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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
March 11, 2001
Talk by Anil Kumar on March 11th, 2001
"Snacks for the Soul"
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Food For Body And Mind
The body requires food with a gap of four hours in-between. We
like to have breakfast and we prefer lunch; thereafter, afternoon
tea and then dinner. At regular intervals, we have food for the
body. The mind is continuously fed with our intervention or
without our choice. Mind is always busy. It is full of thoughts,
whether I'm at work or not, whether I'm asleep or I'm awake.
The mind is always at work. Mind is not only fed with the thought
of the moment. It is also fed by thoughts of the past, whereas the
body requires food only in the present. You cannot ask me to have
my food tomorrow when I am hungry today.
Give Food When Required
The other day Swami said, "When I'm talking like this, all cannot
follow. So let Me get up." I said, "No, Swami, You don't have to
get up. Others may not follow You, but they see You. They'll have
this Darshan for a long time and it gives them happiness. Not only
that, but we explain to the boys who cannot follow and I also
write it down and pass it on for them to read." That's what I said.
But Bhagavan is ultimate in every conversation. And we're always
penultimate even if we strive hard. Ours will never be the last
word, you can take it from me! Immediately He laughed and said,
"Oh, you write and pass it on? When are you going to write, when
are they going to read, and when are they going to know?"
He gave one example. In India the Annual Ceremony (death
anniversary) is done in a grand way. I am speaking of the obituary,
the death of the father or the death of the mother. They invite
all relations and the feeding goes on in a grand way.
Swami gave that example: "A fellow comes to you for food, saying
that he's very hungry. Then you turn him out saying, "Come the
day-after-tomorrow because we'll have Annual Day ceremony at our
residence." It should not be like that. You should be fed when you
are hungry. Similarly, when are you going to write? When are they
going to read?" That's what Bhagavan said.
Three Types Of Food Of The Mind
So, my friends, food for the body should be given when it is
required, when what we relish and prefer is readily available,
whereas the food for the mind is ever ready. The food of the past,
the food of the present and the food of the future, by way of
worry and anxiety, is the food of the mind.
Repentance, regrets, they all relate to the past food. Marry in
haste and regret it later. So, all repentance and regrets belong
to the past. That is the past food of the mind.
After ten years, when I fall sick, what will happen? After 15
years, when I don't have any money in the bank, when nobody will
look at me, what will happen? After 20 years, when I fall sick,
who will take care of me? Where is the guarantee that you'll be
surviving till tomorrow morning? So, the thought of the future is
worry and anxiety, which is the food of the mind.
So mind has got the food of three types: past, present, and
future, whereas the body needs the food in the present only. The
body is not happy by thinking of the food of the past. "Last week
I enjoyed and I liked pizza – the foreigner's canteen made very
good pizza! Well, I liked it!" "So, Anil Kumar, be happy with the
pizza that you ate last week!" "Oh, I'm sorry, no, no, no! I want
it now!"
An Over-fed Mind
So similarly, my friends, the body requires the food now, in the
present, whereas the mind has got the food of the past, has also
ready-made food of the future (in the form of worries and
anxieties), and has food (thinks) in the present. So mind is
always engaged. It is a gluten, eating too much of that which is
the past, present and future.
Any doctor will tell you that the one who is over-fed, the one who
over-eats, suffers from all kinds of health problems. First, he'll
put on weight, and then he will feel the heaviness of his weight.
After will come many health problems.
Similarly, the over-fed mind is giving us psychological or mental
problems to begin with, leading to physical ailments subsequently.
So, the physical problems are the product of mental problems. The
mental problems are because of the over-feeding of the mind.
Now Swami was talking to one student yesterday. Swami asked him to
distribute some pens to the boys. This student has got a heavy
body. Swami put His hand like that and watched him. Really, He had
a mischievous smile - well, Swami's silence speaks all. His
silence is a speech, whereas our speech is rather not at all
preferred, but we may shine by silence. Well, Bhagavan's silence,
Bhagavan's gestures speak eloquently!
