You are successful and creative only when you see an opportunity in every difficulty
- Swami Chinmayananda
This message is indeed a very inspiring one, and has enabled many of Gurudev's devotees to interpret difficulties as opportunities, consciously, and their efforts have borne fruit, proving beyond doubt the wisdom in the message. In fact, if you study the lives of successful people, you will find, time and again, how they converted difficulties as opportunities and became achievers - be it materially or spiritually A young girl at an age of 18, was married to a 55 year old man. The girl though young in age, was very mature in her thinking. She never cursed anyone, not even accused anyone - not even her prarabdha karma. She analyzed the situation and thought, that it was an opportunity given by the Lord to help her to withdraw from lusts and passions early in life and direct her energies in thoughts of the Lord. Ere long, she proved that her marriage to an elderly man was a blessing in disguise and today a great Mission is standing in her name - worldwide.
Certain events become turning points in life. As Gurudev very beautifully puts it, there is a reason, for every pain that we must bear, for every burden, for every care, for every grief that crushes our heart, for every scalding tear we shed, for every hurt, for every plight, for every lonely, painful night, there is a reason. If we trust God, it all can turn to be for our good. He knows the reason.
The following incident was narrated in the popular Reader's digest. This happened in Delhi. It was written that a Delhi based rich householder living in the US came to India to perform his mother's death ceremony. He had invited about 400 guests to partake lunch. Unfortunately, as it rained very heavily, only a few could respond to the invitation. The gentleman was sad and brooding - sad because the purpose was not fulfilled and brooding over the colossal wastage of food. As the morning turned to noon, he decided that he would serve the food at the slums and engaged a truck for the same. The joy of serving food to the poor and the needy did not end with that day. The hunger turned the pathetic state of the slum dwellers haunted him through out the night. Next morning, he visited all the big star hotels and choultries and enquired about their use of extra food. As expected, the food was being wasted while the poor were starving. He decided that to serve food daily to the poor would be his goal of life and set up an office for this purpose. He took upon himself the task of taking a tempo to all the star hotels and choultries, every day, late in the afternoon to collect the extra food and take it to the slums. The concept has become so popular that he receives calls from people requesting him to collect food. Blessed indeed is this gentleman. Instead of complaining that all his efforts went futile and eventually forgetting all about it, his decision to serve the food at the slums on that day, changed his life and that of the slum dwellers.
As Gurudev says, "What is more important is not what you meet in life but how you meet it". You are ordinary or extraordinary depending on what is your attitude towards the situations that you face and how you respond to the challenges in life.
There is no dearth of personalities who have had the grit and the determination to perceive every hurdle as a stepping stone to success. I know of many who have not been in limelight as they are living a very simple, humble life, quietly in a village or a town, but nonetheless, they are achievers in their own way. I had an opportunity to address the school students which had the reputation of being an excellent high school. In that connection, I was told that the school is run by a single lady who was born and also married into a very rich family and was widowed at an young age of 22. When we view the situation, we would consider it as a very unfortunate event in the life of a young girl. But when we see the turn of events, the incident facilitated the lady to blossom from just being a housewife to being a mother to thousands of children, guiding them with love.
Our Gurudev is a shining example of this thought. Of course, He never felt any situation was a difficulty. There was nothing in this world that could shake up this mighty master. However, events, which we ordinarily would have considered as tragedies, were opportunities for Gurudev to demonstrate to the devotees, Lord Krishna's description of 'Man of Perfection' - A Sthithaprajna. Be it a emergency landing of the aircraft or yagnashala on fire, a ventricular failure or highly diabetic state, a yagna cancelled due to unconducive environment or disciples leaving the mission - nothing could even bring a grin on his face. Sri Gurudev faced life with equal equanimity even in His poorvashrama days. He was jailed for his participation in the freedom movement and later thrown on the streets as he was very ill. That did not deter him. After he recovered, he continued to write powerful articles as he was working as a journalist. He visited Swami Sivananda's Ashram in Rishikesh as he thought that sanyasis are cheats, living upon the society and doing nothing. While living there, he felt there was a deep significance in the spiritual way of life and he continued to stay on at the ashram. He adjusted to the simple life although he was born into a royal family. He was guided by Sivanandaji to study under the tutelage of Swami Tapovanam who lived in Uttarkashi. Gurudev trekked the entire stretch and reached Uttarkashi. A study of "My trek through Uttarkand" would reveal his struggle to reach his Master. He was trained by Swami Tapovanam with strict discipline, that few students could withstand. Sri Gurudev was convinced that the scriptures was not meant for retired life but that the scriptures spoke of a WAY OF LIFE which we need to know when we are young. Inspired by the mighty flow of the Ganges who serves people in the plains way below, Sri Gurudev took upon himself the mighty task of reviving Hinduism in its true sense. Sri Gurudev's glory the life He lived and his contribution is well known.
With such a mighty master as our Guru, it is important that each one of us practise as per his advice and achieve all that we wish to achieve.
Restlessness of the mind and Unsteadiness of Character are reflected in the physical movements of an intelligent being
- Swami Chinmayananda
What we see, perceive, experience is highly inter-related to what we are. Being is seeing in human Dimension. We can't go very far to change our seeing without simultaneously changing our Being. Restfulness of mind and Steadiness of our character certainly influence and change our being.
