Of Passion and Compassion

We know what passion is hence it is not very difficult to understand what compassion may be Passion means a state of biological fever - it is hot. You are almost possessed by biological unconscious energies. You are no longer your own master, you are just a slave.

Compassion means you have transcended biology and physiology. You are no more a slave, you are master. Now you function consciously. You are not driven, pulled and pushed by unconscious forces; you can decide what you want to do with your energies. You are totally free. Then the same energy that becomes passion is transformed into compassion.

Passion is lust, compassion is love. Passion is desire; compassion is desire-less-ness. Passion is greed, compassion is sharing. Passion wants to use the other as a means; compassion respects the other as an end unto himself or herself. Passion keeps you tethered to earth, to mud and you never become a lotus. Compassion makes you a lotus. You start rising above the muddy world of desires, greed and anger. Compassion is a transformation of your energies.

Ordinarily you are scattered fragmentary. Some energy is being absorbed by your anger, some by your greed, by your lust, and so on. You are left hollow, empty.

All your energy keeps on going down the drain. When all these energies are no longer being wasted they start filling your inner lake, your inner being. You become full. A great delight arises in you. When you start overflowing you have become a Buddha and you have come upon an inexhaustible source.

Compassion is a key word, but you will understand it only if you go deep into meditation. Meditation is the key to transform passion into compassion. You will have to become more conscious. Right now you are unconscious.

We live like robots…. The more like a robot you are the better you function, the better the society feels with you - because it is a society of robots. To be awakened, alert, and conscious is dangerous. It is a society of blind people; to have eyes, to become.

Socrates says, "If you know that you don't know, that is a great beginning. Then it is possible for you to know". To be aware that "I am ignorant" creates the possibility of seeking searching in your own interiority for the truth - for your truth.

Compassion is the ultimate transformation of passion. You are in passion, but you go on thinking that you are right as you are. You go on defending yourself. And anything that disturbs your comfortable, mechanical life, you go against…

When you come to me you don't come to be awakened, you come to me so that you can dream beautiful, sweet dreams. That is your purpose in coming; that is not my purpose in being here. Once you are here you are caught. Then, slowly, slowly I start taking your dreams away. Then slowly, slowly I go on destroying your illusions. Once your illusions are dropped, your dreams shattered, a great awakening is waiting you for you - a great awakening which makes you a Buddha. And compassionate. 

Make Human Life Meaningful

Meaning: According to the Athervaved 2/11/4 — "O men! To make this human life meaningful, obtain knowledge; be bright to physically strong; instead of being satisfied with your present situation, and try to progress further.

Message: In the ancient times when the disciples left their Guru's hermitage, the Guru used to advise them, "Satyam Veda, Dharmum chara, Swadhayanum pramadaha" which means, speak the truth, tread the religious path, and never neglect self-study. This advice is appropriate also because howsoever much one had acquired the knowledge, but if it is not revised again and again, then over a period of time it becomes useless. It does not do to scrub and wash the utensils once only. The atmosphere tarnishes them. To keep them clean and useful, they have to be scrubbed and washed daily. Similarly if knowledge is not made profound by self-study, then layers of ignorance start shrouding it and without revision, it gets lost from memory.

The best book for self-study is the Veda. One meaning of Veda is 'gyan' (i.e. knowledge). Knowledge is the soul of God and is timeless and endless. The collection of the knowledge acquired by sages with great insight through severe austerities is the Vedas.  The knowledge of all the art, skills, science, political, strategy, religious, tenets and morality is collected in the Vedas. The Vedas have the capacity to throw new light on any subject of the past, present or future.

Through self study we acquire the knowledge of the solution to the various problems arising in human life. Self-study does not mean parrot-like repetition of books or a display of such learning. Endless and unknown meanings of even simple words manifest, before us when we contemplate on the thoughts of great men in the books. The best way of worship of knowledge is through self-study only.

Who will talk today about self study of great religious books, when even the books meant for a particular subject are not completely taught in the schools with the excuse of lack of time in completing the syllabus? The teacher himself does not read the book or the subject thoroughly and most students are also not interested in any way. They buy the guide-book solely for the purpose of passing the examination; cram a few questions-answers or resort to copying in the exams. If they pass the examination, then it is alright. Most teachers have turned education into mere business. They teach only that which is necessary for passing in the examination. The teachers themselves do not have more knowledge than that. If there is no water in the well, how can the bucket are filled? Such a situation mostly prevails. The result of this itself is that there is less knowledge and more ignorance in the society. This also is a reason for the corruption which has spread everywhere.

The activity of self-study is declining day by day. People have no dearth of money. They have purchased plenty of gadgets and facilities for comforts. One will find gadgets from all over the world in their homes, but hardly can good books be seen in any home. Nowhere today the proper atmosphere of self-study is to be found. In reality, good books have an extraordinary place in human-life. The humanness of men is collected in such books. Such good books provide culture, good advice and teach the discretion between truth and untruth. They increase man's joy in his happy times and in his times of grief; they provide the balm of sympathy in various ways and reduce his sorrow. If studied properly and with concentration, then they increase man's luster and sharpen mental faculties.

With 'swadhaya' man's character shines like gold, good qualities increase and the person is freed from bad tendencies. With the realization of facts, one develops an automatic dislike for bad habits and addictions. As a result, physical health improves and peace and happiness increase. Man becomes bright and lustrous with better mental faculties and more influencing ability.

Man's greatest treasure is his character. Its protection is more valuable than the protection of our own life. Only that person achieves fame by reaching the life's objective, who succeeds in protecting his treasure, that is, character.

Learned People Never Quarrel and Gives us Right Path.

Meaning: According to the line of Athervaved 3/30/4 — "The learned people never quarrel or indulge in jealousy and malice. Study of good literature is required to make man's thinking appropriate."

Message: The world is full of men with different streams of thought. Each one's method of assessing a situation, arriving at a conclusion and then acting on its basis is different. It is not at all necessary that every man's thinking is in agreement with ours and that he will act accordingly. Jealousy and malice are born out of conflicts in thinking only. What follows is criticism and counter criticism, increasing bitterness and difficulties in the road of progress. People slander each other as a result of obstinate insistence for their vain knowledge, vain pride, vain talk and falsehoods. The mind becomes malicious because of frequent slander and with repeated talking about others' bad tendencies; those very bad tendencies crop up in the slanderer also.

Spiritually inclined people must completely give up malice to make their material lives happy. Where there is malice, there is jealousy, arrogance and enmity, which create doubts and gear. It is necessary to free our hearts from malice. Love gives rise to love and despise creates despise. Only the atmosphere of love is the happy alternative of freedom from fear.

For freedom from fear and for proper organization, happiness and peace in the society, men who are always busy in their jealousies and malice, who create everywhere an atmosphere of quarrel, must be despised. Such men because of their selfishness, continuously exploit others, keep them trapped in arguments and quarrels and try to humiliate them.

