THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT TRY MEN’S SOULS by Barry Rathner, Ph.D.-Bhrugu Aranya Community

It has been 235 years since Thomas Paine penned the words that form the title of this piece. Though he was referring to the American Revolution, the words might just as easily be referring to current events in any of a half dozen Middle Eastern countries.
Furthermore, it is not at all a stretch to apply them to all of this planet’s inhabitants, for very few of which can life be described as a “walk in the park.”
Blessed or cursed as we all are to breathe and be exposed to basically the same atmosphere regardless of where we live or travel, it might be said we are all in the same boat. Considering matters, that boat might best be an ARK, as whether it be by flood, by drought, or name your poison, to describe these times we live in as those that try men’s souls, is not hyperbole.
As International Women’s Day was just celebrated, permit me to note that women’s souls are no less being tried than men’s. After all, Mr. Paine was perhaps catering to budding voters at the time, none of which were to be women for many, many years.
Now if I am to be the bearer of unpleasant news, lest I be labeled a doomsday purveyor, let me try to balance things.
For the past 1 ½ years, I have been highly blessed to live here at Bhrugu Aranya, the Homa Organic Farm/Eco-Village/Sustainable Community in the foothills, nearly, of the Tatra Mountains, which form the border between Poland and Slovakia.
Let me count the blessings: first, if one were to walk around whistling, “The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music,” one would be excused, for the vistas in nearly any direction one looks put most postcards to shame. Truly shocking how breathtaking are the views.
Then there are the more subtle, but no less real, experiences of the energies here. Spending time in the main house here often resembles a mind-altering experience.
Objects appear unique, music sounds exceptionally vibrant, human interaction is uncharacteristically positive, emotional and balanced. Creativity is nurtured, the mind is stilled, an unfolding and flowering of the children occurs right before our very eyes.
How can this be, given these trying times in which we live? As we were in a sense ‘promised’ that a center such as Bhrugu Aranya can and would become an oasis midst the deserts, we can’t say we are surprised.
As in the 12-Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous (and all the other Anonymous programs), promises are put forth. They say basically that if one does the program, such and such will result.
So it is and has become for Fivefold Path adherents. Plant vegetables, fruits and herbs according to the principles of Homa Organic Farming and one is virtually guaranteed crops that surpass all others.
Train our minds according to the principles of Homa Psychotherapy whereby we attempt to train our minds to react positively and with love ultimately all the time, and the manifestation of levels of happiness and peace and serenity that passeth understanding unfolds.
Use Agnihotra ash medicines for preventative and curative effects, and amelioration and lessening of illnesses and disturbances result.
Are all of these examples of the workings of the Law of Karma—do this, and that happens? Indeed. Yet, beyond that is the unfolding of Grace, what one might call a super-physical aspect of Karma.
And so it goes during these times that try our souls. We are the ‘guinea pigs,’ many of us having employed Fivefold Path principles for nearly 40 years.
We may not be ‘statistically significant’ or ‘FDA approved,’ quite yet, but we certainly are the puddings of our proofs.
The young people are lucky. Not only are they young, but they can look at the elders, the seniors, and see walking, living specimens of decades of at least regular performance of Agnihotra.
Those of us smart enough not to stop there, but to consciously and earnestly make strong efforts to embody the other four aspects of Fivefold Path as well, become even better potential mentors and examples for our students, children and now, grandchildren.
We may not be perfect quite yet, but we have certainly progressed. And being alive certainly connotes being a ‘work in progress.’
It is a special and awesome responsibility and opportunity we have. We certainly believe what we have experienced. Now is the time to help as many others as possible to have the experiences in these times that try men’s souls!