Every physical action and every worldly achievement is first conceived and built up in the MIND. In order to keep up the performance of our mind steadily high, we must attend to it regularly. Constant tuning of the mind is essential and such a tuning of mind is possible only by regular contact with Satsang and Great Masters.
Restfulness of the mind and the Steadiness of the character make the movements of the intelligent being Graceful, majestic and charismatic.
Mind becomes restless because of vigorous expectations and violent desires that lead the person into FATIGUE and EXHAUSTION. When a person is not satisfied with himself then he falls a prey to such expectations and desires.
Restlessness of the mind is reflected in the expectations of the individual such as eating, talking, walking, looking, sleeping.... etc.. Eating becomes VIOLENT, walking becomes TURBULENT, talking becomes FRAUDULENT, standing becomes BLATANT, looking becomes INDECENT and sleeping becomes INCONSTANT. Such an individual cannot totally concentrate upon his work, cannot involve fully in his duty, his personality b(1COmeS disintegrated and shattered and thereby he cannot achieve any significant success in life.
Adharma, asathya, lack of Sadachara, lack of ethics, morals, principles weaken the individual and make him unsteady. It is said In Mahabharat that the Sheela or character is the main source of strength and support for the survival of Dharma, Sathya, Sadachara, mental balance, strength and wealth of wisdom.
If these values and principles are violated then there will be no spontaneity in action and the artificiality will be revealed. Then the communication becomes ineffective, as it is the character that communicates most effectively.
Dignity and Steadiness of character comes through practice of Ethics, Morals, Principles and Meditation. Then the INSIGHT grows, thereafter the individual cannot deceive or hurt others because of the awareness that there are no separate entities and all are parts of the ONE ORGANIC UNIVERSE (WHOLE).
Understanding that the thought, word and deed are inter-related, let us keep close to the values and principles and have a clear vision in life. With this re-attuned new rhythm of living, we will enter a new realm of peace and success, with sharper awareness of our own responsibilities to the world around us, which will result in greater expansion of consciousness and an Inner joy unrevealed to us before.
Learn to be happy alone. If we do not enjoy our own company, why inflict
it on others.
- Swami Chinmayananda
BECOMING HAPPY
All of us want to be happy. And we have been trying to become happy
as far as we remember! When we were children going to school we thought
that when we don't have to study any more, when we become grown up we
will become happy. When we have become grown up we think we were comparatively
happy in our childhood. We think if we get this or that or become this
or that, we will become happy. The search for happiness continues to
go on! And at the end of life still we continue to be unhappy, bogged
down by one desire or the other, one want or the other. There was a man
who was critically ill. The doctor knew that his time was approaching
and hence he made it clear to him that he would soon be no more and then
asked the patient if he wished for anything. The man said with as much
strength he could muster, 'Yes. Can I see another doctor?' Even the so
I called Great achievers and successful people die sad, saying that they
are not happy. The poor man also says he is unhappy, the rich man also
says he is unhappy. Happiness has been very elusive. It looks as though
we have been going after happiness and never finding it like the proverbial
desert traveler going after the waters of the mirage. What has gone wrong?
Is there no happiness really or have we gone the wrong way?
Desire is the insignia of unhappiness. Desire is the manifestation of
the discontentment within. We all know well that it is not what we have
that makes us happy but it is what we are that makes us happy. Comfort
and happiness are quite different. Comfort is external while happiness
is within. Comfort is having a bed, happiness is having a sound sleep.
A bed cannot guarantee a sound sleep! Hence happiness has not much to
do with what we have or don't have. Happiness has a lot to do with what
we are.
It is considered that a person with a good attitude in life will be
happy. It is said that your altitude depends on your attitude. A person
who is relatively free from egoism, fear, jealousy, anger, pessimism
and other negativities is relatively a happy person. He manages his life
with objectivity and is not caught up with his own self-created problems.
He spends his time profitably - in building up his life, helping his
family and serving the society. But even when we ask such a mature person,
whether he is happy, he says, "Life is going on!" Then we start
wondering whether good attitudes by themselves give happiness or not.
As long as we have the feeling of oneself being different from the world,
the various right attitudes we cultivate like being kind, loving, being
patient etc., do remain always. That which is cultivated is artificial
and not natural and hence cannot be permanent. What has a beginning will
have an end! Also mind has its own limitations, even the best of minds
can go berserk or topsy turvy just as even the best of cars give a problem.
Mind is after all a machine. It has its own "limitations. It can
become tired, forgetful; loose its patience and so on.
Thus if we cannot become perfectly happy by cultivating the mind how
at all are we going to become happy? Well, this is an important question.
We will always be happy if we don't try to become happy. Trying to become
happy is like trying to sleep - it is impossible. Why? Because the very
effort to sleep prevents us from sleeping. Similarly, the very effort
to become happy creates unhappiness. In trying to become happy you are
fighting against yourself or to use the right words, your mind is creating
an imaginary difference within itself, one thought against another thought,
one trying to correct the other, one trying to rectify the other. A conflict
is set going within. When thus there is an internal war going on, a violent
fight going on within - we can never be at peace. If we say after the
war we are going to become happy, we are in illusion. After this war,
another war would start. After one. emotion another emotion would rise
and the fight would go on endlessly. I am not advocating a life of licentiousness
when one does not work against a wrong thought channel. Needless to say,
such activities have their own role in a person's internal growth. Yet
they too have their own limitations. We cannot go on fighting eternally!
