No one can describe the nature of Divine love. It is beyond the reach of
even the best of poets. When one is still neck-deep in the water, one may
be able to say a few words. The one who is completely immersed in the
waters of Divine Love will be unable to speak anything about his
experience. Those who speak about God in the world do so only from a
superficial experience, but those who are wholly saturated with God's love
will find no words to describe their bliss. That is why the Vedas declare
that the Divine is beyond the reach of the mind and speech.
September 2, 2005
Some people entertain some newfangled ideas about Yoga (spiritual union),
Jnana (spiritual wisdom) and Sanyasa (renunciation). What is true Yoga?
Yoga is control of the vagaries of the mind. It is control of the senses.
One should treat alike both praise and censure, pleasure and pain. This
kind of self-restraint is Yoga. What is Jnana? Advaita Darshanam Jnaanam
(The Vision of the One without a second is the supreme knowledge). To
recognise the Ekatma-bhaava (the feeling that the same Atma dwells in all
beings) is Jnana. True Sanyasa is in the transformation of one's qualities
and not in the change of garb. The mind must change, not the apparel. A
true Sanyaasi (renunciant) is one who has attained mastery over all his
senses and has given up all desires. He is a Sanyaasi who seeks the feet
of the Lord, giving up all attachments to the body, which is subject to
disease and decay. He must treat life and death, pleasure and pain alike.
September 3, 2005
Health is the essential prerequisite for success in all aspects of life,
and for realizing the four ideals that guide human life - moral living,
prosperity, fulfilling beneficial desires and liberation from grief. Man
seeks to live happily and peacefully, but happiness and peace are not won
from worldly activities. The body that yearns to be healthy and secure is
subject to disease, decay and death. However, the Indweller, the Self,
within the body is not born nor does it die. The body is the temple of
God. Hence, it is the duty of man to keep the temple in good condition.
September 4, 2005
Which is the happiest day in one's life? All are happy days to a person of
Jnana (true knowledge). Happiness is a conscious internal experience which
is an effect of the extinction of all mental and physical desires. The
lesser the desires, the greater is the happiness. Therefore, perfect
happiness consists in the merger of all desires in the Absolute Being. The
mind has no independent identity of its own. It is a conglomeration of the
desires that sprout from the impulses. A cloth is essentially a bundle of
threads. Threads are basically spun from cotton. Similarly, desires arise
from basic impulses, and the mind is constituted of these desires. Just as
a piece of cloth disintegrates if threads in it are pulled apart, the mind
too can be destroyed by the eradication of desires.
September 5, 2005
Life is an experience meant to train the individual for a higher, deeper
and more expanded state of existence through the experience of the results
of one's actions. The aim of life is the attainment of complete perfection
by merging in the Absolute. It is dedication to the Lord that sanctifies
all activities. He is the raison d'etre for all activity; He is the
prompter, the executor, the giver of the required strength and skill, and
the enjoyer of the fruits thereof. So, dedication must come naturally to
you, for, all is His and nothing yours! Your duty is to believe that He is
the impeller of your activities, and draw strength from that belief. Just
as a bandage is necessary to protect the wound until it heals and new skin
grows, so too, until reality is realized, faith, company of the pious and
holy thoughts must be applied to the ego-affected mind.
September 6, 2005
Devotion should not be confined to the four walls of the shrine-room, or
the few minutes you perform Dhyana (meditation); it is a fulltime Sadhana
(spiritual discipline). Your devotion has to be expressed as worship of
everyone as living embodiments of Divinity. See God in every one, even in
persons whom you regard as your enemies. Practice this broad,
all-embracing Love. How can you derive happiness merely by showing love
and reverence to a stone idol that does not respond or reflect your
feelings? Living beings will return appreciation and gratitude and wish
you well. You can see joy glowing in their faces. That will confer
satisfaction on you. If you cannot teach yourself to love your fellowmen,
how can you follow the path of dedication to God?
September 7, 2005 - Ganesh Chaturthi
An elephant normally has two tusks. The mind too frequently comes up with
two alternatives: the good and the bad, the excellent and the expedient,
the fact and the fantasy that lures it away. However, in order to achieve
anything, the mind must become single-pointed. The elephant head of Lord
Ganesha, therefore has one tusk only, and hence Ganesha is called 'Ekadantha'
meaning the single-tusked one, to remind everyone that one must possess
single-pointedness of the mind.
September 8, 2005
Dharma and Jnana (right conduct and spiritual wisdom) are two eyes given
to man to discover his Divinity. Dharma indicates the right path which
every individual, group or society should follow. Dharma destroys the one
who violates it, and protects the one who protects it. The scriptures have
declared, "Where there is Dharma, there is Victory". There is no Dharma
greater than Truth. The edifice of Dharma is erected on the foundation of
Truth. Nyaya (justice) is an essential attribute of Dharma. An individual,
society or nation shines with glory only when justice is adhered to. Just
as one acquires wealth by the pursuit of one's profession, one must
acquire merit and Divine Grace by adhering to Neethi (morality) and
Dharma.
