Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji

Swami ji said…

” I just didn’t get the chance to do that ! ” ” I never got the opportunity to accomplish that …” ” मुझे जीवन मैं आगे बढ़ने का कोई अवसर ही नहीं मिला … जीवन मैं कुछ ख़ास करने का कोई मौक़ा ही नहीं मिला …” – is a complaint made by most of us very often – but whether we want to address this issue , attend to it immediately and see better results – is known only to us. If we were to give due consideration to the fact as to why this is said by us , quite a many times in our lifetime – when we pronounce the above about ourselves – it would be quite evident that we have already typecast ourselves into one of the regular, ordinary , typical run of the mill individuals – found in the teeming millions and are happy to be one among them…” हम यह तय कर लेते हैं की हम बिलकुल साधारण इंसान है और कोई भी साधारण इंसान कौन से झंडे गाड़ देगा … जब उसे कोई अवसर ही नहीं मिला , koi mauka hi mila – तो वह क्या कर सकता है…” We give ourselves great comfort by coining up such excuses.

And, once we are successful in relaying our sob story of how unlucky we were to do anything much in life – due to lack of opportunities – to all those who know us ; care for us and love us – we find it so easy to live a life in which we don’t have to prove anything to anyone in the future. Isn’t it surprising that we don’t hear the hollowness of the defeated words said by us ? Don’t all these excuses sound so archaic ; so lame , so feeble ; with many of us having already made up our minds – as to how comfortable we ‘were’ , ‘are’ and ‘will’ remain – leading life the way we have been that way.

We fail to remember – that when we speak in such an uninspiring manner about ourselves it appears that – ” Yeh humara
एक बहाना बनाने का तरीक़ा है … अपने आप को तसल्ली देने का तरीक़ा है …” – that we couldn’t have achieved miracles – even if we had put in everything that we were capable of. We must stop doing so immediately as it is very evident to all – that more than them , we are trying to convince ourselves. All the more so – as – ” ऐसे बहाने साधारण लोग बनाते हैं – ‘असाधारण’ लोग नहीं …”

By adopting an attitude of passing the blame on to anything and everything around us – we are reinforcing the truth of the words with a deep significance –
” Ordinary people wait for opportunities ; extraordinary people create opportunities…” It us upto us – in which category – would we like to see ourselves – the vanquished or the victorious. We must start thinking afresh and
create opportunities , in every stage of our life ; instead of waiting for ‘them’ to arrive at our doorstep. A precious lifetime cannot be wasted in just waiting for things to happen ; one has to think of new, innovative ways to progress in life.

A spiritual seeker should not hold responsible the demands of a hectic lifestyle for the sharp drop in the interest taken and the time put in by him for his ‘sadhna’ and ‘bhakti’ for God. He will have to do, no matter what it takes from him, to ascertain that he doesn’t forget his first and foremost duty – towards God. As challenging as it may be , he will have to create time , find those valuable moments – which will ensure that He maintains a perfect balance between all his duties in life. As a child of God – he is supposed to be ‘extraordinary’.

Swami ji said…

The mere thought of any festival – Deepawali, in particular – is all it takes for our faces to light up with a radiant smile – and we begin the joyful journey of preparing for the festival – with fervour. We go to great lengths to plan out in elaborate detail all that has to be attended to – to ensure a perfect beginning and faultless culmination of the festival. Our involvement with the festival is complete; both mentally and physically – the mind busy – both while dwelling on all the things that still have to be done – and at the same time ticking off all the tasks that have been accomplished. Endless trips to and fro to buy ‘samagri’ for the rituals involved; offerings to be made to the Goddess; flowers to adorn the temple and our homes ; gifts for loved ones and new clothes for ourselves- all this is done without a sign of fatigue. And, all this is done to welcome ‘लक्ष्मी’ – into our homes and lives ; Who brings in ‘समृद्धि’ – affluence, wealth and prosperity.

