Dedicated to Swamiji Ajay Jain ji

Swami ji said…

Man has always believed himself to be strong, powerful — almost invincible. He takes pride in having conquered the unimaginable ; whether in the skies, in the depths of the oceans, or across the vastness of the earth. He feels that God has created him to subdue, control, and tame the unconquerable. And, when he greets success — after a few failed attempts — he becomes even more confident of his ability to overpower and establish his dominance over the insurmountable, the unvanquishable.

And, this sense of power slowly becomes woven into his identity, convincing him that ‘life’ itself must bend and shape itself to his will. But, on coming across this ‘one’ obdurate, unbending characteristic
of ‘life’ – he finds himself ill-equipped to handle, and, in a way is taken aback by his inability to control the pace, the speed at which his life flows.

Life can never he tailored to our demands. It is not a machine which can be regulated or controlled by us. We can neither increase or decrease its speed…” जीवन अपनी गति से चलता है…” – moving gently, like a river, carving its own path, unhurried by the world’s impatience. There is great wisdom in the words -” Let life flow.” We could wait an entire lifetime for something exceptional to come our way – but, it just doesn’t happen that way. So, wouldn’t it be better if we accepted and welcomed – ‘what’ comes our way. And value, cherish ‘what’ is with us, stays with us and let go, forget ‘what’ is no longer with us. Yet, how often do we attempt to understand what we are truly meant to do in this lifetime — which itself is so brief and fragile?

Man struggles to accept his life for what it is. The crests and troughs of life leave him uncertain, feeling helpless and fearful. The uncertainty makes him despair. He is forever living in the future, trying to guess what tomorrow will bring, hoping to avoid any bumps ahead. But, this is not the way life is to be lived. It is not to be lived in fear. Yes, there will be struggles in life, and , there will be pain. But, we have also been given strength and endurance to overcome them. We must live life being keenly aware of the moment. We must focus on what needs our attention ‘now’. Anything beyond that is wasted effort.

Not all days are meant to be the same. Make the most of each. Display your heart and courage in the dark days and kindness and benevolence in the good days. Each day calls for us to display different aspects of ourselves. Some need discipline, some need joy; some need seriousness, and others need lightness. All, however, must be met with equal effort. That is all that is demanded of us. Life can be enjoyed to the fullest when we accept that – ‘ जीवन को उसकी गति से बहने दो…”

Life unfolds with divine care. The sparrow does not force tomorrow, and the flower does not rush its bloom — yet both are held in God’s protection. Then why should we, who have been given the gift of awareness and faith, live in fear of days yet to come? To live each day with trust — without the burden of anxious expectation — is itself an act of worship. It is to recognise the divine hand that guides every step of ours – at an unhurried pace – even when the path ahead seems unclear to us – but is seen clearly by Him – as He knows that it is most suitable for us.

Swami ji said…

“My daughter is an MBA…” “My son has graduated from a top Business Management School…” The unmistakable tinge of pride that underlines the voices of parents is too evident to be missed – when they announce to their family and friends that their children have received business-management degrees from coveted institutions. After all, their children are now the ‘best’, the ‘experts’, well-versed in the intricate, nuanced skills of managing business anywhere in the world. No expense is spared in ensuring that their offspring receive the finest, most in-depth training in business management, and, carve a place for themselves in the elite list of the most sought-after Chief Executive Officers in the professional world. Their cup of happiness overflows as they bask in the warmth of the secure future that they are certain awaits their children in the glittering galaxy of professional stars rising to shine.

Of course, it is excellent to be proficient in the management skills that our profession requires — but do we, even once in a while, try to analyse whether we have been able to ‘manage’ ourselves, and our personal lives well enough – on a day-to-day basis? “I am not good at managing myself during times of financial difficulty… I am tempted to give up my values and principles of honesty…” — we admit sheepishly.
“जब हम ‘आर्थिक कठिनाइयों’ से घिर जाते हैं, तब क्या हमें ईमानदार रहना मुश्किल लगता है?”

