Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji

Swami ji said …

Saints, sadgurus, self-realised souls, Messiahs of God, and The Son of God – all have underlined and emphasised on the importance of ‘forgiveness’ – developing within us the skill that we find most difficult to relate with – the ability to forgive. We must forgive not only others, but also seek forgiveness for the sins and wrongs committed by us – the lies, deceit, and falsehoods we speak – without as much as flickering an eyelid. There could be a few instances when we might have unknowingly hurt someone by saying or doing something that could have been deemed insensitive by them, but, which from our end was not meant to be a double-edged sword. However, can we say with one hundred percent certainty that our intent is pure and there is no vicious, hidden intent to hurt someone knowingly? What about the times when we rehearse the hard-hitting words we plan to hurl at a person to get back at someone who had hurt us? “”क्या हम में से कोई ऐसा कह सकता है कि हमने कोई झूठ, गलती या पाप नहीं किया है?”” It would not be possible for any of us to say so. We are human, after all, aren’t we? – we would counter-question.

If we were truly sensitive to the principle of forgiveness and understood its humane aspect – the underlying goodness that it has in abundance for us – we would perhaps practise it religiously – with a sense of fierce purpose – every single day. We just need to understand that forgiving the person who has hurt us intentionally or unintentionally benefits us the most. The burden of carrying the heavy weight of anger and hatred for those, who have hurt us emotionally their barbed attacks, is lightened to a great extent, the moment we talk ourselves into forgiving them. How liberating, releasing, and freeing it is to experience that feeling of forgiving others! We can actually feel the shackles of all those negative emotions that had chained us tight within them – snap and being replaced with the most positive emotions possible – love and joy being the major ones – when we forgive those who we feel have wronged us.

So busy are we counting the mistakes and the number of times ‘others’ have offended us that we fail to realise that the same rule applies to ‘us’ too. If we are aware of our whereabouts in life, we will realise that we are no less than them. What about the countless times we’ve hurt others? Do we reflect on the innumerable times we’ve made it a point to hurt others where it hurts the most ? Are we filled with a feeling of regret for doing so and repent about our wrongdoing ? Do we make a genuine effort to seek God’s forgiveness sincerely from our heart and soul – pledging not to repeat this ill-habit ever , not to sin again , cleanse ourselves ? ‘माना गलती हर किसी से होती है …पर जब तक हम अपनी गलती को मानने को तैयार नहीं होते – तब तक हम उसे दोहराते ही रहेंगे। Yaad rakho – ‘ ‘Galti’ ko ‘gunah’ ban ne mein zyaada der nahi lagti hai …’

We need to remember that if we continue to remain blind to our mistakes and errors, the probability of turning into repeat offenders cannot be overlooked. ‘हमें कभी भी अपनी गलती को मानने में देरी नहीं करनी चाहिए…गलती करने का पश्चाताप हमें ज़रूर होना चाहिए…’ Failing to do so could make it very difficult to stop ourselves from hurting others repeatedly.

Acknowledging, admitting, repenting and seeking forgiveness from our Creator for every wrong done by us – makes us aware of the wrong done by us. We begin to understand that asking for forgiveness would entail making a conscious effort to stay away from a particular sin in future ; gives us that glimmer of hope ; a golden opportunity to turn into better individuals – who take upon themselves the responsibility of implementing God’s divine teaching from early on in life.

When we forgive others, we feel within us, the same love and grace for others – that God has for us – when He forgives us for our sins and wrongdoings. We also succeed in breaking free from the chains of bitterness and anger that had bottled up within us and had held us back from expressing forgiveness for others. Instead, we experience peace and joy, and build stronger relationships with those around us.

Swami ji said…

Each one of us mean something to someone in this world. There is always some role – significant or insignificant – that we play in each other’s lives – be it in a professional setting; a social or familial construct.We are life-saving doctors, civil servants, pay masters, mentors, fathers and mothers – many times donning multiple hats at the same time. These roles and responsibilities that we have at various stages of our lives must not be taken lightly; as the ripple effects our actions produce in any of these ‘avatars’ – can have very serious consequences.

