1. Respect parents, teachers. Joint family is the way of life in India or in Hinduism. Aged parents will be the head of the family until they alive. Jews were also following the same policy (Ref. Ten commandments) but changed later. Hindu families are still respecting their parents. All family religious functions start only after respecting parents and elders.
2. Early to bed and early to raise. Two hours duration prior to Sun raise is called ‘Brahma Muhurththam’. That period considered to be so sacred for devotional and knowledge gaining activities. Farmers will be going to fields with ploughs and bullocks during early mornings. But now, this practice is slowly diminishing. Most of the villagers will be going to bed before nine in the nights.
3. Bathing during morning hours will reduce body (Excessive) heat apart from cleaning the skin. Wear washed clothes daily. Indian villagers will be walking up to river sides in the morning hours and have their bath. We could see this habit even today in villages. Well in each house and a tank for each village were features in ancient days. It seems that ancient Jewish people were also using such a common water storage area to take bath. Ancient Indus valley area as well as western Jerusalem area were having such water storages.
4. Use religious symbols (‘Vibuthy’, ‘Srichrnam’ or ‘kumkum’) on forehead. There will be a psychological attraction towards these persons. Vibuthy is the ash of cow dung. The philosophical meaning for wearing Vibuthy is ‘Human body is also going to become into ashes’. Similarly ladies should wear ‘kumkum’ and not the stickers on their forehead. It was considered sacred in Hinduism. Sari should be worn by south Indian ladies. Ancient Indians believed that stitching a torn clothe was symbol of poverty.
5. Every home will have a prayer room where family deity’s idol will be kept with reverence. Drawing with artistic skill by using rice flavor (‘Kolam’) is the specialty of south Indian ladies. Ladies will clean their homes, prepare items for the prayer and cook food to offer to God, guests, family members and self. Ladies will light lamps in front of deities during morning and evening. Keeping the home bright is the responsibility of ladies. Ladies will look after all the activities within their homes.
6. According to ancient Hindu culture, guests should be fed before taking their lunch everyday. There were stories about people waited for a guest but found none and spent the day in fasting.
7. Killing is against Hinduism. While considerable people ate flesh, those who involved in yogic practice seriously will eat only vegetarian food. Jews were also vegetarians once but interpreted the rule in ten commandments differently. The main profession of Indus valley people was cultivation of oats, wheat etc..
8. Using alcohol was considered a bad habit. All bad habits will continue if alcohol was consumed because it sedates human brain.
9. Gambling was against Hindu culture. The results of gambling were the story of Mahabaratha.
10. Desire on possessing another person’s wife is a sin in Hinduism. The main theme of Ramayana is the same. Sex with married woman was considered sacred. Second marriage of a male or female was allowed in Hinduism. If one in a couple died, other can marry again. If both alive, there were many stringent rules to get diverse and remarry a new one. The Bible also having such rules.
11. Think the deeds are ours and benefits are the gifts of God. Such thought will help to get rid of ego. Stealing should always be avoided. Adding too much of wealth also called as stealing in Hinduism. There will be no short temper if ego was avoided. Use the extra earnings for helping others.
12. Involve in family activities as a duty without affection or desire. Believe in God will help to improve good habits.
13. Avoid speaking lies. Harichandra purana is a story based on stressing truth.
14. Lead a contended life. Sadness can be avoided because of loans and insults.
15. Do yoga three times a day at least half an hour during each time. The first one should be before Sun raise. The second one at Sun set and the third before going to bed. It can be for 10 minutes during night. Professionals can adjust their yoga timings according to their convenience. But, time and place should be unaltered as far as possible.
16. Eat for hunger and not for taste or to eating sake. Depending upon individual’s profession, the dining timings should be adjusted and maintained uniformly. We must understand that eating is only to gain strength for doing our duties and not for improving our fat. After forty, try to reduce the quantity of food. Vegetarian food is always preferable or at least after forty.
There were saints who ate just three small size hand full of grain food daily and lived more than hundred years of age. So, one time full meal is sufficient to live with good health. Avoiding dinner after the evening will be agood habit.
17. Always mingle and live with knowledgeable people. Those who wish to lead devotional life should think, speak and hear philosophical words always whenever free time found.
18. Expectation will lead to disappointments. As quoted in Bagavath Geetha, all deeds belong to us but gains were given by God. ‘Man proposes and God disposes’ is also same. Disappointments may happen because of improper involvement or ego.
19. Patience is most required for yogic practices. Patience and strong will lead to success. Think number of times before starting towards a goal. Plan when and how to execute. Don’t turn around after the start.
20. Think positive. Never use negative words. Believe there is one above us. Avoid fear. Talk less and work more.
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