Only the study of good books has the power to inspire man's thinking for treading the path beneficial to all. Men develop real knowledge and their difference of opinion gets dissolved and their thinking gets in the right direction. Through self-study the cobwebs of false thinking and false-beliefs get removed, the hunger of intelligence for proper guidance is satisfied and mental excellence gets enhanced. It develops the feeling of generous cooperation in the society, and doubts and fears are replaced by deep love and trust and the mutual feeling of brotherhood is increased. Swadhaya is like the 'kalpavruksh' (the wish granting tree in the Nepalese religious lore). Sitting under this kalvavruksh-like tree of self-study, one's desires are fulfilled, all worries are dispelled and life becomes pleasant and filled with moral simplicity. Through self-study we get the benefit of satsang (the good company) of learned men who were the ornaments of this earth. Through their books, our contact is established with them and we get a feeling that we are actually talking with them and they are solving our difficulties and showing us the right path.

Just like our daily prayers, we must also include self-study in our daily routine. This is the key formula for every individual to walk in the righteous path…..

Learn From Learned Person

Meaning:  According to the line of Rigved 1/90/3, — "Let us learn only from those who are learned and doing good deeds. One should always keep away from men of bad nature. Every man's salvation lies in this only."

Message: In our country, the public has a lot of faith in monks, saints and learned people; therefore, it is also the responsibility of these respected persons to contribute in return for the faith response in them. In the days past, the people of this class used to give the total benefit of their high character, great knowledge and generous spirit of service to the public and used to be so selfless as to leave the worry of food and clothing to God. This class of people used to utilize a part of their time in God's worship, reading scriptures, increasing knowledge and purification of the soul, and spend the greater part of their time in helping the public for progress in material and spiritual life. That itself was the 'rishidharma' or the tradition of the rishis (sages) in doing their duty for the societal uplift. Materially and spiritually. The learned souls and saints used to consider themselves duty-bound for this pious work. The increased willpower and increased power of knowledge was required not for self but for doing maximum important work for public-welfare. A vast army of social workers was available in the form of monks, saints and learned people. People used to venerate such reality useful and generous minded person.

Today the situation has become very hostile. If the ignorant public forget their duties, it may be pardonable, but if the symbol of Nepal's soul, the learned class, strays from the right path, it is indeed unfortunate. The rishis had not established this class to obtain anyhow money and benefits. Today these people are mostly busy in looting the public instead of making available the benefit of their knowledge to the people without any fee. Now they have become arrogant in thinking it as their birth right to rob ignorant people. To grab gratis is a sin greater than stealing.

Of course, we are fortunate that today also there are learned men whose thinking, enthusiasm, worthiness and sense of service are still alive. Only by their good efforts, the ancient glory will be maintained and the people's faith will also be strengthened further. The aim and objective of the life of these learned persons is only one, that is to employ all their worth and capacity for uplifting the thinking of the public and for increasing good activities in the society. This country worn-out, tattered by bad social-customs and immortal and wicked activities requires radical thinking at every step. For that, many efforts, educational, constructive and struggleful, will have to be made. On their basis, concrete and beneficial efforts can be possible for human-welfare.

This work can be carried out by sentimental and learned people only. their conduct must be excellent, they should carry out excellent deeds, and inspire every class of the society to adopt good qualities and trade the path of excellence.

The line of Sanskrit Sloke is —

Te asmabhayum sharma

yansannamrutaa martyebhayaha

baadhamaanaa apa dwishaha. (Rigved 1/90/3)

Apply All Good Moral in the Conduct

Meaning: According to the line of Rigved 10/71/4 — "One who hears good advice but not imbibe it in one's conduct is like a blind and deaf person."

Message: Rishis Parampara (the tradition of sages) is the main basis of Nepalese culture. The society consists of both intelligent and unintelligent persons. Every man is not able to read and write nor can a literate person be able to understand the real meaning in the scriptures, whereas the rishis used to spend their entire lives in studying and acquiring knowledge. Every time while thinking and contemplating they used to worry about the fulfillment of the mental needs of man. The religious heads and the learned ones have always very seriously and eagerly made an analysis of the human mind. By finding out the solution to unfavorable situations according to the requirement of the time, they have saved man from wandering in the darkness. Religious programs used to be conducted with this aim at pilgrimage centers and other convenient places. In these meetings people used to be given guidance through discourses, to enable them to be free from their difficulties. This knowledge used to give so much capability to the listeners, that it enabled them to discard their bad tendencies and fill the gap with good qualities and make their lives excellent.

This tradition is alive today also. The aim in the religious programs and discourses in institutions, temples etc is this only. These discourses are not mere debates, but meant for implementing into one's conduct. The learned and knowledgeable sages by their own deep thinking, contemplation and experiments have found out the truth and kept before the audience what is useful for them. If we doubt them, then we are making ourselves laughable only.

But today the situation is somewhat like this, that the more ignorant a man, the more he wants to show himself as intelligent. He does not like to hear anything good at all. Even though the advice is from the parents or a learned saint, he thinks it insulting to listen to it and act accordingly he ridicules them.

No intelligent person can have any opposition to the spiritual principles of religion given to us by our ancient sages. What is religion? It is nothing but a collection of moral rules only. Without practicing these rules, neither man's personal nor his social life can go on properly. Only by not observing these rules, man's life gets disturbed. If these rules are practiced properly, then man's life will be full of peace, joy and goodwill. Where these rules are not adhered to, the atmosphere of sorrow, quarrels and mental-disturbance prevails.

The discourses of saints fulfill this aim (of bringing peace, joy and goodwill in man's life), but it is our misfortune that like the blind and the deaf we do not pay any attention to it and lose the golden opportunity for self-progress.

Putting into our conduct the good advice of religious discourses must become a part of our nature.

Oota tvaha pashyanna dadarsha vaachamuta

tvaha shrunvanna shrunotyenaam (Rigved 10/71/4)

Pleasantness in Speech, Dealing and Action

Meaning: According to Athervaved 1/34/3 — "All people love him whose speech, dealings and actions re pleasant. Only they do good deeds and oblige others in the world whose nature is pleasant."

Message: Pleasantness, gentleness and humility are the characteristics of excellent men. As against that, people of mean activities are always hard and of harsh speech. Generous people, with a tendency to help others, are also very polite. Just as the fruit-laden branches of a tree hang downwards, clouds filled with water come downwards, similarly those who are excellent and obliging they are not proud of their wealth or luxuries and are always polite. One in whose heart there is the feeling of divine spirituality for every life; his dealings are also polite and pleasant. He always makes an effort not to cause pain or unhappiness to anyone.

Many people have that false belief that harsh behavior or harsh is more impressive and gives an impression about their greatness. But if we give it a little thought, and experiment a little, then we find out that instead of harsh words, sweet and pleasant words influence more. There is very great capacity in pleasantness. Only because of the lack of capacity and self-confidence, people use harsh words and try to cover up their defects by falsely accusing others. People who are untruthful and who possess false beliefs get joy and fulfillment in obscene and harsh speech. Unfortunately today harshness and obscenity are getting into literature also. Harsh words influence somewhat temporarily, people may obey such words out of fear, but behind their back, speak ill of them. Although people get their work done with harsh words and egoistically move around in a vulgar manner, they are not able to understand that their respect has been undermined. No doubt, harsh words are occasionally necessary. Sometimes we have to resort to harshness to bring children, those working under us or bad men, on the good path, but the use of harsh words should be with discretion.

