Agnihotra Goes to Harvard Satsang March/April 2016| Volume 43 #7 |New Era 73

 Agnihotra at Harvard Divinity School

Dr. Thimmaiah

Dr.Thimmaiah
Associate Professor
Sustainable Living Department

Maharishi University of Management

Fairfield, Iowa, USA

I had an opportunity to demonstrate Agnihotra and present two talks at a conference on “The Spirit of Sustainable Agriculture,” held at the Harvard Divinity School from March 31 to April 1, 2016. The purpose of the conference was to bring together farmers, spiritual leaders and academics to explore the spirit of sustainable agriculture – past, present and future.  There was an overwhelming response to the conference; the registrations had to be closed a couple of weeks before the event.

While the conference details were worked out a couple of months ago, I expressed my desire to perform Agnihotra at the conference, as the theme of the event was spirit in agriculture. What can be more profound than Homa, which connects spirituality and agriculture so well? The organizers were quite excited about it, but the security department of Harvard University was a bit concerned about the fire hazard. I convinced them that there would not be any fire hazard; I said that if they were too concerned, they could keep a fire extinguisher nearby during my demonstration.

With a lot of excitement the day prior to my travel, I started packing my Agnihotra kit with all the supplies for the demonstration.  Consciously I pre-planned to answer any questions that the airport security may ask. Two new pyramids were chosen so that they looked like copper pots used for planting. Intentionally,  I avoided the pyramid that I regularly use for Homa at home, due to the black soot. In the age of Kaliyug, I didn’t want to take a chance with the stressed airport security people who can imagine anything when they see some burnt metal container! The other ingredient was ghee or clarified butter, which was bit tricky. If the airport people had not allowed me to carry the ghee, I planned to buy organic butter from a grocery store in Boston and make it into ghee.  During the security checking of my suitcase they noticed the ghee in their X-ray machine. I had to open my suitcase and told them that it was butter. Since it was not in a liquid state, there was no problem, which made me feel more relaxed in continuing my travel.

During the conference I delivered two talks, one on Biodynamic Agriculture and other on Organic Vedic Agriculture.  In both these forms of agriculture there is a strong reference to cow manure. Biodynamic agriculture uses the manure of lactating cows to make a preparation to enliven the soil. Similarly, dry cow manure is the main ingredient for performing Homa. The importance of cow manure is much emphasized in the Vedic scriptures. The Vedic seers had recognized the fact that for anyone who knew the art and science of using cow manure, prosperity and fulfillment would dawn in their lives.

Dr. Thimmaiah 2

On the evening of 31st March I demonstrated Agnihotra. I never expected such a  packed participation on a cold, windy day outside the Harvard Divinity School. About 150 people turned up for Agnihotra. The Agnihotra mantras and information about the Agnihotra supplies were distributed to everyone.  It was very gratifying to see bliss and happiness in everyone.

Dr. Thimmaiah 3

I mentioned to all of them that Homa is an ancient Vedic science of healing the atmosphere; the healed atmosphere heals the biosphere.  The Vedic seers knew that the plants feed quantitatively from the atmosphere and qualitatively from the soil, which is now demonstrated by modern science.  The multiple uses of Homa in human and animal health, and agriculture were discussed.

When I mentioned to them that the Agnihotra ash can be consumed for healing our body, there was some hesitation. I consumed the ash first and told them that it has been found to heal the most dreaded health ailments. There was lot of interest among the participants. A young girl who was suffering from a skin rash on her palm and had tried all the known medicines was keen to try Agnihotra ash and ghee mixture. Some of them had digestive issues while others were carrying home Agnihotra ash for their loved ones.  Many people expressed their gratitude to me for demonstrating Agnihotra at the conference.

I felt grateful to have the blessings of Shree Vasant and had the good fortune of meeting Him personally. The best service that we can offer to heal this planet is to perform Homa regularly and teach our friends this simple technique.  May the fire of Homa burn away our ignorance and enlighten us to the path of healing our planet and people.

Dr.Thimmaiah has worked for the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), National Institute for Technology Transfer (INTA), Ministry of Agriculture, Costa Rica,  and SNV Netherlands Development Organization. Dr. Thimmaiah was part of the team that led Bhutan to become the first nation to go 100% organic–a groundbreaking achievement.-Ed. 