September 9, 2005
Man has made tremendous progress in science and technology. But, in the
field of spirituality, he is still unable to rid himself of narrow
cynicism, limited outlook, and the demonic hold of selfishness, pride,
envy and other evil traits. When we examine the basic cause for this state
of affairs, we discover that it is the consequence of egoism that has
struck deep roots in the heart of man. It has reduced man to the status of
a puppet. It pollutes his thoughts, words and deeds. It directs him to
gather and hoard material riches. It does not allow the Atma (Self) to
shine forth. When the veil of egoism is set aside, the Atma is revealed,
Jnana (wisdom) dawns and Ananda (Bliss) results.
September 10, 2005
We generally consider Pratyaksha Pramaana (proof of direct perception) as
the most important type of evidence. We are able to see our body and all
its parts; however, our mind is not visible. We are unable to comprehend
the Atma (spirit). Anumaana or inference is another form of proof. We see
smoke on the top of a distant hill. We infer from the smoke that there
must be a fire on that hill. Although we see only the smoke, we infer that
there is fire. To infer the existence of the 'unseen' from the presence of
what is 'seen' is Anumaana Pramaana (inferential proof). But, these
methods of determining facts are applicable only to the external universe.
For determining the Divine Principle, we must depend only on the Shabdha
Pramaana of the Vedas. We believe in the existence of the Atma on the
strength of the statements made by the great sages who have had the
experience of it and who have conveyed it through their teachings. When
the Divine is described as One without attributes, eternal, pure, free and
self-effulgent, this description will not make the Brahman (God) visible
to us. It is only when the state of Brahman is realized by us that its
existence becomes valid.
September 11, 2005
All subjects in the universe have three characteristics, which are derived
from the Divine. These are Asthi, Bhaathi and Priyam. These qualities are
also otherwise represented by the terms Sath, Chith and Ananda - Being,
Awareness and Bliss. The existence of an object is derived from 'Asthi'.
What it is and how it appears to our eyes, is known from 'Bhaathi'. That
it is a useful or enjoyable object is derived from the quality of 'Priyam'.
While these three are fundamental qualities, the forms and names may
change. For instance, a silver plate is capable of being converted to some
other article. Silver is fundamental; the value of the article is
dependent not on the form or the name of the article, but on the silver in
the article.
September 12, 2005
Sathya or Truth is realized by the Sadhana (discipline) of the tongue.
Dharma (righteous living) is realized by the Sadhana of the individual
through right conduct in relation to the society. Man can attain Shanti
(equanimity) by discipline of the mind. Prema (love) is beyond thought,
word and deed. To consider it as a manner of speech, an attitude of mind
or as physical trait is to demean it. Love is God. God is Love. The Divine
Love is not easily comprehensible. Love has no trace of selfishness; it is
not led by ulterior motives.
September 13, 2005
Prema (Love) should be like a mariner's compass. Wherever the compass may
be placed, the needle will point only to the north. Likewise, man's love,
in all circumstances, should be directed towards God. That alone is true
love. It should be unaffected by pleasure or pain. It makes no difference
between 'mine' and 'thine'. Love has to be acquired only through love and
not by any other means whatsoever.
September 14, 2005
The Upanishads declare: "Raso vai Sah" (God is the essence). This means
that God is present in subtle form everywhere, like sugar in sugarcane and
butter in milk. Although it is difficult to have a direct perception of
God, His presence can be experienced in many ways. The sweetness in sugar,
the sourness in lime fruit, the bitterness of the margosa leaf, all
testify to the presence of the Divine. When you see a mountain, waterfall
or forest, you feel happy. All these proclaim the presence of the Divine.
Light shines, the stars twinkle, the sun blazes, the planets revolve in
their orbits. All these phenomena are manifestations of the Divine. By
understanding the nature of flame, you can understand the nature of fire.
By examining a drop of water, you come to know the nature of the Ganges.
Likewise by understanding Maanavathvam (the true nature of humanness), you
can understand Daivathvam (Divinity).
September 15, 2005
The Bhagavad Gita does not intend that you should pluck a leaf or a flower
or a fruit from some plant or tree and place it before God. Nor does it
ask you to bring water from a well or a river or a roadside tap. The Leaf
that you have to offer is your own body, which like the leaf, sprouts
green, fades, and finally falls off from the branch. The Flower is the
heart freed from the pests of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, hate,
etc. The Fruit is the mind, the consequence of its yearnings, which have
to be dedicated to God. The Water is the stream of tears that flow from
the eyes when one is in ecstatic bliss at the contemplation of God's
glory. Offering these four is the real act of Sharanaagathi (total
surrender).
