Chintana

November 2014

There is no vessel to ferry man across the ocean of samsara except jnanam (Self-knowledge). –  Chinmaya

This samsara (world/worldliness) is compared to the ocean in almost all Hindu scriptures. There are many reasons for this:

1) The ocean appears endless for a sea traveller; so too there is no end to worldliness (the cycles of birth and death).

2) संसरति इति संसार: – Ceaseless change is the nature of this world; so too with the ocean.

3) Whether the waves or the bubbles, foam or the froth – death has the final laugh in all happenings in the ocean. In the same way, all the things, beings and happenings of the world are constantly swept across towards the shores of death.

4) A drowning man in ocean, without any stable support to hold on, is at the mercy of the huge waves which toss him up and down. A man drowning in samsara too is tossed mercilessly by the dualities of life – heat and cold, health and disease, joys and sorrows, pleasure and pain, birth and death, victory and defeat, honour and dishonour etc.

5) A drowning person tries to quench his thirst by drinking the oceanic water. But alas! His thirst only increases with every drop drunk. So too, the cravings for the worldly pleasures only intensify with every act of indulgence.

6) Samsara is also called Bhava sagar. ‘Bhava’ means to become. Each one thinks that in future by becoming the person of his dreams, he will be permanently happy. This chase for happiness continues ad infinitum.

7) The life of a person drowning in the ocean is ever threatened by dangerous aquatic creatures. So too, the worldly existence is ever threatened by disease, accidents, natural calamities etc.

8) So says the Lord in the Bhagavad Geeta – दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया |

Worldliness is unassailable by the ignorant; just as the ocean is impossible to cross over.

9) The only way a drowning person can save himself is by getting into a ship. So too, the only ship to save us from the ocean of worldliness is jnanam or Self-knowledge.   

How can jnanam help?

A jnani is like a lighthouse in the ocean. A lighthouse doesn’t take the support of the ocean; it takes the support of the solid ground beneath. Hence the lighthouse, though remaining in the ocean, remains unaffected. So too, a jnani remains unaffected by the perishing world, as he holds on to the eternal, imperishable Self. 

Waves and bubbles have to die, but not the water, the essence of the ocean. A jnani is the one who has realised the essence of the perishable world as imperishable Self. Hence he becomes fearless.

Samsara belongs to the ego. A jnani dries up the ocean of samsara by discovering that this ego is a mere illusion born out of indiscrimination. Ego is nothing but the sentient Self-identified with the insentient matter (body, mind etc.). Jnanam is, therefore, putting an end to this unholy marriage. This is done by identifying with the Self and not identifying with the matter. This Self, of the nature of Sat-Chit-Anand, is the ship which the jnani boards to cross over the ocean of samsara.

A ticket collector in a train found an old worn-out wallet in a compartment full of many people. He looked inside to find the name of its owner. There was no clue. All that there was in it, was some money and a picture of Krishna. He held it up and asked, “Who does this wallet belong to?”

An old man said, “That’s my wallet.” The ticket collector asked for the proof. The old man gave a toothless smile and said, “It has a picture of Krishna in it.” The ticket collector said, “That is no proof; anyone can have a picture of Krishna in his wallet. What is special about that? Why is your picture not there in it?”

The old man said, “Let me tell you why my picture is not there in it. My father gave this wallet to me when I was in school. I used to get a small sum as pocket money then. I had kept a picture of my parents in it.

“When I was a teenager I was greatly enamoured by my good looks. I removed my parents’ picture and put in one of my own. Some years later, I got married. My wife was very beautiful and I loved her a lot. I replaced my own picture with a picture of her. I spent hours gazing at her pretty face.

“When my first child was born, my life started a new chapter. I shortened my working hours to play with my baby. I went late to work and returned home early. Obviously, my baby’s picture occupied the prized position in my wallet.”

The old man’s eyes brimmed with tears as he went on. “My parents passed away many years ago. Last year my wife too left her mortal coil. My only son – he is too busy with his family. He has no time to look after me.

“All that I had ever held close to my heart is far far away from my reach now. Now I have put this picture of Krishna in my wallet. It is only now that I have realized that He alone is the eternal companion. He will never leave me. Alas! If only I had realized this before. If only I had loved the Lord all these years with the same intensity as I loved my family, I would not have been so lonely today!”

The collector quietly gave the wallet to the old man. When the train stopped at the next station, the ticket collector went to the bookstall at the platform and asked the salesman, “Do you have any picture of God? I need a small one to put it in my wallet!”  

The above quote reminds us of the following verses from the Bhagavad Geeta:

तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् । भवामि नचिरात् पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम्||
For the devotees who have taken total refuge in Me, I become their Saviour. It becomes My responsibility to lift them from the ocean of worldliness.

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्य: सर्वेभ्य: पापकृत्तम: । सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ||
Even a rank sinner crosses over the ocean of samsar by the raft of Self-knowledge.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

October 2014

Do your job well. Live straight. Devotedly pray and serve. The reward shall come to you. –  Chinmaya

The above quote says – do your part, and the Lord will do His. The results are bound to come. The Lord is all-knowing and just. Have no fears or anxieties.

