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Divine Discourse on
22nd October 2005
CULTIVATE SATTWIC QUALITIES RIGHT FROM CHILDHOOD
Childhood passes in trivial play with other children.
Youth passes in amorous sport,
Middle age absorbs time and effort in amassing wealth,
Come dotage, time crawls in futile longing for worldly desires, yet
there is no time for contemplation of God.
Thus is wasted the precious heritage of human birth, deeply
entangled in the net of karma.
(Telugu poem)
Why waste your time in idleness?
Time wasted is life wasted;
Arise, awake, it is not too late,
Think of the future, at least now. (Telugu Poem)
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Embodiments of Love! Dear Students!
If you spend your time thus, if you fritter away your time and energy in
vain pursuits thus, what for is your human birth? What will happen to you
in future? Did you ever ponder over this? Time is the measure for human
life. Time is the most precious aspect in human life. Don’t waste time.
“Time wasted is life wasted”. You have to seriously question yourself
whether it is sensible to waste your time thus. If you waste your precious
time in this young age, when will you be able to sanctify your life?
Man has to perform Karma in this Karmabhumi (field of activity) right from
birth to death. In fact, the human birth has been given to us to perform
Karma. We are, therefore, engaged in performing various Karmas,
continuously. But, very few make any effort to enquire to their selves
whether the Karmas performed are Sathkarmas (good deeds) or not.
One has to strive to sanctify his time, right from childhood. We are,
partaking of a variety of items as food, to sustain the human body. But
none is making an enquiry whether the food one partakes of is proper and
healthy; whether it is beneficial for nourishing and nurturing his
physical, mental and spiritual health.
“Man is born out of karma, grows and
departs from the world due to karma;
Karma is verily the embodiment of divinity.
It is only due to Karma that
Happiness and sorrow occur in the world.” (Telugu Poem)
The Bhagavadgita exhorts that man has a right only to perform his duty and
none to the fruit thereof. Of course, there will be a result for every
Karma that is performed by a human being. There will be a good result for
a good Karma and a bad result for a bad Karma. This is the eternal law.
When you partake of a mango fruit, you will only have the belch of that
fruit and not that of a lime fruit. In the same manner, your head
(thoughts) will always be conditioned by the type of food you consume.
Sathwic food Resource:
»»
“As is the food, so is the head (thoughts). As is the head, so is God”
Thus, the food, the head, and God will be on the same wavelength. Hence,
one has to cultivate good and noble thoughts always. If you eat Sattwic
food and cultivate Sattwic nature right from childhood, your entire life
will run smoothly. Hence, one has to be wary of his food and head
(thoughts). If you wish to sanctify your human birth, you should not live
like a bird, beast or an animal. Having taken birth as a human being, one
has to perform the Karmas worthy of a human being. One has to conduct
oneself as a human being. What does the term “Human Values” imply? Sathya
(Truth), Dharma (righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa
(non-violence). It is only when we cultivate and exhibit these five human
values in our daily lives that we will be entitled to be called as human
beings. Human being is a repository of Trigunas, namely, Sattwa (calm
serenity), Rajas (passionate activity), Thamo Guna (sloth and slumber).
Unfortunately, today, we find the Rajo and Thamo Gunas more active in
human beings. We do not find even a trace of Sattwic Guna anywhere. Hence,
it is of utmost importance today that people are taught and encouraged to
cultivate Sattwa Guna, perform Sattwic karmas and finally reach the abode
of Sattwic Guna.
Embodiments of Love!
You are now in the stage of childhood. This is the right age to cultivate
Sattwic Guna. The quality of your life in the later stages will depend
upon the qualities you cultivate now. What is the use of trying to
cultivate Sattwic Guna at the fag end of your life, when your physical
body refuses to co-operate with you in your Sadhana? Hence, you must
cultivate and put into practice the sattwic guna in the youthful age
itself. If man wishes to experience Manavatwa (humanness) and reach
Daivatwa (divinity), Sattwic Guna is very essential. It is only when you
consciously cultivate Sattwa Guna that you will be able to attain Sattwic
nature. If you aim to attain Sattwic nature but indulge in Rajasic and
Thamasic acts, it is not possible. All our ancient sages and seers did
their Sadhana when they were young and strong.
Sathwic food Resource:
»»
Embodiments of Love!
You have to partake of Sattwic food. By partaking of Sattwic food, you
will be able to cultivate Sattwic thoughts. And, by cultivating Sattwic
thoughts, you will be able to undertake Sattwic Karmas. It is absolutely
necessary that one should have Sattwic friends in youth and constantly
move about in their company. It is said,
“Good company leads to detachment;
Detachment makes one free from delusion;
Freedom from delusion leads to steadiness of mind;
Steadiness of mind confers Liberation.” (Sanskrit Sloka)
Sathwic food Resource:
»»
Hence, you have to partake of Sattwic food keeping your goal of liberation
in the mind. You may at times have a doubt that you may not get such
Sattwic food. I do not at all agree with this view. Don’t you get
vegetables and edible green leaves in plenty? In fact, the moment you are
born out of your mother’s womb, you are surviving and thriving on your
mother’s milk or cow’s milk. Is this not Sattwic food? Can you not live
upon a vegetarian diet consisting of vegetables, green leaves and cow’s
milk? Why should you cater to the dictates of your palate adding chillies,
salt, tamarind and spices? It is only when you gradually reduce these
ingredients for taste you will be able to cultivate Sattwa Guna. Parents
have a great responsibility in teaching the children about the efficacy of
Sattwic food and getting them accustomed to it right from their childhood.
