Swami Teaches...

Light and Love

Swami teaches... 7 - 10 October 2007

Part 3. The Beacon Light for Students, Teachers and Parents

The Motto: The true person of learning is the one who sees with equal eye different beings. True knowledge should become an integral part of one's being, flowing in one blood in an endless stream.

The World's prosperity or otherwise is based upon the character of the youth. Any country filled with noble beings of great virtue is bound to be peaceful and happy.

Every one should realize what one owes to the society in which one is born and from which one derives so many benefits. Young people should reflect on the question what gratitude they could show to the society, which has given them so much. What service are you doing to society?

Put into practice at least a fraction of what you have studied. Plunge into society and engage yourselves in social service. If you have no other work, join in any service activities. Let service should become your life's goal. Use your own abilities, talents, and inner strengths.

The value of service as a sadhana is for realizing the Oneness of all in God and the oneness of one's Self with God. Humans would build shanthi (peace), on this foundation of Atmajnana, knowledge of Atmic unity. Swami does not recommend the giving up of karma, for it is not possible.

What is generally meant by Karmasanyas* is the giving up of rites and rituals prescribed by the scriptures only then, when the spiritual seeker is ready for that, have an inner call for that.

Swami calls upon to adhere to a new rite, seva a new yaga, sacrifice of the ego, a new ritual of worship, Saranagathi, dedication of all thoughts, words, and deeds at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and acceptance of all that happens as Grace from Him. Do not come to Swami with your hands full of trash. Come with empty hands and carry away Swami's Grace and Love.

The only desire all should cherish is to win Dhaiva preethi (the Grace, Love of God).

Young people should enthrone thyaga (sacrifice) in their hearts, wear the crown of justice on their heads, and carry the sword of truth in their hands. These are the weapons needed, to defend the nation.

It is the privilege and duty of the young men and women to promote the welfare, progress, and peace of the world. Each person creates own reality. Transform all your actions into sacred duties. Experience the Love of the Divine. That is the meaning of the first Swami's declaration: "My life is my message." (Swami's second message is, "The life my devotees is my message.)"

Today if you wish to earn the esteem of society, you have to secure Dhaiva preethi. For this, you have to entertain fear of sin. What is sin? It covers all those activities, which are motivated by selfishness born out of regarding the body and sensual pleasures as the primary things in life.

Punya (merit) arises from all actions which take one nearer to God para + upa + kaara = Paropakaara. Sin has defined as Parapeedanam (causing harm to or forgetting the Divine). Know yourself and achieve equilibrium of the Self. One of the challenges facing the evolution of any person is in overcoming the demands of the individual ego.

What is ego in everyday life context, what is egoism that everyone would overcome?

The ego is nevertheless a vital aspect of conscious awareness and can therefore never be destroyed but tamed and put into control of intellect and conscience. (All things in the world should be used properly. A knife can be used for cutting vegetables or another's throat. How a knife is used depends on the human using it).

The ego is frequently responsible for considerable misery and suffering, and a lack of peace and harmony generally.

The ego in everyday life is responsible for many other negative human traits, below are several of them.

1. Being critical and judgmental of others,
2. being rigid and inflexible,
3. being manipulative,
4. need to feel superior,
5. feeling anxious and fearful,
6. mood swings, taking everything too personally and too seriously,
7. constant need for approval and praise,
8. feeling hurried and driven to do things, competing rather than cooperating,
9. feeling resentful and guilty,
10. unable to live in the present moment,
11. addictions to alcohol, tobacco and other Mind altering substances,
12. overly concerned with personal appearance,
13. overly concerned with success,
14. feeling insecure,
15. constant worry over trivialities,
16. clinging to the past,
17. feelings of despair and hopelessness, feeling life is meaningless,
18. the need for power over others, etc.

Typical signs the ego is when people blame others for everything that goes wrong in their own lives.

The ego also revels in the illusion of always being busy. Such people consider themselves very busy, unfortunately without any significant results.

The ego often revels in disaster, particularly when it happens to people who are not liked. People often like revel in the misfortunes of others on whatever scale the misfortune occurs. Most people find it is much easier to revel in the misfortune of others than to share in their happiness.

The ego can, and profoundly will hold people back both in everyday life and in personal evolution and progression on the path. Until the ego is tamed and its influence transcended, peace, and harmony cannot be achieved and maintained.

