Chintana

July 2016

ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्ति: पूजामूलं गुरो: पदम् | मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरो: कृपा ||… Guru Geeta

The above quote is a famous verse from Guru Geeta. A Guru’s role in our spiritual journey from ignorance to wisdom is emphasized in this verse. The spiritual evolution happens in five stages – reverence, surrender, learning, transformation and gratitude.

Dhyana-moolam Gurormoorti:–

First time when we come across a spiritual master, we see nothing special or great in him externally. Hence we wonder why people admire this man so much! By God’s grace, we get more and more occasions to be with the master. As the days progress, we find that we are helplessly attracted to the master, not knowing why. Soon we discover that in the company of the master we experience a divine peace unknown to us till then. We also find that in the company of the master, the cobwebs of confusion in us regarding life is disappearing day by day.

As our mind gets purer, we start seeing innumerable virtues in the master hidden from us till then – his undisturbed peace even amidst tragedies and failures, his unconditional love and compassion for all, his uncompromising attitude with regard to spiritual ideals, his love for God, his humility and simplicity, his depth of knowledge, his clarity in thinking, his purity of intentions, his impartiality in decision making, his dispassion towards worldly pleasures, his control over the mind, speech and the senses, his maturity in handling different situations, his selflessness – all these create a deep reverence in us for the master.

In the master, we start seeing a divine perfection rarely seen in others around. A time comes when the master becomes our inspiration, our object of wonder, our ideal in life. From then on, he is no more a mere spiritual master, but he becomes our Guru – the one whom we have chosen to follow all through our life unquestioningly.

Pooja-moolam Guroh padam: –  

The ego in us never surrenders to anyone so easily.

But seeing the greatness of this master – who, despite his vast wisdom, power and glory, is so simple and humble – we come to realize how insignificant we are in front of this man of perfection. Our ego is humbled. Soon there arises an intense desire to learn from him and be like him.

Water always flows from higher to lower plane; electricity from higher to lower potential; so too knowledge can flow only from the higher to lower. Hence in our tradition, a seeker of knowledge approached the teacher with prostration. In prostration, the lowest in the teacher (feet) comes in contact with the highest in the taught (head). Greater the humility, greater is our ability to learn.

A Guru’s strength is Self-knowledge and it is this knowledge upon which he ‘stands’. Therefore we worship Guru’s feet or paadukas as a symbolic representation of revering this knowledge.

Thus when we are totally attuned to him in all humility and reverence, faith and devotion, we become prepared to receive his teachings. When the Guru sees this total receptivity in us, knowledge starts flowing from him, just like milk flows from the udder of the cow which is eager to feed her beloved calf.

Mantra-moolam Gurorvaakyam: –

 Words coming from Guru are not mere words; they are mantras.

Traditionally, only the statements from the Vedas are called mantras. None dares to change the Veda mantras, even if it appears meaningless, redundant, illogical or grammatically incorrect. Being the words from God, the Veda mantras are given the highest status by all the spiritual masters.

So too the words of the Guru are mantras for the disciples. Guru being a shrotriya (well-read in scriptures) and a brahmanishtha (having the experiential knowledge), he employs scriptural methods of teaching. His words, being soaked in his own subjective spiritual experience of the Divine, carry tremendous power to inspire and to transform.

The Guru thunders, “Aham Bramhaasmi (I am God); Tat twamasi (You are also That); O Children of Immortality! Arise!! Awake to your Infinite nature!!! ”

The disciple wonders, “How can I – this miserable imperfect finite creature – be God? How can this solid world, seen so clearly through my senses be unreal?? Illogical! Ridiculous!! Unbelievable!! Blasphemous!!!”

But for a true disciple, his Guru’s words are mantras. His unshakable faith in the teacher guides him from within, “If my Guru has said it, then it must be right. He can never misguide us. My Guru can never be wrong. Must be I am wrong.”

The disciple approaches the Guru again in all humility with a silent prayer, “O Teacher! Please be gracious to me by clearing my doubts. I don’t question to challenge, to show off or to test you. I question only to clear my misunderstandings. My questions are only an expression of my inability to understand and not your inefficiency to teach…”

Thus we – the disciples – gain the knowledge from the Guru. Through shravanam (listening to the teachings from the Guru) we gain the information. Through mananam (reflection upon these teaching and clearing all doubts) the information in us becomes conviction. Doubt-free knowledge is called conviction.

The process of gaining knowledge is completed only when this conviction becomes transformation in us. The knowledge should become one with our personality. As Pujya Gurudev used to say, putting sugar in the coffee alone is not enough, it should get dissolved and make the coffee sweet. Similarly, the Self-knowledge in us should make our personality sweet.

This is done in the third stage called nidhidhyaasanam. Here, by constant meditation upon the scriptural truths, the habitual error is eliminated. For very many births, we have identified ourselves with the BMI (Body-mind-intellect). It takes time to replace this misunderstanding with the right understanding that our nature is Sat-Chit-Ananda.

After a long period of sadhana, when we have digested this knowledge completely, when we are able to respond to all situations based on this knowledge, when this knowledge has become effortless in us, when it has become a part of our thinking and behaving, then alone we say the knowledge has transformed us.

Moksha-moolam Guroh krupaa: –

With the final awakening, we, with tears of gratitude, recollect our spiritual journey, “O Lord! Now I understand; You are my own Self who has appeared as my Guru in human form. Guidance came from You, inspiration came from You, strength to persevere came from You, and now, at last, the final beatitude has also come from You alone!

“I did nothing O Lord; You did everything! How can I ever thank You for what You have done to me! Namo namah Shree Gurupaadukaabhyaam…”

What remains, in the end, is only gratitude…

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

June 2016

Religion becomes dead and ineffectual if the seekers are not ready to live its ideals. – Chinmaya

Every religion contains two aspects – the philosophical and the ritualistic. Every ritual symbolizes a spiritual ideal. Every ritual – be it worshipping an idol, the cross or the crescent – is but a gross visible dramatization of a deep subtle philosophical truth.

But many a times, people get engrossed in the ritual so much so that they forget the spiritual message. They worship the idol but forget the ideal. Such a religion which loses touch with the higher ideals and remains merely ritualistic and mechanical, becomes dead and ineffectual, says the quote.

This story is about one of the greatest saints of Karnataka, Kanakadasa. Once he went to have darshan of the Lord Sri Krishna at Udupi. It was an era when discrimination on the basis of caste was at its peak. The brahmin priests did not let him enter the temple as he was from a low caste. Using abusive language, they turned him back.

