THE GREATEST GOOD

January 8, 2009

AFTER experience had taught me that all things which frequently take place in ordianry life are vain and futile, and when I saw that all the things I feared, and which feared me, had nothing good or bad in them save in so far as the mind was affected by them. I determined at last to inquire whether there was anything which might be truly good, and able to communicate itsw goodness, and by which the mind might be affected to the exclusion of all other things; I determined, I say, to inquire whether I might discover and attain the faculty of enjoying throught eternity continual supreme happiness… I could see the many advantages acquired from honor and riches, and that I should be debarred from acquiring these things if I wished seriously to investigate a new matter… But the more one possesses of either of them, the more the pleasure is increased, and the more one is in consequence encouraged to increase them; whereas if at any time our hope is frustrated, there arises in us the deepest pain. Fame has also this great drawback, that if we pursue it we must direct our lives in such a way as to please the fancy of men, avoiding what they dislike and seeking what pleases them…But the love towards a thing eternal and infinite alone feeds the mind with a pleasure secure from all pain…. The more the mind knows, the better it understands its forces and the order of nature; the more it understands its forces or strength, the better it will be able to direct itself and lay down the rules for itself; and the more it understands the order of nature, the more easily it will be able to liberate itself from useless things; this is the whole method.

AIM OF LIFE

November 25, 2008

HUMAN life has three stages: childhood,youth and old age. Generally, childhood is spent in playing, schooling etc. In youth, one is swayed by romantic dreams and old age is a reminder of death.

Human life is precious but man does not seem to be conscious of this fact. This is the reason why man wastes away his life in useless pursuits and when death knocks, he cannot but repent and the feeling of not having achieved the aim of life robs him of his peace of mind. Death is an irrefutable reality from which no living being can escape. The one, who is born, must die. If man is conscious of his death, he will make use of his time usefully. Those, who were conscious of the inevitability of death, not only realised the but also the Supreme Being who though pervades everywhere is invisible. But a God-devotee perceives Him in everyone and in all circumstances. He guides others by his words and deeds.

Life is short and its end unpredictable. Before we die, let us do something for which the people may remember us even after death.

Let us take a pledge to share sincerely the pain of others and own all, friends as well as foes. If we adopt these guiding principles, we shall be free from the fear of death and will be remembered as noble beings:

Lives of great men all remind us
we can make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind us
footprints on the sands of time.

SCIENCE AND SPIRIT

To-day the popular view is that the concepts relating to the spirit(soul) and God are simply brainwaves of the idealists and indolent folk. Soul and God are deemed as non-existent or an opiate for the layman and stumbling blocks in material advancement. Such a view is sheer ignorance and an illusion, because of lack of the true knowledge of soul and God. Doubtless, currently, the scientists have made miraculous discoveries and inventions. Consequently, man has to do little manual work. Everything is done by machines just by pressing a button. He should have enjoyed all-round bliss, in case material amenities could give him relief. Yet, with all such facilities at his disposal, man suffers from tension and turbulence. Why?

Scientific progress seems to be driving man towards death and destruction. Atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, nitrogen bombs and poisonous gases are all agents of death. That is why man has been terrified and perplexed by scientific advancement.

This, however,does not mean that scientific progress and inventions should be stopped. Nor that science should be opposed and deprecated. What is needed is that human and spiritual values, too, should bloom and blossom. But for these values, scientific development would be futile. The aforesaid values can be acquired only by the knowledge of God and soul. These values inculcate the spirit of brotherhood, love and humanism. With the dawn of consciousness of human brotherhood, the whole mankind would be deemed to be one family. Man would not then misutilise science for destruction, but use it for constructive and benevolent purposes.

Even the spiritual lore is a science. The science of God and soul necessitates the guidance by a specialist (an illumined seer) as any other field of human activity.

