Month: March 2021

Swamiji says …

”Our mind – curious, keen and inquisitive has always been thirsty for knowledge and thus its interminable desire to explore new frontiers could never be ignored. The rich diet of knowledge that it has always sought was provided to it in the natural surroundings of a ‘gurukul’, in the ancient past, and it continues to receive advanced knowledge today, too, in top-notch schools and universities.”

“The ‘mind’ is ecstatic with all the delightful sights that the eyes see and it immediately stores the images within it for posterity. The mind boggling different sounds that the ears hear are retained and recalled by it at will. The names of the aromatic fragrances that the nose inhales are grasped by it quite comfortably. The softness of the flower petals that the fingers touch are experienced by it too; as also, the difference between the taste of delicacies that it is able to clearly define ! But has the mind ever tried to go beyond the external educators and made an attempt to fathom the ‘true’ power, energy and source that commands and controls it and these ‘senses’. It is the ‘atman’ that does so ! The ‘atman’ is what is alive, breathing within us…giving life to the gross body, making it tick.”

“The ‘atman’ – burning bright in the core of our physical being, bathed in divine light ; pure, sacred, eternal, intelligent and blissful – is the Inner, true ‘Self’… and it is the ‘atman’ – invisible to others, cloaked in the body donned by it – that is our Real ‘guru’! ‘ ‘Atman’ sabse bada guru hai kyunki woh humarey poorva janmo ka saakshi hota hai!’ The material bodies in which the ‘atman encapsulates itself are shed once they become old and useless. The ‘atman’ pervades and transcends the physical forms with ease,but, while playing the role of a ‘jiv atman’, it also witnesses every experience, thought, word and deed – good or bad, that has risen in our mind and said by us; the consequences of which will be undoubtedly faced by us either in the present or future lifetime. Although the ‘atman’ is invisible to us, everything about us is crystal clear, evident and visible, to the ‘atman’. The ‘atman’ smiles at the tug of war that ensues between the ‘heart’ – its own creation ; and ‘itself’, as both try to claim their exclusive right on the individual’s mind and physical being.”

“The heart tries its best to rule over our material bodies by attracting us towards irreverent, inconsequential matters and we are more than willing to follow it blindly …’Aur zyadatar uski chanchalta hum pe hukumat karna chahti hai, parantu hummey aisa nahi hone dena chahiye ! ‘Aatman’ ko ‘guru’ maan na hai aur ‘mann’ ko ‘sevak’!’ The ‘atman’ opts for a silent but very effective way of communicating with us, as it aspires to acquaint us with the true purpose of our life, to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.”

“We are so impressed and influenced by external scholastic teachings that we fail to discern, to listen to the subtle, yet, the most truthful voice of our inner Self, our ‘Atman’, that has seen every second of every journey of our previous lifetimes from close quarters. It dutifully reminds us of the mistakes, dishonesty and wrongdoings that we had made in the past and could be headed for in the present time ; but do we follow the voice of our conscience? Whenever we do something wrong, our ‘atman’ calls out to us… ‘Hummey rokti hai, parantu humara ‘mann’ chanchal hota hai ! Khud bhi bhatakta hai, hummey bhi bhatkata hai aur hum galat kaam karte rehte hain!’ Is this what our ‘atman’, our greatest ‘guru’, ever want to see us do !”

“The ‘Atman’ tries to guide us towards opportunities that could make us a much better human being than the one we had been in a previous lifetime…but the adrenaline rushing through us, while indulging the senses, drowns out the pleas of our ‘atman’ ! Do we adhere to the warning issued by the ‘atman’ as it sees us on the verge of committing a ‘paap’? The ‘atman’ shows us a clear image of what we are, who we are and what we could become, if we continued to live life on our wilful, selfish terms and conditions.But, our ego refuses to let us even cast a glance at our Real ‘ Self’ that only the ‘atman’ is capable of showing us !”

” Is it possible for us to think of a ‘body’ ever functioning without an ‘atman’ ? ‘ ‘Atman’ shareer mein hi rehti hai ! Poorva janmon ka lekha – jokha rehta hai uske paas ! Hummey usi ‘atman’ ko, usi ‘ruh’ ko saaf karna hai aur ‘parmatman’ ko praapt karna hai!’ “

Swamiji says ….

” The word ‘buddhi’ can have different meanings and connotations in different settings.While a student or scholar would gauge ‘buddhi’ as academic intelligence or brain power or intellectual ability; a ‘fakir’, a ‘sadhu’ or an aspirant on the spiritual path could define ‘buddhi’, after considering it in broader terms, as ‘the mind’s ability to interpret the world around him’ ; ‘the ability to make logical and sound judgements unclouded by emotion and ego’. Our ‘buddhi’ is a window which allows us to gain knowledge about subjects and matters that interest us and encourages us to use ‘it’ in the most conducive and productive manner.”

“Thus, ‘buddhi’, in short, is the power of the mind to know the distinction between right and wrong, true and false; solve problems and come to logical conclusions. ‘It’ is something that we are born with and thereafter it is up to us whether we use it to its full potential or feel too lazy to use it ! Our ‘buddhi’ responds to our interests and choices.Some might crunch numbers better than others.Some might read and write better than others. Aim should be…’ ‘Buddhi’ ka sahi upyog karna!”