Gentleness does not mean weakness. To say 'yes' to whatever the other person says, sycophancy and cleverness cannot be termed pleasantness. It is worth observing the pleasantness and humility when people come to request for vote or for donations, but anyone can understand how much truth lies in it! A thug and hypocrite also use very sweet language, but can we really call it pleasantness?

Real pleasantness lies in conduct, not only in speech. We find the ideal of pleasantness in the character of Shri Krishna, the incarnation of God. Whether it is play as a child, or raasleela (dancing), recalling childhood lovingly with Sudama or battlefield, political negotiations or the use of 'sudarshan chakra' (the ultimate weapon), we find everywhere a harmonious blend of pleasantness and harshness. He is pleasant In all respects hence the Sanskrit couplet from Madhurashtaka:

Vachanam madhuram, charitam madhurum, vasanam madhuram, lalitam madhuram, chalitam madhuram, bhramitam madhuram, madhuradhipate rakhilam madhuram.

Pleasantness in Speech, Dealing and Action

Meaning: According to Athervaved 1/34/3 — "All people love him whose speech, dealings and actions re pleasant. Only they do good deeds and oblige others in the world whose nature is pleasant."

Message: Pleasantness, gentleness and humility are the characteristics of excellent men. As against that, people of mean activities are always hard and of harsh speech. Generous people, with a tendency to help others, are also very polite. Just as the fruit-laden branches of a tree hang downwards, clouds filled with water come downwards, similarly those who are excellent and obliging they are not proud of their wealth or luxuries and are always polite. One in whose heart there is the feeling of divine spirituality for every life; his dealings are also polite and pleasant. He always makes an effort not to cause pain or unhappiness to anyone.

Many people have that false belief that harsh behavior or harsh is more impressive and gives an impression about their greatness. But if we give it a little thought, and experiment a little, then we find out that instead of harsh words, sweet and pleasant words influence more. There is very great capacity in pleasantness. Only because of the lack of capacity and self-confidence, people use harsh words and try to cover up their defects by falsely accusing others. People who are untruthful and who possess false beliefs get joy and fulfillment in obscene and harsh speech. Unfortunately today harshness and obscenity are getting into literature also. Harsh words influence somewhat temporarily, people may obey such words out of fear, but behind their back, speak ill of them. Although people get their work done with harsh words and egoistically move around in a vulgar manner, they are not able to understand that their respect has been undermined. No doubt, harsh words are occasionally necessary. Sometimes we have to resort to harshness to bring children, those working under us or bad men, on the good path, but the use of harsh words should be with discretion.

Gentleness does not mean weakness. To say 'yes' to whatever the other person says, sycophancy and cleverness cannot be termed pleasantness. It is worth observing the pleasantness and humility when people come to request for vote or for donations, but anyone can understand how much truth lies in it! A thug and hypocrite also use very sweet language, but can we really call it pleasantness?

Real pleasantness lies in conduct, not only in speech. We find the ideal of pleasantness in the character of Shri Krishna, the incarnation of God. Whether it is play as a child, or raasleela (dancing), recalling childhood lovingly with Sudama or battlefield, political negotiations or the use of 'sudarshan chakra' (the ultimate weapon), we find everywhere a harmonious blend of pleasantness and harshness. He is pleasant In all respects hence the Sanskrit couplet from Madhurashtaka:

Vachanam madhuram, charitam madhurum, vasanam madhuram, lalitam madhuram, chalitam madhuram, bhramitam madhuram, madhuradhipate rakhilam madhuram.

Fight Against the Difficulties

Meaning: According to the Athervaved 20/5/3 — "Let us be powerful so that we can fight whatever obstacle coming in the path of progress.

Message: God has created this world not only for us. Innumerable living beings are partners in it. There are facilities and satisfaction for everyone as also innumerable difficulties, for which physical and mental efforts are required to solve them. It is impossible that all situations be created as we wish them to be and every person should do as we desire. The heat of sunlight and the cool shade of the trees, day and night, suitability and unsuitability, everything is here only. Life would be uninteresting if we never had to face difficulties, unsuitable circumstances and failures. Competition and progress are the special qualities of human life, and because of them only, life becomes interesting. Life can be made joyous only with the development of competition, diligence, understanding insight, and balance of mind. Progress is possible only by struggling with situations. Difficulties, shortages, unsuitable circumstances and conflicts have been created for the purpose of the development of man's capacity and insight so that he can collect in his treasury the willpower and the strength of mental sharpness.

But most men become upset with slight difficulty in their lives. With ordinary obstacles or failures, they become disturbed and run away from homes or even commit the sin of suicide. The feeling of disappointment increases their difficulties even more. Many people even make their present painful by imagining the difficulties that may come in the future.

A man entering any field of work sometimes takes advantage of a situation, and sometimes faces opposition too. The situation of those jumping with joy when they benefit and crying when they suffer loss, is pitiable indeed. They do not get the joy of displaying their capacity and firmness in this struggleful world. Only they achieve success in this struggle, who posses willpower along with other powers. In the absence of discretion, mere physical strength creates only problems for a person. Only a constructive use of power is beneficial for all.

We must keep high hopes for success and dream of the success of our ambitions, but must also be ready to struggle smilingly against worst situations. Whatever the adversity of the situation, we must save ourselves from impulsive action, and never lose mental balance. Failures help to increase our will power by challenging our patience, courage, balance of mind, manliness, and discretion. We can actually feel for ourselves the tremendously pleasant taste of success, and the joy of the income from the sweat of our brow.

The strength itself for struggling against difficult circumstances sharpens our mental faculties, and makes us bright and authoritative.

Indra prehi purastvam

vishyasyeshaan ojasaa

vrutraani vratruhum jahi.

          (Ahervaved 20/5/3)

Faithful Deeds

Meaning: The line of Rigved 10/151/1 states that — "Only the deeds performed with faith have the capability of achieving the goal. Therefore a man should be full of faith".

Message: Faith is the basis of human life. There is great inspiring power hidden in it. Nothing is possible without solid support. If someone wants to take a jump, the ground from where he wants to jump, must be firm. If it is hollow, granular or muddy, the jumper will fall down, and cannot reach the goal. The support must be strong. The support for water, i.e. its container must not be cracked. The stand for the pot must not be wobbly, and the ground must not be slopping or slanting. Similarly if we want to hang something on the wall, the peg must be strong, otherwise the peg will break and the material will fall down. In the same way, faith also must be traditionally strong and by observing, identifying and testing it, its due (important) place must be fixed.

A person, who wants to learn swimming, is at first afraid of entering the water. The teacher gives him an assurance that he will not allow him to drown and asks him to jump, but the learner does not develop faith. He has more faith in the rope kept for practicing, so he gets done into the water while holding the rope. Gradually he gives up holding the rope and becomes bold to move his hands and legs. The teacher helps him and takes care to see that he does not drown. So after a few days his faith is transferred from the rope to the teacher. Then he becomes free from worry and jumps into the water with full faith in his teacher. Let any one call it blind-faith, but nobody can shake his faith in the teacher. Similarly those who have faith in the existence of God, they have this faith every moment that He will help their passage from this world and will not allow them to sink.

Faith, trust and love are the three steps of progress. Everything is possible with faith. Trust makes difficult things easy, and love makes them the easiest. Those who practice these three qualities, their path become free from difficulties and hardships. A person with faith finds that his every task gets performed with ease. When the faith becomes firm, it protects us like our own benevolent mother in every situation.

