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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

December 2013

Brood less; smile more. That is the way to live. – Chinmaya

Brooding is thinking a lot about something which ultimately makes one annoyed, anxious or upset.

The Lord has given all of us a powerful faculty – the faculty of imagination. The misuse of this God-given gift is called brooding.

Problems come to all of us. To find a solution, thinking is necessary and unavoidable. But when the thoughts uncontrollably run through the wrong channels, thinking degrades to brooding. A thinking man has control over his thoughts; while a brooding man remains paralyzed, possessed by his own vicious thoughts, his woolgathering mind conceiving imaginary fears and failures.

It is said that chinta (brooding) is worse than chita (funeral pyre). While chita burns down only a dead body, and that too only once, chinta burns the living ones, moment to moment.

While brooding, even our superficial smile disappears from us in a moment’s notice, engulfed by the suppressed fears and tears gurgling from our deep within. This is so because while brooding we focus too much on the negative aspects of life.

A management expert was handling a session on ‘cultivating positive attitude’. He took out his pen, and on a large white sheet of paper, marked a dot at the centre. He then asked the delegates, “What do you see?” Pat came the reply from all “Sir, a black dot”.

“This is the problem with all of us,” said the expert smilingly. “We are quick to notice that black mark; but in the process, miss out the broad white sheet!”

We complain that the rose bush has thorns; Why not rejoice that the thorn bush has roses?

No facial make-ups or cosmetic surgeries can match the beauty of a genuine smile born out of a cheerful heart abiding in peace and joy.

A world-famous beauty product company asked the people in a large city to send pictures along with a brief letter about the most beautiful woman they knew. Within a few weeks, thousands of letters were delivered to the company.

One letter, in particular, caught the attention of the employees. Soon it was handed over to the company president. The letter was written by a young boy who obviously was from a broken home living in a slum.

With spelling correction, an excerpt from his letter read, “A beautiful woman lives in our street. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. She listens to all my problems with great patience. She comforts me in the time of distress and cheers me for every little achievement. She plays with me and loves feeding me. She tells me the stories of the great devotees and instils in me faith and devotion for the Lord.” The boy ended the letter saying “This picture shows that she is the most beautiful woman. I hope I have a wife so pretty as her…”

Intrigued by the letter, the president asked for the woman’s picture. The secretary handed over to him a photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting on a wheelchair. The sparse grey hair was pulled back in a bun, and the wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes.

“We can’t use this woman”, said the president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be truly beautiful!!”

There is a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, one of the great entertainers a few generations ago. He was asked to be a part of a show for World War II veterans. He told them that his schedule was very busy and he could afford only a few minutes, but if they wouldn’t mind his doing a short monologue and immediately leaving for his next appointment, he would come. Of course, the show’s director agreed happily.

But when Jimmy got on to the stage, something interesting happened. He went through the short monologue and then stayed on. The applause grew louder and louder and he kept performing. He went on and on for 15, 20, and then for 30 minutes! Finally, he took a last bow and left the stage.

At the backstage, someone stopped him and said, “I thought you would go after a few minutes. What happened?”

Jimmy answered, “I did have to go, but I can show you the reason I stayed. You can see for yourself if you’ll look at the front row.”

In the front row were two men, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together they were able to clap, and that’s exactly what they were doing – loudly and cheerfully!!

An old saying goes thus:

You are as young as your faith; and as old as your doubt. You are as young as your self-confidence; and as old as your fear. You are as young as your hope; and as old as your despair.

How to brood less and smile more?

Focus on the imaginary world of ‘What If ’, and you brood; Focus on the realistic world of ‘What Is’, and you smile.

“This is no world. It is God Himself. In delusion we call it world,” so says Swami Vivekananda.

If this is difficult, then be too busy to brood at day-time; so that you are too sleepy to brood at night!