He had put His hand out and was watching that man. I'm watching
that man and Swami. That Divine Romance! 'Let me see what will
happen.' Swami softly said, "Hmm... See, he finds it very
difficult to bend and distribute the pens. I'll make him
distribute like that for ten days, then he'll be all right! Good!
(Laughter) If I ask that student for ten days to distribute pens
like that, bending and giving like that, oh, it will be very good
exercise!"
Dieting For The Mind
So, when the weight of the body is more, when it is in excess,
dieting is necessary. Exercise is necessary. Physical exercises
are necessary. Dieting is necessary if we want to keep our bodies
slim and trim and active. If we don't do exercises, and if we don't
maintain our diet, the body will grow beyond all estimates and we
will become a burden to ourselves.
Similarly, the mind also needs some kind of dieting. For the body,
I cannot eat everything that I like. If I eat more and more of
oily stuff, more of starch, well...! (You can imagine the result!)
Only this morning Swami was telling us, "I eat chapatis (Indian
flat bread). I like chapatis. Anil Kumar, do you know how to make
chapatis? (Laughter) I'll take you with Me wherever I go. It is
enough if you make chapatis for Me!"
What can I say? "Swami, I know only one thing." "What is that?"
Swami asked. "To make instant coffee! (Laughter) I know how to
make instant coffee, but I don't know how to make chapatis!" "You
should learn it. After all, I eat only dry chapatis. I don't need
oil. No. I only like dry chapatis. And I don't mix it with potato
curry. I don't like it. I don't want potato curry."
"Oh Swami, potato curry is excellent. It goes well." "Hey, what
excellent? Starchy! Potato is full of starch and you'll put on
weight! So, I don't like potato curry. I don't want oil. I prefer
dry chapatis." That's what Bhagavan said. Therefore, while eating,
we should have some restrictions as to what to eat and what not to
eat.
And Bhagavan was telling us the other day: "Till this day, I don't
know how a sweet tastes. There are so many sweets: Laddus and
Mysore Paks, so many sweets. You can verify the list in the
canteen! Bhagavan distributes so many sweets and to this day I
have not tasted any sweet!"
"Swami, then You have missed something in life!" (Laughter) "Oh
no! I have not missed anything because sweets spoil your health.
See, so many people, I performed their marriages and they have
their children. They are still very, very young, younger than Me
by at least 30 years! But each fellow has developed this stomach
shaped like a question mark. It's projecting like that - ? - so
that they don't need to have any writing pad or table! They can
put the paper right onto their stomach! They have put on weight
like that. Why? Because they eat indiscriminately."
Because we eat indiscriminately, without observing any diet
control - the oily stuff, the potatoes and the onions, and all
this - that would all contribute to the heaviness of the body, the
weight of the body. So, we should not eat just anything that is
available. We cannot eat indiscriminately if we want to remain
slim and trim.
Daily body exercise is very necessary. Bhagavan says, "I go around
the cot (bed) 25 times a day." "Oh Swami, you eat after all only
one spoonful of rice, and if you go around 25 times for a spoon of
rice, then I should never sit! I should go on moving all the 24
hours! For all the 24 hours, I go on eating - all the stuff I
consume!" "No, no, that's a different matter. Exercise is very
necessary," Bhagavan said.
Similarly, for the mind also some dieting is necessary. The mind
needs good thoughts for its food. We cannot entertain the oily
thoughts of the past. We cannot entertain any stuff like potato,
which stands for the thoughts of the future, in the mind. So, the
mind also needs some dieting. Good thoughts are the food for the
mind. It has got to be controlled. It has got to be under check.
Exercise For The Mind
Secondly, just as the body requires exercise, the mind also
requires exercise. What is that exercise for the mind? Exercise
for the mind is called meditation: controlled thoughts; not giving
scope to bad thoughts; not entertaining evil thoughts; and not
entertaining any other thoughts. To remain peaceful is dieting.
So, dieting is necessary for the mind, so the mind can be alert.