We too must keep the flame of faith burning. We cannot take even one step forward. Let our life be fully soaked in faith. Our prayers should be with faith, meals with faith, charity with faith and attending religious discourses should also be with faith. Whatever work we do we do with full faith. When there is faith in the work, there is concentration also. That develops a liking for the work. The possibility of smoothness in carrying out the work increases in whatever work is done with mental involvement. Just as the rays of the sun can be converged on a point with a lens and fire can be lights, similarly through the medium of faith, all the powers of the mind can be concentrated. The power obtained with faith makes every task easy

Make faith the basis of your character.

Shraddhayaagnihi samidhyate

shraddhaaya huyate havihi

shraddhaam bhagasya moordhani

vachasaa vedayaamasi (Rigved 10/151/1)

Faithful Deeds

Meaning: The line of Rigved 10/151/1 states that — "Only the deeds performed with faith have the capability of achieving the goal. Therefore a man should be full of faith".

Message: Faith is the basis of human life. There is great inspiring power hidden in it. Nothing is possible without solid support. If someone wants to take a jump, the ground from where he wants to jump, must be firm. If it is hollow, granular or muddy, the jumper will fall down, and cannot reach the goal. The support must be strong. The support for water, i.e. its container must not be cracked. The stand for the pot must not be wobbly, and the ground must not be slopping or slanting. Similarly if we want to hang something on the wall, the peg must be strong, otherwise the peg will break and the material will fall down. In the same way, faith also must be traditionally strong and by observing, identifying and testing it, its due (important) place must be fixed.

A person, who wants to learn swimming, is at first afraid of entering the water. The teacher gives him an assurance that he will not allow him to drown and asks him to jump, but the learner does not develop faith. He has more faith in the rope kept for practicing, so he gets done into the water while holding the rope. Gradually he gives up holding the rope and becomes bold to move his hands and legs. The teacher helps him and takes care to see that he does not drown. So after a few days his faith is transferred from the rope to the teacher. Then he becomes free from worry and jumps into the water with full faith in his teacher. Let any one call it blind-faith, but nobody can shake his faith in the teacher. Similarly those who have faith in the existence of God, they have this faith every moment that He will help their passage from this world and will not allow them to sink.

Faith, trust and love are the three steps of progress. Everything is possible with faith. Trust makes difficult things easy, and love makes them the easiest. Those who practice these three qualities, their path become free from difficulties and hardships. A person with faith finds that his every task gets performed with ease. When the faith becomes firm, it protects us like our own benevolent mother in every situation.

We too must keep the flame of faith burning. We cannot take even one step forward. Let our life be fully soaked in faith. Our prayers should be with faith, meals with faith, charity with faith and attending religious discourses should also be with faith. Whatever work we do we do with full faith. When there is faith in the work, there is concentration also. That develops a liking for the work. The possibility of smoothness in carrying out the work increases in whatever work is done with mental involvement. Just as the rays of the sun can be converged on a point with a lens and fire can be lights, similarly through the medium of faith, all the powers of the mind can be concentrated. The power obtained with faith makes every task easy

Make faith the basis of your character.

Shraddhayaagnihi samidhyate

shraddhaaya huyate havihi

shraddhaam bhagasya moordhani

vachasaa vedayaamasi (Rigved 10/151/1)

Faith Makes the Sentiment of Dedication

Meaning: In the line of Rigved 10/151/3 gives us the instruction about sentimental dedication. According to the Mantra — "The sentiment of dedication is produced towards the country, race, caste and culture when there is faith in the heart for them. Only faith has that strength to produce solid dedication for any work."

Message: No deed in this world can be carried out without the flame of faith and no renunciation, nor sacrifice can be made without faith. For any achievement, some sort of renunciation or sacrifice is necessary. Whatever direction we wish to progress, we should always be ready for self-sacrifice. The objective for which sacrifice is to be made, that objective should always be within our mind. It is not possible without faith.

Faith and intelligence are not mutually opposite. Some people make innumerable types of arguments to prove faith as blind-trust of fools and unintelligent people. But in reality faith becomes firm with arguments and intelligence, and intelligence develops with faith. Life becomes meaningful with faith, it gets a direction, and it takes a definite turn. Gradually such a person's level of quality rises. With such qualities as responsibility towards his trade, profession, industriousness, humility, abnegation, life blooms again. Once this ripple of faith is produced, it spreads in the entire society. What did our sages and saints do? They have sowed the seeds of faith in the society. Only that produced good qualities which produced an all-round development of the society. With the establishment of faith in every part of the society, a vast disciplined power manifests and the nation achieves happiness, prosperity and supremacy.

A man without faith is full of doubts, skepticism and anxiety. Today in all the fields like the nation, religion and culture only worry, instability, failure, dejection and sorrow prevail. The hearts of the people have become like the dead, and the bodies have become lethargic. The entire society is being attracted towards destruction. The situation is that today people have no faith in themselves, no faith in others, not even in God. The patient does not have faith in efficacy. The student has no faith in the teacher and does not have trust in the future after his education. The factory owner does not trust the workers and they do not trust the owner. What is all this? This entire downfall has occurred because of lack of faith.

Just like lack of faith, blind-faith and blind-worship also destroys men's vitality. Blindly following what others are doing, without using our own discretion, becomes the main cause of our downfall. Our faith should be focused on only the proper subjects after testing on the touch-stone of discretion.

Unless and until real faith and deep dedication is aroused in our hearts for the nation, religion, and culture, till then we will not have love for them, the sentiment of self-denial and sacrifice for them will not arise and the eagerness to give up our all will not manifest.

Let us make our life full of faith

Excellent Moral Character from Religion

Excellent Moral character from Religion

Meaning: The line of Athervaved 17/1/29 has described about our deeds, that can be expressed as — "Human life will be safe only with good deeds and religious conduct. Therefore let us be sinless and praise worthy and always go on acquiring higher knowledge".

Message: Religiousness means religious conduct. To respect religion in every field of life to follow the injunctions of religions, is itself called 'dharma-achaaran' (or religious conduct).'Dharma' not only means religion (as regards spiritual science and worship), but it has several other meaning including 'moral duty', but unfortunately politicians and the so-called intellectuals are twisting the interpretation of the word 'dharma' to suit their selfish ends.

In reality religion is beneficial to man in every field. The question of narrowness does not at all arise in religion. In fact religion contributes to a wide and vast viewpoint. Real religion does not talk of putting blindfolds on the eyes, but enjoins us to remove them. No religion produces jealousy, malice and such perversities. Religion in the real moral sense creates an atmosphere of good thinking and love. Religion and humanity are mutually complementary. Man can never remain without religion and religion cannot remain any where except in man.

Religion means a rule for carrying out one's responsibility, in other words, 'self-accepted imposition for achieving excellence'. Every field of activity has its own 'dharma' such as teacher's dharma, student's dharma, people's dharma, leader's dharma, soldier's dharma, servant's dharma, father's dharma, women's dharma etc. Religion does not mean mere worship or rituals. Dharma is a symbol of the entire life, because it pervades every aspect of life.