Though we may adorn ourselves with new clothes, buy beautiful gifts and decorate our homes – these outward symbols of prosperity pale in comparison to the richness we can cultivate within. And, thus, we must ask ourselves – What are we doing to enrich ourselves in mind and spirit? In fact, are we doing anything at all ? And if so, is it enough?
In a world that often equates success with material gain, it is easy to be swept away in the pursuit of possessions, status and wealth. We pour time and energy into building a life that looks abundant from the outside, but, too, often – leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled within. True wealth, however, goes much deeper than what can be measured in numbers or displayed in possessions. It resides in the strength of our character, the clarity of our vision, and , the values that guide us. This is the wealth that endures us through life’s changes and challenges.

Just as material wealth grows through consistent effort and wise investments, ; inner wealth is cultivated through daily practices that align with our values and principles.
Simple practices, like showing appreciation to loved ones, taking a few minutes each day for reflection, or , helping others without expectation – can transform our lives from the inside out. These habits make us feel rich in a way that money cannot, as , they nourish our spirit and uplift those around us. We realise it is the qualities we cultivate within ourselves that are our real treasures.

While material wealth is often unstable – fluctuating with circumstances- values are the steady anchor that ground us, offering a source of stability and purpose. When we live principled lives, we , experience inner peace, and, also create such a positive impact – all around us that we truly can leave a legacy behind that no amount of money can create.

” बहुत ज़रूरी है हमे यह याद रखने की – कि समृद्धि पैसे, धन दौलत से ही नहीं आती , बल्कि वास्तविक समृद्धि हमारी आदतों से, हमारे सिद्धांतों से, हमारे दृष्टिकोण से और अपने जीवन को अनुशासन से जीने से आती है । अगर हमे अपने आप को वास्तव मे समृद्ध बनाना है तो इस तरह से समृद्ध बनाये…”

We, thus, must change our perspective. We must also see our wealth in terms of the spiritual quality of our actions and thoughts. We must ask, not to be blessed with worldly riches , but , to be able to remain unaffected by them. What difference is there in suffering from lack of wealth and suffering from the fear of losing it ? Either way, there is no peace of mind. There is no joy and happiness in either state. Yes, we cannot truly wish to live in physical poverty , but , we must not forget that it is only a wise and stable mind that knows how to act correctly when it has wealth at its disposal. The festive spirit will witness our ‘senses’ savouring every minute to the prelude of the celebration of the festival – as they get involved with all the ‘outwardly’ happenings – to such an extent – that we forget to understand the nuances of the core message of the festival – which is to direct our senses inwardly too – and awaken ourselves ; improve ourselves ; endeavour to strengthen ourselves ; overcome the vices that could have become a part of our lives ; conquer our weaknesses ; be honest and brave enough to be critical of ourselves.

For the spiritual seeker – ‘समृद्धि’ – is when he has the wisdom to live life correctly. The wisdom to act in a way that brings him closer to God. Even the material wealth he obtains must be viewed as a means to be closer to God – by serving others in need selflessly. What other purpose should it serve? For there can be no higher or better purpose.

Swami ji said…

Man cannot control how his life unfolds. Contrary to his ego’s belief that he can make a lot happen – the truth of the matter is that – he cannot turn even a single strand of hair from black to white – at his will. What he can do – is only try. What he gets out of those actions – are never in his control.

Thus, life, as he experiences is never really in his control. And this lack of control, this inability to ascertain what will happen and when, makes man feel powerless and helpless.
Whatever happens to him, good or bad, is rarely anticipated by him. It is just that he hopes that ‘good things’ happen to him and ‘bad things’ do not.

Yet, man can ever be heard saying the words – “I am very happy with all that life has given me… I couldn’t have asked for more!” ” I have everything that I ever needed… I’m so grateful to God for giving me all that I wanted !” “I understand that things only had to happen that way!”

