It is highly necessary to understand the philosophy of Vedanta and act accordingly. Today students’ promises, words and behaviour are as though they have understood the Vedantic principles, but they disappear whenever there is a chance to violate them. A student resolves to follow discipline. He decides not to back out on that at any point of time. But when the test of time comes he changes completely. A small example. One day all the deer in the forest held a conference. What was the meeting agenda? Do dogs have the capability which we have? If we kick a dog correctly all its intestines will come out. Our tiny legs have that power. Do dogs have such power? Dogs can’t run at the speed with which we run. Are we any way less compared to dogs in our speed? If necessary we fly in the air. Dogs can’t fly. If we compare our qualifications with that of dogs, we are better qualified than dogs. Then why should we be afraid of the dogs? Hence from today onwards we should not be afraid of the dogs. We should face them with all our strength and fight back. Thus they decided and out of merriment they clapped. A dog somewhere in the distance shouted loudly hearing their claps. No sooner did these deer hear the sound of the dog, than all of them disappeared. All of them fled the place. They could not implement in practice whatever they decided in the meeting.
This is the nature and scenario of philosophy and behaviour of people. You should try to experience and practice what you have heard. Today there are talks on spirituality and philosophy everywhere. It is needless to say about the preaching of the Gita. Everyone gives a commentary on the Gita! Are they preaching the Gita after a clear understanding of it or not? What is the significance of the Gita? No one seems to have understood this. What is the most important and standard principle expounded by the Gita. No scholar is trying to comprehend this.
A great preacher of Gita, once upon a time, thought that it would be good if he gains the recognition of the king of the country with his knowledge of the Gita rather than the common people. It was also becoming difficult for him to manage his house with the meager income he was getting out of preaching Gita in front of the common people. He wanted to be recognised by the king. He thought it would be good if he aims at a lion and misses it rather than targeting a jackal and hunting it. He resolved to meet the king and impress him rather than giving talks in front of the common people. He went to the king. The king was no ordinary person. He used to practice the teachings expounded in the Gita. He used to read the text and had memorised all the stanzas and experienced it to some extent. Like a pot full of water which does not shake, he never mentioned to anyone about his knowledge of the Gita. Not even the ministers were aware that the king had such knowledge of the Gita. In such a scenario this scholar went inside the king’s court wrapping a shawl with the book of Gita in his hand. The minister came and informed the king that the scholar had come and had been waiting for him. The king sent the minister to ask the scholar as to why he came to see the king. The scholar answered, “I have been eking my livelihood by preaching the Gita. My family is dependent on whatever I earn out of this. I don’t have any other source of income or job. I preach the Gita and with the income I earn out of it. I am leading a life of happiness.”
The king conveyed through the minister that the scholar did not understand the meaning of the Gita completely and that he should come back after a clear comprehension of the message of the Gita. The scholar thought, “I have been preaching the Gita for the past 10 to 15 years and the king says that I don’t know anything. The king himself does not know anything.” After 10 days he went back to the king and he got a similar reply. The scholar did not understand completely and hence he had to go back and come again later. Thus the king sent the scholar back 5 times. The scholar got angry. He was dissatisfied with the behaviour of the king. He got vexed and went back home. He threw the book away and lied on the bed dejected. His wife came to him and asked as to what the king had said, “What is the reason for your sadness?” He shouted back at her. But she went on asking questions. The scholar shouted at her and said he had no mood to answer all her questions. She understood her husband’s dissatisfaction. She went into the kitchen, made some Upma, coffee and brought them to her husband. No one else other than women know how to pacify angry husbands! She served them to her husband. He had his coffee and got relieved a little. She sat next to her husband, took a hand fan and started waving it. She then asked him again as to what the king had said. He said, “I have been preaching the Gita for so many years. All those who listened to me praised me saying that they had never heard such commentary on Gita any time. But the king sent a word through the minister that I don’t know Gita. What an insult to me! Our government has conferred titles such as Padma Shri, Vedanta Ratna, Bhagavad Gita Samrat, etc. When I was conferred so many titles, how come this king insult me this way? Had he been a civilian I would have hit him holding his hair.” Thus he spoke of his greatness, scholarship and merit in many ways in front of his wife. Then his wife told him slowly. She said that the king has spoken truth. He fired back saying, “Have you gone mad? How come the king spoke truth? Don’t I know Bhagavad Gita”. Thus he spoke angrily with his wife. She responded, “Revered husband, how much ever angry you may be with me, how much ever you scold me, I wish to speak the truth like the king. I have been observing you for the past 15 years. I listened to your lectures heartily. Did you reflect on what Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Gita?”