Bhagavan gave one example: "The one who doesn't maintain this kind
of discipline of the mind, this kind of regulation of thought of
the mind, what will happen? He turns mad! He turns mad because he
has no control over his mind. That's the reason why we find many
of the scientists become mad towards the end."
Because the mind is full of thoughts, continuous thoughts,
strenuous thoughts, repeated thoughts, anxieties, worries,
agitations, disturbances about the self, about the family members,
about the profession, about all occasions, about vocations, so the
mind has no freeness. Mind has nothing like rest. Mind is working
restlessly.
As the mind is working restlessly, when the body is admitted in
the hospital, the doctors give you some kind of sedative so that
you'll just lie down. They'll make the mind free from that
restlessness so the body can be treated better. Therefore, doctors
put your mind to rest by putting it under sedation.
But, if we control our mind in full awareness, in full
consciousness, by our own effort, it becomes spiritual. If the
mind comes to rest by the doctor, it is medical treatment. But if
everyone of us keeps the mind at rest in full alertness, in a
wakeful state, by attempt or effort, it is called spiritual
meditation.
So, my friends, meditation is giving rest to the mind. By our
willful act, by our own act or effort, we arre spiritually giving
the mind rest. So, this sort of dieting, this sort of exercise is
necessary to the mind as much as it is to the body. When these two
go together, following the discipline well, then the intellect
will be sharp.
Most often the intellect is subdued. Most often the intellect is
always hidden. Most usually the intellect is not used because the
intellect is covered by the garbage of thought and food. The
intellect is covered by garbage. Heaps and heaps of dust of
thoughts cover the intellect. Thus, intellect is underneath. So
once the body and mind are under control, the garbage of the
thought, the ugliness of the future, the dirt of the past, can be
simply cleansed.
Mind can be put under rest and the body under total control when
the intellect gets enlivened. The intellect gets energized. The
intellect gets illumined. In that state of illumination of
intellect, in that state of alertness of the intellect, one can
exercise discrimination. When once the discrimination is
exercised, you're closer and closer, nearer and nearer, dearer and
dearer to God.
Why are we not near God? Why are we not closer to God? It is only
because we have not made use of our intellect and therefore we
have not been able to exercise discrimination. Why? Because the
intellect is lying beneath and it is covered by these thoughts of
past and future.
'Snacks' For The Soul
So these are the things that I want to bring to your attention
this morning. It is something like 'snacks' for the soul. For the
body, we have enough snacks. We have got the bread, jam, butter
and cheese ready, ready, ever ready! But we also need some snacks
for the soul.
The soul is undernourished. The soul is under malnutrition. The
soul has become so weak. The soul is not active and healthy.
That's the reason why we are bankrupt. That's the reason why we
are unhealthy. That's the reason why we're weak, mentally weak,
because of too much thought; physically weak because there is no
control of our diet.
Therefore the soul is also very, very weak. So, I thought that I
should share with you and supply a few 'snacks' for the soul,
free-of-cost! Yes! There is no counter and there is no computer to
make the bill either! Here are a few thoughts - a few 'snacks' for
the soul.
The Best City: Simplicity!
The first thing is this: Some people are always in a dilemma as to
where to settle after retirement. Before retirement itself they
think like this: 'Ten years ahead, after retirement, where should
I settle?' Where is the guarantee that you'll stay till then? No
guarantees! Then, after retirement, 'Shall I stay with my son or
my daughter or on my own? Where? South India, North India or with
children abroad to be ideal babysitters?' (Most of the parents who
stay with their children abroad are excellent, ideal baby-sitters!
That's all. Nothing to do. What is it that we can do at this age?)
So, where to settle? Well, after retirement, I can go to a number
of movies. Yes, I can go to the Holiday Inn or a cafeteria like
MacDonalds. And why not, because now I am on my own. This is the
first question in 'snacks' for the soul:
Which is the best city in the world for us to settle in? New York
or Chicago or Hollywood? Which is the best city? The soul tells
'Simple-city' (Simplicity) - not the other city! The best city for
us to settle in is the 'city' of Simplicity. Why? Because this
simplicity is a must.
