Month: July 2024

Swami ji said…

‘Will everything work out fine in the end ?’ ‘क्या सब कुछ ठीक रहेगा?’ ‘Will I be successful?’ ‘Will I be rewarded for my efforts?’
The future can be a conundrum to deal with. The future cannot be seen. It can only be imagined. And man’s imagination – is adept at painting rather grim pictures of his future. All of a sudden everything that he has today seems to be inadequate , insufficient for tomorrow. The people who support and love us today, will they be there tomorrow to stand by our side – we worry ? How will we manage without them? These questions can leave one weary and suspect of the future. Thus, one must not let worry for the future steal the joy of today – and change his way of thinking.

When we read a book of our liking – we devour the pages voraciously – eager to know more – as the plot unfolds before us. And, at times, unable to bear the mystery any longer – we flip to the last page of the book to know the end of the story – and, once our curiosity is laid to rest – we resume reading from where we had left. None of us can say that we haven’t ever done anything like this. We are made that way! Impatient, excited and keen to know – How will the book end ? At times, our involvement with the book is so complete – that we emote with the book – laugh, cry and are even inspired while reading it. But, happy we are while reading a book and look forward to our ‘reading time’.

Would we be wrong in saying that our lives too are much like story books – the author of which – is the ‘Almighty’. And, with each passing moment of our life – just as we do while reading a book page by page –
we too keep on discovering what the Grand Author has decided for us on a daily basis.The only difference being that as far as the ‘Book of our Life’ is concerned – we cannot skip to the last page of this book – to know how will it end – as the end will always remain unknown to us – till our last breath.

Thus , we must start ‘believing’ in the life that is being lived by us and enjoy ‘living’ it ; as it is – with the right attitude. For those who seek – there is plenty to look for and gain happiness from. Yes , this is easier said than done, but , it must be done. We must consciously restrict ourselves from worrying, all the time, about the future. We must have confidence in the action that is being taken by us in following our dreams. Just like in any tale, where even the hero does not know whether he will succeed in achieving what he has set out to accomplish –
yet , he , always acts in a manner that is in line with his dream – by changing his attitude – to further his means. Similarly , we too must seek to behave like this and keep on changing our attitude – till we achieve our goal. We must enjoy the opportunities that God gives us to realise our dreams. There will be days that will be tough – but we must celebrate the fact that we were able to endure them and came through victorious. We must refresh the mind with thoughts that better times are evidently ahead. And, on the good days – we must not let the mind fear the return of tougher times ; instead, we must be optimistic, hopeful, thankful to God and rejuvenate our spirit and mind – by thinking in a new and different manner.

” जीवन के प्रति बुरा रुख रख कर हम कभी भी आगे नहीं बढ़ सकेंगे…हमें अपने जीवन के रुख को बदलना चाहिए और आगे बढ़ना चाहिए …जब हमरा रुख, जीवन के प्रति उत्साहित रहेगा , positive रहेगा…हम तभी उस बदलाव से आगे बढ़ सकेंगे…” We can advance further in life only by changing our attitude.

Problems – big or small – we will always come across.That is certain. It is impossible to lead a life devoid of problems. We must master the skill of overcoming challenges with a fierce determination. That solely should be our attitude. One must not keep thinking about – ‘ how this is interfering with our goal or how it is causing an inconvenience for us !’ During such moments – God wants us to find a way through the problem – that He has planted in front of us. And, only after seeing our attitude and approach towards it does He remove it. That in itself is how God wants us to live. How we emerge at the end of any situation that He puts us in – are the achievements of our life.

One must strive to develop an attitude that is fearless and positive – irrespective of the severity of the challenge that is faced by us. No hindrance, big or small, should take the smile off our face. It is only when we focus on maintaining such a frame of mind and such a temperament – willing to change with changing situations – that we will find ‘tomorrow’ to be better than we had expected or hoped for it to be , and , that the fears we had for the future – were only there in our mind.

Swami ji said…

‘ Who am I? What am I? Where have I come from? What is the purpose of my life ? ‘ These are the numerous questions that man’s intellect grapples with , at times. Even when he is completely immersed in this illusionary world, trapped in ‘माया’, there is always a small part in him that asks him these questions.

In some ways, subconsciously, our actions ; our way of living ; our way of expressing ourselves – all seem to arise from the internal quest to understand who we truly our. Since we are unable to understand our ‘true’ nature in this material world – we fill in this void by trying to make an ‘outward’ identity for ourselves. Instead of embarking on an internal journey of ‘self-realization’, man begins an outward struggle – trying to ‘see’ himself through the eyes of others – which is why we often find ourselves concerned about what others think of us and how they perceive us. From our looks, to our standing in society – we are constantly trying to maintain an ‘image’ of ourselves. And, man’s ego, takes further pride in this false sense of identity. ‘I am a professor’, ‘I am rich’, ‘I am a businessman’, ‘I have power’ – He declares all these identities to one and all with pride ; with an inflated chest. It is ironical that the entire duration of time during which he remains pre – occupied in trying to achieve these identities and the actions involved in pursuing them –
are in no way linked to his soul ; the ‘आत्मा’.