September 16, 2005
God is the embodiment of Love. Love is His nature. Just as God manifests
His love in the world, everyone should manifest his love. Prema (Love) has
been described as beyond speech and mind; it is said to be Anirvachaneeyam
(indescribable). This love cannot be got through scholarship, wealth, or
physical powers. God, who is the embodiment of love, can be attained only
through love, just as the effulgent Sun can be seen only through its own
light. There is nothing more precious in this world than Divine love. God
is Gunaatheetha (beyond all attributes). Hence, His love also is beyond
attributes. But, human love governed by Gunas (attributes) results in
attachment and aversion. Love should not be based on expectations of
reward or return. Love based on such expectations makes it a business
deal. Love is not an article of commerce. It is not like a lending a loan
and getting it back. It is a spontaneous offering. Pure love of this kind
can emanate only from a pure heart.
September 17, 2005
The Prakrithi (Creation) we see around us cannot give us happiness. It is
changing from moment to moment. The experiences Prakrithi gives us in the
waking state get obliterated in the dream state, and those of the dream
stage cease when we wake up from the dream. The dream experiences are our
creation. And so also the waking state experiences! What we see is nothing
but our own creation. The experience of the world is but a projection of
our mind and the reflection of our own inner thoughts. As is the thought,
so the vision. The colour of the glasses you wear determines the colour in
which things appear to you. If you wear red glasses, everything will
appear red. If you wear green glasses, everything will appear green. Pure
thoughts make the world appear as pure. If you view things with Prema
(love), with a loving heart, the whole creation will appear to you as a
reflection of Prema.
September 18, 2005
Mankind has progressed much in exploiting the material resources of the
earth in order to promote the standard of life. But, he has not learnt the
way to inner peace and contentment. Envy and greed have fouled the
relations between persons and nations, suppressing the awareness of the
Unity that underlies all Creation. The main cause of this calamitous
situation is rank egoism; each one tries to grab for himself whatever adds
to his power and comfort. The mind has desires as its warp and woof. When
desires are ego-oriented, time and effort are wasted; duty is neglected;
the body and its skills are misused. In order to restore peace to the
individual and in society, the mind has to be purged of its attachment to
the self.
September 19, 2005
Believe firmly that the body is the residence of God, that the food you
eat is the offering you make to your deity; that bathing is the ceremonial
bathing of the Divine Spirit in you; the ground you walk upon is His
domain; the joy you derive is His gift; the grief you experience is His
lesson that you tread the path more carefully. Remember Him at all times;
many people think of God only when grief overtakes them; of course, it is
good to do so; it is better than seeking the help of those who are also
equally liable to grief. But, it is infinitely better to think of God in
grief and in joy, in peace and strife. The proof of rain is in the wetness
of the ground; the proof of Bhakthi (devotion) is in the Shanti
(equanimity) the bhaktha (devotee) has, Shanthi which protects him against
the onslaughts of success and failure, fame and dishonour, gain and loss.
September 20, 2005
Prema (Love) is what the individual and the nation must cultivate for
progress. Love must transform all relationships - social, economic,
educational, professional, family, religious and others. The father must
love the child a little more intensely, the mother must spread more love,
children must respect the servants. The sense of equality and the
understanding that everyone is the repository of the divine essence must
transmute social and individual behaviour. What the world needs today is
the redeeming and unifying force of love - love which continually expands
and embraces more and more people. By giving up narrow ideas regarding
one's religion, nation or caste, by developing a broad outlook and
cultivating the company of the good, you can elevate your 1ife and make it
meaningful and satisfying.
September 21, 2005
Prema (Love) is what the individual and the nation must cultivate for
progress. Love must transform all relationships - social, economic,
educational, professional, family, religious and others. The father must
love the child a little more intensely, the mother must spread more love,
children must respect the servants. The sense of equality and the
understanding that everyone is the repository of the divine essence must
transmute social and individual behaviour. What the world needs today is
the redeeming and unifying force of love - love which continually expands
and embraces more and more people. By giving up narrow ideas regarding
one's religion, nation or caste, by developing a broad outlook and
cultivating the company of the good, you can elevate your 1ife and make it
meaningful and satisfying.
September 22, 2005
The word 'Dharma', which is really bound up with an infinite variety of
meanings, is regarded in common usage as referring to actions like
charity, performing good deeds, going on pilgrimages and discharging one's
duties, etc. But these relate only to external actions. Dharma is eternal,
the same for everyone, everywhere. It expresses the significance of the
inner Atma. The birth place of Dharma is the heart. What emanates from the
heart as a pure idea, when translated into action is Dharma. The true
Dharma of every human being is to make every endeavour to realize the
Divine; Dharma should lead to Self-realization.