A dejected and sad Kanakadasa returned to his hut. He took his tamburu and started singing songs in praise of the Lord. He did this for weeks camping outside the temple and cooking his own food. With a heart burning with an intense pain of separation, he pleaded to shower His mercy and grace on him.

And lo! There was a sudden earthquake. The western outer wall crumbled, and a few slabs of stone in the inner wall of the sanctum sanctorum cracked open. The idol of Sri Krishna which was originally facing east turned around and faced Kanakadasa, who was sitting absorbed in samadhi on the western side of the temple.

With tears streaming down his face, Kanakadasa beheld the idol of his Lord beaming at him. The brahmins who had denied entry to this great devotee were shellshocked to see this wonder. They came running and fell at his feet seeking forgiveness. Even today, the idol of the Lord Sri Krishna in Udupi temple faces west. The crack that appeared on the wall of the sanctum sanctorum has been replaced with a window (commonly called as “Kanakana Kindi”). Devotees visit this temple to behold the Lord who had turned around, away from the priests blinded by manmade distinctions of caste, to show His beautiful image to His dear devotee who had nothing but pure unadulterated devotion for Him.

Pujya Gurudev used to say, “Shastras are always right; it is only the Shastri who is wrong!”

Vittalpant was a Sanskrit scholar and religious minded. He had taken sannyasa; but seeing the deplorable condition of his wife Rukmabai, his Guru Sripad Yati (Ramanand Swami) instructed him to go back to householder-life. Obeying his Guru, Vittalpanth resumed his householder’s life.

Nivritti, Jnanadev, Sopan and Muktabai were born to Vittalpanth and Rukmabai eventually. But the brahmins refused to perform the thread ceremony of the sons claiming that children of a sannyasi were prohibited by the scriptures to have thread ceremony. As an act of atonement, the parents gave up their lives in the hope that the brahmins may out of pity perform the thread ceremony of their children.

Jnanadev with great hopes then approached the brahmins of Alandi to fulfil his father’s wish. Though the brahmins assented, they wanted them to bring an authority letter (certificate of purity) from the Brahmins of Paithan. The four children, therefore, went to Paithan.

All the children of Vittalpanth were well versed in Vedas and scriptures. Reaching Paithan they recited the Vedas before the brahmins but were stopped as they were not entitled to recite the sacred Vedas owing to their father’s wrongdoing.

To prove that anybody could recite the Vedas, Jnanadev made a buffalo continue to recite the Vedas from the point where they were asked to stop! Struck with wonder and recognizing their spiritual learning and greatness, the brahmins gave them the required certificate of purification.

It is indeed a shocking fact that in the history of mankind, religious fanaticism has killed more people than every other kind of organized crimes.

Chokhamela, another great Marathi saint lived in near Pandharpur in Maharashtra in the 14th century. He was born in the lower cast called Mahar. The Mahars were supposed to remove the dead animals from people’s homes and farms and dispose them off beyond the village limits. Chokhamela worked to eke out a living but through his every waking moment he had the Lord’s name on his lips. Chokha used to constantly chant the name of Panduranga and clean the temple premises daily.

However, he was not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum due to his birth in the lower cast. One day someone questioned the futility of his devotion to Lord, as he would never be able to see God. Humiliated and deeply hurt Chokha abstained from taking food and wept inconsolably when Panduranga appeared before him, embraced him, took him inside the temple and talked to him.

The temple priest was outraged as he felt that the temple was desecrated by Chokha and ordered him to stay across the river Chandrabhaga. Chokha’s pleas fell on the deaf ears and at last, Chokha went to stay across the river. However, Lord started to visit Chokha daily and both of them used to take lunch together.

One day the priest was passing by Chokha’s hut when Chokha was taking lunch with Panduranga. Soyara (Chokha’s wife) was serving. The priest could not see Panduranga as his mind was impure. Soyara spilt the curd on Panduranga’s yellow silk robe by mistake. Chokha exclaimed, “Oh Soyara! You have soiled Panduranga’s dress!” The priest felt it was a deliberate attempt by Chokha to show his devotion and slapped Chokha across his face.

Later he bathed in the river and ferried across the river. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the priest was stunned to see Lord Vitthala’s swollen cheek! He went to Chokha, asked for his forgiveness and requested him to pacify the Lord. Later Chokha’s prayers alone could pacify Lord Vitthala.

A religion dies when the non-essentials become important and the essentials are ignored. It becomes ineffective when the ‘pointer’ is valued more than the ‘pointed’ when the letter is followed but the spirit is forgotten.

The head of the family while doing the puja found that the pet cat of the house was eating the Naivedyam kept for the Lord. Hence before commencing the puja he would cover the cat with a basket to prevent its mischief. Years passed by. The head passed away and the son continued the tradition of worshipping the family deity. The son remembered how father used to tie the cat before beginning the worship. Assuming it to be part of the ritual, he brought a cat from the neighbourhood as their pet cat was no more. Over a period of time chasing the cat and covering it became the most important part of the worship!!

When thus the orthodox religion decays with its superstitions and confusions, a spiritual giant comes up to clean up the mess. Every spiritual master faces these three stages: ridicule, opposition and acceptance. How many obstacles Pujya Gurudev had to face from the orthodox class for expounding the scriptures in English and for giving the knowledge of the Upanishads for the general public!

In the flow of time, even the holiest of religions with all its great ideals gather scum. Great saints and sages incarnate time and again to re-interpret the ancient scriptures and to revive the religion, and if needed create a new religion, so that they become the guiding light even in the modern times.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

April 2016

Temperance is the law of all spiritual students. –  Chinmaya

Temperance means moderation. Being moderate means to avoid extremes.

Bhagavad Gita says:

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति नचैकान्तमनश्नत:। न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन||
(The one who eats too less or too much, and sleeps too less or too much, spiritual practice is impossible for him.)

Again, Gita says:

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्त चेष्टस्य कर्मसु। युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुखहा||
(The one who practices temperance in everything – eating sleeping, recreation, and all other activities – for him, spiritual practice becomes the remover of all sorrows.)

Temperance is but another name for control over the mind and the sense organs.

A man of no temperance becomes an instant repellent in the eyes of all.

Once in a meeting, the speaker, an old politician, went on and on, non-stop. People started leaving one by one. At last only Mulla Nasarudin remained.

The speaker being very happy with Mulla thanked him, “I never knew you loved my thoughts, my philosophy so much!”

