Cleanliness in India

Question

It is said that messy environments create low vibrations. Also that dirty objects attract lower astral entities. In developing countries like India how can we find high vibrations where the above (mess and dirt) is highly compromised?

—Vidhya, India

Answer

Dear Vidhya,

In my many visits to India over my lifetime, I have seen improvements in sanitation and messiness. But what I have also seen is that those of higher consciousness of such matters go the extra length to make their homes or their workplace clean and uplifted. (And also personally, in being clean in body and wearing attractive, clean clothing).

It always begins with us! So, do your best to bathe daily; to wear clean and neat clothes; to maintain your home and workplace in a clean, attractive, and uplifted manner. Then, as circumstances permit, you can encourage others (first by your example, of course) or participate in local initiatives to clean up your neighborhood or city.

But remember the counsel of Jesus when criticized for the fact that his disciples did not wash their hands before a meal: “It is not what goes into a man’s mouth that makes him unclean, but that which comes out of it!” Jesus also declared: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” So, truthfully, cleanliness (saucha-#1 of the niyamas) begins in the mind and in the heart and then extends outward to the body and to the environment.

Purity of heart then is the secret of sattwa guna (uplifted vibration).

Blessings to you!
Nayaswami Hriman
Seattle WA USA
www.Hrimananda.org