Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji

Swami ji said …

No stone was left unturned and painstaking efforts were made by our elders – right through our childhood and adolescence – to instill in us the major difference between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’; to be ever conscious of the distinct void that exists between them and how essential it was for us to not even think of going down the ‘wrong’ path that would tempt us to indulge in wrong-doings- “हमेशा सही काम करो… गलती करने से दूर रहो”- It would not be possible for us to count the number of times our parents had reminded us, gently, and, at times even forewarned us – as they knew we just might be tempted to do the wrong thing. Constant reminders to always do the right thing – “जो चीज़ तुम्हारी नहीं है—वह कभी भी, किसी भी हाल में, तुम्हारा मन चाहे जितना भी ललचाए—मत लेना…” “कोई भी गलत काम मत करना…” – were ingrained in us – but did we abide by their stern reminders?

Not really – as a few among us might have just picked up a brand-new scented eraser from our classmate’s pencil box and carried it home for just a night- and on being caught by our parents – returned it with great reluctance to the ‘rightful’ owner. We just did it. Maybe, the ‘desire’ to possess an eye-catching object could have overpowered our ability to think with clarity at that young age. The question – ‘ Why had we done so? ‘ – could draw different answers from us – as we would try to defend our act – which we would deep down know – should have never been done by us.

Our parents had told us, tirelessly, during our adolescence – to stay away from certain vices – that could take a heavy toll on us and have damaging consequences on our health and mental state. But a few among us, in the quest to ‘try’ the untried – could have picked up certain habits – which we might not have been able to give up over the years and have unfortunately become an inseparable part of our lives today. Was it our ‘ego’ that refused to listen to the simple direction given to us by them that – if what we intended to do was not right, would not help, enrich or benefit us in any way – then that should not be done by us? But how many of us had sincerely paid heed to the valuable advice given to us by them? Mere lip-service and not adhering to a promise – in case we had made one to them – would neither work in our favour nor ensure our betterment in any way.

‘Speak the ‘truth’ ‘- at all times, irrespective of the condition and circumstances in which we found ourselves – was the simple, but, very significant principle that our parents repeatedly had told us to build our lives on – but, again, how many times had we taken the escape route – by speaking the ‘untruth’ and ‘lied’ – to save our skin, to get out of a difficult situation or simply because it had become a habit. Why has it always been so very easy to forget the guidelines laid down by our elders and instead settle for doing the ‘wrong’ thing – with the skill of a practiced wrong – doer, without batting an eyelid ? After all, why is it so difficult for us to adhere to the instruction – that there is no need for us to ‘say anything’ that is not ‘true’ – and to say only if it is the ‘truth’. Why fabricate lies – as one lie always leads to another lie?’

We were also told to listen more and speak only when necessary. But that is not the case today. We feel a compulsion to speak on topics with a put-on authority – despite not being well-versed at all in the issue being discussed. We have strong opinions and even stronger convictions in them – even though we very well know they might not necessarily hold true. Why speak unnecessarily- when we don’t know much about the core issue? Wouldn’t it be better to stay quiet?

For the spiritual seeker, this morality check of oneself is a necessary practice. We often do that which we not ought to do as the mind convinces us otherwise. Slander and falsehood is labelled as a ‘joke’ by the mind, a means of fun and frolic – not understanding the pain and hurt it can cause. Poor habits, addictions are indulged by the mind as ‘treats’ – “Just this one time won’t hurt… I deserve a break” – the mind says. The mind spins tales to us and before long, we are speaking lies and committing bad actions, all under some pretext or another. And it does not then take any longer for us to fall into a corrupt and morally bankrupt lifestyle.

The mind is powerful. Controlling it is akin to controlling an army of thousands. Thus, it is perfectly natural for us to fall into vices and sin at times. However, it is important that we build a mental immunity to this, by constantly checking ourselves. Asking ourselves, am I doing something wrong here? Is my quest for comfort forcing me to do something immoral? Am I deceiving myself by doing what I am doing? Am I looking the wrong way- instead of acknowledging my drawbacks and weaknesses? It is only then that we can become stronger in mind and focus our energy on developing ourselves spiritually.