Mulla said, “No No. You got me wrong. I am the next speaker.”

Being without self-control, a person without temperance tends to do/say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong measure to the wrong person at the wrong place in the wrong way.

The pilot was welcoming the passengers on the plane shortly after take-off.

“Thank you for flying with us this morning. The weather is…..”  Then suddenly he started screaming while he was still on the loudspeakers: “Oh my God! Ohh my God!! Ohhh… my… God…!!!”

 A ghostly silence reigned. He got back on the microphone and spoke to the passengers: “I sincerely apologise for the incident; but I just dropped a very hot cup of coffee on my lap…you should see my pants.”

 One passenger screamed, “You should see our pants!!”

When temperance is practised only at the sense organ level, it is called ‘dama’. At the physical level, there is control, but at the mind level, there is suppression.

The father saw his son sitting on top of another boy in the front yard.

“Why are you pinning Ramu to the ground like that?” Shyamu’s dad demanded.

“He hit me in the eye.” said the son angrily.

“How many times,” reprimanded the father, “have I told you to count up to a hundred before you lose your temper?”

“I am counting to a hundred, “Shyamu replied, “but I am sitting on him, so he’ll be here when I am through with counting.”

When the self-control is at the mind level, it is called ‘shama’. This is temperance in the true sense. For the one who has mastered ‘shama’, ‘dama’ is but natural.

The philosopher Diogenes was dining on bread and lentils. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus who lived in considerable comfort by fawning on the king.

Said Aristippus, “Learn subservience to the king and you will not live on lentils.”

Said Diogenes, “Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to cultivate the king.”

Only a man of temperance can remain free from the wayside temptations and reach the chosen goal.

The Lama of the South sent a request to the Great Lama of the North for a wise and holy monk to train the novices. To everyone’s astonishment, the Great Lama sent five monks instead of one. To those who enquired he said cryptically, “We will be lucky if one of them gets to the Lama.”

The group had been on the roads some days when a messenger came running up to them and said, “The priest of our village has died. We need someone to take his place.” The village seemed to be a pleasant place and the priest’s salary was princely. One of the monks was seized with pastoral concern. “I don’t deserve to be a Buddhist,” he said, “if I did not serve these people.” So he dropped out.

Some days later they were at the palace of a king who took a fancy to one of them. “Stay with us,” said the king, “and you shall marry my daughter. And when I die, you will be the king.” The monk was drawn to the lustre of the throne. So he said, “What better way to influence the people of this kingdom than to be a king? I don’t deserve to be a Buddhist if I did not seize this chance to serve the interests of religion.” He too dropped out.

One night, in a hilly region, the monks came to the solitary hut of a pretty girl who gave them hospitality and thanked God for their presence. Her parents had been killed by mountain bandits and the girl was all alone and very fearful. Next day, when it was time to leave, one of the monks declared, “I shall stay on here. I don’t deserve to be a Buddhist if I did not show compassion to this girl.”

The remaining two finally came to a Buddhist village and were scandalized to find that the inhabitants had abandoned their religion under the influence of a theologian of another religion. One of the monks said, “I owe it to these people and to the Lord Buddha himself to win them back to the faith.”

The fifth monk eventually got to the Lama of the South.

The temper of our temperance is tested during temptations.

Music cannot flow when the veena strings are tied too tight or too loose. Life cannot survive on the planet when the sun is too far or too near, or when gravity is too strong or too weak. Restless work and workless rest – both make the body sick. Actionless thoughts are unproductive while thoughtless actions are counter-productive. A big smile and no smile – both create misunderstandings among people. Temperance is the law of life everywhere.

So says the subhashitam – अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् | (Avoid extremes everywhere at all times.)

The spiritual seekers are advised not to have a dull (tamasic) mind or a restless (rajasic) mind, but to cultivate a noble (sattvic) mind.

Hence the advice of the Lord to Arjuna is:  नित्य सत्त्वस्थो भव| (Be ever rooted in sattwa.)

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

March 2016

Every surrender unto God is an elevation in the status of the soul. – Chinmaya

What is the significance of surrender in spirituality?

Supreme Self identified with the illusory body-mind-intellect leads to a non-existent entity called ego. It is this illusory ego which is the source of all our sufferings.

This ego makes us believe that we are limited, miserable creatures of destiny. Under its influence, we feel discontent and incomplete. It is this ego which projects the world as the source of all happiness. Under its sway, we become greedy and lusty, inferior and jealous, arrogant and foolish. This ego, always carrying the regrets of the past and the worries of the future, never allows us to remain in the present. Ever expressing distaste towards the company of the holy, it keeps the individual in the darkness of ignorance forever. The one possessed by the ego-ghost knows not what is devotion or dispassion. Under ego-intoxication, we tend to justify all our vices and find fault with others’ virtues. This ego is the cause of our being the slave of our mind and a slave of this world. This ego ensures that we are tied to this wretched world of birth and death, pains and sorrows, disease and old age. When this ego rules the kingdom of our heart, the poor Lord, though eager and desperate, has no entry within.

The only way to destroy this ego is to surrender completely unto the Lord and allow Him his rightful place – the royal throne of our heart.

The Lord has His own sweet ways of training us in cultivating the attitude of surrender. The general sequence of events can be summarized as follows:

1) We have a problem;   2) We become painfully aware of the problem;   3) We try to solve the problem using our best abilities and resources;   4) We fail miserably in trying to solve it;   5) As a last resort we surrender to God;   6) In a mysterious way we arrive at a solution;   7) When we retrospect, we realize that we have arrived at the best solution and that whatever has happened has happened for the good;   8) Our faith and devotion for God become further intensified;   9) Soon turning to Him for everything becomes a habit;   10) Over a period of time, surrender becomes natural to us and we become perfect instruments in the hands of the Divine in spreading the message of peace and happiness.

A construction supervisor from the 16th floor of a building was calling a worker on the ground floor. Because of the noise, the worker did not hear his call. To draw attention, the supervisor threw a 10 rupee note in front of the worker. He picked up the note, put it in his pocket and continued to work.

Again to draw attention the supervisor threw 500 rupee note and the worker did the same. Now the supervisor picked a small stone and threw on the worker. The stone hit the worker. This time the worker looked up and the supervisor communicated with him.

God too wants to communicate to us, but we are busy doing our worldly jobs. Then, He gives us small gifts and big gifts. We just keep them without looking from where we got it. We are the same, just keeping the gifts without thanking Him. We just say we are lucky. He gives and forgives; we get and forget. And when we are hit with a small stone, which we call problems, then only we look up, surrender and communicate with Him!

