Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji

Swami ji said…

“ ‘नेकी कर, कुएँ में डाल’ ” – are gems of wisdom that have been passed on from one generation to the next with the special, noble purpose of exhorting the younger ones to do good deeds – for whosoever it could be – without expecting anything in return from anyone. But, unfortunately,
society, is filled with individuals who keep a ledger of every good act they have ever done — whom they helped, what they did for them, and how they did it. Everything is remembered in the minutest detail. But then, is a good act really ‘good’ if it is done with the motivation to simply earn praise from the world?

“Does the well ask who drinks from it?” Then why do we have to remember every favour we have ever granted to anyone ? Why even think or utter the words — “After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me?” Such sentiments reveal that our kindness was never truly free — it was merely deferred self-interest. We refuse to let our memory erase the smallest act of kindness; of that moment when we had offered to help someone – on seeing them besieged by a problem. The good deed that should have given us happiness – starts weighing heavy on our heart – when we begin to feel that the other person is not acknowledging often enough – our grand , thoughtful, kind deed – that had saved him in the nick of time.

Spiritual seekers must be wary of searching for praise for any sacrifice or supposed good deed that they do. They must, in fact, refrain even the mind from gloating about how good they are – if they ever do a helpful deed. It is important for those on the spiritual path to remember that for our ‘karma’ to be truly good, our intention must be selfless and the heart must remain uncluttered by expectation.

It is ironical, but true, that when man serves without expectation, he is surely rewarded by God. It is better to feed an ant in secret out of the goodness of one’s heart than to feed a thousand men in public – only to garner praise. Acts of kindness, selflessness, and goodwill are not to be staged — rather, they are meant to cleanse one’s own soul. There is no greater audience to judge us than the One looking from above. He is the only One whose judgment truly matters.

Serving and helping our brethren is not an option but a duty — to be performed without expectation. That is the way life is meant to be lived. In fact, to see someone in difficulty and not be moved or driven to help them is what is wrong with society at large. Such indifference is appalling, to say the least.

Goodwill and care should be the core tenets of our behaviour — not to be displayed occasionally, but to be the foundational principles on which we act. It is necessary to act with love, not leverage; with compassion, not calculation. Does God maintain a list of all the ‘good’ that He does for each one of us, remembers it forever and expect anything from us in return? What do we do for Him? We remain so busy in our ‘personal’ lives that we find it difficult to take His name twice a day. But, even on seeing our selfish attitude does He stop loving us , helping us, coming to our rescue in our trying times? Shouldn’t we, His children – emulate Him and do as much good as we can ?

Swami ji said…

How often do we actually acknowledge those blessed moments in life—unique to each of us—when the heart overflows with gratitude and love for God? For some, they arrive quietly and infrequently; for others, they are a constant companion through life. In such moments, joy radiates naturally from within us. A soft smile graces the face, and an unmistakable lightness enters our step.

If we were to pause and reflect on where we truly stand, which category would we place ourselves in? For many of us, the answer would be uncomfortable: a face weighed down by gloom, brows knitted in constant worry, and tension written unmistakably across our features. Our body language conveys it all.

Uncertainty and anxiety—about what might happen the very next moment, about an unpredictable tomorrow, and the anticipation of a problem-filled future—have stonewalled our hearts, making them heavy and incapable of perceiving the wondrous light that a heart filled with gratitude for God’s ways can feel.

Is it even possible for us to come close to a state of true happiness when the heart is plagued by doubt, misgivings, and negativity? When worry erodes its very core, the heart refuses to see anything worth being happy or thankful for.

There is nothing to be gained by worrying about life.Worrying will not change what is to happen; it will not reduce the suffering that is to come. It will, however, reduce the joy and contentment we can experience today.

It is ironic that we all stress and concern ourselves with things over which we have absolutely no control, yet barely take the time to reflect on and analyse our own actions. We all look up at the heavens, asking for so many things—wealth, health, love, and what not. Yet, how often do we question our own efforts: the hard work needed to gain wealth, the discipline required to maintain good health, and the mental fortitude needed to be a good person in all circumstances? If we focused on these, we would gain immense satisfaction from our actions themselves – and would sleep with a light heart and a clear head.

