Motherhood is the most precious gift of God.
Mothers are the makers of a nation's fortune or misfortune, for they
shape the sinews of its soul. Those sinews are toughened by two
lessons - fear of sin and fondness of virtue. As the mother, so the
progress of the nation. As the mother, so the sweetness of culture.
02 October 2003
Have faith that Truth will save you in the long run; stick to it
regardless of what might befall. For, if you are true, the sense of
guilt will not gnaw at your insides and cause pain. It is cowardice
that makes you hide the truth; it is hatred that sharpens the edge
of falsehood. Be bold and there is no need to lie. Be full of love,
there is no need for subterfuge. It is easiest to stick to the truth.
03 October 2003
The true secret of enjoyment lies in sacrifice. Sacrifice has also
been declared to be the only means of achieving immortality. Giving
up what is taken in is a law of life. It applies to breathing, food
and other things. Likewise, the wealth which one acquires should
also be given back to society. Wealth includes not only riches, but
every other form of acquisition including knowledge, scholarship,
and skills of various kinds. The knowledge you have acquired through
education should be imparted to others. It is by such sharing that
your education gets enriched and purposeful. If you do not impart
the knowledge you possess, it becomes useless. This means that the
more you give, the more you grow.
04 October 2003
In Vedaantha (Vedic philosophy), man is urged to inquire "Who am I?"
You will realize that the body, mind and intellect are only your
instruments. The single letter "I" is the Inner self or Atma while
the three letter 'eye' refers to the body. You are the master and
should make use of these instruments. You should be careful to use
your mind in the right direction.
05 October 2003
During the ten days of the Dasara festival, the Rakshasas (demons)
in the form of wicked qualities should be routed. Rakshasas do not
mean demonic beings. The bad qualities in men are the demons.
Arrogance is a demon. Bad thoughts are demons. Ravana is depicted as
the king of Rakshasas. He is said to have ten heads. He was not born
with ten heads. Who is this Ravana and what are his ten heads? Kama
(lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (delusion), Lobha (Greed), Mada (pride),
Maatsarya (Envy), Manas (the mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (Will)
and Ahamkara (the Ego) - these ten constitute the ten heads. Ravana
is one who has these ten qualities.
06 October 2003
Samskriti, the Sanskrit word for culture and civilization is derived
from the word Samskara, which means the dual purpose of removing the
dust and dirt of vice and planting the virtues of Sathya, Dharma,
Shanthi and Prema. The foundation of Dharma laid down by sages teach
people that one should not enthuse over victory or despair over
defeat; both are to be welcomed as tests of one's faith.
07 October 2003
If the place you must reach is very near you can just step across;
if the distance is more, you may need a vehicle and for longer
distances, you may require a plane. But, the Lord is nearest to you.
Slide ajar the door of delusion and part the curtain of ignorance.
Open the closed eyes and you will find that He is right there before
you. The fog of sensual pleasure is hiding Him from you. Switch on
the light; the darkness disappears and He becomes visible.
08 October 2003
The secret of peace lies in service and love towards all beings. The
best form of service is to promote the growth of sages and seekers
who are the practitioners of the good life. Do not speak
disparagingly of the servants of God; do not obstruct the charity of
the generous; do not discourage the study of the scriptures even if
you cannot promote any of them.
09 October 2003
The Vedas teach that man should adore and worship God in gratitude
for His benedictions. The Bible teaches that man should pray for
peace and practice charity. The Koran would have man show mercy to
the suffering and to surrender his will to the Divine. The Buddhist
texts teach the lesson of detachment and sense control. The Zend-
Avesta exhorts man to get rid of evil propensities and shine in his
own innate glory.
10 October 2003
The fundamental teaching of the ancient culture of India is love.
For generations youth have been advised, encouraged and taught by
precept and example to love the poor, the helpless, the handicapped
and the disabled, for the same spark of divinity that is in us, is
also active in them. Be lamps of love. There is no need for any
sadhana. Love and loving service of others will provide you the
Grace of God.