A spiritual seeker is advised by the scriptures not to insist upon the results of one’s actions. The reasons are not hard to find:

i)  Results are always unpredictable. Insistence upon the results means attaching our mind to the unpredictable. A mind attached to the unpredictable results cannot but become worried and anxious, tensed and stressed.

ii) Results can be determined only by the omniscient God, and not by the individual who knows nothing about millions of factors which determine the results.

iii) An insisting mind is a worrying mind. Actions born out of an inefficient worrying mind cannot but be inferior. Inferior actions can only bring out inferior results.

iv) The Lord does only what is good for us. When we insist upon the results, we are indirectly telling our Creator – “I know what is good for me better than You do!” Insistence upon the results only proves our stupidity and arrogance.

v) A stubborn insistence indicates the presence of a strong ego. The stronger the ego, the greater the difficulty in the spiritual path.

vi) Insistence on results also indicates that one loves the world more than God. This is the attitude of the worldly, and not of a spiritual seeker.

vii) When the instruments of action (Body-mind-intellect), the field of action (the world), the resources necessary for action (wealth etc) and the Life Principle behind the action belong to Him, how can the results alone belong to me? The results also should belong to Him. Insistence upon the results amounts to misappropriation, and hence a sin.

viii) When we insist upon the results we miss the sacred present and live in the unborn future.

ix) Insistence upon the results is born out of the misconception that the world is the source of happiness. The truth is – the Self, being the nature of Bliss, alone is the source of all happiness.

One of the best commentaries on the Brahmasutras is ‘Bhamati’. Interestingly, Bhamati is the name of a woman; and it may appear strange and weird that the commentary upon a philosophical text expounding the Immortal Truth is named after an ordinary mortal woman!

The commentary was written by a great philosopher, Vachaspati Mishra, whose wife’s name was Bhamati. It took him twelve years to write the commentary, and he decided that the day the commentary was complete, he would renounce the world and go to the Himalayas.

One day, in the middle of the night, the commentary was completed. He took the oil lamp, in whose light he had been writing the commentary, to go to his room.

 And on the way there, he found a woman and he asked, “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

She said, “My lord, you were so much immersed in writing the commentary. You forgot completely that you had married me. I am your wife.”

Vachaspati said, “I remember. And I also remember that every day… just show me your hand, because I can recognize your hand. You were the one who was putting the oil lamp by my side every day as the sun was setting. I know this hand. But it is too late. I have decided that the day the commentary is complete I will leave the house. You should have reminded me.”

Bhamati said, “It would have been very unloving to disturb you. I was waiting. And don’t be worried – if you have decided to leave, you leave without any worry. I will not come as a hindrance to your decision. It is enough that I can see that you are worried about me. This will be enough for my whole life, that you had a certain love.”

Vachaspati said, “You are a great woman. It is very rare to find such a woman. It is easy to find many commentators of my quality, but to find a woman of your quality – such love, such trust, such waiting, such patience. And such greatness of heart – without any expectation!

“I will call my commentary Bhamati, so that whoever reads this commentary is bound to be surprised by the name – because it has no relevance; the commentary is on the Brahmasutras… And, Bhamati?

“But without you, and without your love, and without your patience, and without your silent waiting… You never came in front of me, and you are so beautiful that it is certain if you had come in front of me, it would have been a disturbance. I may have forgotten about the commentary. I may have delayed in completing it just to remain with you.”

But Bhamati said, “I have received more than I deserve. You should not wait in the house any longer. Let me have the pride of having a husband who followed his decision… even though now I can see you are hesitating. Don’t hesitate. I will not allow you to remain in the house; you have to go to the Himalayas – because if you remain in the house, I will not be able to give you the same respect.”

Vachaspati left for the Himalayas, but he could not forget Bhamati… such a quality, such grace and such beauty… something beyond human qualities.

Vachaspati remained a great scholar, but Bhamati proved to be a far more divine

personality. Only such people have given proof that there is something more than human qualities, something which can only be called divine.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

September 2014

Any attempt of the mind to rise from low values of its present existence to a healthier and diviner scheme of life is yoga. –  Chinmaya

The word yoga comes from the root ‘yuj’ which means to unite.

There is a constant attempt made by the mind to unite with something or the other. The only purpose behind all these attempts is to get rid of the present state of incompleteness, and to gain a sense of total peace and fulfilment.

From the unicellular organism to the most evolved human being – all are in search of happiness. Explorations into the deep space and the ocean, inventions and discoveries in the field of science and technology, extensive research into the atomic and the sub-atomic particles… all are geared towards only one goal – happiness.  

Thus all of us are yogis in some sense of the term, as we are trying incessantly to ‘unite’ with an ideal state of perfection!

A casual observer of life finds that a good job, a good home, a good spouse, good children, good friends, a good car, good bank balance, luxuries and comforts, possessions and positions indeed give happiness. So with his superficial analysis of his experiences in life, he concludes –The world is the source of all happiness. This philosophy of life makes him a bhogi or a samsaari– the one whose mind is ever extrovert seeking union with the outer world.

From then on, true to his theory of happiness, he is in a constant hunt for peace, perfection and security in the outer world. Very soon he gets dragged into a world of cut-throat competition, of greed and jealousies, of bribes and scams, of indulgence and addiction, of revenge and rivalry, of restlessness and sleeplessness.

Constant blows from the outer world compel him to think that there is something wrong with his equation of happiness. A deeper analysis reveals to him that this world also is a source of great sorrow. He discovers that everything in the world is impermanent and unpredictable. Therefore holding on to the world can bestow nothing but perpetual tension and worry, fear and anxiety. Soon he finds himself at a crossroads where neither is he able to leave the world, nor is he able to hold the world. His search for happiness intensifies day by day and soon his inquisitiveness takes him to the world of religion and spirituality – a world which he had never explored till then.  