Dharma is good activities, good deeds and truthful conduct. A dharmik man is a man of good conduct, is satisfied, quiet (at peace), disciplined and restrained. Never does he get angry, has no malice, does not ridicule others, nor disrespect others. His main qualities are mental purity, truthfulness in conduct and excellent sentiments for public-welfare. A religious man does not show off his religion. He is busy in his duties with a quiet and unselfish attitude. He relies upon excellence in thinking and simplicity in life. He always utilizes his total capacity and insight for deeds of public-welfare and removes the obstacles in the path with patience and firmness. A life of simplicity propounded the ideal of high thinking. Prosperity lays in simplicity only and in that only lies one's reputation.

To disrespect religion is like discarding humanness and acknowledging animal-ness. For animals there is no religion except fulfilling the needs of their bodies. If an animal coming in the path creates an obstacle, then to drive it away with its horns, to frighten it or to kill it (i.e. selfish survival) is the only 'dharma' of animals. Animals do not have a sense of respect, sentiments, discretion, tradition, society and culture. These exist for man only and therefore at every step in life he has to conduct himself according to the rules laid down in religion. The essence of religion lies only in obliging or helping others, mutual cooperation, compassion, and living together.

Conduct according to the rules laid down in the religion is the only basis for excellent character.

Everyone Should Purify His Moral Conduct

Meaning: According to the line of Yajurved 35/11 — "The man who purifies his conduct and makes others clean, May we get their nearness so that the mind's dirt and wicked sins get destroyed."

Message: Fire gets lighted with fire, life gets brightened with life, love is enhanced by love and enmity increases with revenge. A chameleon changes colors on seeing another chameleon.

If we want to reform others, then first we will have to bring a revolution in our lives, will have to become a magnet ourselves, and will have to create some specialty in our lives. Only then is the uplift of others possible. One lighted lamp can light a million extinguished lamps but a million snuffed lamps cannot light a single lamp. Similarly a great man with 'jeevan-jyoti' (the light of life), can bring others on the good path and spread brightness in their lives.

One who is not at peace with himself, how can he bring peace to others? How can an ignorant person make others knowledgeable? How can a person teach swimming to others when he himself does not know swimming? A person, who is himself lazy, neglectful, and a chatter-box how can he make others energetic and men of brevity? Before bringing peace to others, we ourselves will have to be peaceful. We ourselves will have to be knowledgeable and good in conduct before making others knowledgeable and men of good conduct. Just like the incarnation of Ram and Krishna, and like the saints Swami Vivekananda and Maharshi Dayananda, let us first become a light house and others will automatically be attracted. When the flowers bloom, the honey-bees automatically come and take away the pollen.

Man must desire to include good qualities in his conduct and make it clean, pure and fragrant. Let us make our lives profound, and giving up laziness and neglect adopt regularity in life. Let us make ourselves centers of attraction by making ourselves shining-bright like the sun by service, good conduct, courtesy and gentlemanliness, and thus become bright, possess sharp faculties and become influential. When others come into contact with such evolved persons, they start treading the path of goodness, their bad tendencies get destroyed and good qualities increase.

Let us first detach ourselves from the bad path, let us first be generous raise our own spiritual level and shine ourselves. Only then will others become bright by our contact just as a lamp gets lighted by another lamp. Only such knowledgeable persons achieve fame in the society and the people coming in their contact get influenced by them. As a result their faults and bad tendencies get removed and cleanliness, refinement and generosity develop in their conduct. A fish can spoil the whole tank, while a saintly person by the influence of his capabilities and personal good conduct has the capacity to change and properly develop an entire society. His brightness and sharp mental faculties provide strength and energy to all.

The contact of men of good conduct becomes helpful in character-formation

Duty of the Learned Man

Meaning: According to the Rigved 6/10/7 — "It is the duty of learned men that they should carry out excellent deeds and make others do the same. By such deeds, bad tendencies get eradicated and there is an increase in strength, intelligence, learning and longevity."

Message: Whom can we call a learned person? Those who have the knowledge of physical matter and creation, those who keep themselves in formed about the human society, those who understand the principles of life and are familiar with spiritual knowledge, they are called the learned ones. Knowledge means to know and understand anything in its proper form.

The learned person knows the difference between knowledge and ignorance. 'Avidya' or ignorance means to understand that the world and body and similar temporary matter as permanent, to understand meaningless, worthless talk, stealing etc as refinement, to understand the sorrowful activity such as indulging the desires as bringing joy and to understand the physical body and similar physical matter as live. The opposite of it i.e. the knowledge of reality and proper knowledge of the fundamentals means proper learning or 'vidya'.

Learning and knowledge is commonly expressed as social and scientific subjects and languages. Especially, it refers to spiritual knowledge, which includes the knowledge of God as well as the soul and regarding the physical matter (or jad) and chetan (which means the vitality or spark of life). Knowledge is also expressed in the axioms which salvage a fallen person or which awaken an ignorant soul. Only the wealth of learning is the best among all the wealth. Only a man completes with such learning and knowledge is called a learned person. Austerity destroys our sins and with learning we achieve nectarine bliss.

With the contact of such knowledgeable and learned persons, there is constant increase in the willingness to donate for charity and good causes, in the sentiment of non-violence, and in acquiring the knowledge. With 'satsang' (keeping the company of truth, i.e. truthful saintly persons and God) there is always salvation. With 'satsang' terribly depraved men also have realized themselves from the mire of a depraved life and attained heavenly bliss. The change of the lives of the killer-dacoit Angulimaal and the dancer Amrapali after meeting Lord Buddha are already a part of religious lore in Nepal. Maharshi Balmiki, who was the terrible dacoit was changed by a chance meeting with the sage Narad and became a Maharshi so much so that when Ram wanted a safe place for his wife Sita to stay in the jungle, he chose the hermitage of Maharshi Balmiki.

It is the duty of excellent and knowledgeable men that they should not use their acquired knowledge only for self, but give its benefit to everyone coming in their contact. By imparting knowledge, it never diminishes but increases. With the destruction of bad tendencies and increase in good qualities, people's discretionary powers are awakened, and men, doing 'satkarma' (good deeds) achieves longevity.

Those men, who are miserly in giving the benefit of their knowledge and experience to others, are like beasts. Their accumulated knowledge is not useful even to them and gradually their profundity is lost. It is man's duty to give the benefit of his knowledge to the entire society. They only are 'vidwan' (learned) in the true sense.

This is the only duty of knowledgeable men with character.

Divine Sentiment is the Part of Our Character

Meaning: According to the line of Yajurved 38/21 has given us instruction about the formation of character, that can be explain as — "O men, just as Good protects and nurtures everyone by being everywhere, similarly you protect and nourish all the living beings by achieving excellence."

Message: The desire for progress and the fulfillment of one's material desires are two entirely different matters. The common forms of both appear similar, but on minute observation, the vast difference as between the sky and the earth, can be seen. Progress is the name for that need in life which illuminates the individuality, unfolds the personality and increases the worthiness. It means the development of those capabilities which can make the body, mind, nature and the deeds clean and will developed. This itself is realistic progress. Only such an evolved individuality is capable of taking courageous steps and achieving miraculous powers.

