Blog

October 2012

The only private treasure we can really possess in this world is our own thoughts within. It is a sacred sanctum and none can invade it.
– Chinmaya

Do you often find yourself complaining and grumbling over everything that is going around in the world – the Government, the roads, the police, the in-laws, the neighbours, the traffic, the politicians, the irresponsible public? Do you often point fingers at others trying to correct them? Do you consider yourself a ‘Mr Perfect’ living in an imperfect society…? In short, do you think that the root cause of all your sufferings is someone/something outside and thus do you hold them responsible for all your miseries?

The above quote asks us to stop complaining and own up the entire responsibility. Master the laws of life to be a master in life.

And a simple inviolable law of life says –You get what you deserve. What happens to us depends on what happens within us. Take care of the ‘inner’, and the ‘outer’ is taken care of automatically. What we think day and night becomes manifest in the outer world. The inner thoughts and outer happenings are intimately connected.

When Abraham Lincoln was a small boy, he husked corn for three days so that he could earn a little money, to pay for the second-hand copy of ‘The Life of Washington’. He read the book avidly and said to a woman he knew, Mrs Crawford by name, “I don’t always intend to do this you know – delve, grub, husk corn, split rails and the like…”

“What do you want to be then?” asked Mrs Crawford.

“I shall be the President,” announced Abraham Lincoln. “I shall study and get ready, and the chance will come.”

The chance came and Abraham was ready to take on the most powerful position in the land!

It is well said, while the winners make goals, the losers make excuses!

The Lord has given us complete freedom in choosing the model we want to make of ourselves. Our mind is the sacred sanctum where every model is designed – devil or divine. Choose the thoughts and you choose your model!

Girish and Ramesh were neighbours. Both men had salon shops, which conducted brisk business. But the competition between them was healthy, and each one was good at his work.

One week, Girish found that there was a large increase in customers in his shop. He learnt that his competitor was ill, and had shut down his shop for one week. Girish worked every day till late night during that week and made a lot of money, over and above his usual intake.

On Sunday, he put on his best suit. He took all the money he had made during the overtime hours that week and put it in an envelope. He visited Ramesh, who was convalescing at home. “There is a little present for you, Ramesh,” he said, handing over the envelope to his competitor. “Get well soon, I miss you!” With a bright smile and a warm handshake, he was gone.

The wise convert every situation to their advantage with the right choice of thoughts.

Miners all over the world use Davy’s Safety Lamp when they descend into the dark and deep mineshafts to carry out their work of digging for coal or other minerals. Dangerous inflammable gases are found in the depths of the earth, and there is constant danger of fire, which could prove fatal underground. Therefore, ordinary lamps cannot be used in the mines.

The man who invented the safety lamp was Sir Humphrey Davy. He had to work hard for several years, before his experiments led him to design the lamp, which would not set fire to the gases in the mineshaft. The Safety Lamp was thus a great boon and blessing to the miners.

Davy could have made a fortune out of his unique invention. But he did not do so. His valuable work was offered freely to the miners. When friends urged him not to lose the opportunity to make money out of his invention, Davy’s reply was categorical, “It was not my intention to gain fame or make a fortune out of my work,” he said. “I don’t think these things can give me happiness. But I did want to help the poor men who work in the mines. My lamp will make life just easier for them, and this gives me the greatest satisfaction.”

Little wonder then, that Sir Humphrey Davy is remembered today as a great scientist, a benefactor of humanity.

 Selfless, noble thoughts, when entertained, instantly bless us with deep satisfaction and fulfilment, while the evil, ignoble thoughts make us exhausted and disturbed. If such a choice be available, why not sow in abundance the thought-seeds of love, purity, kindness and all goodness in our barren hearts, and thus reap a rich harvest of the choicest blessings from the garden of life?

But it is easily said than done. The treasure of perfect life can become ours only when the right key is employed i.e. the key of constant alertness and strict vigilance over the thoughts entertained within the sacred sanctum of our hearts.

Own the key, and you own your uninvadable private treasure, says the quote.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

September 2012

Contentment in anything that reaches him accidentally, unasked and unexpected should be the motto of all serious seekers of inward growth. – Chinmaya

The word ‘contentment’ has been misunderstood and misused quite often.

The lazy reinterpret their sluggishness as ‘contentment’… the weak one’s ‘contentment’ comes out of helplessness… the poor appear ‘content’ as they can’t afford the luxuries of the rich… for the coward ‘contentment’ is an excellent means to escape challenges… the old man’s ‘contentment’ is born out of the incapable worn-out body…!

