Month: November 2020

Swamiji’s Sandesh…

Swamiji says …

” ‘Today was a bad day !’ ‘Aaj ka din hi  kharaab tha !’ ‘ Humara samay achcha nahi chal raha hai!’ – we complain to everyone around us. Can any of us deny having said these words, during moments, when we felt we were up against a dead wall; and panicked when neither effort,nor, any action plan, succeed in awakening the unproductive, fruitless moment, from its passivity and slumber, into action mode ! How upset were we on seeing our effort and actions fail, in, yielding results that were keenly desired by us ! We tend to accuse the ‘day’ for either landing us in a mess or for making us waste precious time, unnecessarily. Why we do this , is known to none !”

“We blame and conveniently hold culprit ; the day, date and time – for everything that could possibly have gone wrong. And, It is only after the ‘bad time’; “bura , kharaab samay’ has been made a scapegoat that we breathe a sigh of relief as we know for sure, by then, that ‘din aur samay’ can be held responsible for our grievances ! After all, accountability has to be attributed to someone ; so why not cast aspersions on ‘time’ ! “

“But on serious contemplation, could a puerile attitude ; a  blame game or blind faith in the belief that ‘ humare din aur samay kharaab chal rahe hain…’ really hold ground? ‘Agar tum nek kaarya, nek ichcha aur sacche, pavitra mann se ‘karma’ karne nikle ho, toh tumhara har ‘karma’ poorna hoga aur samay bhi tumhara nat mastak karega !’ “

“We have the audacity to question the integrity, intent and inclination of time! But then why is it that we do not think twice before doing our ‘karma’? Why don’t we apply the same rule of intent and integrity to our ‘karma’? ‘ Hum kya thoda bhi soch vichar karte hain ki hum jo ‘karma’ karne jaa rahe hain , woh ‘shubh’ hai ya ‘ashubh’ ? Do we do our ‘ karma’ with a sense of responsibility; willingness to bear the consequences of our actions? Will we hold ourselves accountable in any way for the final shape, the final conclusion that our ‘karma’ takes at the end of the day? Was our intention good; was the basic nature, the essence of our ‘karma’ pure ?

” ‘Kya hum ek kshann ke liye bhi yeh sochte hain ki joh ‘karma’ hum karne jaa rahein hain uss mein ‘shubhta’ aur ‘shudhdhta’ hai ya nahi ?’ When we fail to duly understand the essential element that should govern every ‘karma’ of ours, why do we then categorize time as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ! ‘Saal ke 365 din, sab ek se hote hain ! Log keh dete hain yeh din achcha nahi hai, woh din achcha nahi hai! Tumhare khud ke karam ashubh hain! Tum shubh karoge, shubh sochoge toh ‘ashubh’ bhi ‘shubh’ ho jayega!’ “

“It defies logic, but some people refuse to step out of their homes on a day considered ‘ ashubh’, as the vocal endorsement of that particular day, as an ‘inauspicious’ day, by all and sundry, makes them tentative and wary of crossing the threshold of their homes! ‘Shubh ‘karma’ karne niklogey toh ‘ashubha’ kaise hoga?’ Believe me, your good ‘karma’ ‘ashubh’ din pe bhi ‘shubhta’ le aayega !’ “

Swamiji says …

” Mixed emotions rise within us on seeing people around us progress; do well in life and fulfill their dreams that had otherwise seemed impossible to us. Their achievements make us wonder at their abilities and caustic remarks on their amazing feat – ‘Yeh bann gaya! Woh bann gaya!’ are made by us. We question – ‘How could this person become what he is today ?’ – with a sense of astonishment and a tinge of jealousy, baffled, as to how could the other person achieve what he has managed to achieve!’ “

“Since most of us can only talk big and make meaningless promises, we fail to see the hard work, the tireless effort that has gone into bringing true the words said by him; the commitment that he feels towards words said by him, which serves as an impetus for him to leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the obligation; the promise that he had made through the words said by him. ‘Baatein toh koi bhi chhaunk lete hai !’ It doesn’t cost us anything to say anything at the spur of the moment ; to make a promise to stand by a person or to serve someone; all to be forgotten the minute we turn our back. But it is heartwarming to see that there are still a few who abide by the principle – ‘Joh ‘kehte’ hain, woh ‘karte’ hain!’ “