The ego causes an illusory focus on those aspects of the physical world that are really not at all important for peace, harmony and happiness, and most importantly for enduring and true evolution and progression.

The ego constantly strives to be always right, always superior, never wrong, and never inferior and likes to make comparisons, particularly with other people as a function of living in the material world. The other side of the ego is in feeling worse or inferior by comparison with others. There is no difference between this side of the ego and the one suffering from delusions of grandeur.

Ill-digested learning results in the diseases of egoism and pride, as in the ease of Ravana by Ramayana. Ravana was a master of a larger number of Vidyas (types of knowledge). However, he could enjoy no peace or bliss because he did not practice in the right way what he had learnt.

Ravana was a great scholar. Rama was equally great as a scholar. However, he was much more than that. He was a good man. Ravana performed rigorous penance and mastered a vast deal of knowledge (even more than Rama mastered). However, the result was ignorance arising from indigestion. Unable to control his desires, he brought ruin on his clan and his kingdom. His studies have not saved him from his evil qualities, which brought about his ruin.

People should realize the distinction between "greatness" and "goodness". Most parents want their children to acquire greatness. However, they have no true idea of what is greatness. They may desire that their children should become great scholars, get big jobs and acquired large wealth. Do these constitute greatness? The mark of goodness is to see the divinity in every human being.

There is no use in acquiring greatness without goodness. At first, you must seek goodness and not greatness. You must realize that greatness related to power, position or wealth is transient. It is lost when power and position go. Goodness is always respected . Rama was devoted to truth and righteousness. Hence, he became a good man and not a mere great man. After thousands of years, the very name Rama evokes veneration. That is the sign of goodness.

"I am not bound to win; I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have" (Abraham Lincoln).

It is living according to Dharma and justice, to love all and cherish faith in God, to help the needy and raise the lowly - all theses constitute goodness.

There are two qualities in human. One is the animal nature; the other is humanness. Unfortunately human is forgetting own humanness by falling a prey to the six enemies - lust, anger, greed, envy and others - and misusing his God-given talents. Human being thereby degrades to the level of the animal. On the other hand, human should use own mind, status, and talents to become virtuous, pursue the path of righteousness and strive to raise himself from the human to the Divine.

"Again, you have the idea that only certain people hold the key to the Kingdom of Happiness. No one holds it. No one has the authority to hold that key. That key is your own Self, and in the development and the purification and in the incorruptibility of that Self alone is the Kingdom of Eternity" (Krishnamurti).

Transformation of the heart is what is called for. All that you do should lead you nearer to God.

There are three types of approaches towards the Lord. The Eagle type, which swaps down on the target with a greedy swiftness and suddenness, which, by its very impact, fails to secure the object, coveted. The Monkey type, which flits hither and thither, from one fruit to another and unable to decide which is tasty. The Ant type, which moves steadily, though slowly, towards the object, which it has decided, is desirable. The ant does not hit the fruit hard and make it fall away; it does not pluck all the fruits it sees; it appropriates just as much as it can assimilate and no more.

What is basic to all these in the spiritual path are the chanting of the name of the Lord. By this way, you can experience God more easily.

Start now, with the first step, Namasmarana (remembrance of the Name of the Lord, the Universal Indweller). That will lead you on to the further steps, until the goal is reached. Person who use hands to perform good deeds, who use tongue to utter the Lord's name and who cherish in mind truth and compassion is a carrier of triple purity that makes human life sublime.

Can anything be more sustaining than remembrance of the Lord?
Is there a heaven higher than inner joy?

Whenever there is a vacuum in any heart,
Love flows into it
and is glad that it can fill the emptiness.
It is never held back;
it is offered in abundance
without guile or deceit.
it does not wear the cloak of
falsehood, flattery or fear.
The tendrils of Love
aspire to cling only to
the garments of God.
It senses that God resides
in His splendor, in every heart
to discover that the seat of God
is real devotion.

You feel like purifying yourselves and making your entire life one fragrant flame. That is real worship, real bhakthi.

Worship is just a means of educating the emotions. Human impulses and emotions have to be guided and controlled.

It is absurd as putting the cart before the horse. The physical is subordinate to the spiritual. The body is the cart and the spirit, the horse. (Of course, the cart should be kept in good condition; vice ruins the body and makes it unfit for the journey of life).

The age long instincts of human have to be trained and transmuted by contact with higher ideals and powers.