All speak of contentment but none are content!

Men of Self-knowledge alone can be truly contented. Rest all pose as content, hiding their inner hollowness. A little temptation, and lo! – The truth is out.

The growth ‘within’ expresses as contentment without, says the above quote.

In fact all noble virtues like love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, humility, peace, contentment etc. are byproducts, born out of the right understanding of ourselves.

Once the President of India, Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan had gone to London to participate in World Peace Meeting. There, a British Minister asked him, “Why is it that India has not developed like the Western countries in the world?”

 Dr Radhakrishnan replied, “It is true that people in the Western countries have learnt to swim like fish and fly like birds. They are dreaming of settling down on other planets of the universe, and they have been successful to quite an extent in their endeavour. But what they have not been able to learn is how to live in peace and harmony on this planet of human beings. Whereas India, which has given the message of peace and harmony to the entire world since time immemorial, is still capable of inspiring the whole world to be loving, kind-hearted and humane.”

Being rich doesn’t mean having greater possessions, but in having fewer wants.

As rightly said, “Contentment is a pearl of great value. Whoever procures it at the expense of thousands of desires makes a wise and happy purchase!”

Being at ease with oneself and with everything that happens around in life is the sign of the content.

The famous Greek philosopher, Socrates once arrived in a city. There he met an old wise man. Both talked to each other for some time and became friendly. Socrates took a lot of interest in his personal life and discussed things openly with him.

Socrates expressed satisfaction and said, “You have had a grand past life. But how is your present life?”

The old man smiled and said, “I am free from all worries after having handed over all the responsibilities of the family to my capable sons. I do whatever they ask me to do, I eat whatever they give me to eat and pass my time happily playing around with my grand-sons and grand-daughters. I don’t say anything even if my children make some mistake. I never cause any kind of hindrance in their way.

“Still if they come to me for a piece of elderly advice, I give an account of my life long experience, alert them against the bad consequences of any mistake committed by them. Whether they follow my advice or do not, or to what extent they adhere to my advice, is not my headache. I do not insist that they follow my instructions. I am not bothered if they make a mistake even after my experiential advice, and if they come to me again for a piece of advice, my doors are always open.”

Socrates became very happy to hear that wise old man speak thus. He said, “You have understood well as to how to live successfully and happily at your age in a world where everyone is chasing happiness not knowing that happiness is right at our heels!”

Discontentment expresses itself as ‘I want’. Every ‘want’ is backed by the imperfect, egoistic ‘I’. In fact, every ‘want’ originates from this false ‘I’. Hence the only way to get rid of all ‘wants’ is to get rid of this illusory ‘I’.

Q: Now, why do we call ‘I’ as false, illusory etc.?

A: It is because the ‘I’ that we know now is only a wrong notion in the mind, born out of the identification with the body-mind complex. (Proof? When the mind is gone, the ‘I’ is also gone, as in deep sleep.) Due to this identification, all the imperfections of the body-mind appear to be present in the real ‘I’, the Self.

Q: What is the nature of the real ‘I’?

A: The Self is infinite and complete, ever perfect, ever secure. There is nothing lacking in it. It is of the nature of pure Consciousness or Awareness which can ever be experienced as the witness of everything that is happening within and without, as the very Knowing Principle in me. It is the real ‘me’, free from all limitations. Not knowing myself is called Self-ignorance – the cause of all discontentment.

Q: How to get rid of this false ‘I’?

A: Through enquiry. Pay attention to this Awareness, instead of getting caught up in what happens in Awareness. The illusory drama of life and death, which are nothing but thought modifications, goes on only because the substratum, i.e. the Awareness, has been ignored.

The one who has known this Awareness as one’s own true Self remains in a state of Being, free from all wrong notions about oneself, perfectly contented – like a turtle, at ease within one’s own shell!

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

August 2012

Effectiveness of Japa to a large extent depends upon the spirit of surrender with which the seeker is practising it. – Chinmaya

Among all Yogas, the Japa Yoga has been the greatest attraction for the lazy, easy-going seekers of all ages as it promises great results with almost no effort from the part of the sadhakas.

There appears to be no condition in this Yoga. It is widely believed that one may chant the name wrongly, or even mechanically, at any time, in any place, with or without faith, with or without interest – but results are guaranteed… no consistency, no commitment needed… like the man who gets cleaned up and freshened up even if he accidentally falls in a river – so too with unintentional chanting … like Ajaamila, who attained the Supreme in his death bed while calling his son named Narayana…!