The condition of a man involved in satisfying material desires is like an intoxicated man's. Mostly, the man keeps uncontrollable desires of achieving heaven and earth without having any assessment of his own situation, worth and means. These desires are never fulfilled; on the contrary they make him restless and unhappy. If someone does achieve something, then such undeserving person, because of his unsuitability, causes harm to himself and others by the suddenly gained wealth.

The real meaning of progress is to achieve progress in the creation of a well developed personality based on a clean body and pure mind. Only with progress do brightness and excellence arise in man and he shines like deities, complete with divine qualities.

The scriptures mention three classes, viz, devata, manav and danav. Danavs (or demons) are inferior or lowly, manav or man is in the middle category and devata or deity or divine man is in the superior category. Today man is heading towards 'danavta' (or demonism). He is badly trapped in the sole desire for more and more money, for the welfare of his progeny (children), and achieving fame at any cost. He is ready to do anything for his selfish ends, and does not care at all for what is proper or improper. Every type of bad tendency and wicked action is becoming an inseparable part of his character and despite knowing it; he does not want to give up any of them. Such a man, trapped in demoniac activity, goes on destroying himself.

On the other hand, deities are complete with all the qualities. They have extraordinary capacity and brightness of intelligence. They are full of supremacy, enthusiasm, and wealth (of various types such as knowledge, wisdom, discretion and so on). A man replete with such divine qualities is called 'nara-ratna' (or gems among men). Just like the deities, such a man, wishes always to protect and nourish all, seeing in them al the same soul as is in him. All the great men in the world have seen the peaceful light of God, the Supreme Father in all the living beings and opened up the path of uplift and progress for all.

If this divine sentiment becomes a part of our character, we too can go unto the highest step of progress.

The River of Life

Two young girls Laukika and Samatha, set off on an adventure. Both of them had completed their formal education and before venturing into their respective samsaric enterprises, they thought of taking a break to contemplate life. And thus was born this hedonistic idea of journeying down the river.

Laukika was so over whelmed with the river’s speed, energy and her own enthusiasm that she said to her friend: “I’m going to jump into the river, Samatha, and be carried along with its great energies. Meet you later”. So saying, she took the plunge, without waiting for her friend to respond.

Laukika enjoyed the initial adventure. At times the river frightened her, its strong current sweeping her along. But she dismissed her fears as she was taken up by the full flow of the river. The current carried her after and she could now no longer see the shore. Laukika was euphoric and wanted more of the adventure. Forever engrossed in steadying herself from the speed of her journey, she managed mere fleeting glimpse of the beauty around her.

Now, the waves got bigger, the waters deeper the river widened, the gushing become so forceful that she was thrown about, knocked about on the rocks all over, water and sand filled her nostrils and mouth, she was being bruised…….. by the gravel and creatures in the river, “Help me to the shore, someone”, she cried, but no one heard her. Those who did hear her couldn’t do much, as they were not in a position to help her.

Meanwhile, Samatha had set out on foot. “I choose to walk down the river bank instead. I might be able to enjoy the vistas better this way”, she had thought to herself before embarking on her journey.

Many years passed. The two friends met again. They hugged each other, happy to meet once again. They shared their experiences. Laukika admitted she did have her share of fun, but the journey had tired her out. Moreover, she felt vacant inside. There was so much she wanted to do, she said, but the sheer speed of her journey didn’t permit her to take those liberties’.

Samatha spoke. “I too thought for long after your left me, Laukika. I was tempted to follow you. The river looked enticing. But then, there was no hurry, either, I chose to walk down instead. I got to experience and enjoy the scenic offerings around the river. I marveled at the sunrise and sunset that were so different each day. The open blue sky was so re-assuring, as were the stars at night. I played with the countless birds and butterflies that filled the forest. I stopped to smell the forest and waited with bated breath for the kingfisher to dive into the    waters for a quick mea land the seagulls that flew over my head. I was tempted many times to plunge myself into  the racing river but would spend only a little time in the waters before drying myself on the warm rocks on the banks, read a book and resume my journey.

The local people who collected firewood and fruits from the forest would invite me to their humble homes. I would play with their children and share with them simple tips on improving their health before bidding them goodbye. It has been an amazing journey.”

The friends sat in silence, mulling over the choices they’d made and the experiences they’d been through.

Transcend All Identities

If we human beings are mortal, then how is it that we desire eternal existence, knowledge and bliss? Human beings devoid of the attributes of existence, knowledge and bliss, logically cannot express the desire to live in this world eternally, to attain complete knowledge and complete bliss.

Beyond the existence of the physical body, you can directly feel the existence of mind, intellect and perverted ego. As we are of a finite nature, our mental and intellectual capacities are also finite. The existence of perverted ego can be perceived by the presence of specific thoughts such as thinking that one belongs to this or that country; this or that religion; that one speaks this or that language or belongs  this or that group - whatever it may be. It may be questioned whether after death of the physical body there is the existence of any such nationalist, religious or language groups - in fact, it may be pertinent to ask whether everything is destroyed or if there is the existence of a subtle body consisting of mind, intelligence and perverted ego or even beyond that the existence of an eternal entity.

Human birth is best due to endowment of the special quality of power of discrimination between good and bad and eternal and non-eternal. Physical bodies re in the grip of numerous births and deaths and are subject to many other drawbacks. This renders the physical body is non-eternal then the body's sense organs must also be non-eternal. Therefore, if there should be any eternal entity, it must exist beyond the comprehension of human material non-eternal sense organs.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna was blessed with divine eyes, so that he may witness the Vishwarupa of Krishna a dazzled sight. Thousands were present at Kurukshetra when Krishna revealed His Virat form, yet Arjuna was the only one to see Him like that. Why?

The Supreme God is infinite; everything about Him is infinite. He has created countless species to a plan. If one accepts that human beings can determine their own cause by means of material senses, mind or intellect, then that will be a mentally or intellectually concocted thing. That will not be reality. If Reality is in fact Reality, then He must always exist. What is the Truth?

Why do we wish to be eternal? Why are we eager to learn and to experience bliss? We are a part of the Supreme - so we are like the Supreme in some respects. He is Sacchidananda and so are we. Sat in Sanskrit menas eternal life, chit is eternal knowledge and anand means eternal bliss. Soul is sacchidananda.

We were given this limited body to know our true identity. Our duty is not to hanker after temporary bliss, but to have eternal bliss. We have to find ways to realize our true identity to become servants of Sacchidananda. Since we are part of the Supreme Lord, it is our primary task to serve Him or to act in a way that pleases Him. Once we realize Him, we will also realize other eternal truths, and know that not only He but His Associates, too, do not take birth but descend.

The Life Forces

The whole universe and absolutely everything in it is full of the One divine spirit, the pure life-force energy

Isha Upanishad

May my limbs, speech, prana (life force) sight, hearing, strength and all my senses gain in vigor. All is the Brahm (Supreme)

Kena Upanishad

Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.

Mahavira

Those who act kindly in this world will have kindness

Quran 39.10

Blood itself cannot explain in life........ the universal vitality is a subtle, mobile, invisible substance, superadded to the structure of muscles...... as magnetism is to iron, and as electricity is to various substances with which it may be connected.

John Abernethy

Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species.