Mother Nature, who is ever waiting anxiously to guide her children, soon exposes such a matured, ripened person to scriptures and spiritual masters. And there he comes to realize that happiness has more to do with the state of the mind rather than the external circumstances. He observes that one can be happy even amidst tragedies and failures if the mind is at peace; on the other hand, one is miserable even amidst luxuries and comforts if the mind is disturbed.

Thus he learns the greatest truth of life – “Seeking happiness outside is futile. Happiness is one’s own nature. Quieter the mind, the greater the happiness.”

This new revelation totally transforms the erstwhile bhogi into a yogi. The extroverted seeking ends and a new journey into one’s own within begins. This inner journey, where efforts are put forth to awaken oneself to the higher, healthier and diviner state of existence constitute yoga.

Two boys in a boarding school were assigned rather menial tasks involving manual labour – such as cleaning tables after the meals, mopping floors and so on. One of the boys was very unhappy with this kind of work. He would do the job uninterestingly and half-heartedly, shabbily and hastily, grumbling and complaining all the while. Whenever he found that none was around to inspect, he would skip off and go out to play.

The other boy, on the other hand, would not only do his allotted task well, but also do his best to complete the other boy’s work.

The teacher in charge noticed this, and he asked the diligent boy what prompted him to do another’s work. The boy’s reply was significant, “This school has given m so much. I am just expressing my gratitude in a humble way. Also, Sir, haven’t you taught us in our daily prayers that the one who is the servant of all wins the heart of the Lord?”

Even menial tasks become yoga when they are performed with noble intentions.

A poor but devout woman wanted to give away some of her clothes to earthquake victims in Gujarat. “I can give away some of my blankets and bedsheets. There are many which I rarely use,” she thought. “Poor ones! They need it more than I do. Without homes and without anything to cover themselves, how difficult it must be to camp out in the open air! Let me do for them whatever I can.”

She pulled out her clothes, blankets and bedsheets from her wardrobe. She was careful not to give the torn, the unusable and the useless ones. Rather than heartlessly bundling up the clothes and the blankets, she carefully washed them, dried them, mended them, ironed them and then handed them over to the collector.

“This is meant for God’s children,” she said. “And so I wanted to make it as nice as possible.”

True yoga is not about learning to walk in the air or to walk on the water; it is all about learning to walk on the earth with a clear head and a clean heart.  

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

July 2014

Even though you have not conquered in battles the world, you become the world conqueror when you have conquered your mind. –  Chinmaya

How can a mind-conqueror be greater than a world-conqueror?

This is so because the world has no existence apart from the existence of the mind. Only when the mind exists, the world exists. This is proved in the scriptures through Anvaya-vyatireka method.

In our deep-sleep mind is absent, and therefore the world is also absent. In the dream state and the waking state, the dream world and the waking world is experienced only through the mind. Hence there is no world without the mind.  Thus when the mind is conquered, the world is conquered.

The wise, therefore, instead of trying to conquer the world, take a U-turn and conquer the source of the world – the mind.

It is said about Diogenes, that even Alexander the Great became jealous of him. Diogenes was just a naked fakir, and he had nothing. He had renounced everything; he was searching for his own inner world.

It is said about him that when he renounced the world, he used to carry a small begging bowl. But then one day he saw a dog drinking water from a river. He threw that begging-bowl. He said, “If the dog can do without it, then am I worse than the dog?” Everything was thrown away. He remained naked.

Many stories, rumours, were reaching Alexander that this man had something in him. Finally, fascinated, Alexander went to see him, and he could see that the man had something that he had not. He was just lying down. It was a winter morning; it was cool and the sun was rising. He was lying down by the side of a river, bathing himself in the early sun, naked.

 Said Alexander with an air of arrogance, “You know who I am? I am Alexander, the world conqueror. Ask anything and it shall be given.”

Diogenes laughed and said, “You are obstructing the sunlight. Please stand by the side. This is all the boon I ask from you. And remember, don’t disturb anybody else’s life. That’s enough; nothing else do I want from you – because all that I want is within me.”

And Alexander could feel that the man was true, literally true – the solidity, the

crystallized being, the ‘vibe’ of one who has attained, the surround, the climate of the person who is filled with an inner light, inner realization, inner riches. He could see it. He bowed down and he said, “If next time I am to come into the world, I would ask God not to make me Alexander, but Diogenes.”

Diogenes laughed and said, “There is no need to wait that long. You can become a Diogenes right now! For what are you struggling and conquering people, and moving continuously and warring? For what?”

Said Alexander, “First I want to conquer Middle Asia, then India, then the Far East…”

And Diogenes went on asking, “Then what? Then what?”

Finally, Alexander said, “Once I have conquered the whole world, I would then like to rest.”

And Diogenes said, “You look to me the most stupid, because I am resting without conquering the world. You can rest by my side. See, the bank is so big; we can share it. And nobody comes here. You can rest to your heart’s desire. Who is preventing you? And I don’t see the point that one needs to conquer the world first just to rest in the end. You can rest any moment.”

At that moment Alexander must have felt his poverty. He said, “You are right. I am mad, but now it is difficult for me to come back. I have to conquer, only then can I come.”