There are different methods of worship for spiritual seekers on the saguna (with qualities, with form, materialized) and the nirguna (without qualities, attributeless) paths. Both paths are accepted equally.

   From aspect of the nirguna path, those gurus who get their feet worshipped by their devotees and those who think that it is a great boon so to worship them are both lacking in sense. Paadhapuja (ritual worship of Guru's feet with flowers) has in much an atmosphere of publicity, both for the Guru and the sishya (disciple). From nirguna aspect, why worship the body which is decaying every moment?

Obey the Guru, follow his instructions, progress along the spiritual road on the saguna path of worship, these are the best means of Paadhapuja; when you achieve some success in these, the craving for Paadhapuja itself will disappear, must disappear. Offer the heart, clean and pure, broadened by sadhana to include all living beings in its grasp.

Since you cannot swim across the flooded stream, you board a raft. So also, since you cannot master the nirguna, you resort to the saguna and struggle to swim across to the nirguna through Aradhana and Upasana (worship and contemplation). You must reach higher. Leaf, flower, fruit, water, - are all primers for the initial stages. Clean the mind of all the animal and primitive impulses, which has shaped it from birth to birth.

The Atmasambandha (connection with the Soul) is the-everlasting unchanging sambandha (association). As a first step, you use the flower, the lamp, the incense, etc., and worship the saguna form.

The temples must inspire to deepen faith in the moral code that regulates and enriches his/her profession, the restrictions, and regulations that strive to canalize impulses and instincts.

The temples will inspire Atmadharma, leading the pilgrim into him/herself, to search for the Mahasakthi that is behind the Icchasakthi, the Kriyasakthi and the Jnanasakthi (power of the will, the work, and the wisdom) that human is endowed with.

Dharma is the path by which the Mahasakthi in the temple of your heart can be tapped, experienced, and realized; without adherence to dharma, it can never happen.

Have the Name on the tongue and the Form in the eye and the demon called unending desire, will fly from your mind. /Kaama (worldly desire, lust) has a two-headed son, krodha-lobha by name, the twin-headed monster anger-greed. Through the malignant designs of these three, you are robbed of lasting happiness/.

Soon, your bhakthi moves on to newer forms of dedication, newer offerings, purer, more valuable, and worthier of your Lord. No one sticks to the slate for long; you feel that you should place before the Lord something more lasting than mere flowers.

*More about the Karmasanyas http://www.dj6qo.de/dnye/dnye5.htm

PS: In the part 2 has mentioned: Gargi said: "No. The wife is one-half of the husband's. This means that she should pursue Dhya (inquiry, examination, introspection) together with the husband..." In addition, Swami explains that 'dhya' is derived from 'dhyan' and refers to the proper dhyana or intense meditation on the Lord. It means concentration on the Godhead. To fix the mind on God, the activities have to be controlled. For, success in that process of control one should overcome the handicaps of the Gunas, the Sathwa, the Rajas and the Thamas.

(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 2. "Primers of spiritual education," Chapter 23; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 5. "Dharma and dharmashaala" Chapter 12; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18. "The Victory," Chapter 17; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 25. "Parents and Teachers Must Set The Example," Chapter 11; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 29. "Make Swami's words your beacon-light," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 30. "Role of Sai Youth in World Crisis," Chapter 14; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 32 Part 2. "Seek God within," Chapter 14; Sathya Sai Baba. Dharma Vahini, Chapter VII. Page 29).

Namaste - Reet

Swami teaches... 4 - 6 October 2007

Part 2. The Beacon Light for Students, Teachers and Parents

People, as a rule, do not seek to comprehend the inner meaning of Divinity.

There is nothing in this world apart from the Divine.
People do not listen to words of the wise,
but easily fall a prey to bad advice.
Such people, how can they
hope to understand Swami?
Realize the truth of Swami's words in due course.

The egoistic conceit of human, which makes him/her feel that he/she is the doer and enjoyer, is the cause of ruin.

A human's conduct is related to his/her thoughts and feelings. One can make or mar own destiny by his thoughts and actions.

Today wherever you turn - in the administration, in the business world, in politics or other fields - as a rule, you see no spirit of sacrifice. In every field, the atmosphere is saturated with pollution. Today the pollution affects people in authority, the parents, the educationists, and intellectuals. Those who preen themselves on their scholarship have no humility that should characterize genuine scholarship.