On the other hand, if the parents themselves prepare and serve Rajasic and
Thamasic food consisting of meat, fish, etc., in their homes, how can they
expect the children to develop Sattwa Guna? I am of the view that the
children at least should abstain from such Rajasic and Thamasic food and
demand from their parents only the Sattwic food. One has to consciously
cultivate the habit of partaking of only Sattwic food. Only then will one
be able to develop Sattwa Guna.
Embodiments of Love!
All our senses are conditioned by the Trigunas and the Gunas, in turn, are
conditioned by the food we consume. Hence, if we start eating Sattwic
food, undertake Sattwic Karmas and move about in the company of Sattwic
friends, I am sure that we can transform ourselves into Sattwic
individuals. It is the bad company that is responsible for evil qualities.
If you want to cultivate good qualities, you have to eat Sattwic food. In
fact, it is the food that we consume is responsible for all the evil
qualities.
Dear students!
If you develop bad qualities like anger, passion, envy, jealousy, etc.,
right form this early age, your entire life will be spoiled. You are
poisoning your young minds with these evil qualities. My advice to the
youngsters and students is eat Sattwic food; cultivate Sattwic behaviour
and keep the company of Sattwic people right from this early age. I often
observe that youngsters today join bad company the moment they enter the
school or college and continue to move about in the company of bad people.
With the result, they cultivate bad qualities, resulting in bad behaviour.
Frequently they are not even aware of the subtle changes taking place in
their behaviour towards elders, parents, teachers and society. They think
that they are on the right track, since they are pursuing education in a
good educational institution. The education they are pursuing may be good,
but the core of their heart is polluted due to bad company. Several bad
thoughts emanate in their mind even at a young age.
People often think that it is a natural phenomenon due to young age. I do
not at all subscribe to this view. It is not a natural phenomenon at all!
It is most unnatural. Since, you are partaking of bad food, you are having
bad thoughts. Hence, first and foremost, give up bad food. People who are
devoted to Swami, must join Satsanga. But, you are joining bad company
and, as a result, are developing bad thoughts. Once bad thoughts enter
your mind, none can drive them away. Hence, you have to cultivate good
thoughts, even before bad thoughts enter your mind.
Dear children!
There are several parents who are not concerned about the future of their
children. Either they are too busy pursuing their vocations or they are
helpless in supervising your behaviour. But, if you tread the right path
they will be most happy. On the other hand, if you are moving about in bad
company cultivating bad habits, resulting in bad behaviour, they will be
very sad and will be unable to share their distress or anguish with
anybody. Hence, it is your foremost duty to keep your parents happy. If
you want to keep your parents happy, you must tread the right path. So,
tread the right path and keep your parents happy. Only then will you be
able to cultivate good behaviour. There are three aspects in human life,
which are interlinked – the thoughts, behaviour and the end result. As are
the thoughts, so will be the behaviour and as is the behaviour, so will be
the result. Teachers expect good behaviour from their pupils. How is it
possible, when the students move about in bad company, eat wrong kind of
food and entertain bad thoughts? The end result is always bad in such a
situation. While taking bitter food, how can you experience sweetness? In
short, the Rajasic and Thamasic food that you consume is the root cause
for the bad thoughts that are entering your mind.
Dear students!
All of you must tread the right path. Even if your parents for any reason
offer you Rajasic and Thamasic food prepared in the home, you must explain
and convince them of the ill-effects of such food, saying, “Mother! If you
serve Rajasic and Thamasic food to me thus, I will only get bad thoughts.
This is not conducive to good behaviour on My part.” You must also
convince them of the need to prepare and serve Sattwic food to all members
of the family. Not only should you eat Sattwic food, you should also read
good books. Your entire life is dependent upon good food, good thoughts
and good company.
Dear students!
You should not read all sorts of trash like cheap novels, stories, etc.
Such trash will generate bad thoughts in you and pollute you mind. When
you go to a library, you should read the biographies of great and noble
people which will help to cultivate good qualities and good thoughts in
you. One reason for the pollution of young minds and proliferation of bad
thoughts in them is reading all sorts of cheap literature. In fact, it is
only the mind that is responsible for good or bad thoughts. That is why it
is said, Manaeva Manushyanam Karanam Bandhamokshayo (mind is responsible
for both bondage and liberation of man). Unfortunately, in these days it
is only cheap books that have become popular and acquired great
attraction. Good books have become a rare commodity. A question may arise
as to where one would get such good books. You go to good libraries of
institutions committed to the moral and spiritual uplift of humanity.
Frequently we come across people travelling in trains and buses purchasing
worthless books available in the railway platforms and bus stands and
reading them with absorbing interest. They may say that they are reading
them for whiling away the time. They do not realise how harmful those
books are in generating bad thoughts and polluting their minds. Hence, you
must always select books that contribute to your intellectual, moral and
spiritual development.
Embodiments of Love!
If you wish to cultivate good thoughts and good behaviour, you must read
good books. Several students today consider it a fashion to read cheap
literature that is available for a low price. With the result, cheap
thoughts and cheap behaviour are generated in them. They look for cheap
books and trash distributed free of cost. They woefully lack a sense of
discrimination to judge whether such writing is conducive to their moral,
spiritual and character development. They will, however, realise the
consequences of their action after their minds are totally polluted. Then
it will be too late for them to retrace their steps. It is only through
good books that good thoughts and good behaviour can be cultivated.
Dear students!
There are several other important aspects to be taught to you in these
three days which will enable you to cultivate noble thoughts and tread the
right path. I will teach several aspects in due course that will enable
you to cultivate pure thoughts.
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