असुर्या नाम ते लोका अन्धेन तमसाऽऽवृताः । ताँस्ते प्रेत्याभिगच्छन्ति ये के चात्महनो जनाः ॥

Asurya naama they lokaa andhena thamasaavruthaah | Thaagumsthey prethyabhigachchanthi ye ke chaathmahano janaah ||

Let me expand from a different angle the same truth, from this mantra, a practical, user-friendly way to use this verse. 

Whenever you make a conscious decision to say “YES” to life, listen, whenever you make a conscious decision to say “YES” to life, all the other energies associated to life get awakened in you, understand?  A simple “dhaana”, means, “charity”, you give some money for somebody’s medical expense, or you give some food for somebody, listen, simple “Anna Dhaana” awakens, because Anna Dhaana is “saying YES to somebody’s life”.  He is suffering with hunger – hunger is considered as one of the diseases in Ayurvedic Tradition; giving food is curing the disease – the moment you give food, you say “YES” to his life, and I tell you, immediately the life energy in your stomach will be awakened! 

Anybody, please understand, as an authority on this Cosmic science, the science how the Cosmic energy works, as the authority on the Dharma, with all my integrity, authenticity, I am declaring, I am revealing this truth,

please understand,

whenever you share food, do “Anna Dhaana”, you say “YES” to somebody’s life, and the life energy in your stomach is awakened!  So, any disease related to your stomach is healed! 

Same way, whenever you do “Vaidya Dhaana” – it is one of the very powerful “dhaanas” in the Vedic Tradition – means, giving money or supporting somebody in his medical care.  A poor person who can’t afford, providing medical care for that person through medicines or whatever, whatever surgery, or providing whatever is necessary for his medical care, it is called “Vaidya Dhaana”.  I tell you, if you are suffering with heart problem, do Vaidya Dhaana of a poor patient who is suffering with the same heart problem.  Do Vaidya Dhaana.  I guarantee, the life energy in you will be awakened; your recovery will be so fast, you will be healed so quickly!  I have seen the benefit of Vaidya Dhaana in my life in many ways!  Whenever I prescribed to devotees to do Vaidya Dhaana, or I myself did for some devotees, it has helped a lot!  Helped a lot!  Many people who were supposed to die, did not die.  Their life got elongated just by Vaidya Dhaana!  I tell you, from my experience!  Because, the moment you say “YES” to somebody’s life, the life energy in you wakes up to that “YES”!  It wakes up to that “YES”!  Whenever your life energy wakes up to the “YES”, simply your body heals! 

All “dhaana”, please understand, all “dhaana” is “saying YES to life”.  Still, now, I follow, whenever I go to the sacred places, I will do all the great “dhaanas” that need to be done.  Of course, nowadays, we don’t collect as individual items like a cow, or gold, cloth.  I give it as huge charity to “sadhus” or poor people.  Even if the poor comes in the garb of “sadhus”, anything!  Poor coming in the garb of “sadhus” is much better than poor becoming thieves.  So, don’t deny.  Anybody comes in the garb of “sadhus”, give them.  At least, in the garb of “sadhu”, slowly he will pick up the “sadhu” qualities.  Even now I never miss the opportunity to say “YES” to life. 

And I wanted to tell all my devotees, my followers, even when you are going in your car or whatever, how much ever you can, if you are going in two-wheeler or car, always keep in your bag some change (coins/money), whatever you can.  Don’t miss a single beggar in any traffic signal.  Please understand, thousands of people may say, ‘Oh, don’t encourage begging.  Don’t give.  They become drug addicts.  They misuse this money.’  So many things!  That is their problem, understand.  By giving, you say “YES” to life.  And, I tell you, when you start giving from this context – ‘By giving this “dhaana”, I am saying “YES” to his life’ – you will see the life energy, “saying YES to life”, will be awakened not only in you, but even in him (the person to whom you are giving)! 

I have transformed so many people who received from me!  Just by giving some money or support, I have transformed so many people, understand?  Because, the context from which I am giving is “saying YES to life”.  Don’t bother about all the other stupid theories. 

Whether you go to a temple, whenever…. 

The tradition says, these five people you should never meet empty-handed or say “NO”.  These five people you should always give something: 

• One, a child.  Whenever you meet a child, see a child, always share something.  
• And, a pregnant woman who is carrying one more life.  Whenever you see her, always share something.  
• And, a beggar in the street or anywhere, person who is in need, poor.  Always share something.  
• Fourth, a “sadhu”.  Always share something.  
• Fifth person you should not go meet empty-handed, you should always give something is, Guru.  

Tradition says, these five people you should always share something, offer something, because, this is “saying YES to life”. 

And, I tell you, I tell you, you will NEVER become poor by saying YES to life and sharing!  You will NEVER become poor!  Go on sharing; you will be showered!  You will be showered! 

Just yesterday, to one of my Mahants I was telling…..  I gave her the “asana”, means, the traditional seat for the Branch she is going to be in-charge.  That time I said, ‘Behave as a princess, and be the princess!  Whether you go to a temple or anywhere, always offer, share, give, how Swamiji gives.  That way give!’  And I told her, ‘You will always receive it!  Never have insecurity.  You will always receive it!  You will be showered!’  Because, whenever you share, especially from this context of “saying YES to life” – ‘I am saying YES to life by sharing, by giving’ – understand? 

“Dhaana”, charity, sharing, is one of the highest forms of saying “YES” to life.  Whether it is sharing of food, sharing of clothes, sharing of knowledge, or sharing of enlightenment itself, “dhaana” is one of the greatest ways of saying “YES” to life.  And, by giving “dhaana” from this context of “saying YES to life”, you will awaken the life energy not only in you, but even in the person who is receiving!  So, always say “YES” to life, “YES” to life!  Say “YES” to life!  Constantly, constantly sharing from the context of “saying YES to life” will awaken so much of life energy in you, so much of life energy in you! 

Wherever you get a chance to say “YES” to life, do it!  Do it!  I don’t even bother about the security.  I will always keep notes, changes, coins, in the car.  Wherever in the signals the car stops, any poor or beggars I see, that is the only time I touch money.  Always giving with the context, from the context of “saying YES to life”!  Please understand, go on sharing as much as you can from the context of “saying YES to life”, “saying YES to life”! 

And these five people – a Child, Pregnant Woman, a Beggar, or a Sadhu, and Guru – these five people, you should never go and meet empty-handed.  You should always go, whenever you see them, always share something with this clear context of “saying YES to life”, “saying YES to life”.  

And, whichever position you are in, you may be a social leader, bureaucrat, religious leader, spiritual leader, or a political leader, let all your decisions be always based on saying YES to life; you will have so much of blessings, strength, security, showered on you by the Cosmos. 

Sharing and giving is one of the important ways of saying “YES” to life.  Even when I heal somebody, I just say a deep “YES” to life; that’s all!  Their bio-memory also picks up that truth of saying “YES” to life.  And, when the bio-memory picks up the fire of “YES to life”, it suddenly starts healing itself.  So much of healing, so much of recovery, so much of health happens! 

And, I tell you, say a deep “YES” to life.  That is the essence of all these three verses of this first Upanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad.  Say a deep, powerful “YES” to life.  And never say “NO” to life.  All your fears are nothing but “saying NO to life”.  All your fears are nothing but “saying NO to life”.  Say a powerful, deep “YES” to life.