TRACK OF TRANSPARENCY

November 24, 2008

TRANSPARENCY is the characteristic hallmark of God. None has ever seen Him deviating from this track. Man is said to be the son and image of God. Yet the son has hardly missed any opportunity of going astray from the track of transparency. Why so? This is, indeed, a crucial question and a challenge for moralists, psychiatrists and sages. Man’s lapse in this realm is perhaps due to his defective nurture, breeding and education. Be that it may. The bitter fact, however, is that transparency is generally deemed as a heavy haul by the common man. On the other hand, duplicity and diplomacy are regarded as short-cuts to plenty, prosperity and prestige in this materialistic world of ours. Such an ideology is not without basis. In politics and business, particularly, duplicity is obviously a very handy instrument. It yields rich returns. It is an open sesame for advancement very soon. A person wedded to transparency, generally, remains deprived of high positions. He is dubbed as a simpleton. In business and commercial ventures, diplomacy and ‘duplimacy’ are considered as ‘must’ for success. In America and European countries, even this illusion no longer holds. Honesty and transparency are eventually accepted as magic mantras(words) as the best passports to prosperity. The gains accruing from duplicity even in politics and governance prove to be transitory. For, duplicity is synonymous with hypocrisy. And a hypocrite guy ultimately loses all credibility in professional and even in personal relationships.

Morally and spiritually, no words are adequate to denounce duplicity and exalt honesty or transparency. A person practicing double standards loses all reverence and even pupularity in society. He is hated as a depraved creature. A victim of duplicity, it would not be wrong to say, sells his soul for a few silver(now paper) coins. His life is devoid of bliss and beatitude in the current life as well as the next.

In case the high-ups and the ruling elite of various countries make transparency their guiding star, all awesome wars can be averted all over the world. In everyday life none is ultimately viewed as more contemptable than the person who is a habitual practitioner of duplicity.

In the realm of religion, there is no sin more heinous than duplicity or double deals. We should imbibe the teachings of God for transparency. This should be our beacon light and golden goal in the new millinnium. Thank God, the wave of transparency is gaining ground.

MIRROR OF TRUTH

MAN daily looks at his image in a mirror and cleans his face of stains. However, he never gets angry with the mirror for revealing his stains. Rather, he appreciates its truthfulness, so much so that if it is blurred, it is regarded as useless and thrown away.

In the society today, man hides his vices under the facade of piety. The society is not a mirror in which, it seems, the truth is meant to be understood and not spoken. History testifies that those who spoke the truth, were tormented, persecuted and even crucified. This epidemic has afflicted not only the political field but also homes. Even members of one and the same family hatch conspiracies against one another. It seem, it is a folly to speak the truth but wisdom to understand it. Tor this very reason, truth is sugar-coated so that it may not taste bitter or is woven in such words that one may relish it but not comprehend it!

To the truthful, couching truth in sweet words instead of stating it in plain and simple words may be irritating. However, compulsions of life make one fearful of the serious consequences. But the fact remains that the bitter truth is beneficial to the one who wishes to be truthful. But to the one, who evades it, mere sweet words may cause serious harm to him. That is why it is said that words of the wise benefit in the long run.

Man does not wish to take the risk of calling spade a spade though he may say that one should neither turn one’s face away from the truth, or nor side with the falsehood, nor spread evil. Similarly, there are others who contend that one should uphold and remain steasfast to the truth. Everyone wishes to be praised for raising slogans of truthfulness, but desires that not he but others may practise such virtues. He wishes someone else to hanged but himself be regarded as a Mansur.

Though man pretends to be truthful, he does not like others to know where he stands; he wishes to pass for a truthful person. Maybe, he sincerely wishes to shed his evil ways but does not accept himself to be an evil person; he even holds the society or bad company responsible for his evil ways.

Unmindful of what the world may say, those, who know the truth, uphold it at all costs. Those, who earnestly wish to safeguard the interests of the Mission, shall have to be mirrors to themselves for ushering in a healthy and happy future. Truth may be bitter, but it can be expressed in a way that it may taste sweet as well as be beneficial.

DESERT AND OASIS WITHIN

November 21, 2008

IN a dry dreary sandy desert,travellers are in need of a place where coolness in the form of water, shade, greenery, etc. can be availed of . Such a place in a desert is called oasis.

The desert and oasis as outside are also within a man. It is desert when man is at the materialistic plane and oasis when he is elevated to the spiritual plane.

When the soul is separated from the Super Soul and an individual is seeking happiness in the materialistic world, in the materiallistic goods and in the fulfilment of materialistic desires, a bonefire is burning within him, and more ambitious and so crazy is he in hankering after the fulfilment of his ever increasing desires that he becomes totally negligent towards the needs of his fellow-beings. He does not hesitate to cause harm even to his own selfish motives. The fire of hatred, jealousy, pride and ego, burning within, keeps him away from his him. However, once he seeks refuge in the True Master, who in his benevolence, introduces him to the omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God, his soul is re-united with the Super Soul, that is, God . Now he is filled with love for all and does not seek happiness at the cost of anyone. Rather, he loves and serves all humans as one family, for he has realised the Father of all humans, that is, God.