As a consequence, humanity is haunted by suffering, tin-rest, disorder and agitations. Humanity is haunted by fear because there is no spirit of sacrifice; righteousness is at a discount and truth has become rare.

At present the hunt for comfortable jobs and positions of influence, the founding of banks and business houses, the growth of bungalows - all this is evidence of the eagerness to live in happiness.

However, no one of the rich or well placed or prosperous or powerful has peace. You can investigate and find out for yourselves the truth of this. Peace is not found in the bankbook or many-roomed bungalow or god own or iron safe. Also money earned by sinful means will not last. Either thieves will rob you or the Income-tax Department will seize it.

In addition, for wealth there are four claimants. Number one is fire. Number two, thieves. Third, relatives. Fourth, enemies. These four are after one's wealth. Before any of them deprives of your wealth, you should make good use of it.

"A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners of their riches, own concepts and ideas. They can be slaves to their own selves" (Maharaji).

Many people tend to forget ideals and foster desires. Selfishness prevails over patriotism.

Most young people today have lost the feeling of forbearance and as a result have become a prey to many bad qualities like anger and envy. This is the cause of all sickness in the world. This egoism has no real basis because the individual is an insignificant speck in the vast cosmos.

(This ignorance will go if human realizes that the whole Universe is permeated by the Divine and belongs to the Divine).

For the evil ways and bad behavior of youth today, the parents are to be blamed in much. Because of such bad parents it is better that such children are not born at all. They are a disgrace to their parents and to their country.

When the parents exchange words, the children exchange blows. The parents give a free rein to the children instead of controlling them. The parents are to blame for three-fourths of their children's misbehavior.

Unfortunately, today, because the parents themselves have no purity of character and lack refined qualities, and do not lead regulated lives, evil practices and wickedness are growing all over the world. Because of the malefic effects of the Kali age, parents tend to be quarrelsome. Fathers are behaving like Hiranyakasipu (a demonic person, wicked father of Prahlada, who was a great devotee of the Lord).

By ancient story, Hiranyakasipu tried all methods to divert his son, Prahlada, from devotion to God. The child was subjected to every conceivable kind of torture and ordeal: trampling by elephants, biting by cobras and immersion in the sea. Nevertheless, Prahlada's devotion to the Lord saved him.

Prahlada declared, "He alone is a father who asks his child to realize God. He is a true Guru who leads the disciple to God." Such teachers and parents have become rare these days.

(There is nothing great about being a father. No father can rejoice merely when a son is born. Only when the people praise the virtues of the son will the father rejoice over his birth. A righteous son redeems himself and his family).

What concern to education, teachers transmit bookish knowledge, but do not teach wise living and higher values. Students education and their jobs may help to bring to them power, position and wealth but do not serve to promote in them such virtues as compassion, kindness and sacrifice. If there are no morals and human values, a human becomes a demon.

Faith in God has replaced by disrespect for reverence and righteousness.

Atheism is rampant and preceptors are not honored. Devotion is at a discount and the ancient wisdom has given up these days. In education, character has reached its nadir. Education has become a bookish affair, used only for passing examinations and forgotten after quitting the examination hall. Of what use is it to flaunt one's degrees if the only purpose of acquiring them is to earn a mess of pottage?

People should consider the whole world as the mansion of one human family, when this spirit of oneness prevails, there will be no tendency to harm others.

Youth would be aware that happiness and peace are not to be found in wealth, position, or power. All these generate only fear, anxiety, not peace, and happiness. (Today, even highly educated persons do not recognize this truth). The youth should cultivate the quality of forbearance what is a supreme virtue in human.

Students should use their power of discrimination and should be guided by the voice of conscience.* (Living for the present moment, always listening to your inner voice and obeying without question the inner promptings, intuition and guidance). The words of wisdom of the great sages should imprint on students hearts.

Below is an example by Ramayana as parable for contemplation.

King Janaka was similarly a seeker after Brahmajnana (the Supreme Truth). He sought knowledge for the sake of Self-realization and not for the sake of creature comforts. He held an assembly of sages where he achieved fame.

At the assembly Gargi (celebrated female sage Vachaknavi, born in the family of Garga) carried on a debate with the sage Yaajnavalkya. The debate was based on the scriptures. It was inconclusive. Then Gargi put a question to King Janaka, "What is the mark of a person of steadfast awareness?"

