Month: April 2022

Swami ji said…

” If any of us were asked as to how would we expect our lives to unfold – we would, in all likelihood, present our lives as a journey, which would be marked by a series of achievements and successes only. None of us would mention or talk about any struggles, mishaps, etc. as we take it for granted that…’ Humare saath achcha hi hoga…’ That is how we generally view life and want to live it that way. We only want ‘that’ which we perceive as good and beneficial to happen to us. We treat life like a series of bus rides – only interested in reaching certain bus-statons – and are irked and disappointed if we do not reach where we want within a certain period of time or ‘miss’ our station altogether.”

” But, living life in a state of impatience, restlessness and agitation, for the next ‘big thing’ to happen, is a poor way of spending the short time that we are blessed with on Mother Earth. All of us have been told that…’सब्र का फल मीठा होता है ‘ ; yet, we barely exercise restraint when faced with struggles and frustrations. We feel unfulfilled with the days that go without a ‘win’. We seem to overlook the fact that the moments of lull and quiet are just as important. The days of failure and assessment, drawbacks and rejection are all the more important for our growth and development – in both the spiritual and physical realm.”

” We all know that God has a plan for us. Yet, we are impatient to know about our future ; what is in store for us and want God to reveal all and give us all at the earliest. Instead, we must look within and ask God to guide us – to tell us through His various divine ways – what we must do, what we must work upon and correct in our ways, so that we are able to live a life that He wants us to live. One’s aim in life must not be only to ‘gain’ all the time , but , to seek ‘happiness’ in whichever situation he finds himself. If we solely look to ‘gain’ some materialistic pleasure everyday – our lives would be much like that uncomfortable bus ride, filled with meaningless moments, unable to decide on our final stop. But, if we look for ‘happiness’ – internal happiness, we will learn to appreciate and live every moment with joy and fervour knowing that He has accorded that particular moment to us – ‘ chahe woh dukh ka ho ya sukh ka.’ Such is the life that God wants us to live – this is His plan of giving us ‘Heaven on Earth’.

” For the spiritual seeker, the ‘guru’ provides the manual to live a heavenly life on Earth itself. The ‘guru’ does not want to ensure the disciples’ material successes for the sake of just that, but, to enable a spiritually fulfilled life too, as he will be able to focus on God and ‘guru’ without constantly worrying about the next meal that he has to provide for his family. Many a times, what we want and crave for, is to possess in ‘excess’, and , forget that what we are provided with by Him is ‘enough’ to ensure that we can focus on our spiritual development too. We must be wary of this confusion created by the mind’s greed.”

” God’s plan for us is to be happy, content and take out some time to remember Him, and, that is what we must strive to be – with complete faith and a sense of surrender to His divine plan, as , His plan is the only plan that works. The day we are destined to meet a particular ‘guru’…the sacred day on which we receive the ‘guru – mantra’ from Him…and the auspicious days on which we receive ‘guru – gyaan’ is all ordained by our Lord and Master.”

Swami ji said…

“The blue print of every thought and every action of ours; every word that is said by us ; who we meet, we like or dislike; every ‘karma’ that is added by us to our ‘karmic’ account in our lifetime is drafted and prepared by our Creator. It is our ‘vidhaata’ who decides, stamps and seals…’ हर दुख जिसका हमे सामना करना पड़ता है , हर सुख जो हमे भोगना होता है और जिस ‘गुरु’ से जिस ‘भक्त’ को ज्ञान प्राप्त होना होता है…’ ‘Jis tarah विधि के विधान को कोई नही बदल सकता, usi tarah kis guru se kaunse shishya ke taar judne hai, yeh bhi ‘vidhaata’ pehle se hi nishchit karke rakhte hain…aur yeh rishta atoot hota hai…”

“We form and establish close relationships with many people in our lifetime. Filial relationships; friendly relationships. A few relationships – so precious that the mere thought of losing them; the passing away of a dearly loved one, appears to bring the world crashing down on one. Time, the great healer, that it is, fills the void and wounds over a period of time and the bond that had appeared to be unbreakable, once, does break in a way as the demanding rigours and routine of everyday life, shortly begin to take precedence over everything else, and, the past becomes a bitter sweet memory “