On returning home after watching a movie, we often have animated discussions about the impressive acting skills of our favourite actors. We are fascinated by their ability to act perfectly and are left wondering as to how are they able to project every emotion so convincingly on the screen. The answer is pretty simple. They follow the director’s instructions to the last detail and put their heart and soul in portraying an excellent representation of the role that they are supposed to perform to entertain and enthral us with.

And in a way this is exactly what each one of us is expected to do. Perform the unique role allotted to each one of us by our Creator in our lifetime with keen interest , a sense of commitment , complete involvement and determination – understand that this is His will. All we have to do is listen to God’s voice in our heart which is constantly directing us – telling us what is the right thing to do ; the correct way to ‘act’. Afterall, he is the the script – writer, producer and director of the role that we are destined to enact in our lifetime for the extremely short span of time – during which we flicker in this infinite.

So, we too must listen to ‘Him’ and adhere to His instructions obediently – as He not only helps us by defining our goal clearly before us – but also enables us develop thoughts that are streamlined towards our goal – and thus enable us to play out our roles perfectly. As parents, we must be deeply conscious of the the manner in which every word , mannerism and behaviour of ours is observed and implemented by our children. We are their role models and they look up to us for inspiration and guidance. Instead of only telling them to be good, we must be ‘good’ ourselves to lay out a blueprint for them to follow. As employers we must be fair and reward our employees – recognising their hard work and contribution. As spouses we must be honest and responsible. We must put in everything we have to be the best – par excellence – in the role that has been allotted to us by Him.

There are days when we feel disgruntled. We feel that we can be much more than what we are in life. We feel shortchanged by life. We look at the roles of others and wish we could be in their shoes. We remain dissatisfied and develop a negative attitude towards our own responsibilities. We might feel resentful while taking care of our ageing parents – on seeing our friends free of any such responsibilities. As an employee we might secretly laugh behind our bosses certain that we would surely do a much better job than him. The list is endless, and it is succinct to say – that many a time – the grass seems to be greener on the other side.

But we must be mindful of falling into such traps for this is what makes us lose focus. Like in any job, it is only by performing well in ‘one’ role that we earn the right to be promoted to another role. Even if we might not seem highly consequential, or , important in the bigger picture, we must strive for perfection in carrying out our responsibilities. God judges us all equally. What only matters to him is whether or not we followed ‘His’ script with a sense of surrender, determined to play our part perfectly , validating His faith in us to adapt to the role ear – marked by Him for us.

Shri Hanuman was all powerful and knowledgeable. He could have won over many kingdoms with His valour.Yet , not once, did anyone ever hear Him complain about anything – as He played the divine role of being Lord Ram’s ‘sevak’ – a role closest to His heart. So committed was He to the role that God had desired Him to play – that He devoted Himself completely to the service of Lord Ram. We must draw inspiration from His selfless service and consider our role and responsibilities as being sacred and holy and perform them as service to God.

Swami ji said …

If we were asked – ‘What is that one thing that would make you most powerful ?’ – among the prompt replies would be – money, land, status, power, etc. But on flipping through the pages of our lifetime and giving considerable thought to what would be the ‘one’ most powerful factor that has made us reach where we are in life ; enabled us to attain what we have in the present time – ‘वो हमारी ‘सोच’ की वजह से ही है … हम आज जहां अपने आप को पाते हैं, वहां तक हमें हमारी सोच ही लाई है…’

The patterns and contours that emerge in our mind ; the vision that we have in the present time- whether it is blurred, faint, clear cut or sharply outlined – depends only on our thoughts – our way of thinking
about life and approaching it – “
यह सब हमारी सोच पर ही निर्भर करता है ” A sharply outlined pattern depicts clarity of thoughts and crystal-clear thinking. The most powerful tool that we are equipped with is – the ability to think – and if our ‘thinking’ is on a positive, constructive, and confident line – believe me – we will be able to change any situation – to our advantage and in our favour.

For instance, the state and scenario in which we find ourselves could appear wretched, depressing and tilting towards despair – but a positive mindset would make us refuse to cower down to its darkness and embolden us to brighten up each day with regular doses of happiness. Whether we are ecstatic – steering the wheels of worldly success – or content living a life of seclusion, detached from worldly attachments – it all depends on our way of thinking and our definition of life ; what life means to us and what we intend to make of it.