I may be in Puttaparthi, leading a posh life. We find many people
leading a posh, high-class life in Puttaparthi, a spiritual
center. So, that is not spiritual life. Geographically,
space-wise, he may be in a village. But his life is a city life.
His settlement is rural, but his life is urban, and he is neither!
But, wherever you are, urban or rural, the best city you can think
of is 'simplicity'.
The Farthest Place: The Hour Just Past
The second snack: Which is the farthest place on earth? Argentina?
Is that the farthest place from India? Or Venezuela? This question
is given from the point of view of distance. So from the point of
distance, Venezuela is not farthest. The moment I think of
Venezuela, it is here now, very near.
A simple example: Bhagavan said, "You may be sitting in front of
Me. But when once you think of your people elsewhere, though you
may be very close, very near, but you are far off from Me because
your mind is thinking of something different." So, when the mind
thinks of something different, you may be physically near, but you
are far off.
You may be in America or U.K. But when you think of Swami, you are
near Him. You may be at a distance geographically, you may be at a
distance by way of space and time, but when you think of Swami,
you are at His Feet. You may be very near Him, but if I think of
my travel arrangements, if I think of my travel agents, if I think
of my reservation tickets, I may be near Him, but I am far off
from Him.
So, what is the farthest place on earth? The answer is the hour
that is just over (past) is the farthest place. Why? You can get
money if you want. You can occupy a position if you try. You can
have relations. They will naturally come if you have money and
position. You don't have to bother about it. You can have
everything in life. But an hour that is past - the bygone days -
will never come back! That is farthest.
Complicated Things Said In Simple Way
Yesterday Bhagavan told us some very important things. My friends,
I am not tired of repeating certain important statements from time
to time. Why? Because that is my professional habit and secondly,
it is a self-reminder. I am reminding myself what Bhagavan has
said.
What did He say? The most complicated things are said in the
simplest way only by an Avatar. It is only an Avatar who can
convey the most complicated things in the simplest way possible.
In that way, Bhagavan is the greatest of the Avatars. The Avatar
of Avatars, if I can say that. He was telling us yesterday a
simple sentence that even a nursery child can understand. However,
it is very difficult to practice. What did He say?
Act On Good Thoughts Immediately
"Whenever you think of anything good - act immediately! But when
anything bad comes, take time. Take time when anything bad gets
into your head. When anything good is there, do it immediately."
"Swami, why?" I put that question to Him, taking a risk. (At the
most, He'll say, "Shut up! Sit down! Wait, wait." He may tell me
to sit down. Good! Why not? It doesn't matter. It's worth trying!)
(Laughter)
He gives the answer out of Love and I am benefited, my friends are
benefited, and my students are benefited. If I'm asked to keep
quiet, well, I can meditate. I can think of those things that I
heard earlier. In both of the cases, I am profited. And I will
never feel insulted if Swami answers like that. There is no
question of insult. After all, instead of being told by others, by
any Tom, Dick and Harry, by any X-Y-Z-fit-for-nothing fellows, it
is better to be pointed out by Bhagavan, the Father and Mother,
Teacher and God. Why not? It is worth it.
"Swami, why do You say that?" That is the question. Why should I
act immediately when anything good gets into my mind? And why
should I postpone anything bad that gets into my head?
Swami gave an example. You see, it seems a big meeting was
convened to raise funds. One fellow announced his 1,000 rupees
donation or contribution. His neighbor thought, 'When he gives
1,000 rupees, how about my prestige, my dignity? I will give 1,500
rupees!' Well, that was announced. Like this, people went on
publishing, announcing and declaring their contributions in
competition with each other.
The next day, the man in charge visited them at their residences
to collect the money. The fellow who announced 2,000 rupees
started speaking like this: "Did I say 2,000 rupees? I don't
remember. (Laughter) Sit down, sit down! Let me go get the money."