Surrender to God makes life smooth and easy.

A businessman was late for his flight. He reached the boarding gate just before it closed. Sweating and out of breath, he scanned his boarding pass at the counter and quickly made his way to the plane. Arriving at his seat, he greeted his companions for the next few hours: a middle-aged woman sitting at the window, and a little girl sitting on the aisle seat. After stowing his bag above, he took his place between them.

After the flight took off, he began a conversation with the little girl. He found it strange that such a young girl would be travelling alone, but he kept his thoughts to himself and decided to keep an eye on her to make sure she was okay.

About an hour into the flight, the plane suddenly began experiencing extreme turbulence. The pilot came over the PA system and told everyone to fasten their seat belts and remain calm, as they had encountered rough weather. Several times over the next half hour the plane made drastic dips and turns, shaking all the while. Some people began crying, and many- like the woman in the window seat – were praying intently. The man was sweating and clenching his seat as tightly as he could. He would scream “Oh my God!” with each increasingly violent shake of the plane.

Meanwhile, the little girl was sitting quietly beside him in her seat. Incredibly, she didn’t seem worried all. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the turbulence ended. The pilot came on a few minutes later to apologize for the bumpy ride and to announce that they would be landing soon. As the plane began its descent, the man said to the little girl, “You are just a little girl, but I have never met a braver person in all my life! Tell me, dear, how is it that you remained so calm while all of us adults were so afraid?”

With an innocent smile, she said, “My father is the pilot, and he’s taking me home.”

The one with faith is always at peace. Hence they say, “No God, no peace; know God, know peace.” But our questioning intellect won’t budge that easily.

In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?” The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”

“Nonsense,” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?” The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”

The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.” The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”

The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover, if there is life, then why has no one ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery, there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.” “Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.”

The first replied “Mother? Do you actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?” The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her, this world would not and could not exist.”

Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.”

To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above.”

Let’s begin the journey of life with faith remembering this beautiful quote, “Faith is the belief in what you do not see, and the reward is you see what you believed in.”

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

February 2016

Even when threatened with death, don’t give in to dishonesty, deception, lust and passion.  –  Chinmaya

Why should we always stick to the truth, and never compromise with the higher values of life? The reasons can be many.

The Mundakopanishad says:

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयान: |
(Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood. The path to the ultimate truth is laid down by truth alone.)

Whether one is seeking material prosperity or spiritual evolution, the path is only one: the path of truth.

At the subjective plane also the truthful ones have lots to gain. They are blessed with mastery over the mind, clarity in thinking, peace, contentment, cheerfulness, confidence and courage. For them, meditation is just a cakewalk as they have a mind which is well obedient, disciplined and tamed. For them, the Kingdom of God is thrown wide open for easy access.

Hence the Bhagavad Geeta says:

आत्मैव आत्मनो बन्धु: आत्मैव रिपुरात्मन:|
(Your own mind is your greatest friend as well as your greatest enemy.)

Abraham Lincoln worked in a tea shop during his childhood. One day a lady came to buy 250 grams of tea leaves. Being busy handling many customers, Lincoln by mistake weighed only 150 grams and gave it to her. In the night, while making the accounts of the sales-proceeds of the day, he realized his mistake. Immediately with a lantern in hand, he set out on foot to the lady’s house covering around 3 kilometres.

Hearing the knock, the lady opened the door. Handing over the bag of tea leaves, Lincoln said, “I am extremely sorry! I had taken money for 250 grams of tea leaves from you, but I gave you only half the quantity. Please forgive me for the inconvenience caused.”

Seeing his honesty, the eyes of the lady welled up with tears. She blessed him and said, “My son! You are truthful! God will definitely give the fruits of honesty to you. You will earn a good name in the future.”

The same boy went on to become the President of the United States.

The truthful ones not only gain inner peace but also gain blessings from all. They have a knack of creating heaven even in hell. Moreover, the good they do come back to them in so many different ways.

There was a famous advocate named Munshiram who lived in Jalandhar. Inspired by saints and sages of India, he decided never to take up false cases. Once while submitting a case to the court of law, he came to know that the case which he had taken up was false. Immediately he stopped fighting the case. He was tempted by a handsome fee by the client but he didn’t budge. He received life-threatening calls but he remained adamant in his stand.

His decision to remain truthful caused a lasting effect on his profession and hampered his practice severely. As a result, his income dropped down to one-fourth of what he earned earlier. But Munshi stuck to his principles.

Soon the times started to change. He earned the name of a ‘clean-advocate’ among the circles of lawyers. He started getting a large number of cases which were based on facts. Within a few years he won the hearts of all judges to such an extent that the judges were cent-per cent confident that if Munshiram was handling a case, it must be genuine.

During the later period of his life, Munshiram took sannyasa and came to be known as Swami Shraddhanand and founded the Gurukul Kangari. 

True strength comes not from the outer possessions and positions, but from within. This inner strength can be tapped only when we are upright and pure in all our worldly transactions.

Chandragupta was extremely nervous and worried. He doubted whether his small army could ever face the large army of the Nanda Empire. He approached his Guru Kautilya (Chanakya) for guidance.

Chanakya assured him of his victory and said, “No matter how large an army one might possess, no matter how formidable weapons he may have, but shall certainly meet his doom if he lacks in moral conduct.”

To remain straight forward and truthful in life, one needs tremendous courage and will power. One resigned to God gains these qualifications easily.

Gandhiji used to have prayer assembly every day in his ashram. One day, after the prayer session, an advocate came to Gandhiji and said, “Sir, had you dedicated to the nation the time that you pass in offering prayers to God, you would have done a greater service to the nation.”

Gandhiji smiled and replied, “Mr Advocate! Had you devoted to your cases the time that you waste away in eating food, you would have been able to take up many more additional cases.”

The advocate was very much confused. He asked, “Sir! You must be joking! Food gives energy and strength which is essential for the body to work!”

Gandhiji replied, “So too prayer is the food for my soul. I gain energy and strength from it which I use in serving the nation.”

Whenever we are in any doubt or confusion regarding what/what-not to do, a simple question can make the situation clear: “With this action of mine, will God be pleased with me?”

A man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The newspapers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. He continued reading the obituary column to find out what people had said about him. The obituary read, “The Dynamite King Dies…” And also “He was the merchant of death…”

This man was the inventor of dynamite. After reading the newspaper, he asked himself, “Is this how I want myself to be remembered?”