And when he was leaving, Diogenes said, “Remember, nobody can come back unless one is aware. And if you are aware right this moment, the journey stops. If you are not aware, you will never come back.”

And Alexander never could go back. He died before he reached back home.

Why do we crave to conquer the world?

Infinity is our nature. Hence we crave to have infinite joy, power, freedom, fame, strength etc. Only when we are infinite, we feel ‘at home’. But unfortunately, due to our tight embrace with the finite – namely the body, mind and intellect – we experience only finitude. This sense of identification with our finite           equipments is called as Ahankaar or ego.

All finite efforts made by the finite ego to expand itself hoping to unite with the infinite end up in a disappointingly endless process, called as Samsaar.

Then what is the solution?

Annihilate the mind. With that, the ego is annihilated, and our identification with the finite instruments ceases. With it, our sense of limitation also vanishes.

When once we come to know of our limitless nature, all sense of want disappears; the desire for the world ends. End of desires means the end of slavery. End of slavery is mastery.  Thus a mind-conqueror effortlessly becomes a world-conqueror.  

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

June 2014

He who empowers you to examine your own life and then wipe out your weaknesses is your preceptor. –  Chinmaya

Man is essentially divine. He is infinite and immortal. Peace and happiness is his very nature. Nothing is lacking in him. He is ever united with his Creator.

But alas! Due to his identification with the matter envelopments (body, mind etc.), his egoistic illusory personality experiences nothing but limitations and sufferings. Spiritual masters have only one task at hand – to help the seeker know himself. Through a right understanding of oneself, the hidden divinity shines forth in all its brilliance, and the erstwhile sinner becomes a worshipful saint.   

In a wintery night, a thief by mistake entered a master’s hut which was all empty. The master, seeing the thief searching in vain, came with a lit candle and said, “I am so sorry. I have nothing to give you. I only have this blanket. Outside it is so cold. Inside the house, it is warmer, so I can manage without it.” Lovingly he covered the thief with his blanket.

Confused and shocked, the thief exclaimed: “But I am a thief!”

The master smiled and said, “That’s alright. One has to be someone or the other. It really doesn’t matter.”

As the thief was leaving, dumbfounded, he heard the master shout, “Hey! Come back!” The thief had never heard such a strong voice. He had to come back. The master said, “Learn the ways of courtesy. I have given you the blanket and you have not even thanked me. So first, thank me. It will help you a long way. Secondly, you opened the door when you came in. Can’t you see the night is so cold, and I am naked? Your being a thief is okay, but as far as manners are concerned, I am a difficult man. I cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour. Say thank you!”

The thief had to say, “Thank you, sir,” and he closed the door and escaped. But he could not sleep the whole night. He felt bad that he took away the only possession of that man – the blanket. He enquired the next day and found out that this man was a great master.

After a few months, the thief was caught, and in the court, the magistrate asked him, “Can you name a person who knows you in this vicinity?”

He said, “Yes, one person knows me.” He named the master.

The magistrate said, “That’s enough. Call the master. His testimony is worth that of ten thousand people. What he says about you will be enough to give judgment.” The magistrate asked the master, “Do you know this man?”

The master said, “Know him? He is my friend. He even visited me in the middle of the night. It was so cold that I gave him my blanket. He is using it, you can see.”

The magistrate inquired further, “And does he steal?”

The master said, “Never! He can never steal. He is such a gentleman that when I gave him the blanket he said to me, ‘Thank you, sir.’ When he went out of the house, he silently closed the doors. He is a very polite, nice fellow.”

The magistrate said, “If you say so, then all the testimonies of the witnesses who have said that he is a thief are cancelled. He is freed.”

As the master came out, the thief followed him. The master asked, “Why are you coming with me?”

He said, “Now I can never leave you. You have called me your friend. Nobody has ever given me any respect. You are the first person who has said that I am a gentleman, a nice person. I am going to sit at your feet and learn how to be like you. You have saved my life, and now this life is yours. Make whatever you want to make of it. I have been simply wasting it. Being with you, one thing is certain – that you can transform me.”

A preceptor is not just a mere teacher.

For a teacher, you are a mortal being in this endless world; for a preceptor, you are the Supreme Being in this illusory world…  A teacher takes the responsibility of your growth; a preceptor makes you responsible for your growth…  A teacher answers your questions; a preceptor questions your answers…  A teacher gives you things you do not have and require; a preceptor takes away things you have and do not require…  A teacher helps you get out of the maze; a preceptor helps you destroy the maze…  A teacher expects obedience and discipline from the pupil; a preceptor expects trust and humility from the pupil…  A teacher is a guide on the path; a preceptor is a pointer to the way… A teacher clothes you and prepares you for the outer journey; a preceptor strips you naked and prepares you for the inner journey…  A teacher sends you on the road to success; a preceptor sends you on the road to freedom…  A teacher gives you the knowledge and boosts your ego; a preceptor takes away your knowledge and punctures your ego…  A teacher explains the world and its nature to you; a preceptor explains yourself and your nature to you…  A teacher instructs you; a preceptor constructs you…  A teacher sharpens your mind; a preceptor opens your mind…  A teacher shows you the way to prosperity; a preceptor shows you the way to serenity…  A teacher makes you understand how to move about in the world; a preceptor shows you where you stand in relation to the world…  A teacher reaches your mind; a preceptor touches your soul…  A teacher gives you knowledge; a preceptor makes you wise…  A teacher gives you maturity; a preceptor returns you to innocence…  A teacher instructs you how to solve problems; a preceptor shows you how to resolve issues…  A teacher develops your personality; a preceptor reveals your identity…  A teacher punishes you with a stick; a preceptor punishes you with compassion…  A teacher is to the pupil what father is to a son; a preceptor is to a pupil what mother is to her child…  One can always find a teacher; but the preceptor has to find and accept you…  A teacher leads you by hand; a preceptor leads you by example…

When the course is over, you are thankful to your teacher; when the discourse is over, you are grateful to the preceptor…

When the teacher finishes with you, you graduate; when the preceptor finishes with you, you celebrate!