Swami ji said…

If we go down memory lane, it would not take us very long to recall – how we would take no longer than a few seconds—or perhaps a couple of minutes— to make a decision —” एक फ़ैसला लेने में, निर्णय लेने में…” — as children, adolescents, and even, today, as adults, in the present moment. And, we would end up saying with a tone of finality in our voice -“ That’s it! I start with this from tomorrow…” or “Next week onwards—you’ll see me do that!”

A decision, once taken—whether impulsively or after long deliberation—for our betterment, benefit, growth, and progress, has the unique quality of making us start from a point – that arises from a thought or an idea – which may have struck our mind – even randomly.

It is possible that even today we are able to remember how we had forgotten about that very decision which we were supposed to follow up on and put into practice—because it had been made in the spur of the moment, in a frivolous manner, with no specific purpose and had been said carelessly. Since the decision was not meant to serve a definite purpose, it died a natural death.

A decision, once taken, can reach fruition and take a definite, complete shape only when it is pursued with a regimented and disciplined mind. Our senses and our entire being need to develop the ability to ignore the outward attractions that will undoubtedly call out to them and tempt them to seek enjoyment, instead of staying committed to the decision that has yet to receive its finishing touches from us. It also requires dedication—a quiet, consistent resolve—to ensure that the decision taken by us is carried through to completion and we see it take the anticipated final shape before us.

The spiritual seeker must be disciplined. No matter how noble his thoughts and intentions may be – if, he is not disciplined, there will be no progress realised on the spiritual path. To praise God and to think profoundly of Him are all very good. But if one is not disciplined in one’s daily spiritual practice—however simple or small it may be—then that person is not making any progress at all.

The spiritual path, like all other paths in life, requires tremendous effort. And like all other endeavours, it can be trying and lonely, and at times unbearable—causing the mind to question: “Is this really worth the effort? Do we really need to exert ourselves so hard?” “What have we gained after all this?”

Such questions can make one lose focus. It is only through grit and discipline—the firm belief that meditating and praying again and again, routinely, will surely bear fruit for the soul—that the spiritual seeker can maintain his course towards God.

In fact, in most other endeavours of life, there can always be an element of luck. A student might get only those questions in an examination that he had studied for. A gambler might win a fortune in a game of roulette. Someone may get a job not because they are qualified, but because they have a good referral. In all such cases, luck—and not discipline—can occasionally reward a person.

But this is not so on the spiritual path. Without one’s own efforts—sustained and relentless—there will be no rewards. God is never found by luck, but, rather through disciplined and unwavering effort in the form of self-control, moderation, self-reflection, meditation, and other spiritual practices.

The mind loves indiscipline – and, thus, it must be restrained and reined in to maintain focus. For many of us, things such as sticking to a routine, even doing something good that will be beneficial for us—over and over again, every day, or, fulfilling a commitment when the excitement and vigour surrounding it have faded – are often the most dreary activities. Our mind seems to collapse under the burden of boredom and finds ways to avoid doing what we once promised ourselves – we would, unfailingly, do every day.

But to fight the mind, to wrestle with it and force it to adhere to discipline—this painstaking effort itself becomes our greatest offering to God. God is not counting how many hours we meditate, nor is He counting the number of times we pray; rather, He observes our commitment to what we have promised Him.

Perhaps we have proclaimed an intention that in reality – is difficult or even impossible to sustain. God is not concerned with the perfection of that claim, but, with the sincerity of our effort. We may have declared that we will meditate for two hours every day, and yet find ourselves unable to manage this consistently. While we may fall short, God is not troubled by the shortfall. What He sees—and values—is whether we are making a genuine effort to meditate every day.

For Him, it is the effort and discipline that count. It is this sincerity and perseverance that make us worthy of His Grace.

Swami ji said…

What is our reaction on seeing a well-groomed person step out in style from a customised car, donning the most expensive accessories, leaving behind a fragrance of a limited-edition perfume – as he strides past us, oozing confidence? Most of us stop doing what we were attempting to do, and, thoroughly distracted by his commanding, attention-demanding presence – gaze at him with wonder and awe. We soak in the sight of luxury – worn with such elan, marvel at his good fortune, his luck, his ‘kismet’, and are left saying—often enviously -“ कितना किस्मत वाला है ये…”
“कितना भाग्यशाली है…”
“सब कुछ है इसके पास…और हमारे पास कुछ भी नहीं है…”

Sadness and quiet misery creep in as we think of the modest wealth and material possessions we hold. Almost instinctively, we begin to compare – ‘अपना बुरा भाग्य दूसरों के अच्छे भाग्य से…’ which only worsen matters further for us.