Then where is the solution? How to become totally happy?
There is a solution. If we recognize that we need not try to become happy,
but we are happy, then the solution is born, for the problem is no more.
When we try to become happy, we become relatively happy, but when we
know that we are happy, we are absolutely happy.
Being Happy
What is our essential nature? If man is by nature unhappy we can never
be or become happy. But if man's true nature is happiness we need not
try to become happy. But what is the proof that man is by nature happiness?
Vedanta declares that our true nature is happiness itself. We only
need to recognise this. The. multimillionaire dreaming that he is a
beggar need only to recognize and wake up to the fact that he was never
a beggar. Then the whole problem is solved. Trying to become rich by
working hard in the dream is no solution. Let him just wake up. There
is logic in the Upanishads - we all love ourselves. It is a common
experience that we cannot love something that gives unhappiness. Thus
since we love ourselves, we must be of the nature of happiness. Also
in deep sleep when we don't have anything we are happy. So it is not
that we have to get something to become happy. To recognise and experience
that we are happy by nature, the silencing of the ever-demanding mind
is to stop running in search of happiness. To discover at least once
the experience of the Self, by the quieting of the mind is to know
once for all that we are ever complete and ever fulfilled. Such a person
alone is a joyful person.
The dog keeps on biting and munching a dry bone and finds happiness.
It is under the illusion that the blood and the pieces of flesh that
it enjoys are from the bone. But it is a dry old bone. From where would
blood and flesh come from the dry bone~ The fact which the dog is unaware
is that the blood and the flesh are from its own tongue. The sharp edges
of the bone have torn its tongue and blood is oozing from its own tongue!
Even when we are enjoying a particular pleasure, the joy comes not from
the object but from our own self. Where do we find our happiness? Outside,
at the point of that object or inside our mind. We may hug and embrace
the object of our desire, but the happiness is not out there but inside
us. Does it not show that happiness is an internal phenomenon~ As long
as the mind is agitated there is no happiness, but when the mind becomes
quiet, happiness is experienced. The quantum of happiness experienced
is directly proportional to the quantum of peace enjoyed. Well, the objects
could become the means of tapping the inward happiness of the Self, but
the object by itself is not happiness, does not contain happiness.
Vedanta asserts that the happiness of the Self, which we enjoy in excited
moments of sense pleasure, is only a tarnished wee bit, while the whole
mass of happiness is hidden. If the happiness of the Self is an ocean,
the happiness we enjoy during the highest of sense pleasures is but a
minute droplet. And further, when our attention is on getting the polluted
tarnished droplet of joy, we will miss the ocean of joy. The Self is
of the nature of happiness. In recognising this we no longer try to become
happy. Once we recognise the direct experience of Self-realisation that
one's nature is happiness, we no longer try to adjust the outside world
of object or the inside world of thoughts and attitudes in our effort
to become happy. Well, they effortlessly fall in place. But we are not
worried about it.
Our being is happiness - we are happiness. The problem is ignorance,
the solution is knowledge. With knowledge dawns the vision of oneself
being happy. Thus the ultimate solution is 'LEARNING TO BE HAPPY ALONE',
without dependence on any object.
THE WAY TO GO ABOUT
The mind is the master in self-deception. It deceives itself in a variety
of ways. The hunting for joy is its primary mistake. In its endless wanderings
it does not see the inherent joy of the Self. The mind is like a screen
on the Self. When the screen is removed the Self is seen. Then the life
at the level of the mind is no more given any validity. Mind is reduced
to its right place of being just an instrument of work. Now, the mind
enjoys all the importance of being the Self. And the mind does not like
being relegated to the position of being just an instrument rather than
being the Self. It tries all its tricks to avoid the right perception
of the Self. It tries to do all that it can do to stay away from the
Self - being extrovert, indulging in the pleasures of the senses, being
busy etc. But, do what it will, at the end it gets tired of its outings
and wants to be back home. Its home is the Self. Just as a man after
his hard day's work wants to be back home, we all want to be back home,
to our Self. But we in our journey outside which we have been taking
for many many janmas have forgotten the route back. The scriptures and
the teachings of our Rishis are like the compass, which guide a lost
sea-farer. When we walk the path as per the guidance of the scriptures
we shall be back home fast!
The mind has to be first purified - purified of its desires. Desires
are not overcome by fighting with them, but they are overcome by understanding
them, by knowing why they arise, how they arise and seeing them very
objectively and noticing their moments with alertness. The enemy is many
a time not by force or brutal strength, but by intuitive understanding
and right perception. The summary of the path is this - understand the
mind, transcend the mind and know oneself to be "Happiness".