By the time he had gone into his room, he had decided to pay 1,500
rupees only. When he opened the almirah (closet or cupboard) he
thought, 'Why pay 1,500 rupees when 1,160 rupees is good enough.'
When he was about to take out the cash, his wife came and said,
"160 rupees is enough. Why give 1,160 rupees?" (Laughter) So,
though the announcement was 2,000 rupees, the final payment was
only 160 rupees.
Instead of announcing like that, when you decide to give - give
immediately! When you decide to do good - do it immediately! But
if you take time, you may reverse your idea. You may change your
idea and you may go back on the promise you have given. You may
not fulfil your promise.
Don't Act On Bad Thoughts Immediately
Similarly, about doing anything bad, most of you must have heard
the story of Ramayana. In the story of Ramayana, Ravana kidnapped
Sita. He abducted Sita without the knowledge of Rama. He simply
kidnapped her in disguise.
Towards the end of his life, Ravana said, "The moment I got this
idea of abduction or kidnapping, I should have taken some time.
But I acted in haste. Because I acted in a hurry, what happened? I
was a total failure. Today you find me on my deathbed. This is
because I acted immediately upon the bad idea that had come into
my mind." Baba said this also yesterday.
So, "do not act immediately whenever anything bad gets into your
head. But take steps immediately when any good idea gets into your
mind." That's what Bhagavan said.
Secret Of A Carefree Life
What is the secret of a carefree life? 'Snacks' for the soul is
what we are talking about. A carefree life! Everybody wants to be
carefree. Yes, if things take care of themselves, we'll be very
happy.
There is a small anecdote here: It seems Jesus Christ and some of
his disciples were travelling by ship. Suddenly there was a storm.
There was turbulence in the entire sea and the ship was tossing
heavily. People started running on the ship, thinking the ship may
sink any moment. They may die unhonored, unwept for, unsung,
unnoticed. They were very much worried.
Yet one disciple said, "Oh, don't worry! Why do you cry and why
are you so sad? It is true that the ship is tossing. It is true
that the sea is turbulent. It is true that the waves are rising
high. But, my friends! Be sure nothing will happen. Why? The Lord
Jesus Christ is sleeping here on the deck of this ship. So, this
ship will never sink because Christ is with us."
To be carefree, we should know that Baba is with us. The ship of
life of every one of us is passing through the ocean of misery, of
sadness, of unhappiness, of tension, of agitation, and the ship of
life may sink in this ocean, this turbulent ocean with agitated
waves. Well, the ship is never safe. But with Baba sleeping on the
deck of the ship of our life, we'll have 'Bon Voyage', a safe and
secure journey. Therefore, what is the secret of a carefree life?
It is to walk with God today and trust Him for tomorrow. Why? He
will take care of your tomorrow if you walk with Him today.
But we say, "We'll walk with You tomorrow, when necessary. I'll
walk in my own way today." So, when you want to walk with Him
tomorrow, that tomorrow may not come at all. And tomorrow, when
the problem is there, when you want to walk with Him, your body
may not cooperate. You may be unconscious in the hospital!
So, when you are aware, when you are alert, when you are awake,
when you are healthy, when you are perfect, when you're physically
strong, walk with Him today and trust Him for your tomorrow. That
is the secret for a carefree life!
Atonement For Sins: Walk With God Today
On the seventh of this month, I asked Bhagavan the following
question: "Bhagavan, it is true that we have committed sins. Not
only committed, we may even be committing sins now. Not only
committing, we might even commit sins in the future. Is there no
salvation then? Is there no solution then? Is there no atonement
for our sins? Can we atone for our sins? Is there any solution?"
Then Bhagavan said, "For every problem, there is a solution." "I
see, then we can be hopeful!" If we say, "You committed a sin! Get
out, get lost!" "OK, well, I can't help it. But if You give me
some solution, a ray of hope, I'll be happy Swami!"
"Can we atone for our sins?" That is the question I asked.
Immediately Bhagavan said, "When you are suffering from diabetes,
and if you control your diet and take your medicines and do your
daily exercise, the sugar will be under control. This diabetes is
the 'sin', but exercise and medicine is the solution." Similarly,
for all the sins, we have a solution. What is the solution? That
is, to walk with God today and trust Him for tomorrow.