From that day on, he started working towards peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and today he is remembered by the great Nobel Peace Prize.

The quote advises us to be honest even in the wake of death.

This is because death is nothing but an illusion. Our existence doesn’t end with the death of the physical body. We continue to exist in our subtle and causal bodies. These bodies are nothing but our vasanas (impressions) gathered in our mind due to our actions.

So the good we do remain with us as good samskaras (impressions) and bless us with peace and bliss even after the end of the physical existence. Hence the insistence never to compromise with the higher values even in life-threatening situations.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

January 2016

By thinking deeply of a noble person of character and love, our minds entertain those thoughts, and this causes what we call a blessing.  –  Chinmaya

The above quote glorifies Satsang – the company of wise – and how it transforms the life of a person.

The need for Satsang has been emphasized in all religions, by all spiritual masters at all times. Bhagavan Shankaracharya in Bhaja Govindam says:

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् । निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्ति: ॥
 (Through the company of the wise, one becomes detached from worldliness; from detachment comes freedom from delusion; this leads to the realization of the changeless Truth, and thus one is liberated.)

One of the verses Narada Bhakti Sutra says:

महत्सङ्गस्तु दुर्लभ: अगम्य:अमोघश्च |
(To come in contact with a great soul is indeed extremely difficult; it is impossible to know them fully, yet it is infallible in its effect.)

In Shrimad Bhagavatham, when asked to show God, Bhakta Prahlada replies to Hiranyakashipu, “Dear father, there is no other way to know the Lord other than bathing in the dust of the lotus feet of the great devotees.”

In Sapta Prashna Geeta of Tulsi Ramayana, one of the questions asked by Garudji to Kaka Bhushundiji is “What is the greatest joy in life?”

The answer given is: संत मिलन सम सुख जग नाहीं| (There is no joy greater than meeting the saints.)

In the life of all great men, we find that they were all influenced, somewhere or the other, by towering personalities of knowledge and character.

Balakrishna Menon was working as a journalist for a national newspaper called National Herald. He was then in his mid 30’s and had all the typical characteristics of modern youth.

Proud being called an atheist, he once decided to expose the sannyasis in the Himalayas, who, according to him, contributed nothing and were leaches in the society. Swami Shivananda, the founder of Divine Life Society, was a well-known saint in the Himalayas in those times. Menon decided to stay in the ashram for a couple of days and interview the Swamiji to get enough spice for his critical scathing article.

When Menon reached Rishikesh and entered the ashram, he was wonderstruck. For the first time, he saw people working not ‘for happiness’, but ‘out of happiness’. The whole atmosphere was filled with a festive look.  Everyone, without any pay or reward, was seen engrossed in selfless service with faces beaming with cheerful smiles, with hearts filled with love and compassion. Cleanliness, purity and discipline were seen everywhere. Ashramites got up at Brahma- muhurta (3:30- 4 am) and did their spiritual practices like Japa, meditation, yoga etc. Mornings and evenings were spent in bhajans and Satsangs. Smoke, drinks and non-vegetarian food items were unheard of. Menon felt ashamed that he was the only one with a cigarette in hand. 

But as soon as he met Swami Shivanandji Maharaj, all his false notions regarding the saints disappeared like mist. Here was a man – an epitome of knowledge, devotion and dispassion… Here was a man, who despite his successful career as a doctor renounced everything for God… Here was a man, who prostrated to one and all in utter humility seeing divinity in all – be it plants, animals or human beings… Here was a man who hardly had any possession but was the most blissful and content… Here was a man who sang and danced shy-less, glorifying the name of the Lord… Here was a man, who blessed even those who ridiculed and criticized him… Here was a man who despite being a master of Bhakti, Jnana, Hatha, Karma and Raja Yoga, remained as humble as a child… Here was a man who despite having supernatural powers never exhibited any… Here was a man who demanded nothing even when Rajas and Maharajas came to prostrate unto him… Here was a man for whom no job was menial, whether it is cleaning the toilets or washing the wounds of a leper… Here was a man who considered even the rank sinners and criminals as divine… Here was a man who had conquered all weaknesses of the mind and the senses…

Here was a man seeing whom, being with whom thousands were inspired to live a noble life of love and service…

Menon was totally transformed. He never knew a human being could reach such impossible heights. He compared the divine life in the ashram with his disgusting sensuous worldly life. There was a deep sense of regret for having wasted all these years in worthless pursuits. He was convinced that human birth is not just for eating, drinking and making merry, but it had a higher purpose – to realize one’s divine nature.

Menon had come to the ashram to stay only for a couple of days, but could not resist staying a couple of weeks. Even while returning, he got all the books written by Swamiji. Such was the impact of this Mahatma, that Menon was seen again in the ashram, this time not to go back to the world – but to be one with the sannyasa order. He was initiated into the sannyasa order by Swamiji with a new name – Swami Chinmayananda.

Swami Chinmayananda later became the founder of a worldwide organization called Chinmaya Mission, inspiring millions all around the world with his thoughts, words and deeds.

Such instances are many. Mahatma Gandhi who was inspired by the truthful life of King Harischandra became an inspiration for millions to follow the path of truth and non-violence. The son of a servant maid, by serving the holy men, skyrocketed in spirituality to become the great Narada rishi, who in turn produced spiritual giants like Prahlada, Dhruva and sage Valmiki. Ramakrishna Pramahamsa became instrumental in transforming an ordinary college graduate Narendra to the world-renowned Swami Vivekananda; and through him were born patriotic stalwarts and freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Tilak.   

In all our Itihasas and Puranas, we find that noble men of purity, character and courage were made the heroes; and through their noble deeds, the eternal values of life were imparted for the generation to emulate.

One among many reasons in the Bhagavad Geeta given by the Lord Shri Krishna to Arjuna to fight the war is:

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठ: तत्तदेवेतरो जन: । स यत् प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||
(Whatever the great men demonstrate, the others follow it blindly.)

The Lord’s advice was, “Therefore O Arjuna, if you – a national hero with enormous fan-followings – take a wrong step, there will be millions following your footsteps, and thus it will lead to a national disaster. So leaders like you must be extremely cautious.”

A recently conducted research says that psychological problems in the younger generation are on the rise at an alarming scale. What else to expect, when the entire generation looks up to the characterless film stars and cricket stars as role models? When blind are led by the blind, this is but natural.