Since society is greatly enamoured with ‘material’ progress – in terms of one’s wealth, status, power etc – we put in everything possible – physically and mentally – to be the best among the best. So fearful are we of losing what we have gained – that we are willing to undergo great mental duress to retain what is ours – at all cost. The fear in us – to ensure that nothing goes wrong for us – drives our daily mechanical actions to a large extent – giving us hardly any time to – realise what we actually are ; what we can be. Do we ever try to guage how rich we really are in the ‘heart and mind’ ? How full is our heart with contentment and love? How calm and unbothered is our mind with the ups and downs of life – focussed on God ‘s will and His ways ? For this is the way we had been created by God – originally. But did we let ourselves remain that way – pure, calm , at peace, content ?

Not many of us can vouch that we are content, satisfied and genuinely grateful – for all that life has given us; blessed us with. Many of us might have never felt and experienced the bliss and peace – that a thankful sigh of deep contentment – can evoke within us. Instead, we allow the constant clamoring of dissatisfaction, annoyance and worry – reject any possibility of contentment – to make its home within us.

Acceptance is the secret of contentment and non – acceptance is the cause of bitterness. How life has turned out ; how it is proceeding – instead of resisting – all and whatever that is happening in our lives – we must learn to accept it – as it is. Acceptance is not meant to be thought of as – ‘accepting defeat to life’. Rather, it , is but the first step towards acknowledging our circumstances, and, adjusting to them in the best, possible way, that we can. Instead of always trying to ‘control’ what is happening in our lives – as it is not possible to do so – keeping the unpredictable nature of life in perspective – we must focus on how we ‘react’ to it. That is when true living begins. That is when we start experiencing life truly, and become masters of our own ship.

Acceptance is also key to spiritual development. For acceptance can only be there, if , we truly surrender our fate to God. It means that whatever is happening, we attribute to Him. And, live life as if answering to His call. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in – it is simply Him – engaging with us. It is His way of directing us, gauging us. ‘Difficult times’ in such a case will mean that God is looking at us to act boldly ; make changes in our way of living that will benefit us. ‘Good times’ will tell us that God is seeing how we react on having more resources at our disposal. Will we act in a manner that’s responsible? Will we forget Him altogether? Will we become unprincipled? Or do even more good in such suitable circumstances?

We must remember – ” जब हम हर परिस्थिति में संतुष्ट रहते हैं तब हम खुश और बेफिक्र रहते हैं और जीवन का आनंद लेते हैं…” “स्वीकृति की भावना से जीने में हमारा जीवन अच्छा हो जाता है!” But we create more problems for ourselves when – “हम जीवन के उथल-पुथल को; अलग-अलग परिस्थितियों को स्वीकार ही नहीं करना चाहते हैं…
हम ये भूल जाते हैं कि परिस्थितयों को स्वीकार करने से हम संतुष्ट रह सकते हैं… हमें ये समझना चाहिए कि जिंदगी की हर परिस्थिति हमें कुछ ज्ञान देकर जाएगी और हमारे कौशल को बढ़ावा देगी … हमें बेकार में छोटी-छोटी बातें से परेशान होने के बजाये, उन्हें स्वीकार करना चाहिए…हम हर परिस्थिति में संतुष्ट रहेंगे , हमें यह तैय कर लेना चाहिए ..”

Swami ji said…

Life, in its brief span, shows us something new and unfamiliar – each passing day. No two days are ever quite the same. Yesterday’s rhythm and tomorrow’s melody are always different, even, if, subtly so.Yesterday may have been filled with joy, but, tomorrow might bring sorrow. One day, you stand tall, ready to take on the world, and the next day – you find yourself lost, weary. Such is the way of life. But , to grumble, to complain , to be always critical of life ? That’s not what life asks of us.

Change is the law of the universe. You can be a king, or , a pauper in an instant.Lord Ram understood this to be the natural order of life. He was born a prince, destined for the throne of Ayodhya, yet , in an instant, His fate changed. Banished to the forest for fourteen years, stripped off all royal privileges – Lord Ram accepted His fate with grace. In the Ramayana, we see his unwavering acceptance of life’s changes.