The King replied, "He is the one who realizes, the Oneness of the Absolute. There is no second. If you have realized this state of awareness, you will be conscious of Oneness alone. “Gargi said, “You are not in that state now. I wish to realize this awareness."

Gargi continued, "Oh King! I have one desire. Marry me." The King said, "I have only one wife, Sunethra (the one with good eyes). I don't wish to have any other wife."

Gargi said: "You are a great jnani (scholar). You have good eyes and your Queen is a good-eyed lady. May I ask what reward you are giving to the sage Yaajnavalkya?" The king said: "I shall give him whatever he asks." Yaajnavalkya was no doubt a great scholar but he did-not have total sense control. Yaajnavalkya asked the King again: "Give this Gargi to me in marriage. Celebrate our wedding." There was a great uproar in the audience hall.

The great scholars present there asked: "What is the meaning of Yaajnavalkya's request?"

Gargi then asked Yaajnavalkya: "What is the purpose of a marriage?" Yaajnavalkya replied, "To have progeny."

Gargi said: "No. The wife is one half of the husband's. This means that she should pursue Dhya (inquiry, examination,introspection) together with the husband as a Dharmapathni (a righteous wife). Marriage is for the sake of pursuing Dharma. It is not for enjoying worldly pleasures. Our Emperor enjoys carnal pleasures in his palace. Street dogs experience the same pleasures. Is that happiness?"

The body is given for carrying out righteous actions. It is not given for enjoying only carnal pleasures.

Students should ask themselves, "Does happiness consist in the acquiring of degrees or getting good jobs or attaining high positions? Real happiness consists in the acquisition of spiritual wisdom.

Keep your vision on the Divine and lead your life in the world. This is the teaching of Swami. You need not renounce the world. You need not go after jobs like dogs hunting for crumbs. Stick to the job you have and take proper care of your family.

Students should realize that no one can escape the consequence of one's actions some time or other. Nevertheless, God's Grace can overcome a mountain of difficulties and sins.

Whatever strength one may possesses, without the strength of the Divine, he/she is a weakling. Why are you not taking the Swami's medicine?

Never forget God and simply do all daily duties, with God in your heart, as the witness.

By legend, more than three centuries ago in Northern India lived a Muslim boy called Mansur. From his childhood, he was constantly meditating on God. Although he belonged to a poor family, his parents wanted him to have a good education. Mansur had a pure unsullied heart filled with love and his only desire was to know his true Self.

The parents said that he should get educated to be able to earn a living. Mansur said, "Mother! Have I to study only for earning a living? Am I to waste my divine life for the sake of filling my belly?"

He walked out of his home. He was a young lad, but there was effulgence in his face. People seeing the effulgence on his face offered him things and food of their own accord.

Wherever he went, he was declaring, "I am God. I am God". This corresponds to the Vedantic declarations, "Aham Brahmaasmi" (I am Brahman). Some persons treated this declaration with ridicule. The elders reviled him and asked, "You little fellow! How do you claim you are God?"
Mansur's answer to them was, "I am uttering these words because I am God. There is the Divine energy in everyone.

Meanwhile the pandits (scholars) came together and observed, "We have studied all the Vedas and Scriptures. We dare not make a declaration of this kind. How did a young student dare to make such a claim?"

(Swami notes that it is not scriptural knowledge that confers the courage to make such a declaration. It is the faith in the heart).

The pandits came together and went in a body to complain to the king. "Oh king! In spite of all our knowledge, we are not able to declare that we are God. This illiterate fool goes about saying that he is God. Either he is a lunatic or an arrogant fellow." The pandits somehow wanted to put an end to this.

(Swami notes that it is the nature of the evil-minded to cause harm even to those who are innocent and good).

When the pandits complained to the king, the latter ordered the boy to be brought to him. When the King summoned Mansur, he declared, "I am God." The King drew the boy near him and tried to appeal to him in soft words, "Child! You are an ordinary human being. You are illiterate and ignorant. You should not boast that you are God." Mansur replied, "I am proclaiming the truth. I am God. You are God. All are God. The indweller in all is the one God.”

The King's words did not appeal to him. He said, "Oh King! You are seeking to divert me to a wrong path away from royal road."