Are we creatures of comfort and thus attracted only to the pleasures of materialism – so much so – that the thought of living without them, even for a day, is unimaginable to us. Does the foul smell of sweat and toil revolt us to such an extent that we are not willing to work – even if our very existence is in crisis? All this confusion reigns in the mind because of our wayward thinking.

Those of us who have made up our minds to walk the spiritual path, in particular, will have to understand – the strong hold and control that our ‘thinking’ has on us. Our thoughts change with every move of the needle – and it is completely up to us , henceforth, to take charge of controlling these thoughts – which will happen with practice. It would be incorrect on our part to express absolute contentment at the magical turn that our lives take – under the wings of a ‘saccha sant’ – on a particular day – but walk with discontentment written large on our face , the very next day , when we are expected to follow a strict spiritual routine. Eager and regular ‘sadhna’ and meditation teaches us to develop calmness and an unruffled state of the mind – so that we are able to focus on our ‘ आराध्य ‘, our ‘ishta devta’ or ‘guru’ – but the very next day we could find ourselves caught in a fatigued dilemma while meditating – whether or not – all our wishes and desires will be fulfilled by our chosen deity or ‘guru’ ; impending which – ‘ एक ऐसी सोच – की क्या हम किसी दूसरे ‘इष्ट’ या ‘गुरु’ का आशीर्वाद लें जो हमें ज्यादा देंगे ? ‘ – rises within us. So weak and pathetic can be our thinking! Nothing should make us happier and more cheerful than availing opportunities that could make us inch towards realising God – but , at the same time , the thought of not being able to meet our loved ones for long durations could also sadden us. The firm resolve to not surrender to the mirages created by the mind must be strengthened on a regular basis.

Our life principles, our beliefs, can only be called so – if they are applied rigorously over a lifetime – otherwise they are just musings of a fickle mind.Having faith means believing in something when there is no evidence for the same. Similarly, we must have faith in our principles when the going gets tough, no matter what the mind throws up and says. We must gather strength and follow the path we have set out for ourselves.

Jesus had spent 40 days and nights fasting in the desert, and in this malnourished state he was tempted by the devil to forsake God and His teachings and simply worship him in return for all the kingdoms of the world. Despite His hunger and thirst, the extreme suffering of His body, Jesus did not give up God. Similarly, the spiritual practitioner too faces tests and temptations – the mind like the devil offers reasons to take the ‘easier way out’ – just like the devil wanted of Jesus – the mind wants to enslave us – to take us away from God and self-realization. That is the nature of the material world – मोह-माया – that surrounds us.
While it is our beliefs and principles – our सोच – that navigates our journey of life – It is only by staying true to the course – by holding on and believing in these principles – can we show the world why and how beneficial it is to have a sound and strong spiritual system. The path of God is a difficult path to take, but, those who embark upon it for the whole journey – bring only more light on it with their own enlightenment.

Swami ji said…

‘Money’ has cast a spell on us – a spell so magical that none of us ever want its enchanting effect to wear off from us. The satisfaction, confidence and sense of power that is related with money by us – makes us adapt to the requirements of earning it, acquiring and possessing it – quick and fast , by any means. The means of earning it – fair or unfair; dubious or legitimate – do not matter any more. We barely reflect on the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of what we are doing – while making money. Thus , not surprisingly , only a handful of us are content today – making an honest, decent living. The glitter of gold is blinding and emboldens us to compromise wrongly with our scruples, ethics and sense of honour – when it comes to money matters.

Money blinds our sensibilities, as we are in a rush to accumulate it. It is said – ‘Money makes the mare run’ and sadly – the smell of freshly minted currency; the crisp notes and shining coins – is doing exactly the same with us – making us run in their direction.Of course, none of us could survive without food, shelter and clothing – and for our sustenance we need money. We would die of hunger and neglect if we didn’t have any money. Education, our growth and development – can only be realised – if we have enough means to meet these expenditures.