BEGGARS ARE NO GIVERS:
Our whole life is spent begging for joy at one altar or the other. We
all beg for happiness, as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa would say,"lIIusionary
altars of women (kamini), the comforts that money can offer (kanchana)
and name and fame (keerti). As long as we are beggars of joy, we can
never give true joy to someone. We are capable of being selfish only
as long as we have not discovered the kingdom of joy within. In the realm
of ignorance wherein we live even the so called unselfish relationships
are tainted with selfishness. As long as there is dependency there cannot
be any giving. There may be giving, but the giving is only a subtle system
of bartering. Only business transactions of mutual benefit and a
fight for a greater benefit on each side goes on in the name of love.
We make sacrifices but say,"Look, how much I have sacrificed for
you. You must be really indebted to me." Or our sacrificing gives
only a ego-lift and there is a self praised and a general feeling of
being good. These are subtle but cheap ways to become happy. It is not
our fault, this is all that we are capable of in our present level of
existence. Beggars cannot be givers.
Thus the so called giving of love all that we want is to get more from
someone, try to possess that person. As long as we don't find the happiness
within ourselves, as long as we have not learnt to be happy alone, Le.,
happy by finding the joy within, all our relationships with every human
being is only selfish and leads to pain at the end. When we have not
discovered the joy within us and learnt to be happy alone, independent
of objects and beings, and when we are diverse from ourselves, and thus
when, "WE DO NOT ENJOY OUR COMPANY, WHY INFLICT ON OTHERS?" Without
discovering our inherent joy and oneness with all, relationships with
others will only give rise to attachments, expectations, bondage, fear
and finally sorrow.
OUR BIRTHRIGHT
This is not a call to withdraw from relationships. But let's grow more
spiritually, let's realise our essential nature, let's grow to be a full
man. Then the giving of love is natural. It has no strings of selfishness
attached. It courts even pain - for the pain is no more pain and when
there is joy received it is no more going to add to the joy that we experience
already within. This is the life of a fully-grown man. Our Beloved Gurudev
Swami Chinmayanandaji was one such person. The company of such God among
men is fulfilling to all to come into contact with Him. He is a blessing
to humanity guiding and inspiring us to reach the Truth ever enshrined
in our hearts. And to grow into a full man is a birthright of each one
of us.
One can change one's dress easily but who can change his heart with
the same ease?
- Swami Chinmayananda
A man asked the one near by "Who is that boy standing over there?" The
other replied, "That's not a boy. That's my daughter!" The
first man thinking the other to be the father asked again,” Where’s
her mother?' To his astonishment the other one responded 'I am her mother!" Fooled
twice the man left the place instantly. This is not an exaggeration but
the simple fact that we cannot make out a man from a woman by the dress
worn by them nowadays.
The passion for fashion sweeps man off his feet to a make believe world
of his own fantasies where he loses his own identity.
Looking back into the prehistoric period we can see naked nomadic people
walking about in the jungles not even aware of their nudity. Then they
found barks of trees, leaves and skins of animals to cover their bodies.
Being beauty conscious, we were trying to make the
better of everything. Cloth was discovered and from then on we've been
trying to clothe ourselves in the most fashionable (cloth) way. New designers
however changed the very reason for clothing. In the beginning people
used clothing to protect themselves from adverse climatic conditions
and to conceal their nudity. But now even in hot weather people wear
unsuitable clothing. Sweating to be fashionable! The clothes are stitched
to reveal the contours of the body for sex appeal. So we can see from
where to where man has been led blind folded by fashion. It is the same
in other sectors too because they overlook the values of life.
The world does not respect us for our attire. The scantily dressed Gandhiji
was respected as the Father of the Nation. The well-placed American gentlemen
at Chicago revered the shabbily dressed Swami Vivekananda. The Rishis
with just a loincloth on them are the masters of the world.
The Westerners who have just worldly interests have always looked upon with
awe at the simple but vibrant sons of India who succeeded in packing off the
'Union Jack' home.
The Indians were strong willed people who lived up to their principles. Once
a dinner was arranged to honour Easwar Chandra Vidya Sagar. He arrived on time
in his simple casual attire. The gatekeeper did not recognise him and so he
was not permitted inside. He was thrown out like a beggar. After some time
he came again, this time he dressed handsomely in coat and suit in style. He
was honored and escorted into the hall to the seat arranged for him. Vidya
Sagar soon removed his coat and other accessories and placing them on the chair
turned to leave. Enquired about such behaviour he narrated the whole incident.
He said 'I am leaving now because it is not me that you honour, you honour
my dress and I have left it there for you.' No doubt the English were astounded
and ashamed. We can go on like this with many examples. It would be reasonable
to think why we go astray. The
purpose behind this ostentation is personality boosting or development. 'Personality'
is derived from the word 'Persona' meaning mask. Just as the word implies we
are just bothered about our outward appearance. We are not what we appear to
be. This becomes a great strain on us and we end up dissatisfied with life,
as there is no joy in living this. Joy is experienced when we effortlessly
express ourselves in our own sweet way. Mask development is not what we want.
The western culture has influenced us to a great extent and reduced the iron
willed people to weak hearted siblings who need a mask to save their face.
