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Swami ji said…

All of us are familiar with the oft-repeated phrase : Is the glass half full or half empty? The answer to this question is often used to determine how one sees life — to gain a glimpse into one’s perspective. Whether a person views life through a ‘positive’ lens or a ‘negative’ one. Ultimately, man tends to break everything down into black and white — what is right and what is wrong. Over time, we all develop our own principles and systems to decide what to do and what not to do.

But merely knowing whether one has an optimistic outlook or one is filled with gloom is not enough. What truly matters is how one arrives at that view. What does one observe in a situation? How deeply does one observe day to day developments in his life ? And how does one finally interpret what is seen? It is this process that shapes perspective. And it is on the basis of this perspective that one performs ‘karma’ in life.

We often hear people advising others to “have a better attitude” or “be more positive.” More often than not, however, what they are suggesting is superficial changes in behaviour. It is folly to appear cheerful in the face of real danger, and even more so to convince oneself positively that there is no danger at all. That is not how life is meant to be lived. Such denial eventually leads to ruin.

What one truly needs is the ability to see beyond the superficial antics of ‘maya’ in life — the ability not merely to react emotionally, but to discern what is actually unfolding. This is where spiritual practice becomes essential.

What do meditation, ‘japa’, self-reflection, and the study of scriptures truly achieve for us? They condition the mind. They train it to perceive what cannot be seen by the two eyes or heard by the two ears.

With God’s Grace – the practising spiritual seeker begins to perceive what is said between words — whether spoken by others or arising within oneself. He learns to sense the truth hidden behind harsh speech, and the deceit concealed in honeyed words. Those on the spiritual path, though not yet enlightened, are granted sufficient light by God to recognise His hand behind the events of this world.
Where others see injustice, the seeker sees a lesson. Where others see loss, he sees release. Where others perceive delay, he recognises divine timing. As a result, his actions become more measured, deliberate, and righteous.

Even one’s own actions are constantly observed. A vigil is maintained over the motivations and emotions that give birth to them. This awareness itself refines conduct. This is the perspective we all need.

Why did Lord Rama agree to strike Bali without confronting him face to face? Though His action appeared to violate the rules of combat of the time, it upheld the higher ‘dharma’ of protecting the oppressed — Sugriva — from the oppressor — Bali. Through this, God demonstrated that moral justice must prevail over rigid formality. While the world may dictate what is right or wrong, one must cultivate one’s own vision — a principled way of seeing — before passing judgment. This alone is true perspective.

It is said that Lord Indra has a hundred eyes and Lord Varuna a thousand. Yet even beyond these – there is One who sees all and knows all. To be truly successful in life, we must strive to move closer to Him with every step. Only then do we begin to see life as it truly is — and develop a divine perspective.

Swami ji said…

The alacrity with which man can change his colours can, very often, put a chameleon’s exclusive quality of doing so – to shame. In a day man can change his colours numerous times – as and when it suits him; is advantageous to him. A kind and admiring face for those whom ‘he’ needs; and a cold and uncaring look for those who need ‘him’. One tone for friends, yet another for strangers. One set of values in public, and quite another in private. Sometimes he says what others would like to hear, and sometimes what others simply couldn’t bear to hear. There is no moral rectitude on which his behaviour is anchored. No principle on which the character of his actions is based.

Such a double – faced life, while beneficial to the outwardly life, comes at a huge cost to the soul. The mind is forced to remember who it pretended to be, and where. Words begin to lose their weight and meaning and actions lose their integrity. What is spoken is no longer aligned with what is felt, and what is shown is no longer rooted in truth. Such a life may appear successful on the surface, but, within, it breeds constant restlessness and fear — fear of being exposed, fear of being misunderstood, fear of losing advantage.

The spiritual path, however, demands simplicity and honesty in man’s conduct in society. The spiritual seeker must strive to be the same person everywhere: in gain and in loss, in praise and in criticism, before the world and also in solitude. Yes, one cannot be made a fool by being taken advantage of. That is just as necessary. It is sometimes necessary to become a lion – to continue to being a soft lamb within – especially when faced with the bullies of the world. But, one must not let the world make us lose our inherent softness and goodness.

Do we ever see babies and toddlers differentiate between people on the basis of class, looks, colour, money etc.? It is society that teaches them about differences, and, further teaches them to treat everyone ‘differently’. And yes, while there is a pragmatic logic to this, one must still seek to see all as equal and behave with them in an equitable manner as much as possible.