The beginners in spirituality get allured by these promises and take up Japa Yoga all at once. Result? Even after years of their half-hearted chanting, they remain where they were without any fragrance of inner-awakening, without an iota of progress.

The bead rolls, the tongue rolls, the mind also rolls, says Kabir!

The above quote targets such immature seekers. The message is clear and simple – there is a price to be paid to attain anything great. Nothing comes free.

Japa Yoga too, like all other Yogas, demands from the seeker the greatest of all prices – the price of self-surrender.

This story is about a lady whose mention comes in the list of devotees who were associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Her name is Aghoremani Devi. She was born in a Brahmin family in 1822 at Kamarhati, a northern suburb of Calcutta.

She got married at the age of nine, but soon became a widow, poor and illiterate, at the age of fourteen, never meeting the husband even once after the marriage. However, she was initiated into spiritual life by her husband’s family guru and, with the child Krishna as her chosen deity, she was given the Gopala mantra.

Aghoremani rose at two o’clock in the morning and did her japa till eight o’clock, and after her daily chores, again continued with her sadhana from evening till midnight. She followed this routine daily for over thirty years – from 1852 to 1883. Very soon she was blessed with a continuous vision of Gopala, the baby Krishna of around 10 months of age. The boy would come while she chanted, sit on her lap, snatch her beads away, dishevel her hair, climb on her shoulders or ask for butter to eat. Then she had to feed Him, clothe Him, carry Him and even put to sleep.

It was Sri Ramakrishna who recognized her spiritual greatness when he said that she had attained everything with her single-pointed Japa sadhana. The devotees were amazed to see their Master, who never even touched a woman, in a state of ecstasy, sitting on her lap like a child and eating even the ordinary sweetmeats with great relish brought by her. She saw in him her beloved Gopala and fed him with her own hands.

Sri Ramakrishna loved humour. Once Gopaler-ma (Gopala’s mother), as she was called, was asked by Sri Ramakrishna to narrate her experiences to Narendra (later Swami Vivekananda), who was modern, educated, intellectual and a staunch believer of formless God.

While narrating she kept asking, “My son, you are learned and intelligent, and I am a poor illiterate widow. I don’t understand anything. Please tell me, are these visions true?”

With tears in his eyes, Narendra assured her, “Yes, Mother, whatever you have seen is all true.”

One day a group of devotees, knowing her high spiritual stature, began to ask her some questions. She said to them: “Look, I am an old, illiterate woman. What do I know about the scriptures?” But when they persisted, she said finally, “Wait, let me ask Gopala.

“O Gopala! I don’t understand what they are talking about. Why don’t you answer their questions? Hello, Gopala says this…” In this way, Gopaler-ma answered the abstruse questions of the devotees. They were amazed. That remarkable question and answer session ended abruptly, however, when Gopaler-ma suddenly said, “O Gopala! Why are you going away? Will you not answer their questions anymore?” But Gopala had left!

After returning from the West, Swami Vivekananda sent his Western disciples to meet Gopaler-ma. Later, to them, he said, “Ah! This is the old India that you have seen, the India of prayers and tears, of vigils and fasts, that is passing away…”

Once, being asked for some advice from a disciple, Gopaler-ma said, “Ask advice from Gopala. He is within you. No one can give better advice than He. This is the truth. Cry with a longing heart and you will reach Him…”

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

July 2012

For the man who relies on wealth, of what avail is God’s aid? For the devotee of God, of what use is the worldly wealth? – Chinmaya

Two different attitudes towards life: worldly and godly.

The former says, “No Lord. My will be done!”

The latter says, “You Lord, Thy Will be done!”

While the former follows the path of egoistic self-assertion, the latter takes to the path of total surrender.

Result? The former falters in every step, confused and confounded, hopping from the frying pan to the burning fire, while the latter reaches the goal safely, effortlessly with an abundance of peace all along.

Let us ask ourselves where we belong.

It was the sacred Janmashtami day. A poor woman, whose husband had been paralysed, had promised three little starving children of the neighbourhood a feast. She entered a grocery store and asked for enough items for a sumptuous meal for three children. When the owner asked how much she could afford, she answered, “My husband has been sick for many months. Truly, I have nothing to offer but a little prayer.”

The man, an atheist, said sarcastically, “Write your prayer on a piece of paper and you can have its weight in groceries.”