The King got angry. "You are despising my words," he said. He summoned a doctor and ordered him to gouge the eyes of Mansur. "This will force him to remain in one place and he will not disturb others." The doctor took away the eyes of the boy. Nevertheless, he continued to shout in joy, "I am God, I am God". The boy was free from body consciousness. The king then summoned a butcher and asked him to cut off the hands of the boy. Continuing to laugh, he exclaimed: "I am God, I am God!"

The people in the audience hall could not bear to see the gruesome sight. However, there was no sign of grief on the face of the boy.

Seeing the determination of Mansur, the King ordered that his legs should be cut off. After this maiming, Mansur died. The blood flowing from his tortured limbs was proclaiming: "I am God. I am God." The dead body was cremated. From its ashes rose the cry "I am God. I am God."

The people were astonished at the phenomenon. The King felt repentant, but of what use is repentance after a grievous wrong had been committed?

Nothing lasts - the body, the mind, or senses. Only one's reputation survives him/her. Only Atma exists as unchangeable eternal witness in every one over the Maya reality what human beings call the existence of the Universe, including the life and whole history of humanity.

You can step out of your false identify into your true identify and can become the person you were born to be. You must stand on your own legs. You must depend on your own strength. Do not be carried away by what others say. Do not become a slave. Be a master.

* By Britannica Online Encyclopedia conscience a personal sense of the moral content of one's own conduct, intentions, or character with regard to a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. Conscience is conformity to one's sense of right conduct.

(Morality, concerns to the distinction good and evil, or right or wrong, or right or good conduct). Often used metaphors refer to the "voice of conscience" or "voice within."

Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. Any consideration of conscience must consider the estimate or determination of conscience and the resulting conviction or right or duty.

(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 2. "Primers of spiritual education," Chapter 23; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 5. "Dharma and dharmashaala" Chapter 12; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18. "The Victory," Chapter 17; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 25. "Parents and Teachers Must Set The Example," Chapter 11; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 29. "Make Swami's words your beacon-light," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 30. "Role of Sai Youth in World Crisis," Chapter 14; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 32 Part 2. "Seek God within," Chapter 14).

Namaste - Reet

Swami teaches... 1 - 3 October 2007

Part 1. The Beacon Light for Students, Teachers and Parents

What greater gift is there than the gift of food?
What greater deity is there than one's parents?
What greater morality is there than promoting the public good?
What righteousness can excel more than compassion?
Is there any gain superior to the company of the good?
Is there any disability worse than enmity?

Moderation is desirable in food and drinks and in exercise, both physical and spiritual; that is the best cure; then only can you advance in position.

However, as regards God, there is no question of over dose or under dose; any dose should be welcomed.

The Lord who is beyond time and space prior to the beginning and subsequent to the end can never be described in terms of the mushroom memories of human, the temporary phenomena of human family and human society.

Do not make God modern to suit your fancy. He is neither ancient nor modern; His countenance never changes, nor His Glory.

All life is as a process; the final initiation will be the ultimate initiation; the opportunity to reunite with the initial Source.

Worldly desires are the luggage in the journey of life. Why do you trouble yourself with 'heavy luggage,' when you are going to the abode of supreme peace?

Life is like a mega-clock. Its three hands indicate the rate at which the days, months, and the year are passing. Human rejoices in the movement of the clock's hands but does not realize that every movement is a reminder of his diminishing lifespan.

“In the practice of the Way every day something is dropped. Less and less do you need to force things until you finally arrive at non-action. When nothing is done nothing is left undone” (Lao-Tzu).
Hence, before the final hour strikes, every human should realize what his/her duties are and see that the remaining time is well spent.
Reduce your wants; minimize your desires. All these material knick-knacks are short-lived. During the lifetime, become rich rather in virtue, in the spirit of service, in devotion to the Higher Power.

Human is subject to Time and Time has no respect for wealth or position. Human is devoting all his/her time to worldly pursuits and the demands of the body.The heart, which is soft and compassionate by nature, has hardened into stone.

Bear in mind what Swami has declared many times in many places to the young and adult generation. The whole His Teaching is in fact His Declaration based on ancient scriptures, Vedic wisdom entwined with present conditions in Bharath and the whole world.

Now and always with the light of Swami's advice in your hearts, you can proceed on life's journey for any length of time.

Wealth once lost, can be regained;
A lost friend can be retraced;
A lost wife can be replaced;
A lost land can be recovered;
But the time that has gone cannot be recovered.