“The rise and success of another person, at times, makes us form a negative and disgruntled assumption, in which we fail to see the perseverance and painstaking effort that has gone into making him what he is today. Maybe, It is his way of keeping the promise that he had made to himself ! ‘Ussney jo kaha, woh kara !’ We come to a foolish, one – sided conclusion that it was child’s play for the other person to have achieved what he has been able to achieve. Do we really think that his journey in the field that he had chosen was as simple as we would like to believe! Certainly not! ‘Jo bhi insaan jis field mein unnati kar raha ho; chahey woh padhnewala saksh ho, neta ho, ek sportsperson ho; unhe mehnat karni padhti hai! Woh aise hi thodey kuch bann jatey hain! Unhe system mein aana padta hai! System mein aakar ladna padta hai! Roti ka niwala jab tak todoge nahi, toh munh mein kya dalogey!”

“A political aspirant goes to meet hundreds and thousands of people; his would be electorate …’ Ek ek ke ghar mein jaate hain! Raat din ek kar ke kaam karte hain!” and it is only after working for hours on end that his political fate is decided. If the promises that had been made by him earlier have been fulfilled by him, then nothing can stop him from winning an election… ‘Jo kaha hai uss baat ko poora karna bahut zaroori hota hai !”

“We need to remember that it is our thoughts that prompt us to say whatever it is that we say – ‘Jo hum kehte hain!’ ; followed by how serious are we in living up to the fulfillment of the final outcome of our words – ‘Jo hum karte hain !’ The test now lies in whether we are able to act upon what we had promised ourselves or others.Thus, our thoughts; our final aim; becomes our ‘karni’ and clearly reflects …’Hum soch kya rahe hain? Humhara uddesh kya hai? Hum koi bhi uddesh aise hi nahi praapt kar sakte hain ! ‘Karni’ karni padhti hai! Karni ‘shubh’ karo!’ If we have given our word of honour to someone, of untiring help and assistance, in a way most needed by him; then we must do so with a pure mind; with a strong desire to help unconditionally; without expecting anything in return. The minute we do so with a good heart and mind, then our ‘karma’ also becomes good and helps us in taking us towards the path of goodness…’ Aur hum apni manzil ke paas pahunch sakte hain aur apne karmon par ‘Bhagwan’ ka aashirwad bhi paate hain!’ “

“The true
purpose of coming to a needy person’s rescue and helping him with a genuine feeling of compassion, is completely lost, if we extend a helping hand, with a selfish and evil intent. We can only make matters worse for that person by constantly reminding him of the way we had helped him and deliberately make him feel indebted to us. ‘Karni’ mein doosre ka bura soch rahe ho aur ashubh soch rahe ho toh tumhe safalta kaise milegi ! ‘Karma’ joh karne hai, shubh soch ke saath karo ! Achchi ‘kathni’ kaho aur nek ‘karni’ karo!’ “

Swamiji says …

” The informative pages of historical records are highlighted with the names of personalities who were very powerful. Some had the amazing ability to motivate and mobilize millions of their countrymen through the power of their speech. Some derived power from their thrones while others skilfully waged and won many a battle with either their sword or bow and arrows. History classifies these characters as heroes or villains. But how does it do this ? By looking at the manner in which these individuals wielded their power and strength. Was their approach towards their brethren human or inhuman ?”

“While some held sway over millions through their powerful oratory and were blessed with the gift of a unique ability to communicate with the hearts of the people who were addressed by them, they became leaders of great national movements and freed the teeming masses from the oppressive clutches of their ‘Masters’. At the same time, a few became despots and wielded a reign of terror in their country; ordering the massacre of thousands of innocent people. Power, strangely, has an effect so varied, so different on two individuals. “

” The festival of Lights – Diwali too reminds us of two opposing characters – on one side, the egoistical Ravan, who used his powers to kidnap Ma Sita from Shri Ram and wreak havoc on the world; and at the other end Lord Hanuman, who used his godly strength to only serve Shri Ram, and not to satisfy his personal wants and greed. It is Lord Hanuman who is worshipped reverentially for his service and devotion to Shri Ram ; and Ravan whose effigy is burnt on Dusshera.”

