VEDA-TATVA DASHAKA – the 10 basic principles of the Vedas
Later, they were known as the 10 Commandments of Shree.
These principles do not mean that earlier commandments or guidelines from Messengers of God are abolished. Whenever such high-ranking messengers absolve a Divine mission, they pursue the same intent, namely to show humans the pathway to the Light in the best possible way. The elemental guidelines were always the same, only differently stressed and phrased due to diverse circumstances at various periods of time. The Ten Commandments of Shree are a great help especially in our time and for the coming bright Golden Age.1,p. 75
1. | Satya | Truth, Truthfulness | ||
2. | Ahimsa | Non-violence | ||
3. | Sarva Bhooti Daya | Compassion for all | ||
4. | Shiva Sankalpa | May your mind always affirm the holy | ||
5. | Datrutva |
Inculculate the habit to sharing assets |
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6. | Pavitracharan | Purity of deed | ||
7. | Bramacharya | Habits to unfolding the divine | ||
8. | Tapa | Self-discipline | ||
9. | Swadhyaya | Self-recognition | ||
10. | Ishwar Pranidhan | Surrender to His Will (“Thy will be done.”) |
When once asked about the relation between the 10 Commandments and the Fivefold Path, Shree explained that the 10 Commandments were given as an exercise to prepare oneself to follow the Fivefold Path. The first nine commandments are the disciplines to practise in daily life. The last commandment “Ishwar Pranidhan” is the most important; it means “na mama”, that is “not mine”. Na mama is the ultimate aim. This is Agnihotra.5,p.194
Shree: “Whoever obeys these Ten Commandments of the Holy Vedas will, without doubt, be liberated. However, these Ten Commandments are to be followed virtually by body, speech and mind.” 4, p.136