Without hesitation, the woman took out a folded note from her pocket, handed over to him and said: “Here is my little prayer which I wrote during the night while watching over my ailing husband.”

On the small piece of paper were written these words, “You alone are my refuge, Krishna!” The man read those words, laughed and put the piece of paper on one side of the scales. “Now let us see how much food this is worth”, he said.

To his deep astonishment and dismay, he found that nothing happened when he put a packet of flour on the other side. He was greatly upset when he added other things and still the scales would not move. Finally, he said to the poor woman, “I do not understand what is happening today. But I will be true to my promise. Take from the shop whatever you need, for it appears that your little slip of paper weighs more than all the things my shop holds.”

The woman took only the things she needed for the feast. With tear-touched eyes, she thanked the grocer and silently sang the praise of the Lord who provides for every need of His devotees.

The grocer later discovered that the scales were out of order. “But why at that very time?… And why had the woman written out the prayer before she came to his shop?” Many questions remained unanswered. His heart was converted and he too became a devotee of the Lord.

A devotee knows only one wealth – God. Worldly needs are fulfilled by Him; timely unerring guidance – he gets by listening to Him; peace and security – he gains by abiding in Him; worldly detachment – he gains by attaching himself to Him; total contentment – he experiences by loving Him…

For a devotee, God is The Solution, nay, the Only Solution for all problems.

Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Church, had to face many trials and tribulations. One day, his wife, finding her husband in a dark mood of depression, wore black clothes and stood before him.

“Why these black clothes?” asked Martin Luther.

The wife quietly answered, “Don’t you know God is dead?”

“How can you say that?” admonished the Protestant leader. “How can God die?”

The wife answered, “If God is not dead, what reason do you have to be so sad and downcast?”

Martin Luther immediately realized his mistake, put a smile on his face and said, “Yes, to the devil belongs to be sad!”

Let us probe deep within ourselves – Does the mind often become restless? Does it keep worrying about the unborn future? Are there frequent appearances of negative emotions like fear, dejection, discontentment, stress etc.? Does the mind grumble or complain about the happenings around? Has it fallen in the habit of brooding over the past? – These are clear symptoms of a worldly mind.

Let us redefine these painful symptoms as the unrelenting effort of the Self Divine, Who is ever lovingly guiding His erring children blinded by self-forgetfulness wandering aimlessly in the dense forest of matter envelopments.

Divine Love thus nurtured then, like a philosopher’s stone, transforms the base metal into gold, the worldly into godly.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

June 2012

In the grand scheme of time, plans will get executed as ordained, in the system of evolution. Individuals are mere tools. – Chinmaya

He will get His plans executed, anyway. There is none to object if He has decided.

The authority with which Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna even before the start of the battle says it all – “These mighty Kaurava warriors have already been killed by Me. You merely be My instrument and take all the credit of killing them!”

Individuals are mere tools in the hands of the Lord.

Now, what is that great grand plan that He executes with these tools?

In the fourth chapter of Bhagavad Gita, the Lord makes it clear His task – to establish righteousness (dharma samsthaapana). All His tools are employed for this purpose.

Total surrender means allowing Him to use His tools according to His Will.

A man was walking along a dusty road in New England. It was a hot day and he was tired. Suddenly, he came upon a water spring. “If you are thirsty, drink!” said a sign put up nearby. He drank the cool water and felt refreshed. A little further up the road was a comfortable wooden bench under a shady tree, with a sign which said, “If you are weary, rest awhile!” Close by, was a basket of delicious looking apples with a sign, “If you are hungry, help yourself!”

The stranger was moved by the unknown benefactor who had shown such care and concern for passers-by. As he walked further, he came upon a humble cottage, outside which sat an old man, whose face beamed with kindness. “Lord’s blessing be upon you!” called out the old man upon the sight of the stranger.

“Thanks a lot, but, may I know what is it that has prompted you to be so kind and generous to perfect strangers?”

“Oh, God has given us trees, shade, water, fruits and so much else in plenty,” replied the old man. “All I do is to share the blessings with weary travellers. It is the least I can do!”

The weary traveller on that hot, dusty road was Sam Walter Foss, the famous English poet, journalist and humorist. His encounter with the kind old man inspired him to write the famous poem ‘The House by the Side of the Road’.

This attitude, that “God alone is the Doer and I am a mere tool”, frees us from all our imaginary fears and anxieties instantly.

A wealthy man was full of worries, despite having everything the world could give. He was never happy. He had a servant who knew what it was to trust in the Lord.

