Swamiji said…
“Our soul…the ‘aatman’ observes and experiences ‘us’ all the time. ‘Us’ being the mind and the body acting in unison. The thoughts that transcend our mind are translated into action by the body, and the ‘soul’ remains a mere spectator while the two tango. Thus, it is our ‘soul’, which is both, a witness as well as a judge of our actions.”
“But our clouded vision and ignorance fails to focus on the Real Master that is seated radiating its divinity within us …’ Humari ‘ruh’, the only true ‘ gawah jo ki humare har ‘karma’, har shabd, har karni ki saakshi hoti hai!’ We fail to realise that it winces every time we hurt it by humiliating someone with demeaning words.
Why do we sully its purity by expecting something in return for every good ‘karma’ done by us and pollute its sanctity with high pitched complaints, by back biting and making insinuations against others ? The ‘aatman’ is filled with shame at donning a body as fickle as this, but, on finding no place to hide, resigns sadly to its fate, awaiting for a miraculous change in its fortunes, by clothing itself in a body inclined towards spirituality, in its next journey.”
“While society places a huge impetus on us for being remembered as a good or great personality, such a goal is in itself insufficient and flawed for one’s spiritual development. Man’s true character emerges when name and fame cease to matter to him and his best ‘karma’ is done not to impress others, but, when no one is watching him, as it is done for his spiritual upliftment ; when he has no selfish motive to show how good he is to the outside world: when every ‘karma’ is done purely with the intent of cleansing his ‘ruh’ further, aimed at winning the respect of his ‘aatman’ as he understands that… ‘Agar uski ‘aatman’ hi uska samman nahi karegi toh doosra koi aur uska samman kaise karega!’ An intent as noble as this is undoubtedly recognised by the vigilant soul and it is filled with happiness on seeing him hold ‘it’ in such high esteem and prove his loyalty to ‘it’ by not straying from the path of virtue.”
“Just as children often try to be at their best behaviour to get a ‘pat on the back’ from their elders, we too must strive to gain appreciation by our ‘aatman’ and behave in a manner that makes our ‘aatman’ proud of us. All we need to do is go about quietly doing good ‘karma’; putting others before ourselves; respecting all, regardless of their standing in society; remaining patient and respectful in all situations; offer to solve someone else’s problem and lend emotional support when most needed. It is this good ‘karma’, done quietly in the background, selflessly, that not only makes us good ‘souls’ but also makes the ‘soul’ joyful and proud; and makes us worthy of its respect.”
” ‘Karma’ aise karne chahiye ki ‘aatman’ bhi natmastak ho jaye humare ‘tyaag’ se; gadgad hojaye humari meethi vaani se, garvit mahsoos kare humey satya ke marg par chalte dekhte huey !’ “