It is rightly said, “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are; show me your company, and I’ll tell you what your future is.”

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

December 2015

Without the spirit of sacrifice, no service is possible. –  Chinmaya

Sacrifice and service are the two by-products born out of the same divine virtue called love. Wherever love is, sacrifice and service follow spontaneously. Service is an expression of our love. Sacrifice tests the intensity of our love.

It was during the days of British rule. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had made an appeal that one boy from each family should join the army of Netaji. In the mountainous region of Kohima and Imphal, there lived a seventy-year-old woman with her son. This son also went for recruitment. When enquired by the colonel of the army, he replied, “My name is Arjun Singh, 20 years of age.” Being the only son of his mother, he was rejected. The young boy was thoroughly disappointed. He returned home. His mother was so shocked that she could not take it, and in the process collapsed and died.

Next day, the young boy was seen again standing in the line for recruitment. The colonel was very much pained to learn that Arjun Singh’s mother died of the shock of non-recruitment of her son in Netaji’s army. He learnt that while dying, she had told her son, “I am not your mother; I am only an obstruction on your way. Your real mother is Mother India.”

The colonel offered his salutations to the brave mother of Arjun Singh and recruited him as the captain of the army.

Absence of sacrifice and service simply imply the absence of love.

A wedding speech of a lady in her in-laws’ house:

“My dear members of my new family, I thank you all for welcoming me to this new house. First, I must tell you that my presence here should not change your routine life. Those who used to wash clothes must keep on doing it. Those who cooked food must keep cooking. Those who cleaned the house must keep on cleaning. I won’t disturb anybody’s routine. As far as I’m concerned, I’m here only to eat BUN, have FUN and control your SON.”!!!

It is impossible that a family, community or a nation can ever progress and prosper without the members exhibiting a spirit of sacrifice for the welfare of all.

In 2014 FIFA World Cup football match, Japan lost their match against Greece, but they won hearts all over the world with their incredible gesture after they stayed back, despite their loss, to clean the stadium of all litter as the rest of the crowd filed out. Wearing raincoats to protect themselves against the drizzle, and armed with garbage bags, the 15,000 Japanese fans set an example of true sportsmanship and goodwill, unlike fans in other nations that have been known to resort to vandalism and violence (both in disappointment and exuberance) after a match.

At the end of the match, the defeated Japanese players formed a line and bowed to their fans, in appreciation of their support. The photographs went viral on social media, eliciting responses that hailed Japan as a fascinating example of sportsmanship.

Let us not forget – this is the same country which was devastated completely by nuclear bombings a few decades back. Today, thanks to their disciplined, patriotic and cultured citizens, the country is admired all over the world for its achievements in all spheres of life.

Unfortunately, the condition of our nation is quite deplorable.

Listen to what our former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam has to say to the Indians:

“YOU say that our government is inefficient. YOU say that our laws are too old. YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage. YOU say that the phones don’t work; the railways are a joke. The airline is the worst in the world; mails never reach their destination. YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say. What do YOU do about it?

In Singapore, you don’t throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU wouldn’t dare to eat in public during Ramadan in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, ”Jaanta hai main kaun hoon? (Do you know who I am?). I am so-and-so’s son. Take your two bucks and get lost.” YOU wouldn’t chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand.

“Why don’t YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don’t YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU, who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries, but cannot in your own. YOU who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If YOU can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

“In America, every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job; same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here? We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms. We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity.

Our excuse? – “It’s the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone change?”

“So who’s going to change the system? What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us, it consists of our neighbours, other households, other cities, other communities and the government – but definitely not me and YOU!!

“When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr.Clean to come along and work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears, we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.

“Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

“Dear Indians, The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one’s conscience too.

Let’s ask what we can do for India and do what India needs from us… “

Our humble prostrations to Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda for having given us the platform called Chinmaya Mission, where we are taught to live honestly the noble life of sacrifice and service, producing more than what we consume and giving more than what we take.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

November 2015

Each of us has to awaken the sleeping saint within us. –  Chinmaya

A saint is the one who has known his true Self. He is the one who has awakened to the great Truth – that he is not the body-mind complex but the pure Consciousness which is infinite and immortal.

The Self in us is equally divine. The only difference is, a saint chose to awaken to the Self, while we chose to remain ‘asleep’ to our own true nature. The result? The saint became godly, and we remain worldly.

There is a touching story about Thomas Alva Edison during his school days.

One day Edison came home from school and gave a paper to his mother. He told her, “My teacher gave this paper to me and told me to only give it to you.”

His mother’s eyes were tearful as she read out the letter aloud to her child, “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good teachers for training him. Please teach him yourself.”

After many, many years, after Edison’s mother died and he was now one of the greatest inventors of the century, one day he was looking through old family things. Suddenly he saw a folded paper in the corner of a drawer in a desk. He took it and opened it up. On the paper was written, “Your son is an addled child (mentally ill and confused). We won’t let him come to school any more.”

Edison cried for hours and then he wrote in his diary: “Thomas Alva Edison was an addled child; and by a hero mother, became the genius of the century.”

So too, Mother Geeta considers none of her children as unfit for spiritual awakening.

अपि चेत् सुदुराचार: भजते मामनन्यभाक् । साधुरेव स मन्तव्य: सम्यक् व्यवसितो हि स: ॥

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वत् शान्तिं निगच्छति । कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न मे भक्त: प्रणश्यति ॥
(Even if a rank criminal turns to Me and worships Me wholeheartedly, he must be considered a saint, for, very soon he will become an embodiment of righteousness and will attain abiding peace. O Arjuna! Know for sure that My devotee shall never perish.)

The root cause of all our miseries and sufferings is that we have ignored the valuable teachings of our scriptures. Our scriptures deal with the knowledge of who we are. All the scriptures unanimously declare that we are Sat-Chit-Anand – Existence-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute. Nothing is lacking in us, as we are divinely perfect.

But, unfortunately, due to the neglect of the scriptures, and hence not knowing who we are, we grope in the dark taking ourselves to be the body.

Once a farmer found an abandoned eagle’s nest and in it was an egg still warm.

He took the egg back to his farm and laid it in the nest of one of his hens. The egg hatched and the baby eagle grew up along with the other chickens. It pecked about the farmyard, scrabbling for grain. It spent its life within the yard and rarely looked up.

When it was very old, one day it lifted up its head and saw above it a wonderful sight – an eagle soaring high above in the sky. Looking at it, the old creature sighed and said to itself, “If only I’d been born an eagle.”