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November 2013

Silently hear everyone. Accept what is good. Reject and forget what is not. This is intelligent living. – Chinmaya

“A mixture of opposites is this world;

Therefore, O brethren, may you live in this world;

With the wisdom of a swan bird.”

Thus say the scriptures.

The swan has neera – ksheera viveka. From a mixture of milk and water, it takes only the milk and leaves behind the water content. The above quote asks us to do the same.

Mahatma Gandhi once received an abusing nonsensical letter running into pages. He took out the paper clip and kept it safely for future use. The letter, without a second glance, was thrown into the dust-bin.

Intelligent living demands silent listening. And silent listening demands a silent tongue and a silent mind.

An immature, egoistic, impure mind can never listen. While hearing it is either switched off from within, or it is busy trying to safeguard the ego by framing arguments to defeat the opponent. It sees and hears only what it wants to see and hear.

Such biased, selective listeners remain trapped in the cocoon of their ignorance leaving no scope to learn anything from life.

A true listener listens to learn, to know; not to judge or to win. He takes part in discussions; not in arguments. For him, knowledge is the highest priority; not the ego-satisfaction. He is ready to bow down and to admit his mistakes; he is ever willing to correct himself. The ego, the villain, is never allowed to interfere anywhere, anytime.

Such silent listeners alone can appreciate and imbibe everything good; they alone can detect and reject everything worthless.

As the President of the United States, when Abraham Lincoln was about to give his inaugural address, one man, a rich aristocrat, stood up and said, “Mr Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family.”

The whole Senate laughed; they thought they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln looked at the man and said politely, “Sir, I know that my father used to make shoes in your house for your family, and there will be many others here…. Because the way he made shoes, nobody else can.

He was unique. His shoes were not just shoes; he poured his whole soul in it. I want to ask you, have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoes myself. If you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes. But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father’s shoes. He was a genius, a great creator and I am proud of my father.”

The whole Senate was struck dumb.

It is impossible to escape criticisms in this world. Even Sri Rama and Sri Krishna, the incarnations of the Lord, were not spared. But how to react these criticisms is purely left to our choice. The above quote guides us in handling criticisms.

When Rabindranath Tagore, the great poet, was subjected to intense criticism, one of his admirers, Sharat, complained to him, “Sir, I cannot take it anymore. Why don’t you retaliate?”

Tagore smiled and replied calmly, “You already know Sharat that it is not possible for me to get down to the level of those who criticize me or abuse me. I have my own level. I can retaliate only if I come down to their level, and this I can never do. I don’t have time for such petty matters. And if you look at it from my angle, it is not important either.”

There is a saying, “Arguing with a fool only proves that there are two!”

The one who uses every situation to reform oneself alone is considered wise. The rest busy themselves with others’ defects and waste their lives.

Ibrahim, the famous Sufi saint, was travelling once with his followers. One of his opponents, who had climbed a tree, spat on the head of the saint just when he was passing under it. The devotees of the saint became terribly angry and they rushed forward to catch hold of the person. But the saint forbade the followers to take any action.

He told his followers, “His mistake can be corrected with a small piece of cloth. But how will you correct your own mistake of beating him? There is no piece of cloth in the world which can correct such mistakes.”

Always the wrong persons teach the right lessons in life.

Intelligent living is all about making the right choices. Every choice made is an iron blow upon the lump of iron which our bodies are, manufacturing out of it what we want to become.

Sea is common to all; some take pearls; some fishes; some return… just with empty hands and wet legs!

The world is common to all. What we get depends on what we strive for.

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October 2013

The secret vein of energy that runs in every one of us is struck, not through pills and elixirs, but through dedicated actions. – Chinmaya

The modern man appears to live like a breathing corpse, shuttling between home and the office, carrying a face wrinkled with family-worries and work-pressures.

His only relief appears to come from Saturdays, Sundays and holidays – spent leisurely in clubs, pubs and in theatres. Thus drained out totally in health and wealth, through drugs and drinks, the modern man appears to drag his life aimlessly from the womb to the tomb.

