Gurudev, this year there was a drought in Chhattisgarh.
The drought could be because we have not taken proper care of the rivers there. We need to attend to the needs of the farmers there and also take care of the environment at all times.When we neglect the environment then there are natural disasters.
Just see, there never used to be any floods in Chennai. But this year there has been so much flooding in Chennai. There was so much damage to people and property because of the floods. I do not think that drought can be a regular feature in Chhattisgarh. Even though there are so many forests it is surprising that there was a drought in Chhattisgarh. These natural calamities happen when the balance in nature gets upset, and that upsets the divine elements. That is why we must have Rudrabhishekam, satsang and sadhana at all places. These practices appeal even to Mother Nature and create more harmony in the environment. Then you will not face such kinds of natural disasters. So encourage satsangs to happen in every village. You can organize a satsang every Thursday or every Sunday. Whichever be the day, you must ensure that the entire village comes together and everyone should sing and do Kirtana (singing devotional hymns). Usually people waste their time on Sundays by watching movies, etc.
Also, the farmers there whose lands are fertile should stay in regular touch with the Ayurveda and Rural trust here in the Ashram. The trust will help to procure the yield from their farms and get appropriate prices. We can also arrange for marketing these food grains. We can engage our Ayurveda trust more deeply in these matters.
There are so many valuable medicinal herbs and plants in Chhattisgarh. Often we buy or procure these herbs from other places. I would suggest that whatever medicinal herbs are required can be obtained through our own devotees. So Chhattisgarh can become a very good supplier of these herbs for Ayurveda, and this will help uplift the financial situation of the people as well.
I would urge you all to visit each and every village and help change the environment there. Through us, there should be a wave of devotion, enthusiasm and happiness in every village.
I would say you should work towards making each village an ideal village so that there are no disputes or court cases there. I would ask all our Art of Living teachers to be there in the villages and administer these disputes. There is no need for the people in the villages to unnecessarily take the trouble to go to the district court, or high court, etc. Let them resolve the problems among each other.
What kinds of disputes usually happen in villages? One is land disputes. Then there are disputes over inheritance of paternal or ancestral property. Another kind is the quarrels between husband and wife, although usually these are very few in the villages. Whenever such kinds of disputes arise, then the people should sit together and resolve it rather than keep visiting the courts and paying money for the legal disputes. You can solve the problem right at its source then and there itself. Will you all work for this? We should all work for uplifting each and every village in this way so that there are no court cases or legal disputes in the villages.
Then each village becomes an ideal village. Also, when there is no person below the poverty line in the village, then also the village becomes an ideal village. No person should be unemployed, and every family in the village should be above the poverty line. This is what we should all work for together.
I saw the Hygiene and sanitation drive that you all conducted in many villages and the progress has been very good. So many people are working to promote Organic Farming, and also conserve water resources. Rivers are flowing freely and the water has become so clean and pure because of all this. Another important thing in villages is that the drainage lines and sewage system should be clean and proper. Then the dirt and waste will never accumulate anywhere, otherwise we often find it lying on the streets.
Along with this, we should also see to it that there is purity within our hearts and that our body is healthy. For keeping our body healthy we have Ayurveda. And for purity of mind we have knowledge, so listen to knowledge regularly. Do more Pranayama and meditate regularly.