Man has always had the habit of believing that the grass is greener on the other side. And in doing so, we mostly see our side as barren and bare. But, this tendency should, at least once in a while, compel us to pause and ask ourselves: “How do we truly define a ‘भाग्यशाली इंसान’?” What is our own definition of good fortune and luck?

Has the pull, sway, and glamour of wealth and material success shaped our understanding so deeply that we equate fortune only with what is visible to the eye? क्या धन और दौलत की चकाचौंध ने हमें यह मानने पर मजबूर कर दिया है कि भाग्य केवल बाहरी समृद्धि का नाम है? We forget that appearances can often be deceptive. Instead of looking for that which merely shines, we must look for that which has a light within. Wealth can come at the expense of health, at the expense of love and relationships. Money can also be obtained through immoral means and by deceiving others. Those who possess great material wealth and comfort can still be burdened by fear, sleepless nights, broken relationships, or a restless mind.

Thus, the question – Who is fortunate and who is not – is a rather complex one. And for us to ponder over it— by comparing our own journey with that of others—is largely irrelevant. How can we ever be certain that what we perceive as an unfortunate event in our own life is not, in fact, a blessing? How do we know that the ‘good luck’ someone enjoys today is not a precursor to ‘worse luck’ tomorrow? Even the greatest minds have never been able to decipher the divine play unfolding before our eyes. Why, then, should we attempt to pass judgment on it?

If someone’s wealth or success inspires you, that is far better. Success in the material world often makes one aware of how little control we truly have over the outcomes of our best endeavours. Those who are genuinely successful—if honest—will admit that whatever they achieved was ultimately a result of God’s favour, and nothing else. Their hard work and sacrifice—while not irrelevant—never guaranteed certainty. And again, how can we truly know who is blessed by God and who is not?

While we often point to Ravan for his folly, his pride, and the fate he met as a consequence, can we truly say that he was unfortunate? He ultimately met his end at the hands of Shri Ram. He became the cause for Lord Vishnu to take a grand avatar, and in his final moments, Lord Ram revealed His true form to him. Was Ravan, then, not bhāgyashālī—even though his end is often viewed as tragic?

In the Ramayana, Vibhishan went to Lord Ram’s camp because he believed it to be his ‘dharma’. Eventually, he was made the King of Lanka by Lord Ram Himself. Yet he is often portrayed as one who betrayed his brother for a kingdom. Was he, then, bhāgyashālī or not?

Perhaps outcomes, outward appearances, sentiments, and opinions are not the correct measures to judge whether a person is blessed by God or not.
Perhaps it is the simpler signs—a gentle smile, a calm and wise countenance, an honest and compassionate demeanour—that reveal whom God favours.

Peace and quiet of mind, mental fortitude and inner strength, unwavering faith in God, and the blessings and guidance of a Guru—these are the true signs of a bhāgyashālī person. Such a person is blessed with contentment and gratitude. He remembers God at all times and remain unperturbed by the changing seasons of life. And while he may not shine brightly with the jewels and gems of this world, he radiates the far greater light of God from within.

Swami ji said…

“Life is a race. In today’s cut-throat competition, you must have an edge over others. You must learn to survive. You have to be the best. There is no place for mediocrity, and no room for failure or losers.” Such stern and uncompromising words are very often poured into young ears, directing and conditioning them to prepare for the challenges that await them the moment they step into the professional world. They have to be better than the rest – is what is drilled into them. And, to a certain extent, this belief appears justified — for in the jungle of competition, only the fittest seem to survive.

Yet, we must also pause and reflect on the indelible impression that these words may leave on young minds — the context in which they are interpreted, internalised, and eventually acted upon by them. For it is not merely the words themselves, but the meaning attached to them that shapes their thought, behaviour, and life choices. And, this is where they must lay down and follow a moral code of conduct – that they must promise to themselves- will never be crossed by them – while chasing ‘success’ , ‘wealth’ and ‘fame’. The smell of money can be heady and can easily compel anyone to indulge in a nefarious activity – which can ruin one’s life for ever. The fantasy of becoming rich overnight can only be realised by selling one’s ‘soul’ to the devil – but the pull of wealth can be so strong that caution is thrown to the wind and the ‘soul’ is made to witness actions that makes it feel impure and dirty.