It's the change of heart that is necessary and all the changes brought about
very easily in outward appearance does not help us in this way. Here Gurudev's
evergreen message is worth reminiscing "One can change one's dress easily
but who can change his heart with the same ease." To change the heart
is something very difficult, and can be achieved only by firm determination,
perseverance and sincere effort by the individual. Most of the eminent personalities
whom the world honored for their faculties, for their great intelligence and
deep erudition have succumbed to the idea of suicide. They would've been good
sources of information for others but they were a wreck by themselves. You
may say it’s their destiny!
But Gurudev most lovingly reminds "man can change his destiny not
by wishing for it but by working for it". Man is the crowning glory
of creation and he is destined for the ultimate. He is essentially perfect
and infinite are the possibilities hidden in him.We have the capacity
to discover, develop and usefully employ this Infinite Essence in us.
The discovery of the inner power depends on the amount of transformation
we can bring in our personality and character. Organised living helps
self-unfoldment just as naturally as the bud unfolds to bring forth a
beautiful flower. No progress is possible unless there is a willingness
to drop out of our previous conditions. But its not a very easy task
for its very difficult to bring the mind back from its much traveled,
avenues.
A man is determined by. his thoughts. Thought
and mental impulses maintain entire personality’ complex. So
as Gurudev put it, we need to learn the personality reconstruction
technique. The 'know-how' of this technique is the greatest treasure
we have in our scriptures. In the third chapter (sloka 33), the Bh.
Geeta says,
Geeta 3.33
Even the man of knowledge acts in conformity with his own nature, which
is determined by the pattern of thoughts that arise in him. The nature
of each individual is decided by the style of thinking which each is
capable of. Each one has different urges, motives, habits, temperaments
and attitudes. "Heart changing is not that much easy. . ...?" Does
it mean that we are just what we are now and cannot bring any change
as we desire? Not so! We can change our destiny by right knowledge, right
thinking and constant application of the right knowledge.
From right knowledge we get the power of discrimination of what to do
and what not to do. Overcome with waves of emotion and passion, we often
do not hear the voice of our conscience alerting us. At present, we not
only¥ ignore the signals from within but also try to justify ourselves
for our actions. Being just to ourselves is more important than acting
as an ideal person before the others. Hypocrisy never helps. Though we
feel proud of our achievements, the guilty conscience keeps pricking
inside and we fall into the deep depths of despondency where revival
is almost impossible. Still there is no cause for despair. Hear the scriptures
heralding "Man! Thou art That". Critical introspection and
rectifying the mistakes made will help us come to the track again. Ordeals
are to be faced by all. Listing out the problems and analysing them will
help to solve them. Be confident that we have the strength to face anything.
Analyzing the problems, probing into them will itself make the problems
a molehill from a mountain. We may find many people to offer guidance
but we should always depend on ourselves. The decisions taken by a peaceful
mind is always right. To keep the mind peaceful practice sitting alone
in a solitary spot, closing your eyes, allow your mind to rest. At first,
thoughts will agitate us but slowly the mind calms down.
As soon as a child is born the countdown of his
lifespan begins with the trickling down of the first minute. There
is a long way to go and time is running out. The invaluable time is
incessantly flowing by waiting for none. Those who care for time will
be cared in time. Be always dynamically active, energetic, optimistic
and devotionally dedicated. Success is sure to the sincere. The pilgrimage
of life becomes a pleasant journey in the light of the scriptures guided
by men of wisdom we call "Guru".
Recollecting the words of Gurudev, "Have faith in yourself and the
goal and put forth all your efforts in what you believe in. As we go
ahead it will get confirmed, God never created you to fail in life." Let
us Arise, Awake and Stop Not till the goal is reached. We can, We must
and We Will hasten…..but slowly, as suggested by Gurudev.
Doing good in return for evil is the correct morality.
- Swami Chinmayananda
When we come out to play
the game of life from womb
to tomb over this strange
stage called the world,
there are many scenes produced by
our Karmaphala" and
directed by the God. It is said
in Mahabharata that as the
shadow follows a person
wherever he goes, similarly
the fruit of action of any
person follows him from birth
to death, from one birth to
another birth and so on until
the person dissolves his entity
into the Pure Self.
Therefore everybody has to face the good and the evil erupting from
the same world. Most of the time we respond to the goodness as liking
and craving for the one through which goodness reaches us rather than
absorbing the goodness within us also and expressing the gratitude to
the God who is the disperser of fruit; similarly when the evil or bad
comes to us we react to it as the disliking and abhorrence for the doer
of that evil rather than
rejecting that evil within us and cultivating the dispassion for the
world. In short, more important than getting and giving is forgetting
and forgiving, more important than the personal doer of action is the
impersonal actor behind the action, more important than the seen expression
is the unseen impression. The difference between the ordinary and extraordinary
is not in the knowledge of intellect but it is in the attention of mind,
the difference between the saint and the sinner is not in their aptitude
but it is in their attitude.
The world is not only intellectual gymnasium wherein we have come to
increase our aptitude but it is also a mental shrine wherein one comes
to discover an attitude which is free from the prejudices of sobs and
sighs, passion and pride, likes and lust. The attitude which gives us
the vision of oneness in manliness,
Geeta 13.27
Geeta 6.32
The attitude expressing the vision of seeing oneself in all and seeing
others' joy and sorrows as his,
Isa. Up. 7
Therefore the challenge lying before any person aspiring to attain the
perfection and struggling to overcome his weakness is the challenge of
converting the attitude; so when Pujya Gurudev exhorts that returning
the good to the evil is the correct morality, He means to use the world
.as a university, hospital and dressing room rather than a battle field,
jungle and a stock market.