Volunteering at Ecovillage Bhrugu Aranya, Poland

Volunteers 1

Spring in here, and we are looking for HHOOFers (Homa Helpers On Organic Farms) this summer to get involved at Ecovillage Bhrugu Aranya in southern Poland.

We feel Homa community living is the way of the future.

Here we are a diverse community of various ages and nationalities. We speak English, Polish, Spanish, some French, German and Hebrew.

English and Polish are the main languages spoken here.

We are artists, musicians, gardeners, writers, herbalists, therapists and healers.

We welcome you to come and experience daily life in our healing, Homa atmosphere with people of like-mind and heart.

We need people with skills in vegetable and herb gardening, social networking, website work, carpentry, crowdfunding, experience with horses, cows and fruit orchards.

We are offering positions to people interested in volunteering with us during the warmer months, in exchange for accommodation and meals.

Participate in 5-hour daily Yajnya and 24-hour Full and New Moon Fires.

Ecovillage Bhrugu Aranya is the only place of its kind, a full-time residential community dedicated to teaching Agnihotra and Homa Therapy, living creative lives in harmony with nature.

Ecovillage Bhrugu Aranya
Wysoka 151
34-240 Jordanow, Poland

Tel: (48) 502-347-898

info@homatherapypoland.org
www.homatherapypoland.org

On Organizing One’s Life

The following message from Shree Vasant was received in meditation by Parvati Rosen-Bizberg on February 29th, 2016.

You can make a list of all the different projects, work that needs to be done, but once that main list is made, you have to break it down and take only one at a time. Do whatever step you can or, if you can, complete it in full. Then, go on to the next task. Otherwise, you will get overwhelmed.

1st, IDENTIFY the projects or jobs.
2nd, PRIORITIZE which to do first.
3rd, FOCUS entirely on one.
4th, When completed project or step for that day, go on to the next.
5th, Take next step.

This applies to all and to every area of your lives.
LIST. PRIORITIZE. FOCUS on one, then continue to the next.

Most of you have at least 3-5 areas of your life. So, all are often equally or almost equally, calling for your attention.

Just as you would if you were the parent of 5 children, all of whom are calling you, you go to the one who is most urgent first. Take care of that or at least, get it in a calmer state. Then prioritize according to need and give each child your full attention, one by one.

If all are insistent, you may have to call all together and address them as a whole group. Express your commitment to take care of all of them. Explain, you are going to use your time wisely and ask for their patience. You will get to each ot them. You are more likely to get their attention and cooperation by addressing them, hearing and acknowledging their needs, and valuing their cooperation.

Same with your work you need to do. That is the making of comprehensive list, stating your intention to address each, to prioritize, and then focus one by one. If you allow yourself to be overcome, your emotions to take the wheel, your driving through your life becomes erratic, and chaos ensues.

ADDRESS. PRIORITIZE. FOCUS.

And, above all, acknowledge your positive attitude toward  accepting and fulfilling responsibilities. And then proceed with Joy. Always allow for humor and see any problems as challenges to rise above.

At every turn, thank the Divine and continue to restate your desire to SERVE HIM IN ALL YOU DO.

All love.

Shree continued, during 12 noon meditation:

If left to its own devices, mind will take you careening throughout life, like a car out of control. Mind is pulled from one scenario to the next. If you train the mind, it becomes sharper and sharper like a precision instrument which you are in control of, rather than mind being in control of you.

Thus, the old adage ‘anything is achievable if you put your mind to it.’ But focusing the mind is not the same as incessant worrying, analyzing or the opposite, avoiding what one does not want to face. One has to train the mind, so that it behaves as you want it to behave. That training has to be done with patience, humor and resolute strength! Mind is capable of running off if it is not attended to properly! Like an errant child, it can suddenly get lost in whatever chaos surrounds it. You have to realize this and treat your mind as if it were your child, lovingly but firmly guiding it in the proper direction.

Mind is quite capable of efficiency in action, but it also requires that its counterparts, body and spirit, be in balance with it, so that all act as one force to achieve the goal. Body has to be tended like a flower, fed, nourished, given water and rest. Spirit has to be fed as well, via meditation and self-study.

A balanced human being reaches great heights, as mind is uncluttered, organized and efficient, body is healthy and balanced, and spirit is allowed to shine. In such a state, great things can be achieved. With Grace, all is possible.