Our story is no different.

A 15^th-century ruler of a state in South India once went for hunting.  In the thick of forests, he somehow got separated from his attendants and lost the way.

Finding no way to get out of the jungle, the king felt totally helpless and worried. To his luck, he came across a wood-cutter busy in cutting the trees. With his help, the king came out of the thick forest.

Highly pleased, the ruler rewarded the wood-cutter with a forest of sandalwood exclusively for his use. The wood-cutter was overjoyed.

After a few months, the king happened to revisit that area. But to his horror, he found the entire sandalwood forest almost totally burnt.  He asked the wood-cutter what had happened to the forest.

The wood-cutter proudly replied, “I have burnt all the trees to make coal. The coal, you know, has good value in the market.”!!

How few realize that this human birth is given to realize the Higher, and not to indulge in the lower!

People have absurd ideas regarding saints. According to them, having supernatural powers to cure the sick and to raise the dead make one saintly!

Nasruddin had barely finished his discourse when one of the scoffers in the crowd said to him, “Instead of spinning spiritual theories, why don’t you show us something practical?”

Nasruddin was quite nonplussed. “What kind of practical thing would you want me to show you?” he asked.

The scoffer said, “For instance, show us an apple from the garden of Paradise.”

Nasruddin immediately picked up an apple and handed it to the man. “But this apple is bad on one side. Surely a heavenly apple would be perfect.” said the man.

“A celestial apple would indeed be perfect.” said the Mulla, “But given your present conditions, this is as near to a heavenly apple as you will ever get!!”

Being a saint has nothing to do with the dress one wears, the marks on the forehead or the power one possesses. A saint is the one who has given up all false values of life born out of the identification with the false matter envelopments. Free from all delusions and confusions, he lives a life tuned to the Self. In this regard, even a householder can be a saint.

A devotee, exhausted after climbing the stairs on a steep mountain, once asked a saint, “Why can’t they build the temple on the ground? Why do we have to climb the stairs at each and every temple?”

The saint smiled and said “It is all symbolic. You need to rise above your present egoistic level to reach God. Each step in those stairs is a reminder that you are rising above your level in terms of your envy, your greed, anger, ego and all evil parts of your life. It also suggests that you have to climb the steps one by one; you can’t just jump off from the first step to the last step. The whole spiritual journey is an evolution, and not a revolution. And once you conquer the lower in you, you are face to face with the Highest!”

A handful of wheat, five thousand years old, was found in the tomb of one of the kings of ancient Egypt. Someone planted the grains; and to everyone’s amazement, they came to life!

So too, the great Truth is there, in each and every one of us, as the very Self in us, waiting to manifest in its full glory. It is just a matter of time – every sinner of today is but on the path to become the enlightened sage of the morrow.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

October 2015

Tranquillity is the innate nature of all; it is a self-existent reality. –  Chinmaya

How to know what is our innate nature?

That which is ever available to us, that which can never leave us, that which is never a burden to us, ignoring which we become miserable, is our innate nature. When we are closer to our innate nature, we ‘feel at home’.

For example, existence is our innate nature. Everyone wants to exist; no one wants to die. Even an old man wants to hang on to his dilapidated body. Consciousness is our innate nature, as we are at ease when we are alert and vigilant. Knowledge is our innate nature, as ignorance makes us uncomfortable. Perfection is our innate nature, as we are not happy with our own imperfections. Infinity is our innate nature, as we feel suffocated with all limitations. Freedom is our innate nature, as we dislike bondage. Tranquillity, as the above quote says, is our innate nature. All want to be happy all the time. One can be burdened with sorrow, but never with happiness!

The good news is, being our innate nature as Sat-Chit-Anand, all these are already within us. The bad news is, instead of searching within for these, we are busy seeking them outside.

When the disciple was at prayer one night he was disturbed by the croaking of a bullfrog. All his attempts to disregard the sound went unsuccessful. At last, totally annoyed, he shouted from his window, “Quiet! I am at my prayers.”

Being a saint, his command was instantly obeyed. Every living creature held its voice to create a silence that would favour his prayer.

But now the disciple was all the more disturbed. A sweet inner voice expressed its displeasure from within, “My child, was it right to silence that frog?”

The disciple expressed his wonder, “In what way, O Lord, can the croaking of a frog please Thee?”

The inner voice replied, “In what other way, dear, can a frog offer its prayer and express its gratitude unto its Creator? The frog’s croaking and your praying – are not both these abilities given by Me? Then in what way, My son, is your prayer holier than its croaking?”

The disciple realized his mistake. With an apologetic heart seeking forgiveness, he leaned out of his window and ordered, “Sing!”

The bullfrog’s measured croaking filled the air to the ludicrous accompaniment of all the frogs in the vicinity. As the disciple, in all humility, attended to their sounds, his heart was filled with divine joy, and he experienced his oneness with the entire cosmos.

The greatest challenge in life is not in finding a peaceful place, but in cultivating a peaceful mind, unaffected by peace-less surroundings.

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture on peace.  Many artists tried.  The king looked at all the pictures.  But there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake.  The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it.  Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.  All who saw this picture thought it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too.  But these were rugged and bare.  Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played.  Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall.  This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.  In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest.  There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

For the prize, the king chose the second picture.  Someone asked why.

“Because”, explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.  Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.”

The one who has discovered peace within becomes totally contented without.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, who passed away recently on 27^th July 2015, left behind only the following properties – 2500 books, a wristwatch, 6 shirts, 4 trousers, 3 suits, a pair of shoes and a few thousand rupees bank balance. He remained a bachelor throughout his life. He did not have a fridge, TV, car, air conditioner, or any immovable property. He never accepted any gifts. All the gifts received by him were tabulated and sent to the government’s treasury.

Hence the wise say, the richest man is not the one who is a billionaire and still craves for more, but the one who has a contented heart and needs nothing more.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. “Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.” So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. “Hmm…, “she said, “I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. “Well,” she said, “Today I am going to wear my hair in a ponytail.” So she did and she had a fun-filled day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head.

“Great!” she exclaimed, “I don’t have to fix my hair today!”

The outer world is unpredictable; hence the peace coming from the world also is undependable. But the inner peace is just a matter of right thinking.

Once a saint was asked, “What did you gain by regularly praying to God?”

The saint replied, “Nothing, but let me tell you what all I lost – anger, ego, passion, greed, depression, jealousy, confusions of life, insecurity and fear of death!!”