11 October 2003
Difference in beliefs and cultural practices among men are well
known. Although climatic conditions may be the same in the various
regions of the world, the ways of living and practices of people are
diverse. This diversity is inherent in nature. It is not a defect,
but an adornment. This diversity is not to be seen among beasts and
birds. That is because they do not have the power to think. Man
alone has this capacity.
12 October 2003
When strength of body and steadfastness of mind reinforce each other,
one's mien becomes attractive. Youth today have neither physical
strength nor mental steadfastness, so young people appear old very
early in life. When the body is weak, the mind too gets weak. You
must strive for physical well-being and health, for a gem has to be
treasured in a safe, strong box. The gem of Divinity that is your
Reality also has to be kept in a strong box, namely the body.
13 October 2003
Divinity is present in man like fragrance in a flower, fire in wood
and oil in the sesame seed - invisible, but latent. Unaware of this
inner truth, men are carried away by the external appearances and
consider them as reality. It is essential to realize the basic truth
that God is present in the form of human beings. Given this, how
will it benefit man if he inflicts pain on the jiva (a human being)
and offers worship to Deva (the Divine)?
14 October 2003
Once you become aware that the Lord is the omnipotent power and the
mainspring of your life, then there will be no fear anymore.
Bhakthas (devotees of God) of the past were aware that the Lord is
the Aadhara (provider), so they had no fear at all. But, that faith
has not taken root in men today. He has become a victim of faith in
worldly things. Hence, this has become an age of fear and anxiety.
Therefore, the first requisite for man is to develop faith in God.
15 October 2003
It is an uphill task to reform one's tendencies and character. A man
may study all the textbooks on sadhana (spiritual quest) and all the
scriptures, and he may even lecture for hours on them, but he will
be led astray when temptation confronts him. What is the real cure
for this? It is the unshakeable belief that you are the Brahman (Godhead)
at all times.
16 October 2003
Creation has to be viewed as a Cosmic Stage. God is the director and
dramatis personae in this play. He assigns all the roles of the
characters in the play. All creatures in the world are
manifestations of the Divine. The good and evil in the world are
expressions of the Divine consciousness. Man should not be misled by
these expressions. Behind all the various actions of the actors, the
Divine director is at work. It should be realised that though names
and forms may vary, languages and nationalities may be different,
the human race is one in its divine essence.
17 October 2003
Thoughts automatically give rise to actions. Actions in turn produce
habits, and habits, then form man's character. It is the character
which decides our destiny - for good or bad. Humility and an
attitude of reverence are essential for man. They are not promoted
by the educational process today; the processes recommended in the
Upanishads ensured these two.
18 October 2003
A life without character is as barren as a temple without a lamp, a
coin that is counterfeit, a kite whose string has snapped. For the
ocean, the waves are the ornament. For the sky, the moon is the
ornament. For man's life, virtue is the ornament. Without good
qualities, all other ornaments are worthless. Fire is no genuine
fire if it does not burn, nor can water be called so if it does not
wet. The word 'man' is a misnomer for a person if he does not evince
the qualities of humanity. The crisis of character which is at the
root of all the troubles everywhere, has come about as a result of
the neglect of this aspect of education. Wisdom thrives when man is
afraid of vice and sin and is attached to the Divine.
19 October 2003
If we sow a thought today, we reap an act tomorrow. If we sow an act
today, we reap a habit tomorrow. If we sow a habit today, we reap a
character tomorrow. If we sow a character today, we reap a destiny
tomorrow. You do not lose much if a finger is so damaged that it
need to be cut off. The body can still function and be a fit
instrument. Even if you lose a limb, you can function and benefit
with the help of your other faculties. But if you lose your
character, then everything is lost.
20 October 2003
Men cannot comprehend the Formless and the Attributeless Absolute.