One day, when he found his master worrying himself almost to death, he said to him, “Master, is it not true that the Lord ran this world before you were born into it?”

“Yes!” said the master.

“Is it not true that the Lord will run this world after you leave it?”

Again the master said, “Yes!”

“Then,” said the servant, “why not allow the Lord to run the world while you are in it?”

In surrender, our actions gain a new glow, a greater efficiency as the self-asserting ego is no more there to interfere with the Divine plan.

A famous and successful surgeon once invited a friend to watch a complex surgery that he was about to perform. As the surgeon went through the laborious process of preparing himself for the operation, the friend was surprised to see that he was a little tense.

“All set?” the friend asked him gently.

“Almost,” replied the surgeon, and then stopped what he was doing and bowed his head for a moment. Then, calm and relaxed, he led the way to the operation theatre.

During the surgery his hands never faltered, his concentration never wavered. The complicated procedure was accomplished smoothly and successfully.

Later, the friend said to him, “I was surprised that you prayed before you started. I thought that a surgeon only relied on his own ability.”

He answered, “A surgeon is only human. He can’t work miracles by himself. I am certain that science could not have advanced as far as it has, were it not for something more than man. You see,” he concluded, “I feel so close to God when I am operating, that I do not know where my skill ends, and where His begins!”

Let’s stop interfering. It is His world. We are His tools. He has His ways and He knows what is best. Let’s remain a hollow flute and allow Him to play His music.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

May 2012

On the spiritual path, there may be lots of ups and downs, but never a fall. – Chinmaya

There was once a farmer who, after a poor crop, complained: “If God would only let me control the weather, everything would be better, because He apparently does not know very much about farming.”

The Lord said to him: “For one year I will give you control of the weather. Ask for whatever you wish and you will get it.”

The poor man became very happy and immediately said, “Now I want sun,” and the sun came out. Later he said, “Let the rainfall,” and it rained.

For a whole year, first the sun shone and then it rained. The seed grew and grew; it was a pleasure to watch it.

“Now God can understand how to control the weather,” he said proudly. The crop had never been so big, so green, such a luscious green.

Then it was time to harvest. The farmer took his sickle to cut the wheat, but his heart sank. The stalks were practically empty.

The Lord came and asked him, “How is your crop?”

The man complained, “Poor, my Lord, very poor!”

“But didn’t you control the weather? Didn’t everything you wanted turn out all right?”

“Of course! And that is the reason I am perplexed — I got the rain and the sunshine I asked for, but there is no crop.”

Then the Lord said, “But you have never asked for wind, storms, ice and snow, and everything that purifies the air and makes the roots hard and resistant. You asked for rain and sunshine, but not for bad weather. That’s the reason there is no crop.”

So too, ups and downs are essential in our daily life. In His infinite wisdom, he has provided these for our healthy growth and evolution. Experiences, good or bad, make us rich in our understanding about life.

As a pretty girl passed by, Mulla Nasrudin turned to look. His wife, murmured with displeasure, “Every time you see a pretty girl, you forget you are married.”

“That’s where you are wrong,” said Mulla. “Nothing makes me more aware of the fact!”

Setbacks and failures are normally considered inauspicious, but on the contrary, these bitter experiences make us alert, introvert and disciplined in our quest for the Higher.

The value of anything valuable is appreciated only when we pay the price for it. Every fall, every slip, every suffering is the price we pay for ignoring and disregarding the Reality. Just as a thirsty man alone knows the value of water, a suffering man alone feels the need to seek the Higher. These tragedies bring along with it a great reverence for Truth. In this sense, no fall is really a fall.

Failures remind us how fragile and weak we are to attain the Infinite through our own self-effort. The miserable ego, after having tried everything under the sun, getting kicked hither and thither by the world, tossed up and down by the inner conflicts, at last surrenders helplessly at the Higher Altar. It is in these sacred moments of total surrender that the Self is realized, the ultimate freedom is gained.

Once, a French prince visited a jail. In honour of the royal guest, the prison warden offered to release any prisoner the prince might designate.

To pick out that prisoner, the prince began interviewing each of the men privately, asking, “Why are you here?”

“I’m innocent, my lord!” cried one.

“I’ve been framed!” pleaded another.

Perjury, prejudice, injustice and oppression were reasons given by the convicts for their being in prison.

Only one man told a different story. “Your highness,” he replied, “I deserve to be here and I have no complaint. In my time I have been a wicked, desperate murderer. It is a great mercy, both to society and to myself, that I am here.”