Has the wealth we have managed to accumulate over the years turned us into proud, arrogant individuals, or, have we retained the simplicity and groundedness we once possessed? Are we able to remind ourselves to stay cool , calm and collected – even though we are well – known for being short -tempered? “क्या हम अपने ग़ुस्से पर क़ाबू पाकर अपने आप को शांत रहने की सलाह देते हैं और कोशिश करते हैं? ” It is here that the true test of life-management lies.

No prestigious school teaches us this. No degree certifies it. This is the syllabus of life — and the only real ‘management’ that ultimately matters. How we manage our emotions, and our reactions to them — is that not what life really is about? Life’s journey takes us through countless ups and down. At times it is dull and monotonous ; at other times- deeply uncertain. All these elicit different feelings and thoughts within us. How we ‘manage’ these and act in a way that is correct – is what matters.

This is the struggle of the spiritual seeker too. When life is riddled with hardships, it is very easy to look up to God and ask for His blessings. But, when life becomes a bed of roses, one finds that devoting even a few minutes to God becomes a monumental effort. In difficult times, man focuses on God’s mercy — pleading to be relieved of his sufferings. He acknowledges that his efforts against destiny are futile and that everything lies in God’s hands. Yet, the moment he begins living his best life, man convinces himself that he alone is the reason for all the good things that have come to him. He is unable to ‘manage’ his ego — his inflated self-worth.

The Ramayana teaches us how Lord Ram conducted Himself, and governed His emotions, even in the most extreme circumstances. He showed that it was not the crown, not the kingship — but rather His composure, discipline, and unwavering morality that made Him the greatest among men. To act righteously even when wronged by one’s own; to hold steadfastly to one’s principles when the rest of the world abandons theirs; to not complain but adapt with dignity to sudden and extreme changes in circumstance — is this not the finest example of managing oneself , the mind, and all the turbulence it brings?

Meditation. Self-reflection. Daily, earnest prayer. These are the tools that help us maintain a vigil over the mind and preserve the purity of our actions. They help us overcome impulses that lead us astray, and protect us from facing their consequences later in life.

Swami ji said…

Life is filled with opportunities. And, there are some among us who choose to focus on these opportunities, and, give a specific ‘purpose’ to their lives. Once they are crystal clear about it, they are willing to give their cent percent — to fight tooth and nail to realise that purpose. They refuse to flounder and drown in the sea of deceptive distractions. Instead, they stay afloat, remaining committed to the promise they made to their own purpose.

One needs only to be daring enough to attempt the ‘unthinkable’; to be adventurous enough to take risks and test one’s endurance in order to achieve one’s aspiration. Merely dreaming of attaining a lifelong ambition, while making half-hearted attempts that clearly show our lack of sincerity and commitment – can never serve any purpose. At times , when we are questioned by others on not talking much about the ‘purpose’ that we had talked at great length about earlier – and on finding ourselves cornered – we try to pass the blame for not having succeeded ; for having met failure — onto the endless distractions that, in a strange way, always seem to wield greater power over us, and, inexorably pull us away from the very purpose we had set so clearly for our life.

Distractions — loud, unruly, and tempting — find it all too easy to lure us away from the long, tiring hours of hard work and perseverance that we need to and even intend to put in – which seem to die a natural death in the cacophony of distractions. And, just when we are struggling to stay true to our purpose – by trying desperately to pull our senses inwards – “बाहर की चमक धमक से…” – our defences seem to fall , right then and there, and, ‘distractions’ win hands down over our ‘purpose’.

The hold of our purpose should be so strong and firm over us that in the tug – of – war that ensues between our purpose and distractions – our purpose stands ground without giving an inch to the bewitching lights of distractions. Rather we should know when to hold our distractions at abeyance – and let them know that our purpose holds more meaning for us than the inviting diversions.

All of us yearn to hold powerful positions, earn a king’s fortune. A few among us, blessed with a vivid imagination and a strong will, are able to shape these dreams into a clear vision for their life. But that vision can bear fruit only when it is guarded carefully — when we choose, day after day, to let our purpose speak louder than every distraction that calls us away from it.