“But, the spiritual bond of pure, divine love that connects and binds the souls of a ‘saccha sant’ and a deeply devoted ‘bhakt’ is unbreakable. Nothing can ever break this bond. Death too cannot break this invisible, spiritual divine bond. A ‘guru’s ‘physical’ eyes may have shut for the outer world when He attains ‘nirvana’, but, His ‘Real’, divine vision continues to remain fixed lovingly on His devotees. ‘Ek ‘saccha sant’…ek ‘sadguru’ apne deh ko tyaag ne ke baad bhi har pal apne bhakton par nazar rakhta hai , har pal unke saath khada hota hai, unhe achche – burey ka gyaat dilwaata hai! ‘ ‘He’ continues to keep a watch on His devotees all the time , and , more so during those unguarded moments when they are fast asleep. Silently, ‘He’ continues to create a thorn free path … ‘Apne bhakton ke kalyan, unnati aur pragati ke liye!’ This bond is to be experienced personally – to be believed.”

“The words that are said by a self realised, enlightened ‘guru’ to His devotees while ‘He’ is in His physical form should resonate vividly after ‘He’ takes ‘samadhi’ too; thus, further strengthening the spiritual connect between ‘guru – shishya.’ ‘Words’ – deep, relevant and sincere that had motivated, inspired and provided courage to His devotees while they had frantically tried to juggle their worldly duties ; words which had given them a sense of calm and peace… ‘ Mere bete , tum chinta kyun karte ho! Mein hoon na! Mein har pal tumhare saath hoon! Apne aap ko kabhi akela mat mahsoos karna !’ ‘ Always remember the law of nature and apply it to your everyday life –
यदि खेत में बीज न डालें जाएं, तो कुदरत उसे घास-फूस से भर देती है ! ठीक उसी तरह से दिमाग में अगर ‘सकारात्मक’ विचार न भरे जाएँ, तो ‘नकारात्मक’ विचार अपनी जगह बना ही लेते हैं !’ ‘Kabhi niraash mat hona ! Sab achcha hoga ! Tumhara ‘guru’ hone ke naate ye mera kartavya ban ta hai ki main har kshann apne ‘bhakton’ ko prerit rakhoon , prerna doon, ki samay ki mushkilon ke saamne kabhi haar nahi maan ni hai…Hummey samudra ki lehron se prerna leni chahiye ; not because they rise and fall , but , because after ‘falling’ they ‘rise’ again. And, that is what ‘I’ most certainly expect from my devotees.”

“A deeply devoted ‘bhakt’ will continue to experience the presence of his ‘guru’ through the divine vibrations, visions and voices that the ‘guru’ blesses him with and uses to communicate with him after shedding His mortal robe. ‘His’ invisible Hand is always outstretched to help His ‘bhakt’ in moments of despair and difficulties; to hold him back when he is about to fall into a pit of greed and desires; and the same ‘Hand’ will lead a keen ‘bhakt’ lovingly, towards the path of spirituality, at the end of which, he will hear his ‘guru’s promising voice say …”मैं तुम्हें मोक्ष दिलाऊंगा … “

Swami ji said …

” In life we often hear people talk enviously about other people’s talents and skills and how their gifts have made them successful. On other occasions they refer to one’s lineage and attribute it to their success. People very rarely attribute hard work and determination to someone else’s success in life. Yet, when it comes to their own life and experience, they lament how hard they have had to work for whatever little they have achieved.
The reason for this paradox is quite simple – ‘Hard Work is Hard’. To acknowledge another’s success as a result of hard work and determination leaves us with the question of whether we too are making the same effort or not. And, that is a question many of us would want to avoid putting to ourselves.”

” Yet, in life it is ultimately faith and determination that pull us through. Instead of questioning our circumstances, we must have faith that we are where we are to perform God’s work. We all would love to live in grandeur and comfort; yet, we all are in different conditions and times – sometimes to our liking and sometimes not. Instead of raising a hue and cry about it, we must believe that we are being watched over by God and must act in a way that would please Him. Shri Hanuman did not question his fate nor curse his luck while combing the forests in search of Goddess Sita at the request of Shri Ram. He instead put his faith in Shri Ram and even leapt across to Lanka. We must put ourselves in His shoes. Shri Hanuman must also have had to gather courage, reaffirm his faith in Shri Ram, and then without being daunted by how far Lanka was, decided to leap across the deep and wide sea. We too have to often take a ‘leap of faith’ like Shri Hanuman. We must have faith in God and in our ‘guru’s’ blessings on us and take on hardships and challenges of the unknown.”