The XIV Dalai Lama

Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living

The Self Alone Exists

The concept of an adept teacher lies at the heart of Upanishadic dialogue in which the guru clarifies the doubts of his pupils and inspires them to think deeply on matters of consciousness. Since experience is the only true touchstone, the ancients focused first on the evolved state of a guru, who could awaken others to a higher consciousness. This focus characterizes the Ashtavakra Samhita, the discourse-dialogue centered on Self-realization, between the young sages. Ashtavakra and the elderly king of Mithila, Janaka, who discussed knowledge as being ever conscious of the eternality of one-self, and understanding it as inextricably linked to the question of what constitutes bondage and liberation.

"Non-attachment for sense-objects is liberation love for sense-objects is bondage..." Ashtavakra describes the nature of knowledge thus, going directly to the central focus that the self alone exists and all else, within the mind-senses matrix, is false and unreal. He draws his disciple's attention to his own restlessness, despite being satisfied king. Ashtavakra talks of the eternal yearning of the mind for its true nature, beyond all objects, beyond all desires. The seeker has only got preoccupied in this world till now to quench this restlessness, not fully comprehending what he seeks. The seeker remains unfulfilled as a result of this material pre-occupation because one can actually only feel satiated in the realization of one's true nature.

Ashtavakra continues with his exposition of the illusory nature of the world by exhorting Janaka to renounce desire in all forms, be it the desire for enjoyment and learning or even of pious deeds, for "bondage consists only of desire and the destruction of desire is liberation..." Heasks him to wake up to the transitory nature of all things, to cultivate dispassion by seeing loss and suffering all around, to understand that the root of this cycle of suffering is attachment born of desire. The Ashtavakra Samhita so completely focuses on the nature of Atmanubhuti, defined within the contours of the bondage-liberation paradigm.

Ashtavakra goes on to annihilate the false  sense of identification of the self with the mind, saying that "it is bondage when the mind desires or grieves at anything, rejects or accepts anything, feels happy or angry at anything. " He sums up a free and fearless soul as one who has renounced desire, for "the renunciation desire alone is the renunciation of the world"

Ashtavakra then attempts to describe the state of bliss of the self in which all notions of plurality fall away, in which even intellectual or aesthetic or ethical pursuits seem secondary, where "there is no heaven or hell or liberation .... Nothing but the self in this expanded cosmic consciousness". The fire of knowledge ignited by the guru burns away the desires of the disciple, and the last two chapters allude to the experiential realization of the disciple himself.

Janaka concludes the Samhita by describing his own state to his guru Ashtavakra; where are the elements, where is the body, where is the mind, where is the knower; the means the object of knowledge where is anything, where is the world, where is the aspirant......, "The self alone exists."

Water is Life

Meaning: The line of Rigved 10/9/12 says us that - water is beneficial to man. By using it, the outer and inner dirt is removed.

Message: The glory of motherhood lies in the welfare of the children. A mother is always alert about her child's good health and good habit, and God knows how much hardship she suffers for the child's sake. A woman's life becomes glorified by children with good qualities and good habits and right from the time of conception to the child's birth and even thereafter her remaining life she spends for the welfare of her children. Similarly, God the Supreme Father keeps this world going with the desire for the welfare of His children. He gives happiness, like the happiness through a mother’s tender care, for all the living beings and makes arrangements for feeding them all. Among the innumerable types of help given by God, the importance of water is maximum and it is beneficial for all.

Water has been described as life and nectar in the Vedas. Water has wonderful health-giving medicinal properties and it can remove a number of diseases. Ayurved recognizes the great importance of water for the treatment of diseases. The percentage of water in man’s body is 70 percent, in the brain it is 90 percent and in solid bones it is 25 percent. Man’s body is made up of the five elements of water, earth, air, space and fire.

The entire beauty of this earth is because of water. The pleasant greenery, the beautiful fragrant flowers and plants, the trees laden with tasty fruits, ghee (butter-oil), milk, curds, butter, etc all this is produced through water only. When the water filled with the rare minerals of the mountains reaches the fields, the earth yields a golden harvest. All the works of the world are dependent upon the benevolence of water. The authority or supremacy of water is all pervading. Water possesses many great qualities and it is the nectar of our life.

By drinking clean and cool water all the dirt of the body is flushed out (through bowel-movements and urine) Ayurved mentions ‘usha-paan’ (i.e. drinking of water on getting up in the down) The man who drinks about two glassfuls of water, always remain healthy. This is because the bowels move and with the emptying of the bowels, the mind becomes cheerful, man develops a good appetite and the digestive system works efficiently. With ‘Usha paan’ many diseases and weaknesses are removed. If instead of drinking water with the mouth, practice is made of drinking water through the nose. It is extremely beneficial for the health. It increases the brightness of the eyes, raises the level of intelligence and drive away old age.

Bathing is extremely necessary for the cleanliness of the body. A daily bath is useful for strength, energy and health. A bath with clean and cool water removes dirt, perspiration and tiredness. It increases physical strength and luster and gives longevity. As far as possible, avoid bathing with warm water. Bathing with cold water is beneficial for the health.

Thus we can say that water is life itself.

You are Designed to Bounce Back

There is a lot in life that we are not meant to take seriously - your nasty boss, for instance, or an unkind colleague who put you down. Why remember those who never valued us in the first place? Why recall repeatedly, all those occasions when we were slighted or overlooked?

we were never meant to take these things to heart. And yet we keep running into folks who are discouraged by the slightest thing. There is something inbuilt into life itself that could help us overcome trials and difficulties - a kind of survival mechanism that supports us, teaching us to keep boosting ourselves and our self esteem, particularly when faced with flake.

People are often judging us from a perspective that is narrow. So what if the first draft did not make the mark? What if I failed in a task, or if I did not measure up to the expectations of my colleagues? What if I was not as successful as others would like me to be?

The calm, measured life that I have chosen to lead - no matter if it appears drab and dull to some - may have been rich in content in ways that is not comprehensible to them. May be my ambitions did not drive me to always be on the top. Perhaps I was like a neutral figure in an organization that made heroes of straw men. Perhaps, too, I am remembered for other, more enduring qualities like kindness and compassion?

As I look back, I wonder if it was that rebuff that made me work harder and with greater concentration. It was the downgrade I received that made me assess myself more realistically and helped me build on my real individual strengths and resources. It was the unkindness of others or the cutting remarks made, that made me value myself even more.

Life has so many facets and we do our best to simplify our responses and to unravel its complexities. The process is sometimes long and we are prone to discouragement on the way. But as we travel and journey along, we become more hopeful.

The discouraged person will always find a sympathetic ear, timely advice, and reaffirmation from significant others and unconditional acceptance by those who by their very existence encourage people along the way. So, when we are tired and have reached the end of our tether, we get a helping hand and are uplifted on the way.

Life calls all of us to be encouragers. We can do this well only when we ourselves have been through the pain of rejection and yet survive to emerge accomplished in other ways. We are after all co-travelers on the voyage of life.

Just think: What would have happened if life did not survive the thousands of trails and errors that have gone into the making of it? To succeed like Edison after the 1,000th trail in making the electric bulb is akin to all the other experiences of life - repeated failure, perseverance and success.

As it is so well said, we might only be a hit away from striking gold, so we need to keep at it, no matter how discouraged we are and feel.