The same world, the people, the situations, the problems, the experiences
which can be used as a beautiful garden to allow the fragrant flower
of our mind to blossom forth in the open sky of divinity. The same world
can be misused and abused to make it a dangerous jungle in which the
mind can be made a mad monkey to be bitten by the snakes of hatred, to
be attacked by the leopard of greed, to be~trampled by the elephant of
lust, to be gulped by the crocodile of jealousy, to be stung by the scorpion
of fear. It is the spiritual science, which teaches us the art of carving
out subjectively the garden of goodness from the jungle of evil. Does
evil help in manifesting our goodness? Our Pujya Gurudev used to say
that swimming cannot be learnt in a drawing room, similarly to allow
the diamond of morality to manifest from the depth of our personality,
the evil from the world acts as a digging tool to excavate the hidden
gem. The rougher the surface is, more easier it is to sharpen the knife;
the more scorching the sun is, the more lusher would be the rains of
the year; similarly the evil meted towards us has the full capacity to
unfurl the divinity embedded within us. If not completely, then at least
this unwanted situation gives a sincere person to observe his mind in
its result, reaction and repulsion resulting in the realisation of his
betterment.
In short, the brasso of evil shall wash out the physical cravings for
the flesh, the mental hang-ups, for the baser, the intellectual demands
for the ego and last but not the least the fulfillment in meeting the
life and its problems as the finer manifestation of the love for the
lord in His innocent mischieviousness.
Meaning of Returning the Good
In ourVedantic tradition hardware of actions do not decide the quality
of actions but it is mainly the software of mental
intention, mental attitude which is the main player in deciding about
quality of the action, so it is possible that at the physical level,
the evil is returned by some cruel action or harsh words but if the attitude
behind is of selflessness and purity, we are returning the good only.
Hence returning the good to the evil means.
The evil is not only to be resisted by thoughts and words, but it is
to be replenished by thoughts of love, concern and sympathy for the evil
doer.
The evil is not to be detested by complaining or grumbling but it is
to be disciplined by bringing out the latent talent or goodness from
the perverted actor through praise and understanding.
Imposing of rules over it can never crush the evil but the evil doer
should be tamed to invoke the melody of the love of the Lord, which is
already ready to manifest.
It should never be forgotten that everyone contains the divine and devil
within the same mind, so instead of mentally boycotting, intellectually
censuring and physically torturing the evil doer if the above mentioned
ways of returning the goodness is practiced, not only the mind of the
sufferer of evil becomes a cool resort to rest but also the evil thoughts
of the evil doer cease to get multiplied because pure thoughts have greater
effect.
As this has been said:
Kruddhyantam Prati Na Krudhyeta Akrushta Kusalam Vadet
Ativaadaam Sthiti Chet Navamanyeta Kincha
(We should not be angry towards the one who is angry with us, we should talk
of the welfare of the one who is not thinking of our welfare, we should endure
the abuse rather than censuring the evil doer even a bit.)
Thus when we are doing good in return for evil that is : instead of disliking
the evil doer, we pour in more love and
sympathy mentally and reject the evil from our life, then alone 'j the bright
sun of morality can dawn in our life. The advent of ; morality means the ability
to drop out the lower desires, cheap' attachments and pricking individuality.
In short, doing well in return for evil eradicates the misery
of the sense of separation of the Jiva. Then alone the true morality which
consists in being bold to see the challenge in its eyes, the smartness to give
up what makes us weak, the brilliance to see the reality peeping through flimsy
world of object and the
unbounded ocean of this gurgling in every loud laughter and silent sob of the
world. Thus doing good in return for the evil is the correct morality.
Efficiency is the capacity to bring Proficiency into expression
- Swami Chinmayananda
Work is the signature of Life' says Swami Chinmayananda. No one can remain
in this world without work. Work in the narrow sense refers to duties
and responsibilities of everyone of us in every stage of our life, but
in its larger scope, 'work' is the essence of creation. Every micromoment
of our life, the power that has created this universe is working in and
through us. When we start appreciating the larger perception of life,
we start enjoying our work as the rhythm of this universe and see the
hand of the divine in everything. Lord Krishna explained the secret of
discovering efficiency in work to Arjuna, in Bhagavad Gita. He extolled
selfless work as a means to purify the mind and reach God!
Proficiency in work does not come into full expression when it is polluted
by the thought, 'what do I get out of it ?' However, in today's world,
we see many becoming popular in one's own field of work, working with
dynamic drive of selfishness and self-interest. Power and politics come
to play their vicious
roles in the lives of such celebrities. Unfortunately, they climb the
ladder all alone! Selfishness does not get true support of anyone. Even
if there is someone or a group of enthusiasts to hold the ladder for
a selfish person to climb up and accomplish a self-centered goal, it
is a matter of time for one to discover that one is soon left all alone.
Whether it is one's own family, an organization, or a society this is
a stark reality.
