The Vedas (most revered Indian Scripture) declare “The Human life is the most auspicious and difficult to acquire.” Why? It is only in the human form that the divine has the power of discrimination, the power to differentiate right from wrong, good from bad. It is this human birth which is capable rising to higher levels of consciousness and ultimately realize and become one with the creator, the GOD.
The effect of Kali age (the name of the present period of creation, given by the Vedas) is such that goodness, which is our true natural self, is mostly shadowed by the wrong acts. We have the human form but have lost humanness. We consider ourselves as superior to animals but act and conduct worst than animals. Animals do not deviate from their basic nature. A Tiger, however hungry he may be, would never ever eat grass. A cow would always give us white, nourishing milk irrespective of the food we offer her.
Whereas, the humans have completely deviated from their basic nature. It is said, “ As you think so you become”. We are made to think that we come out from the evolution from Animals. So we act like one. Anticipating that may give us the permanent happiness. We should never forget that we are “Amritas-putra” – children of immortality. We are verily the children of God. So we should have the qualities of our Divine Father, GOD.
As Bhagawat Gita ( Holy book of Indians) declare that whenever there is decline in the righteousness I would manifest in human form to restore Dharma – The Righteousness. Ironically God has to come to remind us that that we are human beings and we should conduct like ones. To differentiate us from Animals he even gave us the identification qualities and attributes namely, Satya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness & right conduct), Shanti (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non- violence). These are the five values which when realized and lived, make us a true human being. The study and propagation of these Values is called Education in Human Values (EHV). Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba, who propounded EHV program, went a step ahead. Summarizing Education in Human Values He said that – Trues EHV is implementing 3HV.
3HV refers to the values of Head, Heart and Hand. The purification and unison of thought word and deeds make one a true Human being. Our Holy Scriptures declares “one who has unity in ones thought, speech and action, is verily a saint or higher being. One whose thought words and action are distinct, they are essence the evil ones.”
Head could be understood or refer to as the five senses of knowledge (Gyan indriyas), through which we receive/ intake various things (like food, information etc.) Heart is like seat of soul, where the discrimination power resides, to analyze which thoughts are right or wrong. Hand could be referred to as the symbol for five sense of Action (Karm Indriyas), which is to put in action the thoughts which has been passed by the discrimination of Heart. The aim of being born in a Human birth is to purify all three of the above. This would in turn help in realizing the Divine and bestow upon us the ultimate bliss, which is our true nature.
Sri Ramkrishna , a worldly illiterate, but purity incarnate, became Paramhansa. Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, practiced these values and became a Mhatma. We can have innumerable examples in this regard who have lived to show to the world the true way of justifying a human birth. One who has purity and harmony of thoughts word and deed, who has synchronized the head, heart and hand can truly be called a Human being . That’s why it is also said that See no evil , Hear no evil and Do no evil that’s the way to God. That’s the reason why it is important to understand the values of head, heart and hand.
To my understanding the best and the easiest way to assign and identify the values to the above three is by analyzing the intention and the result of any thought, word or deed. The essence of Vedas or all the scriptures, declares Sri Satya Sai Baba, is “Help Ever Hurt Never”. We should not have any wrong or bad feelings towards any one. Convey the Love of God through the head, heart and hand. If any thought word or act leads us t o God or is godly , is pure and is done with good cause and with a purpose to serve other is the true Value of life – a sign of True Human being . Any act that hurts our consciousness and leaves guilt in us should be shunned at any cost.
The principal and philosophy of 3HV (values of head, Heart and hand) aims and helps in identifying and imbibing the values befitting to these three important facets of human being. This is the true Education in Human Value. Harmony and purity in thought, word and deeds should be the sign of an educated person Control and proper regulation of these three is the true evaluation of the Character of a person. This is also referred to as “Trikarna Shudhi” – purification of the three.
Lets pray that in our journey to God may we achieve the values of Head , Heart and Hand so as to become worthy and befitting instruments in the Divine Hands.