September 23, 2005
Love is the form of the Divine. The first impulse that emanated from man
was Prema (Divine love). All other things came thereafter. Every child
that is born, immediately develops love for the mother. Every child tries
to recognize at the outset its mother and father. In the same manner,
every individual should recognise the land of his birth and his Samskrithi
(cultural heritage). One's nation and one's culture should be revered as
one's parents. The nation is one's mother. One's culture is the father.
This profound truth was proclaimed by Lord Rama when He declared: "Mother
and the Motherland are greater than Heaven itself".
September 24, 2005
Nature is a great preacher of spiritual truths. Consider, for instance, a
tree. It puts up with heat and rain, summer and winter, and all the harm
inflicted on it. It offers shade and fruits to whoever approaches it. It
has no feelings of hatred or vengeance towards those who cause injuries to
it. It seeks no return from those who benefit from it. Everyone should
learn this lesson in selfless service and forbearance from the tree.
Consider, next, the bird. The lesson it teaches is self-reliance. A bird
perched on the twig of a tree is not affected by the wild swaying of the
twig or the storm which might blow it off because it relies not on the
twig or tree but on its own wings for its safety. It knows it can always
fly away and save itself. The bird is always happy and carefree, sporting
as it pleases. Birds are not concerned about acquiring things for the
morrow. They are content to make the best of the present, living on
whatever they can get for the day.
September 25, 2005
There are two forms of Love. One binds you to God. The other binds you to
the world. The mind is responsible for either of these states. The mind
can be compared to a lock. If you turn the key to the right, the lock
opens. If you turn the key to the left, it gets locked. The heart is the
key to the lock of the mind. If you turn the key towards the world, you
have attachment and bondage; when you turn it towards God, you achieve
liberation. That is why, it has been declared that the mind is the cause
of human bondage or liberation. When it is filled with wisdom, it makes a
man a saint. When it is associated with ignorance, it turns into an agent
of death.
September 26, 2005
With faith in the omnipresence of the Divine, man should engage himself in
good deeds, cherish good thoughts and dedicate his life to good practices.
His words should be words of truth. The ornaments he should wear are the
necklace of truthful speech, the earrings of listening to sacred lore and
the bracelet of charity. Money is of the nature of manure. Piled up in one
place, it pollutes the air. Spread it wide, scatter it over fields, it
rewards you with a bumper harvest. So too, when money is spent for
promoting good works, it yields contentment and happiness in plenty.
September 27, 2005
Man has in him the capacity to grow into a pure Divine personality. But,
due to ignorance and waywardness, he has become stunted. He has chained
himself to low ideals and so, he has fallen into fear and grief. The
Upanishads exhort man to awaken and become master of himself - "Utthishtta,
jaagratha, praapya vaaraan nibodhatha!", (Arise, Awake and stop not until
the goal is reached!). Man is overcome by the sleep of ignorance and has
forgotten the true values of life. He is obsessed only with material
progress. Unless he is awakened to the spiritual values of life, there
cannot be any peace and prosperity in the world. Without spiritual basis,
even if men have eyes, they are blind; even if they have ears, they are
deaf; even if intellectually brilliant they are insane. Spirituality alone
confers true vision upon man and makes him complete.
September 28, 2005
Man is enamoured of wealth, spouse and children. These obstruct him at
each step and act as handicaps to spiritual advancement. Of course, money
is essential for the process of living and labouring for it cannot be
avoided. But, beyond a limit, riches foul the mind and breed arrogance.
They must be used for good purposes, fostering Dharma (righteousness) and
well-being, and fulfilling one's duties along the Divine path. If riches
are spent for realizing fleeting desires, they can never be enough and the
ego discovers newer and more heinous ways of earning and spending.
September 29, 2005
You wear coloured glasses and see everything through those glasses.
Correct your vision; the world will get corrected. Reform yourselves and
the world will get reformed. You create the world of your choice. You see
many, because you seek the many, not the One. Try to subsume the many in
the One - first the family, then the community, the state, the nation and
finally the the world. Thus, progressively march on towards more and more
inclusive loyalties and reach the stage of universality in thought, word
and deed. This is the Sadhana (spiritual endeavour) of Love, for, Love is
expansion. The individual has to be Universalised and expanded into
Vishwaroopa (the cosmic form of the Divine).
September 30, 2005
Broaden your heart and make it as magnanimous as that of God Himself. If
you look at a balloon, at first, it is flat. If you go on blowing air into
it, it becomes bigger and bigger, and at one stage it will burst. Though
beginning with the ideas of 'I' and 'mine', if you ultimately move on to
the stage where you realize that "all are mine", "all are one"; gradually
you will become broader in your vision and will merge in God who is
omnipresent. You should recognise the truth that man's life consists of
making the journey from the stage of 'I' to the stage of 'We'.