Hold on…Never give up |
Plight of Modern Students-1.48-1996 June 27
Satva alone can lead us to devotion-1996 July 03
One can possibly do anything in this world-But can one control his senses-Telugu Poem-2.35-1999 November 22
Hold on…Never give up |
This section of the blog presents a message of Bhagawan Baba every week. Mostly, it is the form of a question that is answered by Bhagawan, giving us the correct understanding and interpretation of a concept or a term or a practice. So watch out every Sunday for a special message from Bhagawan Baba that could serve as your driving force throughout the week. Wish you a happy week!!
Mind is responsible for both Bondage and Liberation |
The mind is very noble. Mana Eva Manushyaanaam Kaaranam Bandha Mokshayoho – Mind alone is responsible either for man’s bondage or for his liberation. So, how can you condemn the mind as bad, when it is capable of leading you to Moksha (supreme goal of liberation)? It can lead you to bondage and it can also set you free from bondage. We need to recognize the right method to use the mind. We may have a knife in the hand. The knife can be used to cut fruits, vegetables or any knot in a rope. However, in a fit of anger, we could also use it to cut the throat. But is this the fault of the knife? No. No. It is the defect in the manner in which we use the knife. The mind is also similar. If used along the right path, it will take us to the most sacred (elevated) place. The mind is also referred to as delusion.
01 July to 07 July 2013
Four manifestations of the mind |
The mind itself assumes subtle forms in the name of Antha Karana (inner instruments). It dons four roles, namely: Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta(memory), and Ahamkara (ego). Buddhi, Chitta and Ahamkara are the subtle forms of the mind itself. The mind takes on a particular name when it performs a particular function; just as the same Brahmin individual is called a priest (pujaribrahmin) when he performs worship in a temple, a cook (brahmin cook) when he cooks in the kitchen, a teacher (aadhyapikabrahmin) when he teaches students, and an astrologer (panchaanga brahmin) when he interprets the almanac (panchaanga). Though the Brahmin individual is the same; based on the profession he takes up, he assumes such different names.
What is true listening? |
At the time of king Bhojaraja, a sculptor brought three idols and presented them to the king. All the three idols were made by the sculptor in such a way that they looked exactly identical. All were beautiful. The king summoned the Minister. He asked the Minister to decide which among these was the best “first class”; deserving enough to be given a prize.
What is true freedom? |
Some students who consider themselves to be very clever and smart, try to argue thus, Look at the birds. They are having full freedom to eat what they want, to make friendship with anyone they want and to fly or wander as they wish. Cattle and beasts also are enjoying their own freedom. When birds, cattle and beasts enjoy their freedom, is it not necessary for man to enjoy his freedom? True, you too can enjoy freedom. But, what kind of freedom do the cattle enjoy? They enjoy cattle freedom. What kind of freedom do the animals enjoy? They enjoy animal freedom. You are a human, so you can enjoy human freedom. There is nothing wrong in that. But being a human; is it not wrong of you to enjoy animal freedom?
Divert mind towards good thoughts |
There was a preacher of Christian religion by name Thomas. He used to go to every village and propagate his religion. One day, he boarded a horse carriage and was travelling to a village. On the way, there came a (railway) level crossing. The horse was running very well; there was no problem in its movement. But as they approached the level crossing, the driver took the stick and started beating the horse severely. As Thomas was a preacher of religion, he had faith in compassion as the main message of Jesus. He asked the driver, “Sir, why are you troubling this horse that is running so well?”
The ten senses need to be kept under restraint |
The senses should be experienced by putting them to right use as ordained by God. If we do not put them to right use, we will have to suffer from lack of peace.
Brahmacharyam means being in Brahman |
Brahmacharyam is interpreted in many ways by the people of the world. One meaning is remaining unmarried. This is not the correct meaning. This meaning is only from the worldly point of view. The true literal meaning of the term is “Moving in Brahman.” Brahmacharya means ceaseless contemplation of God. “Charya” means moving or treading. Brahmacharya means “moving in Brahman”, or “treading along the path of Brahman”. Brahmacharyashould not be imagined to be related to the physical losses, difficulties, sorrow or worry. Mere bachelorhood is not Brahmacharyam. Such a person may be called as just “unmarried”.
Life is a dream, realize it! |
Life is a dream, realize it. Which is the dream? The entire life is a dream. Now in this morning, all of you are seated and are listening to Swami’s Discourse. This is not a dream. We are seeing this with our eyes, we are hearing with our ears, we are thinking with our mind and our hearts are thus melting. We consider all these changes as direct evidence. But how long can this be direct evidence? At night, when we sleep after eating, all this direct evidence vanishes. In the dream, many kinds of happiness and sorrow surface. But how long do these joys and sorrows remain? Only so long as the dream is there; as soon as we enter the waking state, all that becomes false.