Effect of Agnihotra on Air Pollution

Dr. Ulrich Berk

Dr. Ulrich Berk, right, with staff and students of North Maharashtra University, India
Dr. Ulrich Berk, right, with staff and students of North Maharashtra University, India

We had a lot of experiments which show that Agnihotra reduces pathogenic particles in the air.

We did a new experiment in March in North Maharashtra University in Jalgaon (one hour away from Tapovan), measuring particulate matter in the air plus SOx and NOx using a High Volume Air Sampler.

See results below.

It was expected that during and right after Agnihotra there would be more particles in the air; any fire produces some smoke.

But next morning all parameters showed reduced values. And this after only one Agnihotra!

Now we want to do further studies:

  1. Take samples, for example, every hour to see how the reduction is proceeding in time.
  2. Continue to perform Agnihotra for one week.
  3. Compare with Control Fire (a fire in which same substances are burnt, but without the disciplines of Agnihotra.)

The director of the Environment Institute of that university was so impressed by this result that he suggests  a cooperation for three years with comprehensive research, joint publications, and a conference on the science of Agnihotra!

It seems that now research on Agnihotra and Homa Therapy enters a new phase.

Ambient Air Quality Report

(Values are in µg/m3)

The concentration of an air pollutant (eg. ozone) is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter air or µg/m3.

Sampling Period: – 30 min

Date Time SOx NOx RSPM SPM
28/03/2016 5:15 to 5:45 Before Homa 7.9 27.3 105 69
28/03/2016 6:30 to 7:00 During Homa 6.2 23.7 75 63
28/03/2016 7:00 to 7:30 After Homa 8.3 29.1 152 83
29/03/2016 10:30 to 11:00 After 15 hrs of Homa 5.6 21.9 56 47

SOx: Sulphur Oxides  , Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)

SPM: Suspended Particulate Matter

RSPM: Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter  (particulate matter with diameter of less than or equal to 10 micrometres)

From the Orion Transmissions

received by Parvati Rosen-Bizberg
Wysoka, Poland

January 27, 2016 On Homa Atmosphere
Yes, yes, yes. Your dream regarding Homa farms is real. Yes, not only will the healing effects of Agnihotra become magnified as the environment’s health declines, but the beings who live in such rarified nature will be protected from great turmoil in times near to come.

There is a subtle nature to these Homa fires which you perform, which cannot be fully documented scientifically. Though science can prove that which can be ascertained by physical experimentation, the subtle realms are more difficult both to ascertain and to explain.

On a subtle level, the plants growing in Homa atmosphere that is properly, regularly maintained on an actual, active Homa farm, are receiving more than nutrients through the air and water. They are receiving life force energy, which is given a boost via the presence of Divine entities that are drawn to Homa atmosphere. At a Homa farm, there are greater numbers of what are referred to as Nature Spirits or Devas present. The energy itself is super-charged and this is difficult to prove in scientific terminology.

However, this is what is most profound. The effects on human mind, body and spirit are noticeable and inspiring to see. Those entering such a rarified atmosphere often remark about how peaceful they feel or how energized.

What is needed by each individual organism will be that which that organism experiences.

If one is in need of deep rest, the body will experience a calming, peaceful flow of life force energy.

If a depressive person comes into such environment, he or she is likely to feel a surge of positive energy, which can dispel even the darkest moods. Indeed, there is far more than the eye can see.

On Oneness
It is the lifting of veils that is the culmination, the release of what is One, into what is ALL. This is something which cannot be wished for, cannot be worked for, and cannot be given until precisely the correct moment in time when the disciple reaches that pivotal state of at-ONE-ment. One cannot predict when, nor program times. It just is and will be, when the time is right.

Oneness with all of humanity and an embracing of the universal life force can occur in a split second, and often does appear in glimpses of that heightened state of serenity and awareness, only to be overshadowed by one’s increasing demands on the material plane.

However, there is a step missing here. One reaches a point in one’s life when one can still perform necessary duties on the material plane and remain in the heightened state of purity and Grace which dawns upon one when one is ready. That step is the one which comes with non-attachment, neither to the material nor to the spiritual! One’s heart and soul come together as one force and nothing breaks that level of clarity of mind, body and spirit.

Most assuredly, this is one’s aim in life on spiritual path. If one substitutes fame or fortune at any point on spiritual path, that lofty possibility becomes mired with the fog of a divided heart. Hmmm, the bane of many spiritual beings’ existence! One can see many dashing about in robes of various colours, each in pursuit of adoration and glory. Should they but realize the trade-off, they would be ashamed and dismayed by their loss.