Our humble prostrations to the entire Guru Parampara!!

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

May 2014

What you meet in your life is Praarabdha (destiny); how you meet is your Purushaartha (self-effort). –  Chinmaya

We are what we are due to our own past actions (Praarabdha). We can be what we want to be by our present thoughtful actions (Purushaartha).

The quote asks us to leave the past and concentrate on the present, so that we may have a bright future.

A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo even though he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master.

The boy was doing well; but he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. “Sir,” the boy finally asked, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the master replied. Though not clear, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept practising.

Several months later, the master took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

 This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. The referee was concerned that the boy might get hurt, but the master insisted, “No, let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake; he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy, unable to contain his curiosity asked the master, “Sir, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the master answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

Purushaartha transforms even the most unpleasant Praarabdha into a blessing in disguise! The master had converted the boy’s biggest weakness into his greatest strength!!

An MNC Vendor organization once organized an event in Singapore to raise funds for the visually handicapped people. Around 40 people from various industries were invited to that event.

 Later, in the evening, all were made to gather in a hall and were briefed about the next event – ‘Dining in the Dark’ – to have dinner in a pitch dark room!!

The next two hours were completely planned, organized, directed and executed by three blind youths – a girl (the leader) and two boys as her assistants. The blind leader first gave them tips for dining:

“When you sit at your table the things will be placed as follows:  at 3 o clock of your dish – you will find a spoon; at 9 o clock – a fork; at 12 o clock – a spoon; at 2 o clock – an empty glass; dish at the centre with a paper napkin tucked at 6 o clock.”
 “There will be two large jugs circulated to you. The jug with plain walls will have water and the jug with a curved wall will have orange juice.”
“When you get your jug based on your choice you have to pour it in your glass. You have to dip your forefinger in the glass so that when you fill it and the liquid touches your finger, you have to stop pouring.”

She asked whether everyone had understood. All said yes but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she had said and confirmed with each other. Next one-and-a-half hours were spent in full of fun and learning.

All the 40 people were taken in groups to the dark hall. Each one was directed by a blind person until he/she sat on a chair. The delegates found it awkward. For the first time in their life, they found themselves being guided and led by the blind!

They were served full five-course dinner by this team of three blind people – welcome drinks, appetizers, starters, main course and desserts. In a completely pitch dark room, they were enjoying various delicious food without seeing it!

While registering online they had been asked to choose from ‘Vegetarian’ or ‘Non-vegetarian’. The amazing thing was that the team of three blind people was serving exactly vegetarian dishes to the vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room! They were so nicely hosted that they never had to wait in between serves. As they were finishing one dish, they were served with next without any delays.

After approximately one-and-a-half hours of dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone had finished eating. After confirmation, she switched on the lights of the dining room. The delegates, while leaving the room, had their eyes filled with tears…

When the Praarabdha is cruel, weeping and cursing are but natural. But to continue singing the song of life with a cheerful acceptance, with a sense of gratitude and a smile on the face demands Purushaartha.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

April 2014

The real test of a Perfect One is not in the jungle or in a cave, but in the market place where he is teased by the mischiefs of the world. –  Chinmaya

Mahatma Gandhi once met a sage living in solitude in the Himalayas. The sage asked him, “Why should you unnecessarily get into the turmoils of the world? I suggest you stay here. There is so much of peace in these silent valleys. Moreover,” he added smilingly, “there is none to disturb you here!”

Gandhiji replied with a smile, “Sir, I agree there is inner peace here amidst outer peace. But I am searching for inner peace amidst outer storms.”

Challenges in life test our strength, mastery and expertise. A driver’s driving skill is tested not in the isolated, open grounds, but in the thick of the traffic. A pole is shaken violently to ensure that it is well-rooted on the ground.

An immature sadhak, once, after a little scriptural study, fancied to become instantly popular and rich. Wearing an ochre robe with distinct marks of holiness all over the body, he made a kutir for himself and put a board outside, “Here is a mahatma who never gets angry.”

People started dripping in. One villager approached him and exclaimed, “Swamiji! What aura!! What tejas!!! Please tell us the secret.” The sadhak said, “Watch the thoughts. Detach yourself from it. Don’t get identified with it. That’s the secret.”

No sooner did he finish than the second one came, “Mahatmaji, thousand prostrations to your lotus feet! Please show us the way.” The sadhak continued, “Chant the name of the Lord. All anger will disappear. This is the way.”

 By now the ‘mahatma’ became the talk of the town. Visitors kept pouring in. Though exhausted he continued, “Listen carefully. I can’t repeat again and again. Practice shama (mind-control) and dama (sense-control). Also, practice pranayama. When breathing becomes slow, the mind comes under control. Don’t forget to practice pratipaksha bhavana. Replace thoughts of love in the place of anger.”