God has bestowed all Gifts on mankind |
God has no selfishness and self-interest. He does not expect any benefit in return from you. God has graced the world of human beings with all gifts to remove the restlessness and lack of peace that is engulfing it. This cannot be accomplished by any human being.
Why sing Bhajans? |
Why do we sing Bhajans? Enquire clearly. It is because we remember the name of God so nicely. The name gets merged into the sound waves in the air. Getting mixed with the sound waves, it destroys all the bad feelings and aspects present in it. It is to transform all the bad into good, that we sing God’s Bhajans.
God needs your heart! |
Body is like a water bubble; mind is like a mad monkey; Don’t follow the mind, don’t follow the body, follow the conscience. We must follow the Atmic principle (principle of the Self). That is the “heart”. It is to offer this “heart” to God, that we must prepare ourselves as aspirants of God and not to offer some fruit, flower or leaf. You do not have anything with you that is not with God. Everything is there with God. There may be so many things with God; no one knows. There are so many valuable things with God. But to offer some cheap fruit and flowers that dry and fade away – is this the tax to be offered to God?
True Solitude!! |
God is the very embodiment of Truth. Truth is God. We must take the help of this Truth. Truth is our very form (nature). It is not newly bought by us. However, when we sit in solitude (Ekaantam), this Truth will manifest to us. But what is the meaning of this solitude?
Why is every limb of God compared to a Lotus? Image Source |
Tulasidas has also said, “Hasta Kamalam (Lotus Hands), Paada Kamalam (Lotus Feet), Mukha Kamalam (Lotus Face), Netra Kamalam (Lotus Eyes). All limbs of God are like the lotus. Why have they been compared to a lotus?
What is the true spirit of Narayan Seva? |
When you have so much enthusiasm (to serve), I too feel enthusiastic to give you a small piece of advice. You may not have the strength to procure 10 or 20 sares (a measure of grain) of rice at one point of time, so as to get it cooked for feeding the poor; or conditions may not be very favourable for you (financially).
Why should we clap while singing Bhajans? |
Symbolically, we are sitting below the tree of love. All bad qualities in the form of birds are perched on this tree. What do you do to drive away birds sitting on a tree? You need to sit under the tree and clap loudly to drive away the birds. In the same way to drive away the birds of bad qualities on the tree of love, we need to clap loudly and sing Bhajans – chanting Rama, Krishna, Govinda and Narayana.
Who is a true Sadhaka? |
The true Sadhaka (spiritual seeker) is one who seeks to establish an interdependent relationship (between oneself and God). In Western countries, many people undertake Sadhana (spiritual exercise) that keeps changing from second to second. Truly, a Sadhaka must have an (Chalinchani manasu) unwavering mind and a vision free from delusion (Brahminchani drushti). But today you have one Guru, tomorrow you have another Guru and the day after tomorrow, yet another Guru. A Guru for 3 days, a Guru for 4 days; is the Guru a bushcoat to be changed everyday?
When one has happiness, joy and profit; one hangs some 10 photos of Swami on the wall. When there is difficulty, when one’s desire is not fulfilled, or when there is loss, even the photos that are hanging are turned (in the) reverse (direction). Is this the characteristic of devotion? It is only the characteristic of bad quality and not of good feelings. It is necessary to recognize this. This is only Guna Jeevitam (life based on our Gunas) and not Manas Jeevitam (life based on a pure mind). If we entertain such feelings, we will never get salvation at any point of time. The one who desires salvation must be ready to bear any type of difficulty.
Offering Eight Flowers to God Image Source |
Embodiments of Love! God does not expect from you the Shodashopachaara(16 forms of ritualistic worship) or the Ashtadasha Puraanam (Knowledge of the 18 Puraanaas) He wishes only for a few sacred flowers. The first flower is Ahimsa (Non-violence). It is very important. The second flower is IndriyaNigraham (Sense control). Sarva Bhoota Daya Pushpam (Compassion to all the beings) is the third flower. The fourth flower is Kshama (Forbearance). The fifth flower is Shanthi (Peace). The sixth flower is Tapas (Penance). The seventh flower is Dhyana (Meditation). The eighth flower is Sathya (Truth). It starts with Ahimsa(Non-violence) and ends with Sathyam(Truth). Therefore, when the beginning and the end meet, the life of the human being is redeemed.
Offering Non-violence at His Lotus Feet |
The very first flower is Ahimsa (Non-violence). Ahimsa is to not hurt or cause pain to any life or being, either in thought, word or deed. But some doctors use the knife and perform an operation. Many wonder whether this does not amount to violence. No. No. To relieve the existing pain (of the patient), the doctor uses the knife and cuts the stomach. Thereafter, he gives (the patient) happiness, joy and health. This amounts to helping only and not hurting. It is non-violence only and not violence.