Always maintain humility which the great masters have shown. For in so doing, the task for which you have been born into human frame can indeed reach completion, and the seemingly lofty goal of ‘I and My Father are One’ can become not only feasible but actual.

Always, always, remember to surrender to that which is Divine Will and temper your own desires, longings and wishes. When you embrace that which is destined to be, you reap the harvest designed for your soul.

Blessings abound.

We are,
Orion

For further information:
www.oriontransmissions.com

Healing with Homa Therapy

117nemesis_garcia
Nemesis Garcia Canales
Hospital Reategui, Piura,
Peru, South America

I’m 64 years old. My sister Alicia invited me to accompany her to Homa Therapy. I have had 14 years with a cough that choked me. I could barely speak. I was just coughing and coughing. When I went to the doctor, he just said, “Then don’t speak”. But I like to talk. I was just taking medicine, injections, all those kinds of things. I was told that I had an allergy, and rhinitis.  My nose was clogged. I woke up at night because I could not breathe, and I had to sleep sitting up.

I started with Homa three months ago and got my own Agnihotra kit. I feel a lot of improvement and I do not choke anymore when I speak.

Now, I breathe well. I breathe freely and I am no longer coughing. Now I feel great.

The first day I came to Homa Therapy, I felt a little scared, but on the third day I already felt some improvement and after one week of Homa treatment I felt so much better.

Before, I also could not sleep well because I suffered from a kidney inflammation and urinated all the time. Now no more.  I go to bed, sleep well and I wake up between 6 and 7 in the morning.

The practice of Agnihotra is very simple and I love to do it.

117miguel_navarro
Miguel Navarro
Hospital Reategui, Piura, Peru,
South America

I am 53 years old. My sister brought me 2 months ago to Homa Therapy, because I suffered from backache. I could not bend. If I bent, my body twisted and I could not get up or sit down, nothing.

Now I come 3 to 4 times a week for the Homa sessions and I feel good. I can bend over and I feel calmer. I have no more pain and the burning sensation in my back is also gone. I feel good with the Fire, the smoke and I take the Agnihotra ash every day.

From Shree Vasant’s Teachings

Happiness is Purified Atmosphere
It is interesting to note the word for happiness in Sanskrit is “SUKHA,” and its antithesis is “DUKHA.” SU means good and DU means bad. KHA means atmosphere. Happiness thus is merely good atmosphere and unhappiness is bad atmosphere. Agnihotra purifies the atmosphere, reduces disease in the area and brings nutrition to plant life.

Sanskrit is the mother of all European languages. All this knowledge was first revealed at the time of Creation in Sanskrit. Sanskrit was no one’s mother tongue at any time on the planet.

Mind–Instrument of Bondage, or Instrument of Liberation
Man amasses all material wealth by all possible means, wise or otherwise. He can thus become a candidate for the enjoyment of all this wealth.

However, one thing is certain. Unless he voluntarily renounces all this and unless all the desire for material enjoyment dries up, he can never be happy.

The practice of Fivefold Path will teach man how to be in this world but not of this world. Agnihotra is the biggest material aid to bring about this transformation of the mind.

“Be thou transformed by the renewal of the mind.”–Romans 12:2 King James Version Bible

One may live in a palace or one may live in a humble hut. It does not matter. What does matter is how far your mind is attached to that palace or how much your mind is hankering after unfulfilled desires living in the hut.

Get rid of the hankerings and attachments and you are free.

Then it is only, “Thy will be done.”

Fivefold Path for Happy Living

  1. Perform AGNIHOTRA for purification of the atmosphere which leads to automatic purification of mind.
  2. Practice DAAN (sharing of assets in a spirit of humility to reduce attachment to worldly possessions).
  3. Practice TAPA (becoming better managers of our energy expenditure by training the body and mind to react to all circumstances in life with Total Love).
  4. Perform KARMA (every action for self purification only and thus no expectations which bind us to the material world).
  5. Practice SWADHYAYA (Self-study) for liberation. Who am I? Why am I here? My work on this planet is to learn to react with total LOVE with each opportunity given to me.

This is the Fivefold Path for happy living on the planet. By practicing the Fivefold Path you become better members of your society, group, religion, community, etc.