” We should also learn from the grit and determination of Shri Ram. With nothing but a handful of clues, He crossed forests and a sea searching for Goddess Sita. He too could have been saddened by His fate. He too could have felt the pain and suffering as anyone else would have in similar circumstances, yet, He persevered on. Not once did He ever think of giving up his search for His beloved wife.In today’s day and age, after a few setbacks, we give up on our dreams and ambitions. We tell ourselves that it is beyond us to achieve the ‘lakshya’ that we had wanted to ; give it up and tell ourselves that we must move on to achieving something else. Shri Ram’s successful search for Goddess Sita is a testimony to how forbearance and determination can make one succeed in the most daunting situations.”

” For the spiritual practitioner ; faith and determination alone can make him stay focused on the spiritual path and take him towards his final goal of attaining enlightenment. Faith in the ‘guru – mantra’, the ‘guru’s’ words, His teachings , and , determination to practise His teachings will surely illuminate us with the light of self – realisation one day.”

” Our physical being means the world to us. In fact it means everything to us and , thus , we remain engaged with it all our lives, coping with a desire to maintain a young appearance. Perhaps, we are unable to accept the natural progression of age in our appearance when we look at ourselves in the mirror. The heartache on seeing oneself transform from an energetic youngster into a wrinkled, frail elderly frame proves to be the undoing for many. They find it very hard to accept that age is finally catching up with them. We accept the changes that take place in our lifestyle, change in taste, new relationships , but , a look in the mirror and the appearance of a few creased lines, dark circles under tired eyes and grey strands of hair are enough to send us scurrying for desperate beautification measures. Why are we unable to accept the fact that similar to the manner in which nature witnesses changing climates, our physical bodies too, have to change with the continuous aging process. Every living thing is prone to deacay , disease and ageing. Sooner or later all of us will witness these physical changes during the lifespan that God allows us to live. But what we must strive to do is…’जीवन में निरंतर सक्रिय रहो और अपने कर्तव्य का पालन करो।…’ “

” Our aging process should not give us an excuse to become lethargic, inactive and dependent on others unless and until we have a valid, plausible reason to do so. Do not forget the fate of unused iron. It tends to rust and is of no use to anyone. Stagnant water turns into a dirty puddle if it fails to find a new direction of flow. A brain that is not utilised to think , to analyse, to remain involved in some activity or the other will very soon forget the role it is supposed to perform and its inactivity can make it dull and slow. The elders at home must make an attempt to change with the changing times and let the younger lot know that they are around to give them their support and advice as and when needed. The children on their part must understand the health issues that come along with old age, treat their parents with love and respect and encourage them to be active participants in decision making and other family affairs. Make them feel ‘useful’, rather than branding them ‘ useless.’ After all, the children too will grow old one day.”

” Do not think for a minute that since I am your ‘guru’ , I will remain unaffected by old age. As I age , I , too will not remain the same. My physical being too will perish one day. But, what I do know is that since …” मै इस संसार मे एक सीमित समय के लिए आया हूं और तुम सब का गुरू होने के नाते मेरा कर्तव्य है कि मै अपने भक्तों को सम्पूर्ण सत्य का ज्ञान दूं, अपने संदेश दूं और किसी को दरबार से खाली हाथ नही भेजूं ! मेरा जो कर्तव्य है वह मै जरूर करूंगा …चाहे वह एक भक्त सुने या दो भक्त, चाहे वह मेरे शब्दों को अपनायें या ना अपनायें।”