Teshaam Nityambhiyuktanaam Yogakshemam Vahaamyaham”
(Whoever contemplates on Me in whatever way, I shall take care of their welfare. Not only this, I promise to liberate them.)
“If you really have faith in the God who spoke this, why should you go to the king. Can’t God take care of our welfare? Why did you go to the king for the sake of money? What did you learn from the Gita? You have been preaching the Gita, but you don’t have faith in the words of God. You don’t know Gita.” She spoke thus and he felt very sad about it. He understood the truth.
Everyone preaches that God spoke all this and God spoke thus, but no one is interested in practicing the words of God. Because of the increase in such teachings which are grand in words and involving less of practice, the value of spirituality is going down. Thoughts that come out of the heart and words that come out of mouth should be put into practice. Only when there is such cohesion among thoughts, words and deeds, Truth manifests truly.
Students! We don’t need to struggle to grow grass. But to grow food grains we have to struggle a lot. It is no great deal enjoying useless sensory and worldly pursuits. All this is equivalent to grass. We have to struggle a lot to experience the Divine and the glorious love of God. No one seems to struggle for that. Everyone seems to be devoted. For the beetle that moves inside the mud, the mud does not get stuck to it. If mud gets stuck to it, it is not a beetle at all. (Telugu saying) The one, who truly understands Divinity, is not bothered by the worldly things. Only to spend time you are involving yourself in the spiritual practices, but you are not realising that this forms the road map to attain the eternal Truth.
Don’t Waste Time
Worldly pursuits are necessary for worldly life. But you should never forget the everlasting pursuit and goal of life. Life is not just living but it is a permanent way to realise the true nature. Of whatever little you know, try to put into practice at least one or two things and believe that they are important for life. Try to reflect on them for sometime in the day. You are wasting a lot of time everyday in selfish and self-fulfilling pursuits. You are not able to spend at least 5 minutes for God. What is this tragedy? Why such bad thoughts? Such evil thoughts do not take man to higher levels. The one who is involved in evil activities is truly blind despite all his education. What is untouchable? The pain caused by indebtedness is untouchable. You should not surrender to any one at any cost. You should gain self-sufficiency in all respects. This has to be achieved only through love for God. Without love for God, you can’t control the nature.
You are merely an Instrument in God’s Hands
Ravana aspired for Sita forgetting Rama. You should not aspire only for Nature forgetting God. Whose property is this Nature? Is it your property? It is God’s property. If you satisfy God, Nature automatically comes under your control. No man understands this secret. Man takes pride that he achieved something with his strength and education. That is not your strength. Divine power internally drives you and ensures you act in such a way.
Once upon a time Arjuna took pride that he had secured Gandiva (the celestial bow) with all his strength and power and he won all battles with his might and valour. When Krishna left His mortal coil, Arjuna was taking the women of Dwaraka to Hastinapuram. On the way he was attacked by the tribals who could easily outdo Arjuna. That time he could not set his bow to fight back at them. Then he said to himself, “What a fool I am! All my might and valour is the sheer grace of Lord Krishna. I have been a spectator and recipient of it.” Krishna used to tell Arjuna, “Nimitta Maatram Bhava Savyasaachi.” (Arjuna, just be My instrument).
Hence all men are mere instruments of the Divine. Everyone has to discharge his duties leaving the result to God. To try is the duty of man. Victory and defeat are in God’s hands. Man should not even feel that he is doing. He should think that the Lord in me is making me do all this. He is making me play this role.
Hence, the last one is bliss. And the first one is faith. Only to the one who has faith, bliss will ensue. There is no bliss for the one who has no faith. Hence having the name of the Lord on your lips, improving your self- confidence, develop the love within your hearts.
Source: Discourse 6, My Dear Students Volume 3; Divine Discourse delivered on June 27, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students, Prasanthi Nilayam
No comments:
Post a Comment