While, of course , such materialistic pursuits will never reveal to us the ‘true’ nature of our ‘self’ ; nonetheless, it appears that even throughout our engagement with this world, we are ultimately trying to fulfil, though erroneously, our one true obligation in life – that is to realise who we are ! Such actions and behaviour, however, are not to be passed judgement upon. How can one who is unenlightened know where to begin this journey of self-realization? How can anyone expect him to look inward – living in a world that is appealing to all his ‘senses’ ? There truly is little chance of salvation for man, if , he is to understand all this on his own.

How, then, can one escape this darkness and come into the light of self-realization? What help and assistance can one get ? Who can make his mind, mired in the trap of ‘माया’ – experience beyond the ‘senses’? Who can bring man to the right and righteous path?

The answer to this is – a ‘guru’, an enlightened soul – one who knows the way out of the cycle of life and death and is benevolent enough to show others the Right Path – with His ‘ज्ञान’ and divine powers. It is this kindness ; this love for others in a few enlightened souls – that keeps the path open for others to discover their true selves and escape from the misery of human existence.

Without a ‘guru’s guidance, it is nearly impossible for any one of us to establish trust in the spiritual journey that we seek to embark upon – which otherwise appears to be long, demanding and mysterious. It is a ‘guru’ who tells us what to do in the present time – which He knows will lead us to the destination – earmarked for us in this lifetime. A ‘guru’ understands us individually – the way each one of us is – and tells us specifically what we need to do to develop spiritually. He takes it upon himself to guide us at every step of our spiritual growth…”ताकी हम ऐक दिन मोक्ष के द्वार तक पहुंच जाएँ…”

But , do we truly value the significance of the presence of a ‘saccha sant’ in our lives ? Do we make a genuine attempt to transform ourselves into better versions of ourselves ?Are we aware of the subtle way in which He opens new paths for us ; the path on which we are destined to travel; removes obstacles from our life which we had thought we were incapable of ever surmounting?
Are we aware of the gradual awakening of our soul due to the ‘guru’s Hand on our head – the cleansing of which starts guiding us to walk on – ‘सत्य’ के मार्ग पर , अच्छे ‘कर्म’ करने के लिए उत्साहित करते हैं , ‘ईश्वर’ पे ध्यान केंद्रित करवाते हैं और खुद को जानने की इच्छा – ‘ मैं कौन हूं ?’ ‘मैं’ कहाँ जाऊँगा ?’ – जगाते हैं … हमारा साथ सब छोड़ सकते हैं ,परन्तु एक ‘सच्चे संत’ अपने भक्तों का साथ कभी नही छोड़ते हैं … मुश्किल वक़्त का सबसे बड़ा सहारा होते हैं एक ‘गुरु’, जब वो हमें , हमारा खोया हुआ विश्वास दिलाते हुए कहते हैँ – “सब अच्छा होगा… मैं हूँ ना … तुम चिंता क्यूँ करते हो…”

Swami ji said…

Coal and diamonds, both come from mines ; both are made of the same matter. Yet, coal we are hesitant to touch with our bare hands – but , diamonds – we move heaven and earth to get our hands on. And , the difference in our behaviour does not end there itself. While on the one hand – coal powers the very houses we live in – we never stop once to think of and appreciate the coal miner who works day and night, endangering his life – to bring us this precious commodity. But, it is the one who wears diamonds ; comes across as affluent and
wealthy – he is the one who is looked at with great respect by us. It is sad but true – that the coal miner might not even exist for most of us – but, the image of that person, laden with precious stones could flash through our mind again and again – with us secretly desiring to look like that person.

” क्या हम लोगों का सम्मान उनकी हैसियत देख कर करते हैं ? वो कितने धनी हैं ? उनके पास कितनी पूंजी है ? इंसान की इंसान होने की कोई कीमत नहीं है क्या आजकल हमारी आंखों में ? We have always been told that we are God’s children and He loves all of us equally and treats us in a just and fair manner – then who are we to be selective in deciding on the different treatment that we will mete out to people – to those who matter to us and those who are of no significance to us. Disdain, disrespect and distaste for all those who we feel are of no consequence to us and thus look through them ; make them feel like worms – but , at the same time , treat all those who matter to us with respect , awe and deference. To say that we are not aware of how we treat others ; speak with them and behave with them – as and when it suits us – would be a blatant lie.

This is the bitter truth of the society in which we live today. Respect – सम्मान – has become a currency for us. Spent only when we can get something for it. Gone are the days when we respected the man ; the person himself. Now , we, only respect a man for what he is in society ; the position he holds ; what he has to offer us in the present time and what he can do for us in the future.

