Swamiji says …
” ‘Satya vachan bolo ! ‘ ‘Satya vachan suno’…’ ‘Satya ke maarg par chalo!’ These words are etched in our memory as our parents had constantly reminded us to be truthful and honest. They had emphasised on the importance of speaking the truth – only the truth ; cultivating friendship and spending time with children who spoke the truth ; imbibing their good habits and sound character. We were greatly influenced by the ideals and principles that our parents had ingrained in us and lived a disciplined life based on the foundation of truth and honesty.”
“But as we grow up, we either knowingly or unknowingly, transform into individuals who want to listen to ‘satya’ – ‘Truth’ that pleases us , appeases us and sounds like music to our ears. And nothing pleases us more than listening to words praising us , appreciating us and complimenting us. ‘Hum woh satya sun na chahte hain jo humein achcha lagta hai.” For instance – I somehow form an impression about myself that ‘I am good’ and my opinion about myself is validated further , when
people around me acknowledge the same and say – ‘You are good !’- How do I feeI then ! I am thrilled beyond words and feel very happy on being appreciated by them. But , on the contrary, if someone says to me – ‘ You could be better ‘ which is the real truth as there is room for improvement in me … ‘joh sampoorna satya hai’ – Lo and behold, I act as though the sky has fallen on me ! How could anything be wrong with a creation as perfect as me ! We develop an immediate dislike for that person and his advice, disapprove of him and loathe him for his unwanted sermon.”
“It is only if we stop seeing ourselves, for a fraction of a second, through rose tinted glasses, and understand that the good soul was actually trying to be our benefactor by trying to help us – by drawing our attention to our shortcomings , to improve ourselves in the best possible manner and turn into better individuals.”
” In order to rise above this lack of awareness and ignorance, we have to develop a big heart , the courage, the tolerance to listen to the ‘Real’ Truth when people say – ‘You are wrong!’ – when you are actually doing something against your ethics. It is during such moments that you must possess the grace to accept and correct yourself, when a person who cares for you, reminds you – ‘The path taken by you is one of dishonesty.You must retrace your steps from this path.” It is possible that if you are honest to yourself, you too can discern deep within your conscience, that your hands are stained with corrupt practices, and on understanding the sincerity of that person’s appeal , you can undoubtedly, change yourself for the better and turn into a new leaf.”
“None of us are strangers to ourselves and nobody knows us better than we know ourselves. We know ourselves in and out. The good and bad qualities that we possess … our strengths and weaknesses…
‘humare gun aur avgun’ – are very well known to us …but we are deliberately unmindful of our bad qualities, and rejoice in being what we our. If any person has the gumption to point out our flailing to us…to tell us on our face about our shortcomings , we are offended, hurt and are more than ready to hit him for doing so.”
” What is the reaction of a thief on being called a thief ? He refutes the allegation and vehemently resists wearing the title awarded to him by us ! He doesn’t like being called a thief, although that is exactly how he behaves in order to sustain himself. Stealing , robbing, cheating ! But , in hindsight, it is highly possible that he could be deeply affected by the distasteful manner in which people and society refer to him and he could work afresh, think on positive lines and make a new beginning on realising that the short cut that was being taken by him to make money was erroneous and , henceforth , the task of putting his house in order becomes his topmost priority. Thus ‘sampoorna satya’ – or complete truth can be elevating and uplifting for some”.
“Our behaviour , attitude and mindset, in our day to day life situations, about not being able to accept and absorb the complete truth, ‘sampoorna satya’ about ourselves as individuals , can be understood, as we are susceptible to human weaknesses…but what is beyond one’s understanding is – our inability to accept the only Real Truth about us , the Final Reality – ‘We take birth to die one day ! ‘ – ‘Jab janam hai, toh maran bhi hai!’ The words – ‘We take birth’ is a truth ; but Man seems to forget the complete Truth – that death is the only reality – and he lives life, as if he will live forever. A loved one could be suffering with a terminal disease and we know that his days are numbered , but we continue to give him false hope … ‘ ‘jhooti tassalli’ by saying that nothing will happen to him and all will be well and he will be fine. ‘Tum tab bhi us insaan ko satya se avgat nahi karva te ho ! ‘ Do you really think that you can provide him with ‘amrit’ – the nectar of immortality ? Can anybody evade death? Nobody – No saint, fakir nor angel can look death in the eye and say – ‘I will never die’.”
“You have taken birth to do good ! ‘Neki karne ke liye janm liya hai tum ne’. Thus your aim should be to lead a pure and honest life , to help and guide those who have gone astray – onto the path of goodness once again. The joy derived in understanding and accepting Truth , not in parts, but as a complete whole, in all its hues…black, white or grey, is worth experiencing as it makes life easier to understand and more enjoyable.”
Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji 