As we welcome 2026, let us introspect – what newness will this year bring into our lives? What reasons will it give us to feel enthusiastic? Is the coming year truly new? Or by oversight, is it just our old year reappearing before us? All the contrary thoughts and behaviours that we identified within ourselves in 2025, are we willing to let them continue in 2026?
Surely, no one would want that! Therefore, by the infinite grace of Param Pujya Babuji (Shri Hanumanprasad Poddar ‘Bhaiji’), Param Pujya RadhaBaba and Param Pujya ‘Nanaji’ (Shri Dharmendra Mohan Sinha), we are once again being given an opportunity in 2026 to practice (‘abhyaas’) taking concrete steps towards realizing our divine nature (‘yoga’). Describing the nature of this ‘Abhyaas-yoga’ (Gita – 6/26), Lord Krishna says –
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ 26 ॥
Yato yato nishcharati manashchanchalamasthiram ।
Tatastato niyamyaitad aatmanyeva vasham nayet ॥
To whichever place the restless and unsteady mind wanders, it should be brought back from there under the control of the Self.
In the commentary of ‘Jeevan-Vigyan’, Pujya Nanaji has assured that, despite making the auspicious resolution for self-improvement, it is natural for a spiritual aspirant to stumble due to old habits. But whenever this happens, he should immediately turn back and again move towards God. In goshthi-discussions, Nanaji would explain – ‘If you slip and fall while walking on the road, do you just lie there? No, you become more careful, then get up and start walking again. This is what God wants from us.’
This guidance can be applied to every aspect of our self-improvement efforts –
- Whenever our mind wanders from the resolve of regular japa-swadhyay-contemplation, we should bring it back to spiritual practice.
- Whenever we falter in controlling our undesirable thoughts, we must rise again with renewed enthusiasm and strive to overcome those thoughts.
- Whenever feelings of agitation or resentment arise in our minds towards a particular person or situation, we should remember the ‘Five points for attaining bliss’ (‘Paanch Anand Bindu’) that Pujya Nanaji taught us, and resolve to free ourselves from such reactions.
Thus, by taking refuge in the grace of God and revered saints, let us utilize 2026 to correct all our negative habits. This practice will naturally bring a wave of joy into our lives, and 2026 will truly become an auspicious new year for us.
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