Swami Aparajitanandaji's Lecture on "Mantra for Success - Yagna Spirit"

Swamiji’s lecture on Mantra for Success was based on Chapter: 3; Verse: 10 from Bhagawad Gita, emphasizing more on Yagna Spirit.

Bhagawad Gita - Chapter 3; Verse: 10

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ  
anena prasaviṣhyadhvam eṣha vo ’stviṣhṭa-kāma-dhuk

The Prajapati (the Creator), having in the beginning (of creation) created mankind together with sacrifices, said, "By this shall you prosper; let this be the milch cow of your desires - kamadhuk" (the mythological cow which yields all desired objects).

Yagna Spirit is the attitude with you must perform action in this world.

Now that we are going to be here for 7 days for Balavihar Summer Camp, you all will be performing actions as a team member with this attitude, Yagna Spirit.

Yagna Spirit focuses of 3 points

1. Pouring out our god given talent and abilities at its best.
2. Keeping the bigger picture in mind for the welfare of all.
3. In a spirit of selfless sacrifice

Examples: 

• Body Parts: Body has so many parts – eyes, ears, limbs, head etc., which performs its duty with Yagna spiritt. 
1. Eyes are to see, ears are to hear providing its best abilities.
2. Now, all these parts are working with a big picture in mind i.e. to keep body health & fit.
3. In danger, a person can survive without hand but not head, hence hands act quickly to sacrifice itself to protect head with an attitude - I don't mind being non-existent for the body to exist.

• Cricket: In a team of 11 players, each one is blessed with special talent like batting, bowling, wicket keeper, running etc.
1. Responsibility of each team member it to bring the best of their talents for the victory of their team.
2. All the team members work in complete harmony with big picture – Team’s Victory in mind.
3. If there is a possibility of run out while a tail-ender batsman & a talented batsman is on pitch. Here the tail-ender batsman would sacrifice himself to help the talented batsman to continue to play his best for the team.
   In this case the tail-ender batsman’s personal record will go down; average score will go down, but he scarifies all this by having bigger picture – the team's victory in mind.
   This process of sacrifice of the mind will not be recorded anywhere but if the tail-ender batsman do this act, there is a great possibility that his team will win.
• Balloon Story:
  Around 50 people were seated for a management meeting. Everyone was given a balloon, asked to blow it up, write their name on it and put their balloons in a room. Now all the balloons were jumbled up.
  Later they were asked to go quickly, pick-up their balloon and come back. Everyone rushed and in the process people toppled over the other but no body could get their balloons even after 10 minutes struggle or there were one / two exceptions who got their balloon. All were asked to sit down.
  Now everyone was asked to go and pick one balloon, check the name written on it & hand-over to the person. All of them went and within a minute everyone got their own balloons.
  So the Yagna Spirit here means – I am not trying to find balloon. Whatever balloon I get, giving to the concerned person meaning self-less action.

In a nut shell, Yagna spirit means, ‘Pour out your best for the welfare of the team at the sametime, if there will be a need, sacrifice yourself for the welfare of the team’.
Wherever there is selfishness, things go for toss and wherever there is sacrifice, success & prosperity prevails.

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The way Swamiji explained Yagna Spirit with couple of stories was wonderful and definitely have sown seed of selflessness in the children to pave way to success.

Interaction with Swamiji

Swamiji ended the talk with much involved conversation with children along with little quiz. Happy to see our children walking to the dais fearlessly to unveil their views.

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