Kutir became flooded with devotees.  The ‘mahatma’ now had it enough. He grew wild, “No more advice. Now all of you get out of here.”

But the villagers considered even his scoldings as ‘prasad’. They refused to allow him even a moment’s rest. Seeing them adamant, he shouted angrily at the top of his voice, “You idiots! Your anger will never go!! You all go, and allow me also to go!!!”

But the devotees loved him. Some fought among themselves to massage his hands and feet. One fanned him; another did a smoky arati. One sang his praises with his heart-breaking voice, while others banged the bells and cymbals creating an ear-breaking noise.

 Soon the ladies joined the mess and fought among themselves to feed him with their ‘home-made’ sweets. Some senseless ones went out to fetch river water, ice-cold but fresh, to do his pada puja and abhisheka, that too in winter!

 One sneaked in and put a huge heavy garland of fresh flowers on the ‘mahatma’ not realizing that it was full of ants, worms and insects. Another fell flat holding on to his feet crying, “Jai Swamiji Maharaj! Thou alone are our refuge!”

The ‘mahatma’, who was not even allowed to attend to nature’s call, at last, lost all his control. Screaming for help, he took a big stout stick and to the utter surprise of all, landed blows to everyone nearby. Fuming with anger, and making way with his stick, he somehow managed to escape from the mess and ran for his life!

Teasing the pompous and taming the insolent, the world, with its unseen chisel and hammer, is ever polishing our egoistic sharp edges. For the devil to emerge out as divine, this worldly womb is an unavoidable necessity.

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle opened.

He was late for work. So he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.

The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated by its colour, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, but it was too late. The mother was on the verge of collapse. She was terrified by the very thought of facing the husband.

When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he went blank for a moment; but not a word of blame escaped his lips. He slowly went to his grief-stricken wife, hugged her and uttered just four words, “I love you, dear…”

There is a saying:

I asked God to give me wisdom, and He gave me problems to solve so that I may become wise…    I asked God to give me strength, and He gave me difficulties to make me strong…     I asked God to give me courage, and He gave me dangers to overcome…     I asked God to give me prosperity, and He put me amidst sweat and toil…   I asked God to grant me patience, and He gave me tribulations to overcome…     I asked God to make my spirit grow; and He put me through diseases, failures and insults so that I have none else to depend upon but Him…     I asked God to shower His love and grace, and He made it clear that it was ever there for me to recognise… In the end, I got nothing what I asked, but everything what I desired.

Let’s allow the ups and downs of life to break, bake and make us; for, this is the only known way to bring out the best in us.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

March 2014

A beautiful life does not just happen; it is built daily by prayer, humility, sacrifice and hard work. – Chinmaya

In life, there are no accidents, but only incidences.

A house is built brick by brick; so too life is built thought by thought. Thoughts – we can choose, and life is what happens to us once the choice is made. The above quote gives us the guidelines to make our life beautiful.

A person went to a Mahatma and asked, “Swamiji, I find you cheerful and happy throughout the day. How is it that you are able to remain totally contented even with the bare minimum?”

“What do you do?” enquired the saint.

“I do farming”, replied the visitor.

“You don’t have to change your profession,” said the saint smilingly. “Cultivate your mind the way you cultivate your farm. Let sufferings in life do the spadework of preparing the soil of your mind. Let the lessons learnt from the past mistakes be the manure. Protect the mental land by the fence of Satsang (constant association with the noble). Procure good quality thought-seeds by studying the scriptures and listening to the enlightened discourses of the wise. Sow these seeds of noble thoughts in the fertile mind and water them regularly with the tears of love and devotion overflowing unto the Lord. “

“Never give room to despair”, the saint continued. “Work hard. Remain vigilant. Eliminate without mercy the weeds and pests of evil thoughts. Protect the crop by chasing away the birds of evil company. With the grace of God as rain and sunshine, wait patiently for the right season. Soon you will have a rich harvest of peace, happiness and contentment!”

It is said, when it comes to hard work, some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, while most don’t turn up at all!

This story is of the Mahabharata period. After the war, when Bheeshma Pitamaha was lying on the bed of arrows, many seekers of knowledge would come to him to learn from the rich experiences of his life, and Bheeshma Pitamaha would meet their queries. Someone asked, “Revered Sir, Kauravas were a hundred in number, while the Pandavas were only five. How then

did the Pandavas win the battle, even though both the parties had a common Guru – Guru Dronacharya?”

Bheeshma gave three reasons. Firstly, the Pandavas always followed the path of Dharma (righteousness). Secondly, Guru Dronacharya was engaged on a salary basis. And thirdly, Kauravas did their education enjoying all luxuries of life in a palace. The Pandavas, on the other hand, lived in the ashrams and forests, working hard, and living a life of discipline, exercising control over the mind and the senses. It is the result of their hard work, sincerity and honesty that they, despite being only five in number, turned out to be more powerful than the Kauravas, and ultimately won the battle.

There is a Sanskrit subhashitam which says you cannot be a Vidyarthi (seeker of knowledge) and at the same time be a Sukharti (seeker of comforts). One has to be given up for the sake of the other.