This is but natural. For the one without any higher purpose of life, even a hefty pay-scale can act only as a catalyst to hasten him towards disease, decay and death.

But when actions are performed for a noble cause, in a selfless spirit of service, for the welfare of all, without expecting anything in return and without allowing the ego to interfere, one gets infused with a divine power unknown to the self-centred majority. The abundance of energy gushing from one’s own within astounds even its possessor, before dazzling the world in all its brilliance.

The Founder of Chinmaya Mission, Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, even at the age of seventy-five, with his heart functioning with only 18 per cent efficiency, used to work18 to 20 hours a day.

His day, starting from3:30 am, would be packed with a wide range of activities – answering a heap of letters sent to him from the world over, conducting morning sessions on Upanishads/meditation, writing commentaries on scriptural texts, organizing meetings with committee members, attending interviews, giving management talks in colleges and corporate institutions, survey-visits to the construction sites of the Mission ashrams/vidyalayas/ hospitals/social projects, attending bhikshas, conducting Geeta Jnana Yajnas for an audience ranging in thousands…

Hour by hour, day by day, year by year, Gurudev spent his life serving others for more than 40 years as a worship of the Lord. He used his body like camphor, burning it out till the last breath, without even a trace of ego, giving the light of Self-knowledge and fragrance of divine Love to one and all.

Once a devotee, an army officer, asked Gurudev, “Swamiji, What is the secret of your unending enthusiasm?” Gurudev replied with a smile, “While you take rum, I take Ram”!!

In another instance, one press reporter came to Gurudev and enquired, “Swamiji, are you the head of Chinmaya Mission?” The reply was instant, “No, I am the tail.”

With such a great leader to inspire and with an entire team of selflessly dedicated members to support, no wonder that the Mission has grown in leaps and bounds in the last 60 years after its establishment, with around 300 centres all over the world.

Field Marshall Cariappa, the first Indian Commander-In-Chief of the Indian Forces, was a great devotee of Swami Shivananda. In his study room, he had a picture of Swamiji, his parent’s picture and a statue of an ordinary Indian soldier.

Every day morning, after his bath, he would go to his study room, salute the statue of the soldier saying, “It is you who protect our motherland. That is the highest thing a man can do. I salute you.” Then he would stand before the picture of his parents and pay due reverence saying, “You have given me this body; you have trained me and made me fit to become what I am. I am ever grateful to you.” Then he would bow down before the picture of Swami Shivananda and pray in all humility, “You are a great man. I salute you. Please bless me.”

During the 1965 war, his son Flt. Lt K.C. Cariappa, an Indian Air Force pilot, was shot down over Pakistan. He was captured and imprisoned as a POW (Prisoner of War). Pakistan was then under the military rule of General Ayub Khan, who had worked closely with Field Marshal before the partition, and had high regards for him.

When Gen. Khan offered to release his son immediately, Field Marshal, who was then living a retired life, scoffed at the idea saying, “Every soldier in the Indian Army is my son. So I can’t request special privilege for only one.” the old soldier thundered. “He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment.” The Field Marshal is reported to have said.

When actions are performed with a selfless attitude, one experiences a sense of fulfilment within oneself which then becomes the sole motivating factor for all noble undertakings.

Let’s ever remember these electrifying words from Swami Vivekananda, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it. Live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced. Others are mere talking machines.”

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September 2013

No true seeker has the right to be pessimistic; he should ever be consciously optimistic. – Chinmaya

Pessimism and dejection often visit a spiritual seeker. “Immortal, Infinite; am I?… Taming this terrible mind; can I?…Very very rare few reach God; will I? … But I am a low-caste- born/sinner; how can I?… Giving up the tempting pleasures of the world; why should I?… Realizing God: when will I? … The journey appears unending; where am I? … Better give up; shall I? …”

Pessimism has not spared even the great stalwarts in spirituality. Once Swami Vivekananda was wandering in a thick forest as a mendicant, highly dejected and grieving, “What is the use of living like this – only eating, sleeping and begging food – not attaining the highest goal of life!”