In sum, having descovered the oasis within, he serves as a oasis in the scorching worldly desert.

MANAGE YOURSELF

IN truth, majority of us cannot manage ourselves. Yet we regard ourselves as (competent) General Manager of the whole world. The human ego is so dominant and pervasive. We generally presume ourselves to be all-perfect. And all others made of imperfect stuff. It is plain commonsense: if we are not able to manage and elevate a single guy i.e. ourself, how can we elevate the errant millions? Here two pertinent maxims claim our attention:
1. Physician, heal thyself.
2. Teacher, teach thyself.

Our so-called General Managers would do well to embrace these two classic quotes. Prophets and savants were, however, able to transform their segments of the world by practising precisely what they preached. Let us manage ourselves to become prophets.

This reminds us of Vivekananda’s clarion call. The entire audience stood up and volunteered to play the role of ‘reformers’. Vivekananda, however, elucidated that he needed a band of reformers who would first reform themselves. No such volunteer was forthcoming.

The wayward world can surly be redeemed by a simple technique of three words. “Just manage yourself”, rather then managing the whole world. All wars, violence and heinous crimes erupt because of our failure to manage ourselves. The resultant destruction of our rich heritage of civilisation, culture and high values cannot be described in words. What is direly needed is a renaissance and resurrection of the hapless humanity. How? Simply, if every individual resolves to do so, the entire mankind will certainly be redeemed forthwith. The individual must re-manage and restructure himself in every sector. In home, in neighbourhood, in school, in college, in office, in shop, in field,factory and in legislatures and parliament, even. Religious institutions, too, will have to be streamlined for evolving supermen, who can manage themselves. They should refuse to be managed by wild passions.

Harmonious management of the self, is heaven itself. Haphazard management is nothing short of hell. Your good self have to make a choice and exercise the option discreetly. You must learn to discipline and manage your lower self strictly. The higher self will then regain its primal shine and bestow peace, bliss and beatitude on you.

TWO IMAGES OF TRUE MASTER

GENERALLY, when we visualize the True Master we feel he is only the body, clad in white and with a sweet smile on his face. It is true,but not all. The other image of the True Master is the omnipresent,omnipotent formless God. It is a blunder to think that our True Master is confined merely to his body. This blunder was committed by Sati, wife of Lord Shiva. When she saw Lord Rama wandering in the forest and wailing in separation of his wife, Sita, she thought that the divine play(Leela) of Lord Rama as a human being was real. Even after listening about the formless image of Lord Rama from her husband, she went to test Lord Rama in the guise of Sita. The result was disastrous. After this incident, Lord Shiva did not accept her as his wife. After all, she had assumed the form of the wife of his Lord Rama. Then she had to sacrifice her body in the saxred fire of her father. After this, she was re-born as Parwati and was able to win Lord Shiva as her husband after a great penance. This blunder was committed also by King Dashratha, the father of Lord Rama. He left for his heavenly abode due to separation of his son, Rama, uttering his name. But he could not attain salvation as he thought Rama merely his son, forgetting his other image. Goswami Tulsidas describes that his (Dashratha’s) soul appeared before Lord Rama when he was returning to Ayodhya after killing King Ravana. Then Lord Rama bestowed on him the vision of his formless image. Only then he was able to attain salvation.

So, my friends, let us not commit this blunder. According to Tulsi Das we should have Hiya Nirgum, Nainani Sagun i.e.formless image in our heart and bodily image in our eyes. The idol-worshippers, too, have this view. They tell us that the idol they worship is not a mere idol; its true nature is omnipresent God. That is why famous great saints and poets of our Bhakti Period such as Tulsidas, Sur Das, Raskhan, Nand Dass, etc. while narrating the divine play(Leela) reminded us again and again that their hero is omnipresent and omnipotent God. Lord Rama and Lord Krishna revealed their formless image to their mothers besides others.

Describing his formless image, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna:
I provide the whole universe in formless form.

Further, warning those who think him to be confined merely to the body, Lord Krishna says:

The foolish show me disrespect considering me confined merely to the body.