The world today offers many distractions — entertainment, social media. We can go on and on as the list is endless. Man struggles with these. They nag him, sway his focus, and draw him away from his duties. Many a time, it seems that man wants to be distracted — to escape the effort and struggle needed to remain focused. The mind revels in the pleasure these distractions offer and keeps seeking more. It is these distractions that consume his time, quietly stealing away the hours that could have been dedicated to his purpose.

The spiritual seeker finds this to be an even greater challenge. God, too, needs our ‘time’ and ‘effort’ if we seek Him from our body, mind and soul. Yes, this is difficult. The mind — always seeking comfort and pleasure, always avoiding restraint and sacrifice — must be reined in again and again. The way to achieve this is to cultivate constant awareness. To remain on guard and bring ourselves back each time we notice that the mind has drifted into indulgence or carelessness. Of course, the mind needs rest, but we must always strive to be its master — never its servant.

Simplicity, both in thought and in life, is one of the surest means of attaining focus and a controlled mind. Those who place too much value on material possessions, who are overly concerned with satisfying the senses, become deeply entangled in the material world. As a result, they require far more effort — and experience far more pain — to steady the mind and turn away from indulgence. But, those who live a life centred not on the ‘senses’, but , on the ‘self’, find it much easier to focus on all that needs to be done to realise God one day.

Swami ji said…

” Land. Houses. Property. Financial assets.” The very thought of inheriting material assets, one day, in any form, movable or immovable, has the power to light up our eyes. It makes us heave a sigh of relief at the visual of a perfectly comfortable, anticipated future with wealth and monetary assets by our side. A slightly sour taste may linger in the mouth for a minute or two – at the thought of having to ‘share’ one’s parental property with other siblings – but, then acceptance of the fact that riches, wealth and worldly goods have to be shared with one’s siblings, and, that worldly goods can always find more than one successor- sets in.

And yes, it is here that we must remember that although — “धन, दौलत, संपत्ति के उत्तराधिकारी अनेक लोग हो सकते हैं… परंतु हमारे हर कर्म के लिए,
केवल हम स्वयं ही उत्तराधिकारी होते हैं…” The ringing truth in the stark finality of the words above may sound ominous to some, and they may reject it outright by saying, “I don’t believe in the theory of karma…” “I have never done anything wrong…” “I have no idea about my past karma…” — and they may go on and on thus – defending their stance and viewpoint. But, at the same time, there are others who accept the same statement as a simple truth and find nothing amiss in acknowledging that ‘they’ themselves are — and will always be — accountable for every ‘karma’ of ‘theirs’.

The fruits and consequences of our actions, our ‘karma’ – past and present – are to be carried and borne only and only by us. They are solely our Cross to bear. God, ‘guru’, parents, relatives, or friends — none can take away this burden from us. When Lord Vishnu came to Earth in His various ‘avatars’, He too was subject to this law of ‘karma’. Whether as Lord Ram or Shri Krishna, even ‘He’ was subject to the effects of His actions.

But, if, we learn to internalise and acknowledge this — accept it and act accordingly — the quality of our actions and our approach to life will drastically change for the better. Knowing that we shall reap what we sow, we will become focused on the quality of our deeds. We will be mindful and will take care of what we say and do. We will try to cleanse the mind of thoughts that might lead us astray. The awareness of the consequences arising from our own actions will keep us ‘morally’ vigilant, and, this will create the ‘self-discipline’ needed for those seeking the path of enlightenment.

We need to remember that neither can we inherit our parents good deeds, nor, can our children inherit ours. This is an important learning because many times we mistakenly hold ourselves responsible for what has happened and is happening to others. No amount of good intent, sacrifice or effort on our part – has even an iota of effect on what others around us experience. What it can do, however, is inspire them to act in a similar manner.

Our lives are nothing but an opportunity — given to each one of us — to perform good deeds in devotion to God. If we try to devote every little act to God, or, remember Him during every deed and every action, then we will also reap the great reward of His acceptance and His love in return. Why will He not love us when He sees us remain steadfast to the values of truthfulness, honesty, ‘nek vichar’ ‘satya ke marg par chalne ki poori koshish karte huay’ ; volunteer to walk the path ‘difficult’ – instead of taking the easy way out by lying smoothly; by being deceptively deceitful to fool, please and hoodwink everyone? All we need to do is to – Do good. Be good. Think good – as that is the ‘karma’ He wants to see His children do.