Once Pujya Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda was conducting a Jnana Yajna in Delhi. One restless and impatient youngster, named Suresh Pant, an M.B.A graduate, got inspired by Swamiji and wanted to join Chinmaya Mission as a monk. He decided to join Swamiji

on his way to the Siddhabari ashram in Himachal Pradesh.

At about 30 km from the Ashram, Swamiji got down from the car and said, “Suresh, let us walk!” Suresh also got down and asked, “Gurudev, but where?” Swamiji said, “To the Ashram at Siddhabari.” Suresh argued, “But why? You said the road goes up to the Ashram. Why not we proceed in the car itself? We will reach the destination quickly and I can start my course with you without wasting time!”

Gurudev insisted, and hence Suresh gave up his arguments and started walking along. Swamiji was 65 years old, frail but energetic. He was enjoying every step. Suresh got bored after some time with endless walking. They stopped near a tree. “Swamiji, still how long to go?”

enquired Suresh. Swamiji exclaimed, “Look at those beautiful white flowers on these trees! How nice they look!”

They walked on and on. As they were crossing a rivulet, the tired young man asked again, “Gurudev, at what time are we expected to reach the Ashram?” Swamiji smiled broadly and said, “Suresh! Do you hear the music of the waterfall? How melodious!!”

They continued walking. It was nearing sunset. Exhausted and fatigued, the impatient youth, unable to resist himself, enquired again, “Swamiji, are we near?” Gurudev said with a twinkle in his eyes, “Dear! Look at the sunset. How magnificent!!”

Suresh stopped. Irritated, he looked at Gurudev and said, “Swamiji, either there is something wrong with me or there is something wrong with you. I am asking you something and you are saying something else!”

Gurudev smiled. He replied in words honeyed with all love and compassion, “My son! I am trying to make you enjoy the journey, while you are constantly worrying about the destination.”

Ups or downs – let us learn to cherish every moment of our inner awakening while traversing the path of Self-discovery. After all, what is the hurry – the time is infinite, and the Self is immortal!

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

February 2014

There is one ornament common to men and women – forgiveness. – Chinmaya

The ornaments are of two types: the outer – made of gold, diamond etc., and the inner – consisting of noble virtues.

While the outer ornaments vary from place to place, differ from person to person and undergo change from time to time, the inner ornaments had been, and will ever be the same for all ages to come, irrespective of caste, creed, culture, gender, age, nationality or religion.

While the former enhances only the physical beauty, the latter transforms the entire personality. While the former makes the person feel unsafe and insecure, the latter bestows unto the possessor freedom and joy. Again, while the former attracts only the selfish and the self-centred, the latter attracts to oneself the noble and the virtuous.

Unlike the outer, the inner ornaments alone remain with us, here and hereafter, as a permanent inseparable possession.

Thus to conclude, while the outer ornaments remain as mere valuables, the inner ornaments alone are valued, revered, and glorified world over.

The above quote speaks of one of the greatest inner ornaments – the ability to forgive.

True forgiveness is born out of the right understanding of the oneness of the Self. Here the offender’s offence is forgiven and forgotten just as we forgive and forget the bitings of our teeth on our own tongue.

In Srimad Bhagavatham comes the story of Prahlada, one of the greatest devotees of the Lord Vishnu. When his father, Hiranyakashipu, the Asura Emperor, who considered Lord Vishnu as his arch-enemy, failed in all his attempts to ‘reform’ his son, he finally decided to kill him.

The boy, who was just five years old, was struck on vital parts with tridents, trampled by elephants, bitten by serpents, attacked through black magic, rolled down from the mountain peaks, smashed by rocks, buried under the earth, drowned in the ocean, burned in the fire, starved, poisoned and exposed to extreme weather conditions. But the child-devotee ever remained

unharmed, under the protection of the Lord.

After killing Hiranyakashipu, the Lord, in the form of Narasimha (Man-lion), pleased with his beloved devotee, pressed him to ask for a boon. Prahlada then made this humble submission, “O Lord, I seek but one favour. By Thy grace, may my father be purified from these gross sins that cannot be expiated in any way.”

One who forgives benefits the most from that kindly act. A forgiving heart becomes free from the poisonous fumes of anger, hatred and revenge, which otherwise makes one’s own life miserable and unlivable.

When Ashwathama (the son of Dronacharya) murdered the five sleeping sons of Draupadi in the darkness of the night, Arjuna chased him, fought with him, caught him, and tying him like an animal, dragged him and threw him at the feet of weeping and wailing Draupadi.

But to the utter shock of all present there, Draupadi prostrated at the feet of Ashwathama and said, “Being the son of our teacher to whom we are debted forever, you too are worshipful.”

“Moreover,” remarked the noble lady to others who were fuming with anger, “I don’t want his mother to undergo the same pain, which I am undergoing at present.”

Though drenched in the tears of bereavement, she asked Arjuna to untie him, and allowed him to go.

Sometimes, the so-called forgiveness is nothing but cowardice in disguise.

Once four ants were passing along a narrow road, and they saw an elephant coming from the other direction. The first one roared, “Come on! Let’s kill this elephant.” The second one said, “No, let’s only break his leg.” The third one opined, “Why not just throw him out of the way?” The fourth one requested, “Let’s allow him to go. You see, it’s unfair; we are four, and he is all alone.”

Forgiveness, born out of our incapacity to retaliate against a powerful opponent, is no forgiveness at all.