And, so, with each dawn, a new beginning unfolds before us – different from the last. To live – means to accept these changes ; not resist them. Life, after all, is a gift – a precious one. Yet, how often do we let ‘time’ – its moments slip through our fingers ?Wasted – never to return. We cherish the gifts our loved ones give us and tuck them away safely – yet , we forget to treasure the greatest gift of all – this life, this breath, this present moment – gifted to us by God.

We must thus strive to check ourselves when we find ourselves complaining about how the day is going, or , how hard we have been working, and , the number of obstacles we have faced to get things done. We must look at every instance and happening with the view that there is some divine reason behind it, and, accept it with a sense of complete surrender.

Life – is the greatest opportunity – that we have been gifted by both – God and the universe – and to ‘live’ with purpose – should be our aim. To live a life without attachment to the fruits of our actions, but, to find meaning in the journey itself. But, very often we stray from that purpose, losing ourselves in fleeting comforts, or , in despair. The world tells us to find happiness in things that don’t last. But , real peace ; real contentment, comes – when we align ourselves with the eternal ; the unseen.

Life – untarnished and unblemished – it should remain. Pure – like the first rays of the morning sun. Yet, we make mistakes. We are human after all – we tell ourselves , sheepishly. Sometimes we fall. We act – out of anger, out of fear ; and guilt settles in our hearts like a heavy fog. But, one must remember that there is no condemnation for those who keep God in their heart and thoughts. Negative thoughts will creep in – they always do. We start to feel unworthy, overwhelmed by the weight of it all, and, in those dark moments, some may even consider ending – what was so lovingly gifted to us by God – their life.
But , we must remember that the ‘soul’ is neither born, nor does it die. Our purpose, our spirit – is eternal. God created us not to be crushed under the weight of the world , but , to rise above it. We were made for victory, not defeat.

The spiritual seeker too will sometimes feel dejected and unworthy – when he is unable to gauge whether he has been able to make adequate progress in his spiritual journey. He might feel that despite all his effort and the number of hours that he has been devoting to meditation ; he does not sense an increased presence of God in his life. It is during such anxiety filled moments that his mind could question him – whether his spiritual belief and practice – is even worth it. He might be going through difficult times and feel that his spiritual practice has not been of any use. He might feel like giving up on God altogether.

It is all the more important – when one is plagued with such doubts – to remember the instances when we have undoubtedly felt God’s hand in shaping our destiny. This will help us in staying motivated and renew our faith in the spiritual path that has been adopted by us.

Thus, in life, when darkness surrounds us, we must endeavour to let the light within us shine brighter. And, just as Shri Krishna encouraged Arjun – on the battlefield – we must rise – with determination – above fear, doubt and the darkness that clouds our hearts – and fight the battle within. For , greater is the power within us than the forces outside. Yes, life may be filled with trials, but , it is also filled with promise, unlimited possibilities and His Grace. And, with each passing day, we are given the chance to live it fully – to rise, to grow, and to become all – that we were meant to be.

Swami ji said…

It is very common , nowadays , for us to feel stressed, hassled, weighed down under the pressure of managing the never-ending needs and requirements – that ‘life’ seems to ask from ‘us’. It is during moments like these – when we blame ‘life’ for putting us in the spot where we find ourselves – instead of doing this – we should look within
ourselves – fairly and squarely – and determine exactly – to what extent are we responsible – for feeling a sense of disquiet, lack of peace, restlessness within us – that is difficult to define clearly. On screening ourselves – we might not be too surprised at seeing what is revealed to us – as somewhere deep down – we always knew this to be true in our case. The feeling of discontentment that seems to be our faithful companion – seems to have nothing to do with an unfulfilled burning ambition or a dream not realised – but the reason for it could be most puerile and silly.