Is it true that all selfless actions bring efficiency into play? True
efficiency in work requires a mature frame of mind more than mere physical
service. Yet, according to the Bhagavad Geeta, this maturity develops
through service and sincere dedication. Thus 5 aspects of maturity of
mind are indicated in Bhagavad Geeta:
I. Duty - Kartavya buddhi
In every stage of life, we have certain responsibilities to fulfill.
These give us required maturity and readiness to move on to the next
stage of life. For example, as a student we are responsible for our own
progress in educating our self. We should choose our field of interest
and do our best to excel in that field. This is our duty. Let us involve
our self in work until it becomes an indulgence! Often we see people
becoming workaholics due to absence of simple, common sense. Some are
addicted to their work because they are afraid to face their family and
social life. Work is not to escape, but to express!
Efficiency lies in loving whatever we do. When we resort to doing only
what we are proficient in or what we love to do. Work done with full
attention, interest, and love grants us satisfaction in the work itself,
not only in its result. In Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna gives us the secret
of efficiency in the performance of our duty:
Do not avoid your duties, perform you must!
May you be inspired by the work and not the result!
Do not undertake your duties with an eye on personal gains
Just do (like you breathe)
Efficiency is in perfecting each performance, bettering it from before.
This itself is the true artistic expression called work. Performing life's
duties gains fresh momentum and vigor when we envision in every action
the beauty of the Self or Almighty God. So how do we portray our lives
as the potential masterpieces they are? Drop all selfish intentions.
There may be standards for external excellence, but not for inner peace
and satisfaction! Such artistic living automatically de-colors our personality
with honesty and sincerity. For most of us, the exception being the rare
Self-realised Masters, performing life's duties is, in fact, essential
to our spiritual unfoldment. It is the duty oriented individual who cares
enough to learn and adhere to moral values and ethical principles.
2. Dedication - Samarpana buddhi
It is impractical to think that all would excel in all endeavors of life.
Many a times we fail in our pursuits due to many known and unknown
reasons. To submit both our successes and failures to a higher altar
of reverence will help us proceed on with our life without serious
setbacks.
Efficiency expresses in service when performed not as an obligation.
Work as a service is a way we connect with the cosmos. None is obliged
to serve the world nor the world is obliged to exist for anyone. Every
one of us lives in the world to respect the freedom of life of every
creature in this cosmos. Service therefore is an expression of this reverence
and veneration of life that expresses through all.
3. Equanimity - Samattva buddhi
Being levelheaded in various vicissitudes of life is true maturity. We
cannot decide our situations but we can decide the way we want to react
to situations. This choice will give us significant peace and joy.
Equanimity in all our interactions is a noble virtue that creates goodwill
for us in whatever work we undertake in our life.
Efficiency is in the readiness to accept every situation and strive to
rise above it. Learning through failures is most helpful than in success.
Failures make us pause, think, adjust and proceed with renewed understanding
of life. Once a successful entrepreneur was interviewed:
'What is the secret of your success?'
'Right decisions at the right time.'
'How did you make right decisions?'
'Through experience.'
'What gave you required experience?'
'Wrong decisions!'
4. Skillful - Kushalata
In today's world we call a person efficient if one is able to do many
things at the same time, or one is able to achieve his goal irrespective
of the means adopted for it. Conversely, the definition of efficiency
in Bhagavad Gita is - 'achieving the goal that could benefit all through
noble means.'
Efficiency is being noble when one can be otherwise. Efficiency does
not express when one is uncertain about one's own conduct and response
to situation's in life. This uncertainty leads to indecisiveness and
subsequent procrastination. When one discovers the answer to the question,
'what is virtue' one overcomes the ambiguity about oneself. Characteristically,
we are gracious only when required and not always. Most of us who have
some religiosity in our nature behave nobly or do noble deeds only when
the situations demand us to do so. Rare are those who consider every
situation in life as an opportunity to discover their nobility. Sri Krishna
teaches Arjuna to be virtuous to overcome all fear while at work. 'Here
there is no waste of attempt; nor is there any harm. Even a little of
righteousness saves one from great fear.' (Bhagavad Geeta 2.40)
5. Peaceful response to situations- Prasada buddhi
Readiness to accept various situations in life with peaceful mind is
the true spirit of a selfless worker. Keeping a spiritual goal as an
inspiration to live, help us meet the world without prejudices.
Efficiency excels in prudent behavior. 'Haste makes waste' is a well-known
expression. It is so true when we look back at our life for a while and
see where we made significant mistakes of our life. 'Go slow but steady'
- has been the advice of many accomplished men. Let us take a day at
a time and work with total interest in self-improvement and excelling
our self. Let us be prudent about what we think, say and do; may there
be no occasion for us to step back and retrace our steps every day. Considering
all situations as only momentary conditions of our life also help us
meet them without regrets, grudges and excitements. Let us peacefully
respond to our life, knowing well that all are equally blessed by the
Lord to know Him sooner or later.
Proficiency is readiness to work; efficiency is to work with love. Proficiency
is being skillful; efficiency is in perfecting the skill. Proficiency
comes when you are noble; efficiency is in being noble.
Strive on ! With tireless enthusiasm, strive on to reach your goal;
without a goal, the best in you can never come out to express.