“You wicked wretch!” the prince replied. “What a pity you should be confined among so many honest citizens. You admit yourself that you are evil enough to corrupt them all. I can’t allow you to remain in their company another day. Guard! This is the man I wish to be released!”

Let us allow the Lord to polish us from all sides through the rough surfaces of ups and downs of life. Thus having become round and beautiful, freed from all sharp egoistic corners, may we offer ourselves in His service in His effort to shape others.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

April 2012

Our present work may be great or small. Yet the important thing is to do it well. – Chinmaya

A youngster came to the public telephone booth, dialled a number and started a conversation.

“Madam, is there any vacancy for the servant post at your residence?”

A reply came from the other end, “No, thank you.”

The youngster persisted, “Madam, I am ready to do any kind of work – cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, sweeping, gardening, driving, shopping…”

“No, we already have one wonderful boy who is efficiently doing all these.”

“But Madam, I’ll do everything for just half the salary you pay him…”

“Thanks a lot, but sorry, you may try elsewhere.”

The lady disconnected the call. The youngster approached the owner of the shop to pay the bill.

The owner, who was listening to the conversation, consoled him “Dear, come with me and I’ll give you a good job.” But the boy refused, saying he already has a job.

To the confused shop owner, the youngster said, “I am the very same boy who is working at that lady’s residence!!”

What an innovative way of self-assessment!

The great ones gain their inspiration from their vision and conviction, and not from the rewards or recognition.

Once, an officer suggested to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, “Sir let us write the history of Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National Army).”

Pat came the reply, “Let us first make it. Surely, then there will be someone who will eventually write it.”

While putting forth our efforts, let us not compare ourselves with others. Instead, let us compete with ourselves each time to bring out an ‘even-more better’ from us!

Once, Dr Vishweshwaraiah, a renowned engineer, was passing through a village. The teachers of that village requested him to deliver a speech before the children of the school. First, he tried to avoid, but seeing the teachers requesting earnestly, he gave in and delivered a short speech before the children. But later he began feeling sorry to have delivered a speech without any preparation. Next week, he wrote to the teachers of the school that he wanted to deliver a speech again to the same children.

The teachers were greatly surprised to receive such a letter from him. They were not able to understand as to why so busy a person of such great renown had offered to deliver a speech for children without being asked for it.

Dr Vishweshwaraiah came to the school and read his fresh speech before the children. Addressing them he said, “How does it matter if all of you are only children? I should not have brought down the quality of my speech. A good thing comes into existence only after a suitable preparation for it. I was not satisfied with my speech delivered earlier. So I have come again to this place to correct my mistake.”

A person’s greatness is seen not in his big achievements, but in how much of attention he pays to the little insignificant acts of life, says Swami Vivekananda.

Once, Mahatma Gandhi had a short stay in Anand Bhavan. During his sojourn, one day in the morning, he was washing his hands and face with water, and at the same time, he was also discussing something with Jawaharlal Nehru. Suddenly Gandhiji’s mood changed and the discussion stopped abruptly. “What’s the matter Bapu?” asked Nehruji. Gandhiji lamented, “I was so lost in the discussion that the quantity of water that I had taken, and which should have been sufficient for washing the hands and face, has come to an end. Now I have to take some extra water.”

Jawaharlal Nehru laughed and said, “Bapu! There is no dearth of water here. You can use as much water you like. The Ganga and the Jamuna, both the rivers, flow together here.”

Gandhiji said, “The Ganga and the Jamuna don’t flow for me alone. No matter in what large quantities a thing has been provided by nature, one should take for himself only the quantity actually required by him.”

May we serve Him as best as we can by fully utilizing the talents and abilities that He has given us. Living a life of purity and service, may we make our Creator proud and happy for having created us!

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

March 2012

An unruly mind fluttering with greeds and fancies, worries and fears cannot be expected to settle on sublime thoughts. – Chinmaya

An excited youngster, after listening to an inspirational talk of a great leader, poured out his enthusiasm to his father, “Dad, I have decided to dedicate my life in wiping clean all the imperfections in the society. What is your opinion Dad, where should I begin from?”

The father said, “Hmm…good, begin from your room.”!

When I find fault with my neighbours, talk ill of my in-laws, criticize the politicians, make fun of my boss and the subordinates, ridicule the Government, lament on corruption,…the underlying thought current is – A perfect man (myself) in an imperfect world!