A smile does not cost us money. A hearty laugh will not rob us of our dreams. They can be shared with one and all.
It is only when behaviour is consistent – that the mind becomes steady.There is no burden of pretence to carry, no role to remember, no mask to protect.True strength lies not in adapting oneself to every situation for benefit, but, in remaining rooted in truth – regardless of circumstance. The one who speaks honestly need not remember his words. The one who acts sincerely need not justify his actions. Such a person walks lightly through life, unburdened by inner conflict.

God does not look at appearances, He does not pay heed to lip service. He only looks at intent. He does not measure how convincingly and articulately we perform before others, but, only observes how truthfully we live within ourselves. He wants us to show courage to be truthful – when falsehood is rewarding, and be humble where our pride is bursting for praise. It is when man shows such discipline that the ‘soul’ finds rest.

Swami ji said…

Man strives to be successful. He wants to win in life. And for this he works hard, makes sacrifices, and endures countless struggles. He works and prays – day in and day out – relentlessly, hoping that the Goddess of Fortune will smile upon him, and, when she eventually does, he reaches a place of comfort, recognition and achievement. Yet, somewhere along the path of success, a subtle change begins to take place within him.

When success arrives, it brings with it praise, validation, and attention. The ones who achieve success are listened to more closely and attentively. Their opinions matter and carry a lot more weight. Their presence is acknowledged, and even desired. Life seems great in such times. One feels almost invincible, god – like.

Slowly, but , surely, in such a mindset, the weeds of ego find fertile ground to grow and flourish. We must put an end to this egoistical pattern of behaviour the very minute we find the first signs of it while interacting with others.

“कामयाब होते ही हम दूसरों से इज़्ज़त से बात करना, उनका आदर सत्कार करना, उनकी बातों को महत्व देना- क्यों भूल जाते हैं? क्या हमारी कामयाबी हमारे सर चढ़ जाती है?” The same person who once bowed in gratitude for life’s small mercies, now begins to believe that everything achieved by him was solely due to his personal
brilliance and effort. The humility that came naturally in the times of struggle gradually vanishes. Earlier, one would remember God; seek His guidance, and acknowledge one’s limitations. But when success settles in, remembrance fades.
Gratitude weakens. Instead of looking up to the heavens for guidance, man begins to look down upon his brethren with superiority.

This is where the real danger lies. Success itself is not the problem. Pride born out of it is. When achievement makes us forget the hands that lifted us, the grace that protected us, and the lessons that shaped us – success begins to hollow us from within.

The spiritual seeker must understand that success is not a destination — it is a responsibility. Be it in the spiritual or material realm, the same law follows – ‘The higher one rises…the deeper one must bow’. It is imperative to internalise that every achievement is temporary, every position is borrowed, and every penny can be taken away as easily as it was given. One must beware of getting heady on his success. For those on the spiritual path – ‘success’ in this world – is often the ultimate test. It is a test of his character ; his temperament ; his will – power ; his inner strength ; a test of his belief in his spiritual principles and faith in his ‘guru’s’ teachings. The difficulty of hard times is often a great motivator to push one towards God.
But, the comforts that come with success – are often the wet sand that trap the mind, making every step toward God – all the more heavy and difficult. In such times, one needs even greater perseverance and fortitude to not sway from the path of enlightenment.

Humility, thus, is not to be mistaken for weakness. It is strength under control. It is awareness. It is the quiet understanding that whatever we are today, have today – is not because of us at all, but a result of divine will. Those who remain humble in success stay connected to ‘reality’. They become kinder and softer than before. They speak with gentleness and act with caution – lest they come across as arrogant and narcissistic. They realise that they have been blessed with God’s grace and know that every action of theirs is a reflection of their gratitude at receiving every little thing from Him.

Swami ji said…

Often, in times of difficulty, we hear words of encouragement—“Keep the faith going!” or “Have faith!”— said by people around us to motivate us, telling us, in a way, not to lose confidence. They reflect the reality that, in the worst of circumstances, one can only endure and try to move ahead. And this is only possible if one has ‘faith’; if one has a belief that there is something—either a purpose, a destiny, or a higher power—that is beyond this immediate crisis and worth much more than the suffering of today. It is this ‘faith’ that gives rise to strength and commitment within us. It is this ‘faith’ that makes us mortals move mountains and weather storms to achieve our goals.