The night that has passed cannot be recalled by any means. The waters of the Yamuna, once they have merged in the ocean, cannot be turned back. A fruit that has been eaten and digested cannot be recovered.

In this vast cosmos and among the myriad species, human is the highest and noblest being. If a human loses basic human values as attributes of humanness, they cannot be easily regained.

At present time, in the whole world, all things have gone up in value; human alone has become cheap. Endowed with the costly gems of reason, discrimination, and detachment, human has allowed them to slip away and he/she is beset with dire poverty, as a consequence. Human is slaughtered in millions without any qualm, because of the terrific growth of anger, hate, and greed; he/she has forgotten unity with all people, all beings, and all worlds.

The contemplation of that unity alone can establish world peace, social peace and peace in the individual. All other efforts are like pouring sweet-scented rose water on a heap of ash, ineffective and foolish.

The piling up of atom bombs, the systematic amassing of weapons, cannot ensure peace. Without removing hatred from the heart and planting love therein, mere terror and counter-terror cannot establish cordiality and harmony.

As a rule, person's effort is so microscopic: but expectation of fruit is gigantic. How can this wish for peace be realized? Little has done to cleanse the mind of hate, but every one expects international peace tomorrow at dawn.

Today more and more people are able to see, to feel, to be aware that things cannot continue the way they are, especially from the ecological and social aspects.

In general, the prosperity and well-being of the world mainly depend on the awareness of the youth, their, conduct, character, knowledge and virtue.

The tree is based on the seed and the seed determines the nature of the tree. Similarly, the actions of youth depend on education and the state of integration educare in education they have to receive mainly from parents and teachers. (For the ills with which the nations are afflicted today, the parents and teachers are responsible in much).

It is the parents, who lead children to the highest levels or cause their fall to the lowest depths. When a child is born, the parents desire that he should be educated, encouraged to make as much money as possible there by whatever means. This is nearly all that they teach their children.

Parents, as a rule, do not teach the children to cultivate good qualities. They condone the lapses of the children and often encourage them in their bad habits. Parents don't correct the mistakes of their children or chastise them. Therefore, parents have to reform themselves. Today parents all over the countries are worried about the conduct of their children and are not at all happy. They lament about the behavior of their children, but do not realize that they are themselves to be blamed.

Pampering the children in various ways, they usually allowed going about like street dogs. How can such children be reformed? It is impossible. When wealth grows, arrogance increases and morality declines.

Education should not breed a class of parasites, who exploit others. It should help to promote good qualities.

Parents have the right to warn and correct their children. Why should they be afraid to do so?

A life based on the body and the senses is an animal existence. One who is totally dominated by the thoughts and fancies of the mind is a demon. One who ignores the calls of the body and the mind and follows the call of the spirit is Divine.

The animal, the demonic, and the Divine possibilities are immanent in the human condition. For these three kinds of behavior, the parents and teachers are responsible in much.

However, not wealth and riches are important for human being. Following Dharma, faith, character, and Love of God - they are primary for everyone.

Krishna told Arjuna that he should consider God and Dharma (Righteousness) as most important. Because the Pandavas adhered to Righteousness and had firm faith in God, they could ultimately enjoy all prosperity and happiness. Because of their Love

for God, they could bear with fortitude all troubles and difficulties. What was the fate of the Kauravas who ignored God? Not one of Dhritharashtra's hundred sons survived. Despite all the resources, they had and the valiant commanders who were on their side, God was not on their side.

This is the purpose, why Swami pays much attention to the teaching of integral Knowledge based on educare. What is integral knowledge?

"The integral Knowledge is something that is already there in integral Reality: it is not a new or still non-existing thing that has to be created, acquired, learned, invented or built up by the mind; it must rather be discovered or uncovered, it is a Truth that is self-revealed to a spiritual endeavor: for it is there veiled in our deeper and greater self; it is the very stuff of our own spiritual consciousness, and it is by awaking to it even in our surface self that we have to possess it" (Aurobindo, The Life Divine).

In days of yore, the people of Bharath earned name and fame by their high level of spiritual culture. Vedas, the great epics the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavata, bring out the quintessence of human nature.

Sanathana Dharma (Eternal Religion) will certainly rise in splendor in Bharath. It teaches human to investigate the truth about him/her and the world. Is that not the most proper thing for human to do?