The Present is The Cash In Hand
Here is another one: "Use it wisely and well." What is it that we
have to use 'wisely and well'? We think we are using it wisely.
No, no, no! We are thinking that we are using our life wisely. No,
no, certainly not! We are thinking that we are making use of our
life well. No, no!
How to make use of life well? How to make use of life perfectly
well? What is the way? Here it is. We are living in an age of
money, whether you believe it or not. People are respected because
of money. People are valued because of money. Therefore, this
example is given with these times as a background.
What is it that has to be used wisely and well? The answer is
this: the past is a cancelled check. If I give you a cancelled
check, can you draw money? No. So, past is a cancelled check - all
that is gone. Future is a promissory note, a promissory note for
the future. We don't know whether we can get the money or not. We
don't know whether the fellow who gave the promissory note will
live or not. There are no guarantees. The present is the only cash
in hand. Present is the cash in hand; future is a promissory note;
and past is a cancelled check.
So, what is it that we should use well? We should use well the
cash in the present. We have to make use of the present. We have
to make use of Bhagavan, His message, His Darshan, His talks, His
smiles, and our opportunities of His padnamaskar. This is the cash
in hand in the present.
Some people say, "All right, I shall try on my next trip," which
may not happen in this lifetime. Or "I am in a hurry to go today.
On my next trip I shall try." Next trip where? Who is going to
make the trip? Nobody can say. So, present is the cash in hand -
better you make use of it!
Getting Along With Others
Next, when you find that you cannot get along well with others,
what to do? This is our question. We cannot get along well with
others, for others are 'others' always. One fellow said, "Sir, I
stood in the university first (meaning, first place)." "Oh,
wonderful! Congratulations! How many students are there in your
class?" "I'm the only candidate." (Laughter) He's the only one
candidate appearing for the examination, so he stood first in the
university! So, my friends, only when there are two, then there is
a problem of university - first place, and university - second
place.
As long as we work with others, as long as we are in the company
of others, the problem always arises: to get along well or not?
"I'm not able to get along well with my colleagues." "Oh, I see!
You don't know that they are not able to get along well with
you?!" Or "I cannot get along well with my neighbors." "Oh! They
are waiting for you to vacate!" So, I am a problem to you and you
are a problem to me, and both of us are problems to the remaining!
This has been a persistent problem.
So, when we cannot get along with others, what shall we do? The
answer is simple: Do not blame them! Find the fault in yourself,
but never blame anybody! Find the fault in yourself. What a
wonderful statement Swami made long ago! It is said in the Holy
Bible, "Judge not lest thou shalt be judged." If you go on judging
everybody, everyone will judge you. In fact, judgement is one of
the weaknesses. We should never judge anybody.
"So-and-so is bad." How do you know he is bad unless you are bad?
"So-and-so is crooked." How do you know unless you are? My
friends, never judge! Why? Because Swami says, "Whatever you find
outside is nothing but a reflection of the inner being."
Christ never sees anything bad in anybody because he is all
goodness. Christ is the very personification of Love. Christ is
all-sacrifice. So, wherever he moves, whomsoever he sees, he finds
only Consciousness, he finds only Love, He finds only compassion,
nothing else.
So, my friends, when we cannot get along with our colleagues, when
we cannot get along well with others, what we should learn today
is not to blame others, but to find fault within ourselves. So,
Baba says we should seek out our own faults and other's merits.
Find out your own faults, and other's merits! Then everything will
be all right and perfect.
Remember Two Things And Forget Two Things
Bhagavan further said, "Remember two things and forget two
things." "Oh I see! What should I remember?" "Two things to always
remember are to remember always whatever harm you have done to
others, so that you don't repeat it and so that you don't harm
anybody. The second one is, you should always remember the good
that others have done to you so you'll always be grateful. It is
so that you'll be encouraged to do good to others." So the two
points to remember are the harm you have done to others and the
good that others have done to you.