When Lord Shiva went as a bridegroom to Ma Parvati’s abode – to be married to her – He went with his tribe of ‘ganas’. With matted hair, ash strewn across His body and tiger skin as His garment – He appeared before Mainavati –
His mother-in-law to be. Seeing Lord Shiva in this terrifying form of His , Mainavati – was so frightened and scared – that she fainted out of fear. Later she felt betrayed and was angry – on thinking that her daughter would be marrying someone devoid of the divine physical appearance of Lord Vishnu or other ‘devtas’. Her agitation at this was so great that she rejected Lord Shiva as Parvati’s husband in that particular form of His. Lord Shiva had to change His form – to a more pleasing one – and could only then marry Parvati. Didn’t ‘Sati’ self – immolate Herself when her father, Daksha, humiliated Lord Shiva?

It is this behaviour that manifests in our behaviour and nature too. We respect what we are able to see ; and, thus, value it superficially and materialistically – only. We fail to understand that what actually deserves respect is not always wealth or power, but – the unique individuality of others and their virtues.

The hard working vegetable vendor who stands in the streets – be it summer or winter – providing us with vegetables near our homes – he deserves our respect – and, certainly not the tones of superiority that we use while haggling with them over a penny. The domestic help who make our life easier by working for us – they deserve respect for doing all those chores that we find too tedious to do.The waste picker who cleans our streets ; the delivery boy who brings home the products and food we need – they all deserve respect for doing their work sincerely and honestly. To think that just being
compensated
monetarily by us for their work is enough – is a mistake to begin with.
Remember, we all are dependent on each other in someway or another.Thus, we must express our appreciation for one another. We must make it a habit to respect everyone around us – irrespective of our standing in society or in the eyes of people.

” हमें याद रखना चाहिए कि … दूसरों का अपमान करना किसी की आदत हो सकती है , उनका स्वभाव हो सकता है – पर सब का सम्मान करना – चाहे वो छोटा हो या बडा – हमरा संस्कार होना चाहिए…”

Swami ji said …

The epic – ‘Ramayan’ tells us that on realising that Ma Sita had been abducted, Shri Ram was distraught and worried. When His efforts to find Sita Ma turned futile, He was overcome with immense grief and sorrow. Surely, all of us can relate with such emotions ; with such a reaction. An occurrence such as this would paralyse any man ; make him feel beyond helpless.

Yet, the enormity of the situation that was being faced by Shri Ram at that moment – did not prevent Him from doing whatever He could do for those who sought His help ; wanted Him to fulfil their wishes – and it is this quality of His that teaches us greatly about service to others.When Shri Ram begins His search for Ma Sita, He comes across various beings – some demons ; some benign and saintly souls – and many of them have requests, wishes of their own – which they wanted Him to fulfil.

So touched was Shri Ram by the demi god – ‘Jatayu’s’ sacrifice to save Sita – that He personally carried out the funeral rites of ‘Jatayu’ – when he is killed by Ravan.
Similarly, the demon,
Kabandha, who initially had tried to devour Ram and Lakshman, also requested Shri Ram to perform his last rites to free him from this world – and Shri Ram did so dutifully. Sugriv needed Shri Ram’s assistance in killing Bali and becoming the King of Kishkindha.
Shri Ram stood by Him in his hour of need.

All these, and, many more such requests – which were just and fair – did Shri Ram try to fulfill – while He was still looking for His beloved Sita. Never once did He ask anyone as to what could they do for Him in return. He simply did whatever He could for all those who came to Him in need.

Can one imagine such selfless behaviour in today’s world ? Can we even think of ignoring an emergency at our or at our family’s end ; cause any delay in attending to them – and , instead put someone else’s immediate desperate appeal for help before our own needs ? Even, if, we did behave in such a way, would not our own family, friends and loved ones call us foolish for doing so?

Why then did Shri Rama do this? What made Him the way He was ? The answer to this lies in the fact that He knew that service to others is service to God. If we truly love God, we must also love His children. And, if we want to serve God, what greater service could there be for Him – than taking care of His children. Helping those who are weak ; assisting
those who are in need – is the greatest service to God. Shri Ram, thus, in His own eyes – was only doing His duty ; worshipping God through every sefless act of His.

We too, thus, must strive to see service to others through the lens of duty, There are many times when such opportunities to serve others present themselves to us. And, we , often, ignore these out of laziness, discomfort or by simply thinking – ‘ What good is in it for me? ’ When such thoughts come to our mind – we must immediately tell ourselves – ‘Our hands, our body are not meant only for enjoyment, but , to also assist others.’ We must tell ourselves – ‘God is giving us a specific task to do. He wants us to do something on His behalf and that in itself should be more than enough to give us the strength to do us. The bliss and joy that we experience on helping someone selflessly has a divine element to it.

‘ हम जब भी किसी की सेवा करते हैँ, तब हम में स्वार्थ का भाव बिल्कुल नही होना चाहिए’…’ The
entire purpose of serving someone -‘ किसी की सेवा करना , मदद करना’ – is lost entirely the minute we expect anything from them in return…’ सेवा सबकी करो , मगर आशा किसी से मत रखो , क्योंकि सेवा का सही मूल्य भगवान ही दे सकते हैं इंसान नहीं …’

We just need to keep serving everyone without expecting anything in return because the immeasurable
value of our service to anyone can only be determined by God – not by man. Let us continue to serve people selflessly with a pure heart and mind and feel His presence in us.