Avatars appear in human form to enable humanity to experience the
Formless in a form which is accessible to them and helpful to them.
An Avatar assumes the form that is beneficial to and within the
reach of human beings. An effort must be made to understand the
nature of divinity. It is only when God comes in human form can
human beings have the full opportunity to experience and enjoy the
Divine.
21 October 2003
Morality is the corollary of dharma (spiritual duty). Morality does
not merely mean the observance of certain rules in the work-a-day
world. Morality means adherence to the straight and sacred path of
sacred conduct. Morality is the blossoming of good conduct. There
are no universal and absolute norms of morality. Ethical relativity
is an escapable social phenomenon. Morality depends on the time, the
place, and the spirit of the age.
22 October 2003
Be moral, be virtuous. Be sincere in thought, deed and word. Be
honest to yourself. Money comes and goes. But morality comes and
grows. So man has to give up the yearning for money and yearn for
more and more morality. Do not think that only those who worship a
picture with pompous paraphernalia are devotees. Whoever walks
straight along the moral path, whoever acts as he speaks and speaks
as he has seen, whoever melts at another's suffering and exults at
another joy... is a devotee, perhaps a greater devotee.
23 October 2003
Moral and spiritual values have to be honoured as much as, if not
more than, economic and material values. Life must be a harmonious
blend of these values with emphasis on moral strength. The honour of
a nation depends on the morality of that nation. A nation without
morality will be doomed. Morality has to be grown in the heart by
feeding it with love. then only can we have justice, security, law
and order. If love declines among the people, nations will weaken
and mankind will perish.
24 October 2003
You cannot be fresh and feeling fine, wearing a washed vest under an
unwashed shirt; or, an unwashed vest under a washed shirt. Both have
to be clean, to provide the sense of tingling joy. So too, outer and
inner cleanliness are but the reflection of the inner achievement.
There is a strange glow on the face of the guileless person. Inner
cleanliness has it's own soap and water - the soap of strong faith
and the water of constant practice.
25 October 2003
Deepavali
Dipavali is a festival which is designed to celebrate the
suppression of the Ego by the Higher Self. Man is plunged in the
darkness of ignorance and has lost the power of discrimination
between the permanent and the evanescent. When the darkness of
ignorance caused by Ahamkara (the ego-feeling) is dispelled by the
light of Divine knowledge, the effulgence of the Divine is
experienced.
26 October 2003
Anxiety is removed by faith in the Lord; the faith that tells you
that whatever happens is for the best and that the Lord's Will be
done. Quiet acceptance is the best armour against anxiety. Sorrow
springs from egoism, the feeling that you do not deserve to be
treated so badly, that you are left helpless. When ego goes, sorrow
disappears.
27 October 2003
Everything is constantly changing in the world. This ever-changing
world is based upon the unchanging Divine. It is only when the
Aadhaara (Divine basis) is understood can one derive bliss from the
experience of what is based on it. In whatever action men do and
whatever paths they pursue, they should be conscious of the Divine.
28 October 2003
The chief source of Ananda is dedication to God; nothing else can
give that genuine and lasting joy. Become conscious of your kinship
with the Lord. That kinship is not a mere fancy or a faked theory.
It has come down since ages, from the beginning of time itself. It
will persist till the very end of time.
29 October 2003
Good conduct, good qualities, good character alone constitutes our
real treasure. But man today has given up these three and is busy
seeking worldly goods and is imagining that he is leading a pious
life. God cannot be attained through such delusions. Man today is
trying to master every kind of knowledge, but is unable to discover
his own true nature.
30 October 2003
Prema (Pure love) can emanate only from a pure heart. It is like a
mariner's compass. Wherever the compass may be placed, the needle
will point only to the north. Likewise, man's love, in all
circumstances, should be directed towards God. That alone is true
love. It should be unaffected by pleasure or pain. It makes no
difference between "mine" and "thine." Love has to be acquired only
through love and not by any other means whatsoever.