But the fact is the world is ever perfect. It cannot be otherwise. The perfection of the Creator is clearly reflected in his creation, be it the movement of the planets, the changing of seasons or the operation of natural laws.

The only thing imperfect is my own creation – my mind. There God doesn’t interfere, unless permitted!

 My imperfection can be easily proved. Sit silently for just one minute with closed eyes and watch one’s mind. The misconception “I am perfect” will find a permanent grave!

As the wise say, “Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful”!

It needs a lot of maturity to admit one’s imperfection. In fact, this realization alone marks the true beginning of the spiritual journey in a spiritual seeker.

The intense awareness of our imperfection coupled with our helplessness takes us to the next stage – Total surrender. From here, the Lord takes over, purifies the heart of all its filth, replacing it with a cheerful heart, filled with divine inexplicable joy. Such a purified heart becomes a means to intuitively experience His Presence.

It was extremely hot. Lord Buddha, tired of walking, sat under a tree. He asked his disciple, Ananda, to bring some water for him. Ananda went near a pond to fetch some water. But a bullock cart had just passed over and the water had become dirty. Ananda returned and told Buddha that the water had become dirty but said that he would arrange water from somewhere else. But Buddha asked him to go to the same place after some time.

Later, Ananda went again, and this time the mud had settled and the water was pure. To his dear disciple, the Master said, “Ananda, allow the muddy mind to settle, and you will see the Truth, shining forth in all Its glory.”

The subtlest Truth needs an equally subtle mind to experience It. A fluttering, worrying mind has no entry into the royal gateway to the Infinite Self.

It is well said, “If you have mastery over the mind, nothing else matters; if not, nothing else matters”!

 Plato is considered as one of the greatest Greek philosophers, who, along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science.

Plato was sentenced to death by the king. But due to certain reasons, the royal orders could not be executed. Plato’s death sentence was then changed to slavery. It was one of the greatest punishments during those days to declare someone a slave. In fact, declaring someone a slave was considered a punishment above death sentence.

But the king, as soon as he came to know that Plato, who had been declared a slave, was a great philosopher and thinker, withdrew his orders and freed him.

The king apologized to him and said, “Sir, punishment order was passed not knowing your real identity. I am sorry to have caused pain to you unknowingly.”

At this Plato said, “O King! I am busy in the quest of Truth. I was not even aware that you had sentenced me to death, slavery etc. Hence the question of forgiveness doesn’t even arise.”

The lighter a thing, the higher it goes. So too with the mind.

And to such a sublime mind, which has learned to scale the heights of Inner Perfection, even death becomes an insignificant happening, what to talk of the mundane worldly problems!

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

February 2012

Religion is to become not a mere practice, but a faithful and constant atmosphere around our head and heart. – Chinmaya

All practices in religion are only with one purpose – to seek our identity with the Divine which is our true nature.

Following are some of the examples of the way the majority of us practice religion:

1) Out of fear.

Grandmother: “Do you say your prayers every night?”

Grandson: “Oh, yes!”

“And every morning?”

“No. I am not scared in the day-time!”

It is said, “As long as there are tests, there will be prayers in schools!”

2) Fulfilment of desires.

A pious old lady after the war: “God was very kind to us. We prayed and prayed, so all the bombs fell on the other side of the town.”

What we usually pray to God is, not that His will be done, but that He approves ours!

3) Mechanical and faithless prayers.

Pilot to the passengers in the mid-flight: “I regret to inform you that we are in terrible trouble. Only God can save us now.”

A passenger turned to a priest to ask what the pilot had said. The priest said, “He says there is no hope!”

God listens to the prayer of heart without words than the one with words without heart.

4) Religious fanaticism.

A recent study shows that the cause of maximum deaths in the history of mankind is not any natural calamity or some incurable epidemic disease, but religion!

This is a strange paradox. All religions preach peace, harmony, tolerance, brotherhood, compassion etc., but ironically, the very same religions have become the cause of all major bloodsheds. No wonder why the educational institutions have kept all religions at a distance in the recent past!

The tragedy is, “Most people, alas, have enough religion to hate but not enough to love!”

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi tells how in his student days in South Africa he became deeply interested in the Bible, especially the Sermon of the Mount.

One day he went to attend the Mass. He was stopped at the entrance and gently told that if he desired to attend the Mass he was welcome to do so in a church reserved for blacks.

He left and never returned!

Man will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it; anything… but LIVE it!!

All great saints of all religions were embodiments of love and compassion, humility and forgiveness. It is the immature followers who mess up with their teachings.