” And, in a similar manner, I would like to see my devotees carry out all their duties in the best possible manner ; responsibly , lovingly and caringly – without questioning, complaining and holding any bitterness. Acceptance of ‘all’ that comes your way – a windfall or tragedy, a loss or a gain , purely due to ‘His’ will, will make you place yourself in ‘His’ loving care with implicit faith. Deep rooted belief in Divine will, will help you greatly in playing all the roles and fulfilling all the duties that ‘He’ wants you to fulfil in this lifetime with a happy frame of mind. None of you should shy away from stepping forward and taking responsibility for the work, the duty and task that you know deep within you has been allotted to you by ‘Him’ for your family, friends and society. Feel for those who are not as fortunate as you. You need to rise above your personal selfish requirements and relate with the suffering of those who are affected by strife, calamities and epidemics. The misconception that rules your mind that only the poor die is cleared only when you face death yourself. So, take it upon yourself to contribute in whichever way you can and make your presence felt, be it in the smallest measure.”

” All my devotees , irrespective of their age, should remember that …’ अच्छे ‘कर्तव्य’ karne वाले लोगों को हमेशा याद किया जाता है, मन मे भी शब्दों में भी और जीवन में भी …”

Swamiji’s said…

” Discontentment arises from within – a growing dissatisfaction, with our circumstances and life conditions, that gnaws at our heart and mind. The mind perceives what it experiences in the world as unsatisfactory and constantly longs for more. There is a constant urge to ‘attain’ more. Yet, curiously enough, we never realize that it is the mind that is suffering, and, thus , it is the mind that needs to be cured – and not the everchanging external that one experiences.”

” However, we all go on struggling to ‘better’ our lives – by looking to make more money, live in bigger houses, ride in fancier cars and visit exotic locations. Yet, after every achievement, every elevation in one’s standard of living, the same discontentment finds its way into our hearts. For there is always something more, something better that the world has to offer. And, again, the mind is agitated and convinced that only when the next ‘goal’ is attained, will we be truly happy and satisfied.”

” Ultimately, our ‘mental being’ becomes a slave to the world around us. If it is not in the form of recognition for possession of the most expensive physical objects, there is a need for social acceptance then. We look for approval from those around us for our looks, clothes, behaviour, etc. If we do not feel appreciated enough, we again fall into an abyss of depression and darkness where we loathe ourselves for not being ‘good enough’.

” The question that arises then is – How can one be content ?
Contentment can be attained by simply counting one’s blessings. If we are able to move freely, have friends and family who care for us, and have enough to eat – then we must be grateful for being in a state that millions of others still dream of. While it is important and necessary to have goals, one must learn to live with the uncertainty of realizing all of them. One must learn to find satisfaction in trying one’s best and leaving the rest to God. It is those who ‘live’ life to the fullest without complaining, who take pleasure in the journey of life, in the sights and sounds of life, who adventurously go through the dips and turns ; they are the ones who find true contentment. Those who pass through life in search of materialistic treasures are bound to be in despair.”

” We must learn from the saints and wise men who have always seen that which they possess as abundant and beyond sufficient. If there is to be any discontentment in life, it should not be for what one has not obtained, but rather for what one has not been able to give to the world around him. Our time in this world is limited ; we must use the time we have here for our spiritual betterment. Disenchantment and discontentment only take us further away from God.”

” Believe me when I say that nobody and nothing can make you feel content and genuinely happy unless you are determined to feel so ; are willing to be happy within you ; with the scenario that life has placed you in ; when your heart and mind overflow with gratitude for God’s plan for you and this thought alone makes you feel blissful and happy. ” ‘संतुष्ट’ जीवन सफल aur सदैव श्रेष्ठ होता है , क्योंकि सफलता सदैव दूसरों के द्वारा आंकलित होती है जबकि ‘संतुष्टि’
स्वयं के ‘मन’ और ‘मस्तिष्क’ द्वारा…”

” The bubble of ‘make – believe’ in which we live creates a wrong perception in us that our level of contentment is associated directly with our success and is dependent on the applause, analysis and appreciation that we receive from outsiders and other external , superficial factors. This is the biggest mistake made by most of us. Discontent that we are – the desperation to create and present a deceptive image to the world makes us wear a crown of thorns, bearing the pain inflicted by the needle like thorns and fake a smile ; rather than live life with a content heart and mind, understanding that contentment is not about always getting what one wants , but , to appreciate, love and live in gratitude with what one has – with a genuine smile on his face ; one that is straight from the heart.”