“Parmatma jis insaan ko joh power ; shakti dete hain…ussey achche, nek kaam mein lagana chahiye … Ussey misuse nahi karna chahiye ! Jab bhi jis insaan ko aise powers diye gaye hain, aur uss ne uss shakti ka galat istamaal kiya hai, ya misuse kiya hai, unhone vinaash aur anarth hi kiya hai!’ Absolute power corrupts ! Corrupts completely ! It corrupts the heart, mind and soul ! And this is what happens with the majority of us ! Rather than being in a state of eternal thankfulness to God for having considered us worthy and deserving enough to be bestowed with extraordinary, special powers of a particular kind, pertaining to a specific field ; the inflated ‘I’ – the insatiable ego within us, makes us heady with a false sense of superiority and one upmanship; when a dictatorial, megalomaniac attitude and the narcissistic streak in us, blurs our vision to see our imminent doom written clearly on the wall…as everything about us by then is convoluted and crooked. When the gift of this blessed power is misinterpreted and misused by us, it turns out to be nothing less than a curse, and, the end results only in destruction and devastation.”

” ‘Ishwar har ek ko aisi shakti, aise power ya talent se bless nahi kartein hain! Chand insaan hi aise hote hain jinhe bhagwan aise special powers se bless karte hain ! Apni kripa iss tarah se unpar barsaate hain ! ‘ Our Creator knows what we are made of and capable of doing ; and thus He blesses us with various abilities, skill sets and, at times, invests a few of us ; not all of us; with powers … rare, special and exclusive. With power rests greater responsibility of doing good, noble work; of harbouring a sensible mind; and it is here that caution, careful consideration and a conscious effort is needed to ensure that every action and decision taken by men of power and influence is aimed for a good cause; peace, progress and prosperity of mankind.”

Singer : Suman Shankar Paliwal
Video : Shashwat

🙏🏻🌸🙏🏻🌸🙏🏻🌸🙏🏻

Swamiji says …

” ‘I am going for a walk. I want to play outside. We are going to a hill station !’ We’ve grown up garbling these words indistinctly in our dotage, impatiently in our childhood and firmly in our yonder years. The magnetic pull of Nature inviting us to venture beyond the restricted, limited confines of our homes ; be it a garden, a park or a natural reserve is irresistible and looked forward to, by all of us. The unmistakable, urgent need to get connected with Nature, calls out to each one of us, as though tempting us to see its marvels from close quarters and rejoice in the beautiful creations that it holds in its womb.The excitement at being outdoors, be it in a pram, as an infant , or , in a wheel-chair during the sunset years of one’s life is the same.”

“Crisp, fresh air; vivid colours; intoxicating fragrances of flowers and Mother Earth; the magnificent spectacles that the eyes behold, in the open, leave us spellbound at ‘prakriti’s’ divine plan ! But do we respect and love Nature the way it should be loved by us? Do we give Mother Nature its due? Remember, she is the escape route that we opt for whenever we are stressed or unwell, and, gladly head for a change of scene to different picturesque destinations.”

” ‘Jiss prakriti ne, humey sab kuch diya hai … uss prakriti se prem karna seekho! Prakriti kitni sunder hai, uski sundarta mein , uski divyta ki anubhuti mein anand lo, aur uss anand ko apne andar utaro! Joh insaan prakriti se prem karega, woh khud se bhi prem karega!’ – and the realisation of this love makes us appreciate and  love others around us in a similar manner. Seeing is believing and thus we eagerly cross continents to experience, first hand, Nature’s stamp of creativity on its magnificent creations.The love and gratitude that inundates our mind, body and soul for Nature, should also make us extremely conscious, aware and responsible about the irreparable consequences that can be caused at attempting to damage the fragile, delicate and divine soul of Nature.”

“And why shouldn’t our response to Nature be such ? After all, it is the submission of the five elements of our body; saluting the five elements with which our Creator has crafted every wonder of Nature, and, we instinctively respond to the Divinity in which Nature is bathed with reverence.”

” ‘Prakriti ki har ek cheez ki sundarta ka lufta uthao! Utsahit ho!Nature’s beauty fills our heart with pleasure and has the amazing ability to lift and light up the most depressed minds and spirit. Convalescence in the lap of nature has always shown miraculous results.Seeing flowers of different colours, emitting varied fragrances, bloom and admiring their beauty makes us realise …’ Sab jeev, sab insaan achche hain ! Hum mein koi farak nahi hai aur sab ko hi khoob sukh aur khushiyan milni chahiye ! Humari soch sab ke liye achchi aur nek honi chahiye !’ “