When success is defined only in terms of wealth, status, and possessions – young minds begin to believe that life itself is nothing more than a relentless race — one where compassion is weakness, failure is shameful, and worth is measured only by external achievement. It is highly possible that their elated minds could direct them to
give up their values, their ethic, their morals – in order to chase success, gain fame, and ensure that their name is remembered forever — at any cost?

The far-reaching consequences of such conditioning – are often unseen. Mental pressure, anxiety, fear of failure, and moral compromise – quietly begin to take root. In the race to “win,” values are diluted, empathy is sidelined, and the deeper purpose of life is forgotten.

There is no doubt in the fact that
while effort and excellence are important, life was never meant to be reduced to a pursuit of ‘दौलत’, ‘शोहरत’ और ‘सम्पत्ति’ alone. Success without balance, achievement without awareness, and ambition without humility leave the soul impoverished, no matter how rich the outer life may appear. Success and ambition are not wrong. However, they are not meant to define our worth or blind our conscience. Our actions must be birthed from righteousness.

True living lies not in winning a race, but , in understanding why we are running — and whether the destination we seek is truly worth the cost. We must question ourselves- “क्या हम जीवन की दौड़ में – थोड़ा रुकना, ठहरना भूल गए हैं और सुख, शांति को अनुभव करना भूल गए हैं…”

Swami ji said…

“ ‘नेकी कर, कुएँ में डाल’ ” – are gems of wisdom that have been passed on from one generation to the next with the special, noble purpose of exhorting the younger ones to do good deeds – for whosoever it could be – without expecting anything in return from anyone. But, unfortunately,
society, is filled with individuals who keep a ledger of every good act they have ever done — whom they helped, what they did for them, and how they did it. Everything is remembered in the minutest detail. But then, is a good act really ‘good’ if it is done with the motivation to simply earn praise from the world?

“Does the well ask who drinks from it?” Then why do we have to remember every favour we have ever granted to anyone ? Why even think or utter the words — “After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me?” Such sentiments reveal that our kindness was never truly free — it was merely deferred self-interest. We refuse to let our memory erase the smallest act of kindness; of that moment when we had offered to help someone – on seeing them besieged by a problem. The good deed that should have given us happiness – starts weighing heavy on our heart – when we begin to feel that the other person is not acknowledging often enough – our grand , thoughtful, kind deed – that had saved him in the nick of time.

Spiritual seekers must be wary of searching for praise for any sacrifice or supposed good deed that they do. They must, in fact, refrain even the mind from gloating about how good they are – if they ever do a helpful deed. It is important for those on the spiritual path to remember that for our ‘karma’ to be truly good, our intention must be selfless and the heart must remain uncluttered by expectation.

It is ironical, but true, that when man serves without expectation, he is surely rewarded by God. It is better to feed an ant in secret out of the goodness of one’s heart than to feed a thousand men in public – only to garner praise. Acts of kindness, selflessness, and goodwill are not to be staged — rather, they are meant to cleanse one’s own soul. There is no greater audience to judge us than the One looking from above. He is the only One whose judgment truly matters.

Serving and helping our brethren is not an option but a duty — to be performed without expectation. That is the way life is meant to be lived. In fact, to see someone in difficulty and not be moved or driven to help them is what is wrong with society at large. Such indifference is appalling, to say the least.

Goodwill and care should be the core tenets of our behaviour — not to be displayed occasionally, but to be the foundational principles on which we act. It is necessary to act with love, not leverage; with compassion, not calculation. Does God maintain a list of all the ‘good’ that He does for each one of us, remembers it forever and expect anything from us in return? What do we do for Him? We remain so busy in our ‘personal’ lives that we find it difficult to take His name twice a day. But, even on seeing our selfish attitude does He stop loving us , helping us, coming to our rescue in our trying times? Shouldn’t we, His children – emulate Him and do as much good as we can ?