Let us beware of this blunder, many times that there is not the least difference between the True Master and God. A few friends here raised an objection that, if our True Master is the formless God, why does he not perform miracles as Lord Krishna had done. My humble submission is that the greatest miracle is the change of heart: one can find an officer touching the feet of his peon with love and reverence. It shows that his heart has given up pride and has become pure. In the form of his peon he visualises God. In selfless service(Seva) we, generally, find very wealthy persons, who lead a luxurious life, levelling the ground with a spade, or carrying buckets full of dust on their heads. None can doubt their selflessness. A few days ago I met a friend of mine who told me that in America, he went to see one of his relatives who was not happy to see him. He considered him (the guest) as a burden, though outwardly pretending love and respect.

OF MAN AND HIS PURSUITS

November 18, 2008

IT is commonly believed that among all living beings, man is the darling of God, because He has created him in His own image.

Commonly, man has four dimensional character. His four dimensional character is that of a creator, a possessor, a destroyer and a betrayer. As a creator, he has created culture and civilisation. As a possessor, he is exceedingly possessive of his ego, self-interests and his family. As a destroyer, he has created weapons of mass destruction. As a betrayer, he can go to any extent of betrayal.

The psychology of man cannot say anything conclusively about the character of man, because his character is paradoxically a strange blend of good as well as bad elements. As a result, his behaviour remains unpredictable. Among all living beings, man is the only one who can wear any mask and can go to any extent of his capability of being and becoming. Therefore, among all living beings, he can become humblest of all; the brutest of all; the dullest of all; the wisest of all; the meanest of all and the happiest of all.

Despite his all ills, weaknesses and failings, man remains the best of all living beings. All living beings live by instinct, but it is only man who lives but not by instinct alone. He lives by intellect, too. It is only man who has the urge to be perfect, the curiosity to know, the humanity to be humane and, above all, the spirit to be spiritual. Therefore, he remains the darling of God. All living beings are more or less the seekers of pleasure. However, it is only man who is not only the seeker of pleasure but also the seeker of knowledge. Thus, the two pursuits of man are the pursuit of seeking knowledge. The main difference between these two pursuits is that the pursuit of seeking pleasure never leads man to the ultimate pleasure. But the pursuit of seeking knowledge can sooner or later, lead man to the Ultimate Truth.

In this world of carnalities and physicalities, no pleasure is ultimate; so man never experience ultimate satisfaction. He always has a void of dissatisfaction which remains resounding with constant longing.

On the other hand, man engaged in the pursuit of knowledge gets the layers of his ignorance removed one after the other and, in the process, he is able to arrive at the Ultimate Truth-A State of Perfection and Fulfillment.

CREATION AND PERCEPTION

THE existence and non-existence of God has been much talked about. Some believe in His existence, while some do not. For the one, who believes in the existence of God, He exists and for others, He does not. In this sense, God equally exists and does not exist. However, on realising God, one perceives and feels the presence of Formless(God) in each and every form. God’s existence or non-existence is not so pronounced as the existence of His creation. Scientist have made known the properties of air, water, etc. because these existed in the creation. Similarly, the existence of the creation leads to the belief and faith in the existence of its Creator.

Human body is composed of five (basic) elements. Man imbibes both good and evil, which are opposite to one another. However, it is our common experience that a suffering person is endowed with patience and endurance and a penniless one’s ambitions are within limits. Again, there exists a vast reservoir of water under the earth. The sun sucks the water spread all over the earth and showers it in the form of rain for the growth of vegetation. Yet, water is so distributed on the earth that it is available in the required quantity where it is needed, otherwise we would have witnessed the devastation caused by floods. Further, as soon as a child is born, it knows how to suck milk and its mother becomes lectescent. When it grows and can digest solids, the breast-milk automatically dries up. Similarly when man breathes, he exhales carbon dioxide, which trees and plants absorb and, in return, release oxygen for his survival. This shows a wonderful partnership and hormony between the living beings and the plants. God’s greatness and grace lies in fulfilling the needs of everyone, including those who deny His very existence. And, if accepting His existence, one praises God, one may experience mental peace but is not bestowed any special favour by Him.

From the foregone discussion it is clear that God is neutral and His laws are eternal: unmoved by argument, recommendation, friendship or enmity. He is unique and so are His divine laws. Even in human form, He is formless. To unravel this truth, Formless(God) manifests Himself in the human from(Satguru), from time to time, so that humanity may realise Formless form the form. Even if none does so, the divine laws continue to operate uninterruptedly.

It is, therefore, imperative that if one is inspired by anyone to realise one’s real self, one should not waste even a single moment to surrender to the Satguru or True Master to be integrated with one’s real infinite self, and, perceiving the creation with the divine perception enjoy abiding peace, bliss and happiness.

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