Suddenly he came face to face with a starved lion in search of its prey. “Better sacrifice this life to satiate the hunger of this being than dragging it on and on purposelessly.” Thinking thus, Swamiji offered himself to the wild beast. But the lion stepped back, refusing the offer, and went its way. (Very soon, Swamiji came out of this mood of dejection, and in the depth of his prayer the mission of his life was revealed to him.)

The above quote advises us to be consciously optimistic. It means replacing the negative thought-currents of dejection with the positive thought-currents of devotion, confidence and cheerfulness. This is achieved by exposing oneself to everything positive: by attending satsangs, by reading the scriptures and the life stories of great mahatmas, by seva, by meditation / japa / puja etc.

Food becomes tasty only for the hungry. For the thirsty, water becomes nectar. A true seeker considers the tragedies a necessary appetizer for relishing the Divine.

An interesting incident is narrated by Swami Rama in the book, “Living with the Himalayan Masters”. Once, a railway station master went to a sage and insisted, “Sir, give me something to practice, and I promise I will follow it faithfully.” The Master instructed him, “You are a station master. So be stationed in truth. From this day onwards don’t lie. Practice this faithfully for the next three months.”

Most of the employees of the Railways were dishonest in that area and took bribes. This man decided that he would not take bribes or lie any more.

The very same week a supervisor from the head office came for investigation. The station master’s honest answers led to the prosecution of all the staffs, who in turn joined together and accused the station master of being the only one guilty of taking bribes. All others were released and the station master was put in jail. Soon his wife and children left him. Within a month, his life crumbled like a house of cards.

In the court, the judge looked at him and asked, “Where is your attorney?” The station master boldly replied, “I don’t need one.” The judge said, “But I want someone to help you.”

“No,” said the station-master, “I don’t need an attorney; I want to speak the truth. No matter how many years you put me behind the bars, I won’t lie. I used to share in bribes. Then I met a sage who told me never to lie, no matter what. My wife and children have left me, I have lost my job, I have no money or friends, and I am in jail. All these things have happened in one month. I have to examine the truth for two more months no matter what happens. Sir, put me behind bars; I don’t care.”

The judge called for a break and quietly called the man to his chamber and asked about the sage. Coincidentally the judge happened to be the disciple of the same sage. He acquitted the station master and said, “You are on the right path. Stick on to it. I wish I could do the same…”

On the exact day after the end of three months, that man, having lost everything, was sitting quietly under a tree when he received a telegram saying, “Your father had a huge plot of land that was taken long ago by the government. The government now wants to give you compensation.” They gave him 1 million rupees! This came as a shocking surprise as he had never known about his father’s land, which was in a different province.

He gave the compensation to his wife and children and they happily said, “We want to come back to you.”

“No”, he said, “Until now I have only seen what happens by not lying for three months. I have been rewarded so much. Now I want to find out what will happen if I do not lie for the rest of my life!”

Laws of this universe are ever biased towards the righteous – dharmo rakshati rakshitah. How can a true seeker be ever pessimistic, knowing fully well that the Supreme Lord is in full control of even the minutest, insignificant happenings of the world? Bheeshaasmaat vaatah pavate… (Out of fear of Him the wind blows…) thunders the Upanishad.

Hence, for a true seeker, even the word FEAR means Face Everything And Rise; and NOT Fear Everything And Run!

Never Say Die attitude – Let our nails and hairs teach us this lesson!

In those inauspicious moments when negativities flood our bosom, let us consciously train the mind to seek refuge in Lord, remembering His promises “Na me bhaktah pranashyati…Yoga-kshemam vahaamyaham…Maa shuchaha…”

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