Bharath is the country that propagates spiritual knowledge to the rest of the world and wishes the welfare of the entire world - Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu (may the whole world be happy)!

/In the word Bharath, 'bha' refers to bhava (feeling), 'ra' refers to raga (tune), and 'ta' connotes tala (rhythm). Bharatiyas are those who worship God, harmonizing the three: bhava, raga, and tala. 'Bha' also stands for effulgence. So, Bharatiyas are those who are in pursuit of divine effulgence/.

Indian subcontinent knew that the secret of peace lay in service and love towards all beings. The culture of this land proclaimed that the best form of service is to foster the practitioners of the good life, the sages, and spiritual aspirants.

Do not decry the servants of God; do not obstruct the charity of the generous; do not discourage the study of the scriptures even if you cannot positively promote any of these; that is the lesson taught in this land.

In this land where Meera (Princess of Rajastan and queen of Chittor; devoted to Krishna), Jayadeva (Sanskrit poet; wrote the Gita Govinda, which describes the early life of Krishna), Valmiki (the saint-poet who wrote the Ramayana),Thyagaraja (18th and 19th century mystic singer/ composer), Ramdas (Maratha 17th century saint; author of work on religious duty; guru of the great King Sivaji), and Tukaram (well-known Maratha 17th century writer), by their intense yearning and fortitude, showed the path of achieving lasting joy.

The four Maha-vakyas (great truths) which the Vedas proclaim, announce that all this is Brahmam, one unitary uniform substance, appearing only to the diseased eye as many. Aham Brahmasmi - "I am Brahman" - you must assert; then, you transmute yourself into sons of Immortality.

Queen Madhalasa gave birth to four sons. From the time the child was in the cradle, she taught the child the ideal of renunciation and a lullaby for the child, treating Pranava mantra as the cradle, the Maha-vakya "Thathvam-asi" (Thou art That) as the bed, Awareness as the cord drawing the cradle. The four Vedas were the chains for the cradle.

In olden days, after the disciples had completed their education and before they entered the life of householders, they stood before the preceptor to receive words of advice from him. (This was similar to the convocations held these days).

The great teacher, Adi Sankaracharya, was the child of parents who were highly virtuous and noble in their conduct. For the great name attained by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, the credit goes to their parents. Many great men achieved name and fame by following in the footsteps of their parents.

If Gandhi, who was an ordinary person, was able to achieve greatness and world renown, it was because of the lessons in good behavior, which he learnt from his mother.

In his childhood, Gandhi used to be full of fear. There was a maid in his home called Rambha. Gandhi disclosed to her how he was always afraid. Rambha told him: "Child, always recite the name of Rama. By chanting Rama's name, your fear will go away." (The habit of reciting Rama's name, which began in his boyhood, continued fight up to the moment of his passing).

When Gandhi was twenty-four years old, he proceeded to South Africa at the invitation of an Indian Business House to conduct a Court case. There he witnessed the humiliation being heaped upon Indian settlers by the whites.

Gandhi stayed on among the oppressed Indians and native blacks and devised the strategy of Sathyagraha (passive resistance or civil disobedience) to end the exploitation. When the movement showed signs of quick success, General Smuts invited Gandhi for discussion. Gandhi explained to him that he had to resort to non-violent Sathyagraha since the inhuman policy of insulting and injuring humans having black skins had to be resisted and exterminated.

General Smuts retorted by pointing out to Gandhi how millions of Indians - human beings like the rest - were kept out of villages and condemned as untouchables.

The General's word acted as a bullet shot right at the heart of Gandhi. Gandhi felt that he had no right to correct another while he was himself infected with the same evil. He decided to return to India and practice the strategy of Sathyagraha for the removal of untouchability and other social evils and to free his Motherland from exploitation by foreigners.

Gandhiji was able to achieve his aim of winning the country's freedom by non-violent means. For such a life of purity and virtue, the parents were primarily responsible. Gandhi was hailed as the Father of the Nation.

Gandhi declared, "Carefully watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they have become your habits. Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny" (Mahatma Gandhi).

Speech is always important for human whether for experiencing loss or gain, prosperity or adversity or pain and pleasure.

Through the power of speech human is able to conquer kingdoms. Through speech human can to lose all wealth. Human acquires kinsmen and friends through speech and loses them also by his/her words. Through words, again, human can lose his/her life. Words are the root cause of all these happenings.