Perfection being our innate nature, the answer to our prayers is not gaining but losing, which ultimately is the gain.

O    M        T    A    T        S    A    T

September 2015

Each shock is yet another knock to add to our spiritual stature. –  Chinmaya

It is said:

When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully. Because two things can happen –

Either He will catch you when you fall.

Or He will teach you how to fly.

Ranganna was an illiterate poor man who worked in a temple. His job was to ring the bell during the temple services. The villagers fondly used to call him ‘GhantaRanganna’.

As the years passed by, the temple became very famous. Devotees from all over the world started visiting the place. It became one of the major tourist destinations. Money started pouring in and the authorities soon decided to upgrade the facilities, comforts and conveniences of the temple in a modern, fashionable and state-of-the-art way. 

With the increase of foreign visitors day by day, the authorities decided to appoint qualified educated temple staffs in all departments. One day a circular was sent to all staffs of the temple that they must learn English as early as possible or they will have to resign and go. Worried Ranganna tried to learn English by approaching the learned ones. He tried as best as he could but unfortunately, nothing entered his head. Needless to say, he was shown the door by the strict authorities.

Poor Ranganna sat at the doorsteps of the temple not knowing where to go, what to do. He knew that his beloved Lord would never forsake him. He thought a lot but nothing struck his head.

Tired and depressed, he felt like having a cup of tea. He walked searching for a tea shop. There were shops selling flowers, fruits, puja items, pictures and idols of God etc. but he could not find any tea shop after walking over a kilometre.

He felt, “Poor devotees! How much they have to suffer just for a cup of tea!”

The next day he set up a small tea stall near the entrance outside the temple. As the days passed, his wife also joined him and brought small tiffin items.

SoonRanganna’s shop became busy with customers. To accommodate more people, he had to renovate his little tea shop to a canteen, and then to a full-fledged hotel. Seeing the growing demand from the people, the erstwhile hotel was upgraded to a five-star hotel and then further up to a seven-star hotel. With experience and money at hand, the income generated was further reinvested in starting similar such seven-star hotels in various parts of the country in posh localities. Within a few years, Ranganna became an internationally known figure in the business community.

One day he had to sign an important deal with another big business firm. When the Director of the firm saw that Ranganna was using his thumb impression to sign the deal, he was shocked. He asked in disbelief, “Sir, despite being illiterate, you could establish such a big business empire! Where would you have reached if you had learnt English!!”

Ranganna smiled and replied, “I might have remained even today GhantaRanganna!!”      

When things go wrong and tragedies strike, we in our immaturity blame God – as though we are wiser than the Creator of the universe!! How can we insignificant creatures ever understand the purpose of the Omniscient Lord?

In this world, nothing happens without a purpose, and He knows it well.

Dr.Stephen, a well-known doctor, was once on his way to an important medical conference in another city where-in he was going to be granted an award for medical research he had recently done.

He was very excited to attend the conference and was desperate to reach as soon as possible. He had worked long and hard on his research and felt his efforts deserved the award he was about to obtain.

However, two hours after the plane took off, the pilot announced that there was a problem with the plane and that they were going to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. Afraid that he wouldn’t make it in time for the conference, Dr Stephen immediately went to the help desk as soon as the plane landed and explained to the woman at the desk that he was expected to be at a very important conference and that he needed to know the immediate next flight to his destination. She told him that there was nothing she could do to help him as there wouldn’t be another flight to his destination for another ten hours, but suggested he rent a car and drive down to the city as it was only four hours away.

Having no other choice, he agreed to the idea despite his hatred for driving long distances. Dr.Stephen rented a car and started his journey. However, soon after he left, the weather suddenly changed and a heavy storm began. The pouring rain made it very difficult for him to see and he missed a turn he was supposed to take.

After two hours of driving, he was convinced he was lost. Driving in the heavy rain on a deserted road, feeling hungry and tired, he frantically began to look for any sign of civilization. After some time, he finally came across a small tattered house. Desperate, he got out of the car and knocked on the door. An old woman opened the door for him. He explained his situation and asked if he could use her telephone. She told him that she didn’t have a phone or electricity but that he was welcome to come in for some food and something warm to drink as he had completely lost his way and that it would take him some time to get back on the right road.

Hungry, wet and exhausted, the doctor accepted her kind offer and walked in. The woman told him to help himself to some food and hot tea on the table and then excused herself to finish her prayers. Sitting on the table sipping his tea, the doctor watched the woman in the dim light of candles as she prayed next to what appeared to be a small baby cradle. Every time she finished a prayer, she would start another one.

Feeling that the woman might need help, the doctor seized the opportunity to speak as soon as she finished her prayers and told her that he hoped God would answer her prayers. He then said that he noticed that she had been making a lot of prayers and asked if there was something she needed that he could get for her or help her with. The woman smiled and said that God had answered all her prayers except one. She said she didn’t know why God hadn’t answered this specific prayer yet but perhaps it was because of her weak faith.

The doctor asked if she didn’t mind telling him what she needed. Nodding her head in approval, she said that the child in the cradle was her grandson. She said that the child had a very rare type of cancer and that all the doctors she had seen were unable to treat him. She also said that she had been told that there was a doctor who specialized in the type of cancer her grandson had, but there was no way for her to get to this doctor as he lived very far from her; so she has been spending her days and nights praying to God to help her find a way to get to Dr Stephen – the doctor who could treat her grandson.

Upon hearing her words, tears began to flow down the doctor’s cheeks and He said, “God is great! There was a malfunction in the plane, a thunderstorm hit, and I lost my way; and all of this happened because God did not just answer your prayer by helping you find a way to get to Dr Stephen, but He brought Dr Stephen to your house. I am Dr Stephen.”

Tears streaming down his cheeks, the award did not seem too great for him.

Why do the airports see more affectionate kisses than the wedding halls?

Why do the walls of the hospitals hear more sincere prayers than the walls of temples, masjid and churches?

The human mind has a very bad habit – taking things for granted. When we lose a thing we realize the value of that thing.

Nothing belongs to us. Whatever we have are gifts from God. These gifts are given so that we may grow in our love and gratitude for God. But when things are taken for granted, the possibility of developing a loving relationship with God is shut off.

The shocks and knocks in life is a gentle reminder –that sans God we are nothing, that we have nothing, that we know nothing, and that we can do nothing!

Such a humble soul who has realised his insignificance becomes fit to enter the kingdom of God, where he is made aware – that he is Everything!!

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