Month: January 2022

( Excerpts from ‘Divine Grace’ – a book authored by a devotee on Swami ji)

” At times, a person accumulates unimaginable wealth, lives in the lap of luxury and enjoys all material comforts of life. He receives all this due to God’s blessings. But, if such an individual continues to remain preoccupied only with gold, worldly matters and fails to use this lifetime to make God a part of himself, by cleansing his soul, the entire purpose of receiving God’s blessings in the form of lucre is lost. We have to enrich our soul and if we make a genuine and honest attempt to do so, nothing can stop us from reaching our divine destination. God’s love for us is not affected by the glitter of gold that we place at His Holy Feet. All that ‘He’ needs from us is true love and respect, from our heart and mind. The minute ‘He’ receives this in its purest form, from us, ‘He’ opens His heart and gives us His all; showers us with His blessings and ‘Divine Grace’.”

” The number of houses we own; the acres of land that we acquire; the power that we wield in society; all these tangible things are immaterial if we fail to sense and feel the presence of God within us, and, do not make any attempt, whatsoever, to draw ‘Him’ within us.Time alone teaches us the irrelevance of the race that we run chasing to acquire name, fame, power and wealth. All these ‘terms’ which we hold so close to our heart are not only inconsequential, but also extremely deceptive, so much so, that once they take over our mind completely, they have an uncanny ability to take us away from God. It is only a matter of time before our distracted senses and mental deterioration make it difficult for us to concentrate on God, as, the sheen of silver appears to be more attractive. Self-analysis in terms of one’s monetary worth has to match a perfect score set by our own expectations, and, thus, the attention, time and energy that needs to be directed towards ‘self-realisation’ are reduced and divested to the minimum, as we are not satisfied with its immediate returns.”

” The ‘soul’ waits impatiently for its cleansing process to begin at the earliest by the individual within whose body it is enrobed. It knows very well about the dire consequences that it will have to undergo on account of the wicked deeds committed by the individual within whose body it resides. We need to be cautious of the misdeeds that are committed by us. Reflect before doing anything that fills us with regret later, makes us feel guilty and pricks our conscience, and, instead, perform ‘karma’ which works towards the elevation and enrichment of our soul. We cannot deceive ourselves into believing that we are someone that we know we are not , as , we are the only ones who truly know what we are, and, always remember that the mute spectator of every act of ours is our ‘atman’.”

Swami ji said…

” ‘Success’ can mean different things to different people at different times. For some, it is the achievement of a single goal – a mountaineer summiting a peak; a runner completing a marathon. For others, it could be living in certain circumstances in life. This could be a life rich in wealth and relationships, or, one that is filled with freedom to do what one wants. All of us, thus, have our own definition of success.”

” It is this pursuit of ‘success’ that majorly defines our lives.The story of our life is filled with chapters dedicated to the trials and tribulations, sacrifices and effort spent in the chase of ‘success’; to taste, savour and experience ‘success’.”

” Life teaches us all that .. ‘ ‘सफलता’ न तो जादुई होती है और न ही रहस्यमय…’ The only time tested formula that makes us attain our goals is that of persistent, honest hard work, consistent effort and good habits…’सफलता’ निरंतर
प्रयासों व अच्छी आदतों का स्वाभाविक परिणाम है…’ This fact should not come as a surprise to any of us, but , what could surprise is when we realise that our ‘success’ will not necessarily make us ‘happy’. While a ‘happy’ soul will most definitely be ‘successful’ in whatever pursuit he or she engages in; a ‘successful’ person might not necessarily be happy.”

” It thus becomes important to understand that true success lies in first achieving blissfulness in the soul, and calmness in the mind. It is only then that one can set ‘fruitful and ‘meaningful’ goals for oneself and go after them with focus and dedication.”

” It is very likely that an evil person’s attainment of ‘success’ will be at the expense of ‘others’. There are many who are ruthless, calculated and cunning in their quest for riches and fame. While society might celebrate such people; in reality, such people are difficult to get along with. Like the Banyan tree, such people grow big on their own, but, do let anything else flourish in their shadow. Is this truly ‘success ? Does filling one’s stomach at the expense of another’s hunger define success? Is an achievement, however great and noteworthy, if, founded on deceit and sabotage, truly be counted an achievement? Can such a person be called a successful person !”