There is also no denying the fact – ‘ घर मैं चीजें तब आती हैं जब हम धन कमाते हैं … ‘ After all, money, not only enables us to buy essential items for our day to day living – but also allows us to indulge in all available material comforts of the world. We stuff our houses with the best of things – the latest appliances, hi-tech gadgets, fancy vehicles and beautiful artefacts. But, somewhere down the road, when resources dry up – we look for refuge in dishonest means of income and resort to devious ways of making a fast buck. Some of us have taken the words – ‘It’s a rich man’s world…’ literally – and focus all our time and energy on making money only. Do we realise that the fruition of every materialistic desire of ours takes us further away from God? The ‘source’ of our income which provides us with our daily bread – plays a pivotal role in determining the state of our physical and mental health. Do we even bother to question ourselves about the kind of money that is coming into our house ? Has it been earned honestly or secured through ill – gotten means? ‘ ऐसे पैसे कामते हुए , हमें किसी की बद्दुआ तो नहीं लग रही ? ‘

We must ask ourselves – is our obsession with money making us insensitive towards our ageing parents, so much so, that we feel that their longevity is depriving us of inheriting their property at the earliest – as we have many personal desires to fulfil. Our wealth could definitely make it possible for us to build our dream house – but we need to remember that a house turns into a home only with the blessings of all those who matter the most to us – our family and relatives…’ क्योंकि जब आप लोगों ki दुआयें प्राप्त करते हैं तो धन के साथ खुशी, अच्छा स्वास्थ्य, बड़ों का आशीर्वाद और स्नेह भी मिलता है…’

Yes, wealth is important – but not at the cost of love, principles and relationships. We must guard ourselves against excessive greed and its ability to take away all that we hold dear from us – in order to become wealthy. Judas willingly betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. His greed for wealth and other reasons made him sacrifice even the Son of God. In the end, there was only repentance, misery and death awaiting Judas. His wealth could not shield him from the anguish that he suffered in his final moments. What could have saved him was God’s Grace ! His name was tarnished forever and stands synonymous with ‘traitor’ ever since then. We must thus beware the devastating ruin that greed for wealth alone can bring upon our lives … but , blessings that pour from a loving and grateful heart , go a long way in shaping our destiny.

Swami ji said …

Our ancient scriptures, hymns, sermons and ‘भजन’ ‘कीर्तन’ – emphasise on God’s Grace on us and the needlessness of man to live in a state of fear – as we have our Protector – our Guardian Angel – constantly by our side – even when unexpected, unfortunate incidents hit us in the face – leaving us in despair, alarmed and anxious. But, rather than seeking shelter in Him, trusting Him and reposing faith in His divine will – we, still prefer to live in a state of fear. We embrace this turbulent emotion instantly, as if it were second nature to us. Fear of the future ; fear of the unknown ; fear of what the future will bring to us. Living in a constant state of fear is not new to us. We fail to see the callous, all – consuming nature of fear ; the intensity and ferocity with which it can make us powerless and submissive – once it has its fangs on us.

Much like many other emotions that are inherently within us – fear, too, needs to be understood and controlled. And, while we would not be human without fear , it is when fear takes control over our mind that we act in the most unpredictable and inhuman manner. A mind filled with fear – makes one take actions that could be self destructive and harmful. When dark shadows of fear and apprehension loom larger than life over us ; we fail to see that we are faced with two situations.We can either give up, forget everything and run away in fear , or , we can face everything with courage and confidence – certain that we will fight our demons and rise – a victor. What is our response when faced with a situation like this ?

When in the grip of fear, we only aim to preserve the status quo – to avoid a loss of any kind – be it name or fame. We are unwilling to take the blame for anything and thus are afraid to think out of the box and instead toe everyone’s line. But, in our efforts and quest to survive – we forget to thrive. We forget that the true essence of life is to push our boundaries – to explore the unexplored – fearlessly.

To understand the true effect of fear in our lives, we must reflect and see minutely the kind of role it plays in our thought process. We fear not only that which is life threatening, but , even that which might cause us pain. We fear the pain of hard work ; we are apprehensive about the pain of sacrifice ; we fear the uncertainty of taking new directions and journeys in life. So many times, it is simply our inability to put those fears to rest that stops us from being the best versions of ourselves.

The best way to overcome fear is by taking small but regular and determined steps towards building courage within ourselves. We must utilise every opportunity that dares us to venture out of our comfort zone – one at a time. It is only then that the mind learns to accept and rein in fear.

The spiritual practitioner must develop courage. This courage must be rooted in the belief that those on the path – leading to God – will never come to any harm as long as their actions are based in humility, honesty and are worthy of His Grace. After all – ‘ Good and honest people have nothing to fear. It is the dishonest who need to be fearful.’