Swami ji’s Sandesh… ” हमारे ‘कहने’ में और ‘करने’ में इतना फ़र्क क्यों होता है?”

Swami ji said…

“I will do it…” “I will look into it… That’s a promise…” “Rest assured it will be done…” – we say with such promise in our voice that the person concerned – who has a problem at hand and is looking for a solution – feels energized and hopeful with just these reassuring words, and , feels as though a great weight has already been lifted from his shoulders. Such is the power of words that ring in a promising tone, expressing support and strength to —
” उन डूबते हुओं के लिए , जिनको तिनके का सहारा ही काफी लगता है…”

But how many of us, to be honest, live up to the expectations that we create in whosoever it could be – be it a family member, a friend, or maybe an acquaintance too – by promising to help them in which ever way they had wanted help from us ? Were we sincere while extending our support to them? Did we actually mean to do whatever we were capable of doing for them? Or had we said so, as, momentarily, we got carried away ; became emotional in the spur of the moment and had impulsively promised to stand by them – but, on realising later that we would not be able to help them, we had just melted into the darkness of unkept promises and set a perfect example of those who just say anything and promise anything as – ‘कहने में क्या जाता है…’ – all the time knowing very well that – ‘जो वो चाहते हैं हम ‘कर’ ही नहीं पाएंगे…” Doesn’t matter that – ‘हम ने ‘कह’ दिया था कि हम उनकी मदद करेंगे…”

Apart from promising to rescue others from a challenging situation – what about the instances when we promise to give up a vice, and, on persistent reminders and questions from others, we lie to them by saying that we have given it up – even when we are nowhere close to trying to give it up?

We are in such a hurry – ‘दूसरों की वाह -वाही कमाने में … वो कितना अच्छा इंसान है , हमेशा सब की मदद करता है…Yeh sab सुनने में…’ that it becomes easy to make a promise, even if it’s a false one – and when it is time for us to deliver – well, the disappearing act is never very difficult; particularly for those who are exceptional at creating a deceptively good’ image of themselves.

It is only when we become aware, conscious of the underlying import of the words – ‘कहना कितना आसान होता है, पर करना उतना ही मुश्किल …’ and assimilate the hidden significance of these words – it is only then that we are likely to pause, think, and deliberate – before making a commitment, a promise – and prevent ourselves from becoming the cause of creating false hope within the other person. Instead of ‘showing’ our willingness to help others – when we don’t intend to do so – we should ‘promise ourselves’ that, if, in the future, we give our word to anyone – we will abide by what we say. When we make this a habit, we will see a change for the better in ourselves – as we will think twice before falsely committing ourselves to others; weigh and watch the words that are said by us, and once we promise something to others – we will make it a point to keep it, fulfil it.

A spiritual seeker stands to gain absolutely nothing , if, in order to please his ‘guru’, he makes false promises to Him – while being instructed to take certain steps that will help him progress on the spiritual path. In all earnestness, a devotee might promise his ‘guru’ – “मैं ऐसा ही करूंगा…” “मैं ये सब करूंगा…” – but later, for whatever reason, he fails to follow through on those promises. He must understand that a promise or a commitment made to his ‘guru’ is as good as an offering made to the divine. Breaking that promise is not only a colossal lapse on his part but it also becomes a cause of
failure in spiritual discipline.
Eventually, our actions must match our words. It is as simple as that.

Is the ‘Ramayana’ not a profound lesson in this truth ? King Dasharatha honoured his promise to Queen Kaikeyi – to grant her two boons that she had asked for , from him. Even though it broke his heart and led to immeasurable sorrow, he kept his word. And it was this very promise – painful though it was, that set Lord Rama on his path to the forest, and , ultimately to conquer Ravana.

A moment of truth upheld, a promise honoured, led not just to personal trials but to the triumph of ‘dharma’ over ‘adharma’. The story reminds us that integrity in speech and action – form the very foundation of character and of destiny.