” We also make the mistake of letting other people’s success rate alter our definition of success. Someone else’s purchase of a bungalow should not belittle our achievement of buying a flat. Our gratitude for our own success must not be lessened in the face of the larger than life achievements of others. There is no aim that is too low. For a pauper to turn around his life and be able to earn a living is a greater achievement than a rich man multiplying his riches ten fold for purely his benefit. Success, thus , must not be gauged by the circumstances in which one ends up, but , rather must be measured by the ‘change’ that one is able to affect in the circumstances of others.”

” Ultimately, it is the ‘mind’ that holds the key to unlocking the definition of ‘success’ in life. Our limitations, beliefs, perception of the world are all in the mind. The spiritual seeker understands that true ‘success’ is only in merging with the Supreme. For this, the mind has to be cleansed through repeated meditation and reflection. It is only then that one’s actions, one’s ‘karma’ can lead him to true ‘success’.”

Swami ji ,once, in a reflective mood said…

“I am very much aware of the changing needs and requirements of people at large today. As materialism is the order of the day, it is but natural that people’s goals and aspirations have also changed. It doesn’t surprise me to see that very few devotees come to the Darbar with a genuine desire to seek True Knowledge. Most of them come to me with the hope and expectation that I will be able to remove the obstacles that create difficulties for them and find a solution to their day to day problems… and as I am their Guru, my dharma is to give them what they want. I give them all that I can, but I have never given and done anything that my conscience does not allow me to give and do.”

******

”Have we ever considered or thought for a moment that everything that we perceive is perishable. When we look outwards…externally, every living thing that we see around us will, according to the law of nature, wear and tear away slowly, and surely. Our biggest folly is to get attached emotionally, and otherwise, with all and everything that is visible to our eye. We start believing that our life and existence depends on all that is seen by us, and the thought of leaving this world behind becomes unbearable.” 

******

“The body will continue to do its work in this lifetime according to the karma that it has accumulated in the previous lifetimes and finally perish without leaving any trace behind. Everything that you associate with your body will merge with the dust from which you have arisen… but your soul will have to reap the dividends of your karma, whether good or bad, of this lifetime and then take rebirth accordingly. One must always remember that it is the soul alone that is imperishable. Thus, it is imperative for an individual to draw his eyes inwards and see within himself… what he is like internally, to analyze and assess himself, and judge for himself whether his soul is pure or impure, and think of ways and means by which he can cleanse it.” 

****************

Swami ji’s Sandesh…

Swami ji said…

“The persistent attempt to attend to the rigmarole of worldly affairs with poise and perfection ; the intense pressure and stress that we place on ourselves to build a better future, a better life – takes us further away from realising the ‘fleeting’ and ‘fragile’ nature of life. The life that we are blessed with is just a short space of time in which we are alive, wherein, the value of every breath taken by us, which has the potential to be our last, should thus be respected and utilised appropriately. It is imperative that we live every moment of our life in the most constructive manner; give our life a definite meaning, a specific purpose and ensure that we make a conscious effort to truly ‘elevate’ the ‘quality’ of our life on a daily basis. But, are we able to do so ? Don’t we sully the purity of our ‘soul’ by talking ill of others and indulging in gossip about others. Who gives us the right to do so? Nobody. It is we alone who have granted this right to ourselves and while away precious hours, in doing so with great relish and enjoyment. Why do we waste our precious breath in such irreverent talk?”

“To be critical; to criticise someone is so easy. After all, it costs us nothing. A few nasty, insulting, humiliating words are all that are needed to wipe out the last traces of self – respect and confidence that one could have for himself. Unfortunately, ‘ ‘आलोचना’ करना कितना आसान होता है…लेकिन हम आलोचना करने की जगह उनका ‘प्रोत्साहन’ क्यों नहीं करते।’ It is highly possible that constant criticism could make one feel all the more incapable, worthless and insignificant. Rather than belittling others – why don’t we motivate them, inspire them, make them – believe in themselves, feel confident and good about themselves. The fact that none of us can just sit and wait for good and better things to happen for us should be explained to them. They need to look around and on seeing that hard work alone can make them realise their aims, they, too, should, do the same, and, see their new approach yield positive results before them.”