- Swami Chinmayananda
In this world nothing is gained without action. Through action is created
a conducive and comfortable atmosphere for living. The Bhagavat Geeta
says that through action, we can even attain liberation. But to do action
enthusiastically we need Motivation, Dynamism and Perseverance. Where
can these be attained?
The Rishis have openly declared that each one of us have infinite potential.
However this potential expresses itself through dynamic action only when
there is a motivation such as a need, desire or a goal.
Needs are the essentials required for our survival such as food, clothing
and shelter. To fulfill his needs man struggles and develops his capacities
and skills.
Desire is an unsatisfied longing to possess or attain something I feel
I do not have. It arises from a sense of incompleteness and a hope for
happiness in the future and constitutes that by which we derive pleasure
and enjoyment. But fulfillment of a desire provides only short-term gratification.
Desires can be positive or negative. And may or may not be essential
for living. It is to fulfill his desires that man pants away with hopes,
anxieties and tensions. Sometimes excited, sometimes disappointed, at
times joyful and at other times miserable.
A goal is that which gives long term benefit and helps to transform.
The results of gaining it are long lasting. Goals are a source of inspiration
and they give life a sense of purpose. The higher, greater, and nobler
the goal that man is inspired by, to that extent man is able to break
through his limitations and achieve things beyond comprehension.
Nature has provided us with the ability to fulfill our needs. Even animals
can fulfill their needs. However in a competitive society man has to
struggle a bit more and certainly develop some skills. But when his needs
are fulfilled like any animal who has filled its belly, all that one
does is rest.
For desires however, one has to strive and struggle. Moreover, since
the results are limited and short-lived, one goes on in circles trying
in vain to get satisfaction. Man monotonously does the same actions again
and again to get the same unsatisfying pleasure and remains in the unending
cycle of birth and death.
Fired by a goal, a person strives with great enthusiasm ready to make
any sacrifice. even sacrificing many of his own personal desires. As
the mental energies are no longer being dissipated in the pursuit of
so many desires, the mind becomes more and more focused and single pointed.
Just as the scattered rays of the Sun cannot set anything on fire by
themselves, however when they converge through a lens, they can not only
set paper on fire but even a log of wood.
If you look at the lives of all great people in the world, most of them
started off just as ordinary people, but once they were fired by a goal
and put in their tireless efforts, look at the dynamism that manifested
from them. A giant arose out of their latent personality not only to
make a difference in their lives but also in the lives of many for generations
to come.
All of us may be ordinary, but there is a great potential in us waiting
to be tapped. It is triggered off when one identifies a Goal and remains
dedicated to it. Pujya Gurudev often gave the examples of Mahatma Gandhi
and Swami Vivekananda.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a lawyer when he
was thrown out of a first class compartment of a train because of the
racial discrimination prevalent in South Africa during that time. Being
a young man he was frustrated, hurt and insulted, so he made " Great hue and cry and
was able to stir a few people to stand up "Against racism. But the
whole endeavor was crushed by the police and Mohandas returned to India
no doubt proclaimed a hero, but in reality, a failure.
When he returned to India some of the great stalwarts of the freedom
movement recognised the potential in the young man. And approached him
to join them in their struggle for freedom.
The young Gandhi who at that time was only thinking of getting a lob
and earning some bread and butter for himself and his family at that
moment lost heart and wondered if such a freedom was never possible from
the mighty empire. He was asked to travel through the country and when
he saw the sufferings of the people lit" set aside his own needs
and desires and took up as his life goal to free the millions of his
brothers and sisters of the country.
Tirelessly, enthusiastically, in spite of all the obstacles and difficulties
and even failures, he strived for the goal. From that III tie young man
with an almost squeaky voice rose a roaring giant who when he spoke,
the British empire trembled. And when he picked up a pinch of salt to
challenge the Empire, it crumbled. All of this he achieved by holding
on to his principle of non-violence.
Narendra went around asking saints ineloquently if they had seen God
and whether they could show it to him. Shri Ram Krishna Paramhamsa saw
the potential in this young man. Gave him the knowledge and insight.
But his glory manifested when at Kanya Kumari he discovered for himself
his special purpose and set for himelf the goal of spreading vedanta
to the west. After that, inspite of all the difficulties and insults
that he had to endure on his way to Chicago, once on the platform of
the World Parliament of Religions he astounded the gathering of hundreds
of learned listeners with his very first statement; "My dear Brothers
and Sisters. . .." The roaring eloquence of Swami Vivekananda echoes
even today.
Our own Gurudev, Swami Chinmayananda searched for answers to the many
questions he had regarding the blind beliefs of society due to which
many crimes were being perpetrated in the name of religion. He took to
a life of great austerities learning Vedanta at the feet of Swami Tapovanji
Maharaj in the Himalayas. Having attained his own satisfaction and fulfillment
he got inspired on the banks of the river Mother Ganga to spread this
knowledge logically and scientifically to the modern educated skeptic
masses as well as to teach the knowledge of Truth beyond all blind beliefs,
superstitions and dogmas.Today that Lion amongst Mankind, even after
his physical body is no longer manifest, through his mighty work and
mission still majestically strides on.