” The degree of success scaled or failure faced by us is related to the way in which we use our ‘buddhi’, as it decides and determines what we make of our lives. ‘ Humari ‘ buddhi’ hi hum se ‘karm’ karwati hai !Agar humare paas ‘budhi’ nahi hoti toh hum ‘karmheen’ ho jaate ! ‘Karm’ ke bina jivan jina asambhav hai !”

” Society often measures a person through the prism of money and wealth and accords him a reverential status purely due to the monetary strength that he has acquired. Although this is a poor parameter to judge a person on, the fact that, that person’s ‘buddhi’ had made him ‘see’ the right opportunities and ‘act’ on them to create and manage wealth cannot be taken away from him.
Even a person lucky enough to be born into money, can either multiply it by using his ‘buddhi’ to invest it wisely for his personal and professional development or waste it by splurging it on drinking, gambling and frivolous purchases – a sure sign of his ‘brashtha buddhi’ i.e. a mind that is out of control and blinded by greed, anger and lust.”

“Thus, the most powerful weapon that we possess to wield in the fight against ‘maya’ ; against the dark forces and our ‘chanchal mann’ aur ‘ahankaar’ that detract us from our physical and spiritual goals, is our ‘buddhi’. Be it a physically endowed wrestler or a gifted chess player, both have to ‘strategise’ to win their respective matches. Neither can become a world champion through sheer force or by simply relying on their intelligence. Both need to ‘observe’ the methods used by their opponents’, ‘prepare’ a training schedule and then follow it to the dot. Only then can they achieve success, assisted by their ‘buddhi’. And, while we all want to be ‘intelligent’ enough to do well in the physical world, the importance of ‘buddhi’ is paramount for attaining spiritual bliss!”

“The comparison between the intellect of Ravan and Shri Hanuman explains this best. Ravan was one of the greatest intellects of his time, as signified by his portrayal as a ten-headed king.
Using his intellect and knowledge of the Vedas, he was able to change his fortunes from being a Brahmin’s son, who used to live in an ‘ashram’ – into becoming the ‘King of the Golden Lanka’. Yet, can we say he had ‘subuddhi’? Wasn’t the kidnapping of Ma Sita an act of one ‘Jisski ‘buddhi’ brashtha ho gayee thi?’ The sacred knowledge that he had possessed in abundance seemed to have deserted him aur ‘uski ‘ahankaar’ se bhari buddhi ne …’ blinded him completely to goodness around him to such an extent that he was unable to see the Divinity of God in ‘Shri Ram’, who stood across him in the battlefield? If Ravan had used his ‘buddhi’ he could have avoided meeting his end in a war waged only to satiate his ego.”

” Shri Hanuman, on the other hand, was born a king’s son and could himself have become king.He, too, had gained the knowledge of the ‘Vedas’ and was strong enough to bring the world to His feet. Yet, his ‘buddhi’ showed him that true spiritual bliss could be achieved only by being a ‘true servant’ of Lord Ram.”

” Our ‘buddhi’ ; the intellect, is the finest instrument that lies within our being; ‘subtle’, yet most spread and active. ‘Buddhi’ also empowers us with the ability to understand the routine,and, discover the route needed for our spiritual upliftment…to open our ‘spiritual eye.’ It is our ‘buddhi’ that reminds us of its existence within us by providing us with solutions in the most trying circumstances; guides us to take the right step when plagued with doubts,and, instills the much needed faith in us to not despair, but ,to move ahead by using ‘it’ sensibly…’ek ‘buddhimaan’ Insaan ki tarah !”

Swamiji says…

‘Moh’ ! None of us is able to escape the magnetic and fascinating,yet, at times, fatal pull and attraction, that this emotion has exercised over us ; and has enslaved us with its deceptive, superficial charm. Man can wage a war against his most powerful enemy and emerge victorious; but he becomes spineless and weak-kneed at the thought of facing and overcoming his personal rival – ‘moh’ that exists within him.Worthy wisdom seems to abandon him as he fails to detect the illusionary nature of the world in which he and all those he loves are nothing more than passengers for a fleeting second. Great personalities have collapsed like a pack of cards in the raging, powerful currents of ‘moh’ and ‘भ्रम’.”

” What makes a mother love her child more than any other child in the world? Are not all children gifts of God? Why is the proverbial ‘blood’ thicker than ‘water’? Why do we feel a sense of brotherhood with our own countrymen but don’t identify a similar emotion with a foreigner ? Do international borders restrict not only our movement,but, our emotions too? Why do we clean and shine old family-owned heirlooms ourselves, but employ someone to clean the very car that we drive to work ?”

” What is this emotion of attachment and connection that arises in us sporadically and in no specific circumstances?
This is ‘moh’. Often illogical, ‘moh’ makes us hold certain people, certain objects, certain positions, ideas and relationships more important than everything else in the world.
Is ‘Moh’ bad? Not necessarily. But it is important to be aware of its implications in our lives.”

