Okay, it may be darkest before the dawn and okay, there may be light at the end of the tunnel, and okay, a ceasefire in Gaza is in place, but to buy into the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is Near at Hand may be a bit of a stretch for some.

Despite the fact that more than 50 years ago, some of us in several countries—USA, India and Germany in particular—were given warnings and glimpses into the ‘challenging’ future Planet Earth was facing, now that those challenges surround us nearly incessantly, it is often not easy at all to do what is necessary to face and withstand those challenges—and help others do the same.

Forewarned is forearmed and, indeed, we have been forewarned and as well as forearmed. Our stock of munitions can succinctly be summarized as the Fivefold Path. Two of the 5 steps are material aids—Yajnya and Daan—and the other 3 constitute not only a blueprint for inner growth, but a bastion of resilience we can access on a moment’s notice.
Midst the destruction, distraction, disinformation, delusion, and downright evil surrounding us, we can be optimistic that we can not only survive, but can as well serve others less able to manage on their own. And, for sure, these opportunities to serve are as crucial to our own well-being as to those being served.

But 1) this is not a drill, 2) only mouthing

the words or cut and pasting the lessons WILL NOT CUT IT, is not sufficient and might be what Shree Vasant was alluding to when it was said THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR HALFWAY MEASURES.

In midst of a war, all efforts need be maximized so that optimal results occur. It’s not like, “I’ll sleep when I die”— balance is still operative— but holidays lasting months should be discouraged. And martyrs need not apply.

‘No halfway measures’— so more YAJNYA (we do 5 hours of Om Tryambakam Homa daily at our Ecovillage).
More DAAN, to reduce our material attachments.
More TAPA to improve our overall competence, resilience, and effectiveness. More awareness of and reliance on Law of KARMA so that our actions remain appropriate and garner best results.
And more SWADHYAYA, as continuing to evolve ensures our becoming the best instruments of the Divine.

These five steps are the arms, the weapons we have been given to fight the deleterious elements which are rearing their ugly heads. If we can be keep our individual and collective noses to the physical, emotional, and spiritual grindstones that face us, then when the battles are won, we can look back with no regret and with the knowledge that we have lived and acted in consonance with Divine Will-IDAM NA MAMA.

Should anyone doubt the power of and behind these tools, the understanding that the Divine through the instrument of the Vedas, prescribed them should assuage any doubts.

And the results—short term or long term— should not be of our concern. They lie with the Divine.