The River of Life

Two young girls Laukika and Samatha, set off on an adventure. Both of them had completed their formal education and before venturing into their respective samsaric enterprises, they thought of taking a break to contemplate life. And thus was born this hedonistic idea of journeying down the river.

Laukika was so over whelmed with the river’s speed, energy and her own enthusiasm that she said to her friend: “I’m going to jump into the river, Samatha, and be carried along with its great energies. Meet you later”. So saying, she took the plunge, without waiting for her friend to respond.

Laukika enjoyed the initial adventure. At times the river frightened her, its strong current sweeping her along. But she dismissed her fears as she was taken up by the full flow of the river. The current carried her after and she could now no longer see the shore. Laukika was euphoric and wanted more of the adventure. Forever engrossed in steadying herself from the speed of her journey, she managed mere fleeting glimpse of the beauty around her.

Now, the waves got bigger, the waters deeper the river widened, the gushing become so forceful that she was thrown about, knocked about on the rocks all over, water and sand filled her nostrils and mouth, she was being bruised…….. by the gravel and creatures in the river, “Help me to the shore, someone”, she cried, but no one heard her. Those who did hear her couldn’t do much, as they were not in a position to help her.

Meanwhile, Samatha had set out on foot. “I choose to walk down the river bank instead. I might be able to enjoy the vistas better this way”, she had thought to herself before embarking on her journey.

Many years passed. The two friends met again. They hugged each other, happy to meet once again. They shared their experiences. Laukika admitted she did have her share of fun, but the journey had tired her out. Moreover, she felt vacant inside. There was so much she wanted to do, she said, but the sheer speed of her journey didn’t permit her to take those liberties’.

Samatha spoke. “I too thought for long after your left me, Laukika. I was tempted to follow you. The river looked enticing. But then, there was no hurry, either, I chose to walk down instead. I got to experience and enjoy the scenic offerings around the river. I marveled at the sunrise and sunset that were so different each day. The open blue sky was so re-assuring, as were the stars at night. I played with the countless birds and butterflies that filled the forest. I stopped to smell the forest and waited with bated breath for the kingfisher to dive into the    waters for a quick mea land the seagulls that flew over my head. I was tempted many times to plunge myself into  the racing river but would spend only a little time in the waters before drying myself on the warm rocks on the banks, read a book and resume my journey.

The local people who collected firewood and fruits from the forest would invite me to their humble homes. I would play with their children and share with them simple tips on improving their health before bidding them goodbye. It has been an amazing journey.”

The friends sat in silence, mulling over the choices they’d made and the experiences they’d been through.

The Ideal of Proper Diet

Meaning: The line of Yajurved 12/76 has given the information about our diet as follows - body is the principal means for 'dharma, artha, kama and moksha'. Therefore, good health must be maintained by proper diet, disciplined daily routine and benevolent conduct. Only a disease-free body is the source of all happiness.

Message: The joy of heavenly bliss and salvation is possible in this life itself. But it so happens that we do not properly understands our life's objective and makes all attempts in the wrong direction for attaining it. We can achieve the above four goals of life i.e. 'dharma, artha, kama and moksha' only by a healthy body. We can remain alive by maintaining physical health. Unhealthy, ill and weak persons are already like half-dead. This is because they suffer not only the bodily ailments, but the simultaneous incapacity and the pain of failure also breaks them mentally, thus neglect of health is very costly for everyone.

Good health does not depend on medicines. It cannot also be bought by money. It is also foolish to think of protecting health by imbibing costly materials. Good health depends only on diet, proper routine, exercise and restraint or discipline. The royal road to maintaining proper health and increasing it is to live life in harmony with nature regarding food-habits, daily routine, and lead a natural life. People fall ill with unnatural, artificial, pompous and luxurious life style and die at an early age. All the living beings, insects, birds, animals etc follow the rules of nature; as a result they never fall ill. If by some accident or fights among themselves, they do fall ill, they automatically come back to normal by the grace of Mother Nature. Those animals and birds that have come under the control of man, they only require veterinary dispensaries.

Only man is a very foolish animal who himself invites illness because of wrong conduct, indiscipline and irregularity. This disregard for food and routine is a result of carelessness, laziness, negligence etc. Nature has made man as the most beautiful, healthy, shapely and long-lived animal complete with physical, mental and spiritual powers. The best and easy way for excellent health is that as far as possible only natural (uncooked) food should be taken. The essential elements of the food will be alive within the food to the extent that it does not come into contact with fire (or heat) and that way these elements will provide strength to the body. Ripe seasonal fruits, raw vegetables, sprouted grains and boiled or steam-cooked food is excellent from every point of view, is 'saatvik' and nutritious'

If the body is healthy, the mind also is healthy; it gets pure and pleasant thoughts and is filled with pleasant and good imagination. The mind gets engaged in work, there is no laziness or uneasy feeling and the heart is cheerful and light like a flower.

The Ideal of proper diet, proper routine and proper conduct must always be the guiding principal of our lives.

The Company You Keep

The impact of the company we keep, on our mental state and our actions, is tremendous. Even a person with all positive attributes may end up pursuing undesirable activity because of bad company. For example, you may be quite averse to the idea of accumulating wealth through dishonest means by the effect of a close friend who is untruthful may push you to do so.

To cultivate dedication, as Ramkrishna mentions, it is important to be in the company of those who have taken the path of renunciation. If you spend a great deal of time with materialistic persons discussing worldly affairs all the time, you are bound to become like them, irrespective of the meditation you might be practicing. You can begin to feel intense love for God only when you come in contact with those who are experiencing such love. Hasn't it been said that good literature and good company play seminal roles in shaping your personality?

Sometimes our mind itself can be our worst enemy. Ma Sarada Devi once said that God may be gracious, the guru may be generous - yet a person can be ruined if his mind is not cooperative. In such situations the company of good people can bring in unbelievable change in the mental state.

It is difficult indeed to avoid the company of those who have negative qualities in abundance - they tend to entice you to stay with them or harass you to remain in their companion. Such is the force of negative influences. The mutual dependence among those who lack integrity tends to be greater than amount those who shine out on account of their integrity. Because of this, destructive power often tends to become more powerful than its constructive counterpart. But one has to keep up the deepest mental poise and flow the principle of 'generous neglect'.

Indeed, it is part of our social responsibility to warn wrongdoers against their actions but there is no point in repeated reminders. Time would be better spent on contemplation. Problems caused by your enemies can at times prove to be very costly. But the principle of tolerance works in unique ways. Ramakrishna says, one who withstands, stays, and one who does not, gets ruined.

When it ruins heavily, some varieties of fish are able to follow the continuity of the downpour and survive despite the thrashing waters. The mind has to follow the same route: It has to move against the gravitational force. If there is an urge, nothing is impossible. However, that urge has to be nurtured in a sustainable manner. The restlessness has to be there but it has to be accompanied by patience. And this unique combination derives its source of inspiration from The Company of saints who, in an uninterrupted manner, keep pursuing their efforts steadily.

If we remain satisfied with what we have achieved, there cannot be any progress towards God. The striving has to be there; an attitude of constant dissatisfaction with the present conditions has to grow which in turn can force the Mahamaya to detach us from bondage, says Ramakrishna. Restlessness is therefore essential to expand our horizons, and the good company we keep ignites that urge in us.