The mind thrives on a healthy nutrition of knowledge , information and new learning.It is curious and inquisitive about everything and wants to know more – all the time – and we follow its directions obediently. But , somehow , somewhere – our curiosity gets the better of us in an unwanted, undesirable way – by making us think , talk and discuss a lot – about ‘others’. ” पूरा समय हम दूसरों के बारे मे- उनके जीवन में क्या चल रहा है ? कौन क्या कर रहा है? वह जो भी कर रहा है कैसे कर रहा है? और अगर वह कुछ कर रहा है तो क्यों कर रहा है? – इन्ही सब चीज़ों के बारे में सोचते रहते हैं…” Why is he doing this?And why now? How has she obtained this? Why is she or he behaving this way? How do they make money? How did they manage such wealth?” These are the sort of nonsensical questions that we let our minds get engulfed in. And, without realising it, we waste precious time on trying to solve these useless questions and riddles.

To make matters worse – we further add two plus two from our end ; create either a dream like or a nightmarish sequence to what must be happening in their lives – come to a conclusion – good or bad – depending on our perception and what gives us happiness- and we are cat’s whiskers after that ! Most of us are prone to this indulgence – which comes at no cost. All we need are some ‘like – minded’ people whose keen ears will absorb every bit of gossip said by us attentively ; add some more spice to what’s been said and their wagging tongues will pass it on to others. One could understand , if , we slipped on the threshold of gossip, once in a while , but , there are some amongst us – who will just not stop – दूसरों के जीवन मैं ताँक झाँक करना… उनके बारे मे मन गड़िथ कहानियाँ बताना..”

All of us are familiar with the proverb – ‘ Curiosity killed the cat ‘ – but when it comes to people as curious as us – in this particular scenario – we come across as fearless, intrepid – and do not hesitate in taking the lead in ‘discussing’ others – as we seem to know so much about them. Is this what we are going to do through out our lives ? Day after day – without a break ? And for what purpose? To gain popularity of a kind that should be least desired by us ? Imagining, vividly, about all the good that is happening with others – we , unnecessarily, become morose and sad – at the way our lives are shaping out and lose our peace of mind. We end up feeling unhappy – as it always appears to be greener on the other side – “इन सब बातों से हम जितना दूर रहेंगे , हम उतना ही खुश रहेंगे…”

As it is , in today’s world, we, are just a few seconds away from finding out what the other person is doing. A few clicks on the internet, a bit of scrolling on the phone and we know what someone has eaten, what did he do over the weekend, where had he gone on a holiday, all about the new things that have been bought by him. In fact, most of us spend an unreasonable amount of time doing exactly this – finding out what the other person is up to. In a physical or digital form – we are always engaged in some sort of chatter or gossip – trying to find out what the other person is doing.

While it is always good to be curious, and, there is certainly nothing wrong in knowing about one another; it is altogether an unhealthy habit to stick our nose into other people’s business. And, unfortunately, we are often guilty of indulging in this habit. We love to discuss about someone else’s life with others.We spend a tremendous amount of effort on dissecting other people’s lives.

For those on the spiritual path, this is the biggest obstacle to overcome. For even when they are trying their best to live a life that is principled, disciplined and virtuous – they still, often, end up observing others, and , before long – their mind starts to wonder – ” Why do these people not try to seek God? Why do they lie? How can they live like this?” Should a spiritual seeker be doing this ?
Just because he is attempting to take a few tiny steps towards God – he starts differentiating himself from others and feels he is superior and better than the ‘others’. And, eventually, he begins to waste time – as the precious time that could have been spent in self-reflection and worship – is now wasted on passing judgement on other people’s way of life. Such thoughts often displace thoughts of God. What we end up doing – is giving precedence to other people’s lives – over our own. We find ourselves getting agitated, distressed – and all these negative emotions – severely affect further progress of his spiritual growth.

The solution to this is to learn to find comfort in God. When we find ourselves – thinking about and voicing our opinions on others, we , must pause and tell ourselves that – “Thinking of them will change nothing. Let us focus on the glory of God instead.” Doing this repeatedly
will let the spiritual seeker focus on his spiritual development, instead of getting the mind embroiled in such frivolous matters.

We need to remember that nothing will give us greater peace than minding our own business.