For the spiritual seeker, gratitude is not limited to the ‘good things’ in life. With time, he learns to be grateful even for the ‘difficult times’, for he realises that these are often the moments that pivot his life for the better.

Thus, it is incorrect to be grateful only for wealth and material gains. A truly grateful person is one who looks at life more deeply. As one begins to see God’s hand behind all that happens, one realises the need to be grateful for life itself. For life, in all its happenings, is a grand play of God, and we must be grateful to be a part of it and to witness it. Life itself is an opportunity for man to realise his own divinity and his connection with God. For this alone, he must remain forever grateful.

Swami ji said…

The greatest blessing, the greatest gift that the ‘नीली छतरीवाले’ has bestowed upon us, and endowed us with, is our बुद्धि—the amazing ability with which He has equipped us to think, to reason, to distinguish, and to accept or reject before making any action, before doing karma of any kind. And when we are complimented by others on our intelligence, our wisdom, and the sharp manner in which our mind works, we do not really shy away from taking the entire credit of being bright and brilliant—forgetting, very conveniently, that “पिता परमेश्वर ने हमें उस तीव्र बुद्धि से नवाज़ा है और हमें इस लायक बनाया है कि हमारी अक्ल तेज़ गति से चल सकती है…”

We might have heard of a few cases where an individual—once lauded and referred to for his acumen and agile mind, for doing exceedingly well—at a point in time, is later spoken of in hushed tones, about the downturn his life has taken due to the debatable choices he made in the recent past. Well-wishers are left wondering, filled with sorrow: “What is wrong with him?”
“उसकी अक्ल पर पत्थर पड़ गए हैं क्या?”

It is very possible that we find ourselves at a juncture when we reach a breaking point—caused by personal or professional reasons—when all hope seems lost. The mind becomes numb, refuses to function under pressure and stress, and we feel that we are about to crack. It is at that crucial moment that we must revive the light of the mind, remove all elements of darkness from it, and, with determination, steer it to strengthen us and fortify our willpower to battle any impulsive action that we might be tempted to submit to. Directing the mind to do the right thing at the right time is our paramount duty, as it always plays an integral role in guiding every action of ours—be it right or wrong.

But then again, we come back to the moot point: “How many of us are willing to stay resolute on the ‘straight’ path and miss out on the adrenaline rush that a path with ‘twists’ and ‘turns’ can give us?”
The mind, greatly tempted by the frenzy and hysteria of the never-ending distractions around it, feels that it is meant to lose itself in the pleasures of the world and mistakes them to be the true sources of eternal happiness—not realising that these mirages only provide momentary pleasure.

The mind has to be disciplined, trained to understand that life is not meant to be only enjoyed or indulged in revelry, but to also seek answers to more significant questions, such as:
“What is the purpose of our birth?”
“Do we know who we are?”
“When will we move our awestruck gaze away from the artificial lights of the world and see the beauty of the true, radiant light that illuminates our inner being?”

How many times have we let our ego run riot within us—refusing to accept our mistakes and instead repeating them, deriving some strange satisfaction in doing so? We remain adamant and refuse to change. We see nothing wrong in our age-old habit of getting angry over trivial issues, not accepting the fact that we were wrong, and instead insisting forcefully that we can never be wrong—and therefore must always be right. A few among us may have been fortunate enough to make a fortune, but does that mean
“हमारे अंदर अहंकार भर जाए और हम दूसरों को अपने से छोटा समझने लगें? हमें सही और ग़लत में फर्क लगना बंद हो जाए?” Would not such obnoxious behaviour from our end make people say, “उसका दिमाग़ भ्रष्ट हो गया है? अब वह अपने विवेक का इस्तेमाल ही नहीं करता है?”

In spite of knowing that the mind delivers effective results when it functions calmly, we allow it to become agitated—resulting in zero efficiency. But strange is man and his behaviour, isn’t it? And what he gains by behaving in such an erratic manner is known only to him.

Amidst all the mental chaos and confusion in which we live today, what we need to remember are God’s words:
“मुझसे अगर कुछ माँगना ही है, तो सुबुद्धि माँगो…”

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.