Seeking forgiveness is as important a virtue as the ability to forgive. Only the one who possesses a broad mind to admit one’s faults and the humility to apologise will seek forgiveness.

A learned Professor of repute engaged a class at the University. Having delivered an introduction to the topic, he pointed to one of the students and asked him to read aloud from the text.

The student arose and began to read, holding his book in the left hand. “That’s not the way to behave in the class,” said the Professor sharply. “Hold the book in your right hand and be seated.”

The student stopped reading. After a moment or two, he silently held up his right arm – he did not have a right hand!

The class grew strangely silent. Everyone felt uncomfortable and pained. The Professor sat still,

dumbfounded. Then he rose from his seat and walked slowly down to where the young man stood. He put his arm around him and said with tears in his eyes, “I am truly sorry. I have spoken in haste. Will you forgive me?”

To err is human; to blame someone else is equally human. To forgive is divine; to seek forgiveness is equally divine. May we use forgiveness as a precious lubricant in our lives which keeps all our relationships smooth and friction-free.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

January 2014

He who reigns supreme as master of himself alone becomes a servant of light unto others. – Chinmaya

All are busy trying to reform others. But hardly anyone has the time or patience to reform oneself.

“Avidyaayaamantare vartamaanaa: …”  Lord Yamaraj, in Kathopanishad, laments that the majority of the people, themselves wallowing in ignorance, pose outwardly as wise and knowledgeable, and take up the task of reforming others. He ridicules it as the blind leading the blind!

The above quote makes it clear: if you want to reform others, first start from yourself. Practise; and then preach, if you want your message to reach.

Once an anxious mother came to Mahatma Gandhi and pleaded, “Bapuji, I need your help. My son is afflicted with kidney disease and the doctor has asked me to put him on a salt-free diet. But my son refuses to take such bland food. However, if you have a word with him, he will follow your advice implicitly as he has great regard and respect for you.”

“Bring your son here after one week. I will talk to him,” Gandhiji said to the lady.

The mother and the son came to meet Gandhiji after one week. Gandhiji looked into the eyes of the young boy and said, “There is something that I would like you to do.” “What is it Bapuji? I am ever ready to do your bidding!” said the boy eagerly. “Then may I ask you to refrain from eating salt as the doctors have advised?” said Gandhiji. “Is that all?” exclaimed the boy. Then turning to his mother he said, “No more salt for me mother!”

The mother was overwhelmed. It had worked out just as she had hoped it would. However, one thing puzzled her. Why had the Mahatma taken a week to make this simple request to her son?

Eventually, her curiosity got the better of her and she asked Gandhiji for the explanation, “Why did you take a week to call the boy and tell him not to take salt?”

“I could not have done it earlier,” replied the Mahatma, “for I myself was taking salt in my food at that time. It took me a week to give up salt completely. Then alone I could tell your son to do it, with a clean conscience. How could I have asked him to do something which I haven’t practised myself?”

The Bhagavad Gita says, “Yad yad aacharati shreshta:… ” Whatever the leaders of the society demonstrate through their actions, the generation imitates them implicitly.

Once Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Prime Minister of India, came to know that his son, Sunil Shastri, had taken the Government car for private use. He asked the driver to bring the logbook and asked Sunil to write down the total kilometres he travelled. He put his signature saying

“Private use” and asked his son to pay the price of petrol.

One who subjects to discipline is called a disciple. In this world, everyone wants to be Guru, but no one is ready to become a disciple. Strange but true, a true disciple alone becomes a true Guru.

Guru Amardas was the third of the ten Gurus of Sikhism. His life has been a shining example of devotion and humility. At the advanced age of seventy, Amardas became the disciple of Guru Angad. The old man sought the joy of his life in serving his Master. In the dark, before the dawn, he would walk miles to the river Bias to fetch a pitcher of freshwater for the Guru’s bath. He would walk backwards so as not to turn his back to the Guru. He would wash the Guru’s clothes. He would serve in the Guru’s langar (Communal free kitchen of the Sikh), doing lowly tasks, rejoicing in utter self-effacement.

Guru Angad watched with interest in the spiritual growth of his old disciple. Inwardly the Guru continued to send him all the help needed. But outwardly he was very stern with his disciple; for the disciple must go through all the rigours of discipline. Not for a moment did Amardas

resent the seemingly harsh treatment meted out to him by the Guru. Not for a moment did he doubt that the Guru was all love, kindness and mercy. Sometimes, he was not even allowed to come near the Guru. At such times, he would continue to gaze from afar at the

Master’s face, with the wonder and joy of a child!

A new colony was to be built by the disciples on the bank of the river Bias. The Guru asked Amardas to make his dwelling there!

For Amardas, it was sheer death to live away from the physical presence of the Guru; but he did not hesitate. He went to live in Gondwal, the new colony. And every morning, this old man would come, carrying on his grey head a pitcher of freshwater for the Guru’s bath. He

would come, singing the Guru’s baani (teachings) all the way, tears of love and joy flowing out of his aspiring eyes.

Thus Amardas walked the way of the true disciple until he himself became a great Guru, who brought enlightenment to many.

In spirituality, self-mastery comes with self-annihilation. The greater the annihilation of the ego, the brighter the divine light shines within us. It is this light peeping through the Masters that guides the seekers along their unlit paths of spiritual unfoldment, giving them hope to become yet another servant of light to help their generation come out of the darkness of delusion.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T