Day: January 6, 2024

Swami ji said…

‘मैं उसे बहुत अच्छी तरह से जानता हूं! वो ऐसा ही है! वो वैसा ही है!” “I know him in and out !” हम इतनी आसानी से दूसरों के बारे में बुरा बोल देते हैं। हमें एक क्षण भी नहीं लगता किसी की आलोचना करने में, उनकी बुराई करने में; उनके बारे में उनकी पीठ पीछे बात करने में…” It doesn’t take us any time at all to pick on people, and, discuss about them at length with others.The speed with which we claim to ‘know’ people – qualifying and quantifying them in just a few seconds, without any deliberation, or , thought , is possibly faster than the speed of lightning. In our excitement to outdo others while talking behind someone’s back, we actually go guns blazing after them. “हम ये भूल जाते हैं कि किसी की बुराई करना जितना आसान कोई काम नहीं है।” In fact, it is the simplest thing to do.Talk ill about people whenever we want to. At times there could be no particular reason for doing so – but we do it anyway – as a matter of habit – and, also, because we derive some inexplicable, devious pleasure out of it.

But , then , who are we to do so ? Is this a divine right that has been granted to us by the Almighty? How can we say whatever we want to about others? “ ‘दूसरो’ के बारे मे बात करने के बजाये , ‘उनको’ जानने के बजाये – तुम पहले ‘अपने आप’ को तो जानो, अपने आप को पहचानो!” Why don’t we, if , just for a moment, train the same all – knowing, all – seeing eyes – at ourselves, and , make the smallest possible attempt to ‘know’
ourselves -” ‘स्वयं’ को पहचानने का प्रयास करें…”Are we sure that we would like the image that we see there? Or will the shocking reality – of how far we actually are – from the perfect creation that we had always thought we were – hit us hard. It takes guts, courage, and fearlessness to accept and admit the real ‘who’ that we are ! Or, are we such narcissists ; so much in love with ourselves – that we refuse to see any imperfection in us that needs to be worked at ?

Can we honestly question ourselves – “Am I biased towards myself and refuse to acknowledge my shortcomings ? Do the scales of judgment remain evenly balanced when it comes to analysing ‘myself’ as an individual , unlike those times, when I weigh ‘others’ on the same scale ? Am I sure that there is no scope for some improvement in me too ?” We do know who we are , don’t we ? We can do everything but hide from ourselves. Can we say with all honesty – that our ‘virtues’ outnumber the ‘vices’ – that are prevalent all around us ? Are we such truthful and upright individuals – that unperturbed by the outcome of the situation that faces us – we refuse to deviate from the path of honesty and righteousness, in order to remain steadfast to our principles?

When we don’t have any qualms in voicing tauntingly about someone else – “पता नही उसका पेट कब भरेगा? हमेशा पैसे की बात करता रेहता है…” – then can we say with our head held high that greed and avarice are unknown to us ? Are we truly content with what we have, or , do we just pretend to be so in front of others ? वो मुझ से जलते हैं – is said so complacently by us – but , again , have we reached a stage where we don’t turn green with envy on seeing others do better than us? Have we managed to overcome our ‘ego’ – and do not get offended when our point of view is not accepted ? As compared to others , are we more tolerant and less temperamental – because of which arrogance and rude behaviour find it difficult to frequent us? Are we sure the words – ” वो अपने आप को क्या समझता है?” said by us, for others, with questionable contempt do not apply to us also ? Don’t we say mockingly – “अरे, तुमने उससे क्या उम्मीद लगा रखी है ? वो किसी की मदद नहीं करता…” But then, do we go out of our way to help others – even if it causes us some inconvenience?

New resolutions are made by us at the beginning of each New Year – which are implemented with great enthusiasm in the beginning – but fade out quickly. This year make a resolution – to ‘know’ yourself ; to correct yourself ; to change yourself ; to improve yourself – as all these steps will make you realise that – ‘अपने आप’ को जानना भी सबसे बड़ा ‘ज्ञान’ है…”