Swami ji said…

“Who has the patience? Not me!” “I can’t wait that long!” Such words, filled with restlessness and agitation, have become the language of our times. We want everything — ‘जल्द से जल्द’. And, in this haste, we seldom pause to say…“I’m grateful to God.” “He has always done what’s best for me.” “हम क्या ‘नीली छतरीवाले’ को ‘शुक्रिया’ कहना भूल जाते हैं — वो हर चीज़ के लिए जो वो हमें देते हैं क्योंकि हमारा ध्यान तब तक दूसरी चीज़ को पाने में लग जाता है…”

Gratitude is quickly forgotten. The mind races ahead, chasing the next desire. If this scenario feels familiar – then, it is time to stop, to restrain ourselves and to free the mind from this ungrateful, impatient disposition towards our Creator and direct ourselves to be patient. Impatience has become the order of the day – and if we could have our way – we would love to have, possess and acquire – all that we have set our heart at. The problem today is that -” हमें सब कुछ उसी क्षण…तभी के तभी चाहिए…” ” “We want it now. This very instant…” – is the present mindset. Our impulses rise and fall faster than our breath. Spontaneous choices – made without thought, become habits. We rush through life, measuring happiness with speed — forgetting that divine timing is never hurried, yet always perfect.

Those who walk the spiritual path slowly begin to understand that patience – ‘सब्र’ is not inaction — it is faith in motion. To wait calmly is to trust God’s rhythm. To accept delay without complaint is to acknowledge His higher wisdom. How beautiful will life be – “अगर हम ईश्वर का ‘शुक्र’ करें जब वो हमें कुछ भी देते हैं – और ‘सब्र’ करें जब वो हमें अपनी मांगी हुई चीज़ नहीं देते हैं…”

The spiritual seeker has to learn to be grateful when God gives and be patient when God withholds. He has to respect the truth that God gives us everything at the right time. There is no such thing as late or early. Everything we have been given has been given to us at the right time.Even problems come to us at the ‘right’ time and go away at the ‘right’ time. Our wishing them away early is purely a waste of time and effort.
Often times, this same very impatience is triggered when we see other people succeed in their ways. We ask God – “Why are we not being rewarded immediately? Why is it taking so much time?” It is very important to take a step back at such times and count one’s blessings. It is important to remember that God gives everyone what they deserve in their time.

Patience must not be considered a great uphill endeavour. Yes, controlling one’s frustrations, not giving into one’s impulses, these do require resilience and strength. But this same very patience – having faith in God and His plans; having faith in one’s actions – makes one peaceful in heart and mind. Such a person is no longer afflicted with anxiety about the future. He is able to rejoice in what he has ‘today’ and is content in doing his best ‘today’. He does not live life only in ‘expectation’. He is happy and finds joy in what he has ‘now’ and is unbothered by what fruits his labour brings.
While it might seem difficult to understand, but, such an attitude – unburdened by a constant urge to be rewarded, to be recognised for one’s actions – is what is needed to achieve true success in life. Such an attitude makes one averse to pain and risk. When one is unmotivated by the fruits of one’s actions – and instead trusts God to do the right thing for him – such an individual is not afraid to try what might seem impossible to others. For such a person is rarely disappointed, develops an ability to be focussed on the task at hand and does it to the best of his ability and is able to sustain painstaking endeavours as he is not looking for immediate reward.

Always remember – Life is beautiful when we live it in a state of thankfulness, all the time, irrespective of what it brings to us on a daily basis. Once we wear a garb of gratitude – it shouldn’t matter to us – whether it is severe hardship or a joyful development- that finds its way to us. Days of difficulties – will come to an end one day – and, similarly, every day cannot give us a reason to celebrate. We just have to be patient, but, unfortunately that is one quality that is fast fading from our lives- as our constant yearning for everything under the Sun is making us impatient.
We should remain so busy counting our blessings, placing complete trust in His timing and planning – that ‘ impatience’ finds it difficult to overcome the stoic ‘patience’ in us – as we understand –
” ‘सब्र’ का फल मीठा होता है…”