“Remember, the ‘goodness’ in us, unlike the fragrance of a perfume – ‘ jo हवा के रुख का मोहताज़ होता है ‘ – spreads in all directions – and, before long we are able to earn a ‘good’ name for ourself in the true sense of the word. People know us for our ‘goodness’ and are certain that we will stand by a friend who needs our support ; will be able to relate with the suffering and anxiety of a neighbour and will never let misunderstandings between our family members blow out of proportion and take an irretrievable ugly turn for good. ‘ रिश्तों को जीना…उन्हे निभाना,उन्हे संभालना हमें जरूर आना चाहिए…”

” ‘गुंणवान बनो!’
Imbibe good habits. Habits that make us better, stronger and worthy individuals. We must use our mind – which is is so powerful that it can invent, create, experience and destroy things with the thoughts alone that rise in it – to steer us on the path of spirituality, goodness and humility…make us remember God and repeat ‘His’ name with every breath that we take.”

Swami ji said…

” As we usher in a new year, there is always a talk of ‘new beginnings’ and ‘new year resolutions’. The world is abuzz with people telling each other about what they will take up in the coming new year and how they will ‘change’. While there is nothing wrong with New Year resolutions, it would – on deeper thought – appear odd that one has to wait for a specific day in the calendar to make changes in one’s life. Is it only the ‘change’ in the year of the calendar and time that will cause and bring about a change in us? Does the thought of bringing about a ‘change’ on a normal day lose some sheen and become insignificant in the glory of inculcating the ‘change’ only on a ‘New Year’ which is celebrated with fireworks, fanfare and festivities !”

” Yet, strangely, the promise to implement a ‘change’ in our lives and habits seems to always be scheduled for the future – be it the ‘first’ of January , a birthday, a Sunday, or any other day ‘special’ to us. It is very rare that we implement the much promised ‘change’ immediately, or , at that very moment when the thought of the ‘change’ arises in our mind.”

” The reason for this constant procrastination is our ‘resistance’ to ‘change’. At times, even those ‘changes’ in us that we know will do us good – such as giving up alcohol or smoking, sleeping on time, exercising, meditating – are not implemented immediately, but, rather, are given ‘starting dates’ in the future. We seem to believe that our ‘plan’ will work without a fault, when put into effect in future ; that our transformation will begin from that very point, in the future, that we have decided on , and , that we do not have to worry about making that crucial ‘change’ in us today.”

” Such casual thinking, such laziness is harmful for us. If there is any set definition of a ‘right time’ to change, ‘right time’ to start improving – then that ‘time’ is ‘now’. There is nothing like a specific ‘time’ that is too early, or , too late. We must either improve ourselves with a firm determination, with immediate effect or ‘try’ to improve ourselves, undaunted by the number of times we fail to do so successfully. Numerous plans will fail, numerous resolutions will not see their fruition. Our attempts will most probably be thwarted by our own indiscipline and weak resolve’ a number of times, before we are able to effect and implement any serious change in our lives. Such ‘failures’ are a part of the process. But, true failure is , only , when we stop thinking of ways and means of improving, changing and transforming ourselves in the present moment , and , simply postpone it for another day.”

” Have faith and belief in the power of ‘now’ ! Believe me when I say – ‘It is mostly a case of ‘now’ or ‘never’ !’ Some of us are wary of treading the spiritual path at a young age, as , we are petrified of the ‘sacrifices’, that we wrongly misinterpret we might have to make , and , thus, we conveniently postpone the most rewarding and joyous ‘ journey’ of our lives , for the last few years of our lives. We, thus, foolishly make the mistake of delaying the golden opportunity of gaining proximity to God at an earlier age and stage of our life.The ‘changes’ that spiritual awakening brings within us can only be understood on experiencing it – ‘ Jab hum ‘nek raah par chalne ka , nek ‘karma’ karne ka aur ‘ruh’ ko ‘ parmatma’ se jodne ka har kshann prayatna karne lagte hain !” Shouldn’t we ‘change’ our mindset and start walking on the ‘spiritual’ path, ‘now’ – from this very moment to fulfil the true purpose of our life !”