In the life of a spiritual seeker, nothing is possible without faith. In this material world, our eyes cannot see the hands of its Maker, and the nose cannot smell His divine aroma, nor can the ears hear His words and sounds. Our senses do not aid us, but deceive us in the quest for enlightenment. Thus, it is only ‘faith’, only belief— belief that there is something, someone, beyond this world that we see.

We get only thoughts, observations, and glimpses of Him in this world. There is a realisation of His hand behind ‘something’— and that something is what we find so difficult to define. But that is all that we have to go by. And it is in ‘that’ – that we have to keep our ‘faith’, and move towards perfecting ourselves spiritually.

A Guru comes into a spiritual seeker’s life precisely for this: to nurture and nourish his faith in God. He shows the spiritual seeker the hidden reality behind the ‘maya’ of the universe. He tells him about it, and guides him on how to see it for himself. It is in this way that the faith of the disciple becomes even stronger.

Why did Lord Krishna lift the Govardhan Parvat? Why did Jesus walk on water? It was to show that God is the true master of this world and everything beyond. These miracles were done to give us the proof that we needed to see, and thus accept, that there are no laws of this world that cannot be defied by God—if He so wishes. Thus, we must have ‘faith’ in the Lord and not let the ‘senses’ become the masters of our lives.

True surrender is a must to gain enlightenment. It is not enough just to know all about the way to God; it also has to be followed. And to do so is more difficult than it appears to be. True surrender to God means sacrificing many of those very things that we hold dear in this world— wealth, sentiments, relationships. It is quite frightening to disregard all these, to think that they ultimately have no meaning, and to proceed towards something that we have never experienced before ourselves. This is only possible when one is one hundred per cent certain that all these are nothing more than specks compared to the true bliss and joy that lie ahead. Where does this certainty come from if not faith; if not belief in God?

Thus, for the spiritual seeker – ‘faith’ becomes the fuel for the spiritual fire within him, that burns and burns till it consumes his ego and makes him see nothing else but the realisation of God as the ultimate aim.

Swami ji said…

In the journey of life, every individual, encounters moments – during which he feels that he lacks something; there is something missing in his life; unfulfilled desires or unanswered prayers. In fact, we always feel that the very thing that we deem ‘essential’ – seems to be missing from our life.

It could be anything. To some, it might be a house in their name; to others, a promotion; and to someone else, finding a life partner. Whatever it is that we lack at any point in time- strangely that very thing seems very essential to us — and without it – we feel as though we are on a slippery slope. We are convinced in a strange way, that doom awaits us, unless this ‘need’ is fulfilled.

But, if, we introspect a little, we will realise that there is no phase in our life in which we ever feel fully fulfilled. The mind always notices something missing — and convinces us that this missing piece is critical – even non-negotiable. And yet — don’t we see the next day? Don’t the problems we anticipate due to our ‘insufficiencies’ rarely ever materialise before us? And even when they do – how is it that the unlikeliest of solutions appear?

Have we ever asked ourselves- How does this happen? Is it due to our own talents and skills only? Definitely not. In such situations, our actions have very little to do with the outcome. The way we are provided for — the way solutions arise — is nothing but the work of God. Yes, we certainly try. But, our ability to stay not just afloat, but even fulfilled – despite shortcomings, has less to do with us and more to do with the miracles of God.

How do people emerge from tragic circumstances? How do some achieve their goals against impossible odds? Yes, they put in effort — but even their strength and resilience is not enough. It is purely God’s will.

The gaps in our life should not make us feel morose or inadequate. They should remind us that we are not in control. We can only act. The fruits of those actions are not ours to command — they are His alone to give.

The spiritual seeker must remember that life’s difficulties are not meant to push him down — but to liberate him from the illusion of control. They are reminders to focus only on right action. There is no point clinging to what we have today, imagining it will be ours forever. It will be ours – only if God wills it to be that way.

Such a perspective brings clarity. We stop worrying and complaining that – ” हमारे पास यह चीज़ नहीं है… वो चीज़ नहीं है…” We realise how foolish we can be by pining for things that just don’t seem to come our way and stop obsessing over fulfilling only our needs. Instead, we begin to focus on what we must do today; do it to the best of our ability and leave the rest to Him. Every opportunity we receive, every person we meet, every idea we have — all are God-sent. They are His way of providing for us. Thus, we must act with sincerity and gratitude and do the best we can with what He has given us.