Offering Sense-control at His Lotus Feet |
The second flower is that of Indriya Nigraham (Sense-control). Any Sadhana (spiritual exercise) done without exercising control of senses, goes in vain. How do we control the senses? First and foremost is the tongue.
Offering Compassion to all Beings at His Lotus Feet |
The third flower is compassion towards all beings. We should not hate any being. Bhagavad Gita calls this, “Adveshtaa Sarvabhootaanaam” (devoid of malice towards anyone). It is not just absence of hate, you must also not have too much interaction (connection) with others. Live in love with all. This is the flower of compassion towards all beings.
The one whom God Loves Image Source |
The flower of compassion towards all beings is very significant. Not just in Bhaarath, but in all nations, the flower of compassion towards all beings is very important. Boys know this (story) very well. There was a person by name Abou Ben Adhem who was always engaged in service. He would go to the bazaar and serve people without legs, eyes and other physically challenged people. He would return exhausted, late in the night, to his home. This is the flower of compassion towards all beings.
Service is the Highest form of Devotion |
Nine forms of service have been prescribed in this world. But among these nine types of devotion, service is the most important. Shravanam, Keertanam, Vishnu Smaranam, Paadasevanam, Vandanam, Archanam, Daasyam, Sneham, Atma Nivedanam. Among these nine forms of devotion, compassion towards all beings is the most important. Abou Ben Adhem was constantly engaged in serving other people. It is this eservice that earned him the first name in the list. That is why God started loving him. God loves all. Love is His very Form. But God comes forth and specifically loves those who show compassion towards all beings. Therefore, we must be apt in this art of service.
Offering Forbearance at His Lotus Feet |
The fourth flower is very important. The flower of forbearance is very special and significant. Pandavas suffered so many troubles at the hands of the Kauravas. Their consort Draupadi was humiliated. But Dharmaja maintained forbearance in all circumstances. That very forbearance protected the Pandavas and set them as an ideal example for the entire world. Therefore, the flower of forbearance is very dear to the Lord. Only when you offer the flower that is dear to the Lord, He will be happy and will confer the boons on you. What is the use of offering any number of flowers to God, if you do not offer that flower which is dear to Him? The other flowers are those that will dry away, fade away and wither away. But the flowers that must be offered to God are the flowers of forbearance, compassion towards all beings, sense-control and non-violence. These four flowers are very important.
Offering Peace at His Lotus Feet |
The fifth flower is Shanthi (Peace). In spite of facing any number of difficulties, in spite of facing obstacles, in spite of any objections, we must observe peace. When you have peace you will be graced with compassion. To be deserving of God’s Grace, you need to have peace (patience). Tyagaraja had to face so many difficulties. Potana had to face so many difficulties. So too, Tukaram and Shivaji. But they were able to resist all difficulties and observe peace (patience). The one who observes peace (patience) will be the recipient of God’s Grace in bounty.
Offering Penance at His Lotus Feet |
The flower of Tapas (Penance). What is Penance? Does penance mean going to the forest, partaking of roots and tubers and remembering God? This truly amounts to Tamas (sloth). What is real penance? Penance means being ready for anything. It means exercising control over the senses. Penance means controlling the agitation that arises in our thought, word and deed. It means putting a check on the disturbances that arise in our Satva, Rajas and Tamas qualities. We must have equanimity in all states of Satva, Rajas and Tamas. We must continuously focus our mind on God. The one with such a heart is a true human being. Hrut + Daya = Hrudaya. True penance means a human being must be filled with compassion. It is not merely wasting time or misuse of time. True penance means uniting the three. He is a true Yogi. Manas Ekam, Vachas Ekam, Karmanyekam Mahaatmanam (He is a noble soul who has unity between his thought, word and deed).
Offering Meditation at His Lotus Feet |
The seventh flower is that of Dhyanam (Meditation). What is meditation? People think that closing the eyes, sitting in the lotus posture and thinking of the Paramaatman(Supreme Being) is meditation. This is a physical and worldly type of meditation. This is meditation done in a worldly way. This is necessary. But to what extent? It is necessary until you get Paripurna Siddhi – total and complete attainment.
Offering Truth at His Lotus Feet |
The eight flower is Sathyam (Truth). This is very important. The creation is born out of Truth. The creation exists because of Truth and the creation will ultimately merge in Truth. Therefore, Truth is a very important Sadhana (spiritual exercise).
God does not want flowers that will dry away |
God will not accept your flowers which fade and dry away. The priest gets so many types of flowers and performs worship. “O priest, is this what you have learnt in all this time? You are getting lorries and lorries of rose flowers, lorries and lorries of jasmine flowers and other fragrant flowers. What is the use of getting all these? The flowers you get today fade away tomorrow. It is not these flowers that I want. I want the flower of peace, the flower of love. These will not fade and dry away. You perform worship with such flowers”.
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