” We know that it is important to acquire wealth for one’s family and future; but, to obsess over money, talk about it constantly, seek it day in and day out is unhealthy for the mind and spiritual development of a person. One must strive to strike a balance. A businessman constantly thinking and breathing money, will lose out on his family and friends. What would be the purpose of all that money then?
On the other hand, a businessman who blindly places friendship above everything else might turn a blind eye and not say a word even on knowing that his opportunist friends see him only as a cauldron of wealth that they need to empty.”

” We must remember…’Insaan ka ‘moh’ se bahut zyaada bandh jaane se ‘ashubh’ karm ho jaate hain aur woh ‘shubh’ karm se dur hote jaate hain ! Ishwar toh sab ke saath hain ! Unka aashirwad bhi sab par hai, lekin agar hum galat kaam, ashubh karm karte jaenge, tab woh humara saath bilkul nahi denge!’ “
“The very relationships, people and things that we get attached to…’ Humey iss ‘भ्रम’ mein daal dete hain…’ that this illusionary life that we are living with our loved ones will continue forever and none of us will ever shed our physical being.
An illusion that makes us forget how ‘temporary’ everything in life is ! We all have a tendency to live as if there will be no end to life itself. We all remain concerned about our ‘looks’, hoping to look young forever, not accepting that the body ages. Yet, we barely ever think of our ‘mind’ and ‘soul’.”

” While we remember to nourish our body with the latest health food and anti-ageing creams ; stay fit by exercising vigorously in gymnasiums; we forget to take care of the ‘soul’, that which will remain the same even after death. It thus becomes important to be mindful of ‘भ्रम’; to not be fooled by wealth, power and position, for they are all temporary in nature; and to waste one’s emotional energy purely on securing these alone, would be a waste of life itself. ‘Iss agyanta ke andhkaar se nikal kar, roshni ki oer aaoo !”

Swamiji says…

“As God’s creation, each one of us is unique and special in a particular way, displaying a distinctive brand of personality and showcasing traits that epitomise each one of us. But, all traits possessed by us are not admirable. Some could be good. Few, great ; and a few certainly questionable. Even on knowing very well that it is our traits which help people in forming an impression about us, some of us deviate from God’s original plan ; in which He had envisaged each one of us as an embodiment of honesty, purity and goodness. Unfortunately, we have instead strayed onto greyer paths of dishonesty, hypocrisy and unforgiveness, knowingly, citing feeble excuses for opting for them; and compromised on age old values,without a trace of remorse.”

“‘Hum sab mein ‘gunn’ aur ‘avgunn’, dono, hote hain!
Aur har insaan apne ‘gunn’ aur ‘avgunno’ ke baare mein jaanta hai kyunki inhi se humari pehchan hoti hai! Agar hum sacche man se inko apne andar utaar te hain, tabhi hum aagey badh sakte hain! Parantu agar hum apne ‘aham’ mein aakar, apne ‘avgunno’ ko dabate chale jaate hai aur ‘guno’ ka naash karte hain, toh hum patan ki oer hi jaate hain!'”

“God too had always wanted man to be perfect but man wavered, and the result is here for us to see. None of us is perfect! A few among us long to be perfect; but then, wouldn’t the mere thought of attaining a state of perfection in today’s world be utopian, a sure-shot faulty thought? We have made ourselves susceptible to embracing weakness over strength; bad over good. It is simply not possible to imagine any of us; a single one of us, without any flaws, blemishes and imperfections.We speak the untruth, at times; are prone to be deceitful, disrespectful and devious. But we should not turn a blind eye to these faults ; fail to acknowledge them and outrightly deny the existence of these ‘avguns’ in us, by arrogantly questioning the very people who point out our failings to us.”

“Rather than trying to conceal our ‘avguns’ in a space that we do not like to visit and frequent often, we must have the strength to undergo the journey of trying to discover the kind of individual we truly are …’Aur sochein ki apne ‘avguno’ ka hausley se samna kaise kar sakte hain aur unko hara kar aagey kaise badh sakte hain !’ There is no harm in accepting that ‘I am NOT faultless!”

“Our conscience never lies. Listen to it when it reminds us that our ‘avguns’ outweigh our ‘guns’. Stop feigning ignorance of the indisputable fact, that come what may, we will have to bear the consequences of every …’ ‘Karma’ jo humare ‘gunn’ aur ‘avgun’ ki wajah se hum karte hain !’ We must ensure that the veiled bitterness of our ‘avguns’ does not overwhelm the positivity of our ‘guns’ and destroy them forever. Instead … ‘Mann’ mein yeh vishwas jagaein…’ that we will always encourage our ‘guns’ to flourish and bloom; by speaking the truth; by bearing a soft, gentle nature and temperament; be compassionate and forgiving…’ Aur ‘mann’ mein prem aur karuna jagaa kar, ‘tann’ se nishchal seva aur nek ‘karma’ karenge…aur ‘Ishwar’ ke diye huey ‘guno’ ke kaaran prashansa ka paatra baneingein !’ “