As the saying goes, “When Buddha dies, the schools are born.”

Pujya Gurudev puts it well, “It is the shastris who are wrong, not the shastras!”

An inspector was visiting a local school. He asked the headmaster, “When in your time schedule do you teach religion?”

The headmaster replied, “We teach it all day long. We teach it in history, by humanity. We teach it in mathematics, by accuracy and perfection. We teach it in geography and astronomy, by reverence for Mother Nature. We teach it on playgrounds, by fair play. We teach it during exams, through honesty and truthfulness. We teach it in language, by learning to say what we mean. We teach it by being kind to animals, by being grateful to our teachers and elders, and by being loving and helpful to all beings…”

May our religion make us better human beings. In the words of Pujya Gurudev, may it help us to replace the beast in us with the best in us.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T

January 2012

Tomorrow, we will be what we are now, plus what and how we have faced life’s challenges today. This is the Law of Cosmic Justice. – Chinmaya

Law of Cosmic Justice, put in other words, simply states that we alone are the makers of our destiny.

Ibrahim Al Adham was a great saint who, despite being a king, renounced his throne and lived a life of an ascetic. His countless acts of righteousness and his humble lifestyle have been greatly praised in Sufi tradition.

Once a beggar came to Ibrahim and asked for charity. The saint told him, “I’ll give you something better. Come with me.” Ibrahim took him to a merchant who gave the beggar the job of a salesperson.

A few days later, Ibrahim found the same beggar on the street, in the very same miserable condition. Surprised, he asked the beggar what the matter was. The beggar narrated his story, “Once while travelling, I found a blind eagle in the desert, and to my big surprise, another eagle came by to feed the blind eagle. Thus I said to myself, ‘He, who took care of that blind eagle, will also take care of me’!”

Ibrahim, after reflection, asked the beggar, “But tell me, why did you choose to be the blind eagle, and not the other one, who can feed others?”

Blind eagle or the feeding eagle – we become what we choose in our life.

The outer circumstances are nothing but a reflection of what we have chosen in our life. A lover of God finds himself amidst satsangs and devotees; so too with the drunkards and the flirts amidst wine and women.

Ultimately, we are left with none but ourselves to blame or to thank for what happens to us.

A watermelon farmer was determined to scare off the local kids who went into his watermelon patch every night to eat their fill.

After some thought, he fixed a board in his field that read, “Warning! One of these watermelons has been injected with POISON!”

The next night he saw the kids run off the field without eating any of the melons. He smiled and returned to his home in great relief, congratulating himself for his effective technique of keeping the kids out. A week later, the farmer went to survey his fields. To his satisfaction, no watermelons were missing, but he found his board with an additional warning which read “NOW THERE ARE TWO”!

Our goodness and wickedness come back to us with exact precision someday or the other – this is in accordance with the Law of Cosmic Justice.

We always find, in the life stories of the great people how much they were vigilant even in their seemingly insignificant transactions with the world. They never slackened in disciplining themselves to purity and integrity because they knew well that what they sow today has to be reaped tomorrow.

Saint Shah Ali was going to Lucknow from Saharanpur. He told his disciples at the railway station to have his luggage weighed and the charges paid accordingly. The guard of the train was his devotee. He said, “This is not required. I am accompanying you.” Shah Sahib asked, “Up to which station?” The guard said, “Up to Bareilly. But please don’t worry!”

“But brother, my journey is yet longer.” Said Shah Sahib. The guard said, “I shall make suitable arrangements with the guard who will take over the charge from me at Bareilly railway station and go up to Lucknow. Remain assured, you shall not have to face any problems.” “Dear, my journey is very very long.” Said Shah Sahib with a smile. “But you said that you have to travel up to Lucknow only.” said the guard.

Shah Sahib said, “Yes, that is true. Right now I have to go up to Lucknow only, but the journey of life is very long. And that journey will end only when I leave this world and reach God. Who will save me there from the consequences of the sin of my not having paid the charges of my luggage?”

The guard of the train was embarrassed. Shah Ali’s devotees got the entire luggage weighed and made full payment of the freight charges.

Who can cheat God, the Ultimate Witness within? May we bow down at His Holy Feet, the Ruler of the Cosmos, the Maker of Cosmic Justice. Giving up all our crookedness and street-smartness, may we adopt the ways of the wise by ever remaining humble, pure and clean in our thoughts, words and deeds. This is the surest and the only way to bring these laws to our advantage.

O   M         T   A   T         S   A   T