What are the two things to forget? Forget the good that you have
done to others. Forget it because, if you remember always the good
you have done to others, there arises expectation. There arises an
expectation of gratitude. There arises the desire for a fruit in
return for the good you have done to others. You want a favor from
them. You want them to be obliged to you throughout.
On the other hand, "Sir! You have helped me a lot!" "Oh, did I?
Well, I don't remember having anything for you?" "Oh, I see."
Since you don't have any expectation, well, you are fine. (But the
other attitude is:) "I have done so much for him, but he doesn't
even say 'Sai Ram' to me! I don't know why he is avoiding me. You
know what (how much) I have done for him?"
So, let us forget what we have done to others. The second thing,
if we cannot do that, at least we can say this: "Baba helped me to
help you. Swami gave me an opportunity to help you. It is an
opportunity to serve you. You have helped me by giving me this
opportunity." This is the best way. So, forget the help you have
done to others.
Secondly, you should also forget the harm that others have done to
you. Why? If you don't forget, you'll be revengeful: "All right,
he pulled me from the first line. Let me pull him out tomorrow!"
(Laughter) "He jumped over me during darshan line. Let me jump
over him this evening!" "Oh, he is almost putting his legs on my
thighs here! He's just sleeping and he's leaning on me! His is a
heavy body. Tomorrow I will lean on him! Tomorrow I will do the
same thing!" This kind of reaction, this sort of revenge will
arise if you constantly remember the harm that others have done to
you.
So, my friends, the biggest secret to get along well in life with
others, when we find ourselves uncomfortable, disgusted, in
laborious, horrible or terrible situations with people, is not to
blame them but to find fault within ourselves.
The Greatest Imperfection
The next one: What is the greatest imperfection? We think, 'My
office is very imperfect because the files and papers do not move
fast. The organization is imperfect. This country does not provide
employment opportunities. Therefore the country is imperfect. This
country does not honor its culture, so it is imperfect.' So, we
blame others.
This imperfection is because you are imperfect. We are ready with
our answers. But, what is the greatest imperfection? The greatest
imperfection is to see imperfection in others. We should avoid
this, as Bhagavan tells us.
Who Lives Well?
Then, who lives well? This is a very important question for all of
us. Who lives well? "Sir, I will live well if I purchase half of
this village." Oh! Or, "I will live well if I purchase half of the
city." Oh, good! "I will live well if I'm elected to the position
of the United States President." Oh.
So, we think that we will be able to live well by occupying high
positions in life, by amassing wealth, by having a wide range of
influence, and by having many, many contacts. No, no!
Who lives well? The answer is simple. The one who lives well is
the one who laughs often, who can smile, who can laugh. If you
live like this, you are the greatest man in this world, you are
the highest man in this world, and you are living perfectly well.
Have hearty laughter!
A serious face speaks of tension, it speaks of ill health, and it
stands for ego. It represents lack of communication with others,
an imbalanced state of mind, a lack of appreciation of others, a
lack of understanding, and a lack of recognizing good in others.
So many psychological hazards make people so serious that they
cannot even smile. Many psychologists say that one of the curative
methods - the best cure for any disease - is hearty laughter!
Laugh well and smile!
I think I told you last week that Bhagavan called a few boys from
Mexico and spoke with them. They were all talking with smiles. We
see people talking to Swami with much tension, as if the fellow is
on the operation table. (Laughter) Why? You can laugh! God is
Bliss. Bliss is God! Can't you smile and be happy? If you are not
happy while looking at Swami, I don't know where else that you can
be happy. If you can't laugh while talking to Bhagavan, I don't
know where else you that you can laugh. When you cannot laugh with
Swami, you'll be laughed at by the public!
Laughing, yes! Who laughs often will live well. Who loves much
will live well. "I love everybody!" We should not say, "I love my
man. I love my group. I love the people of my county, of my
country." No! We should be able to love everybody. When you love
everybody, you live well. When you laugh and when you smile, you
live well.
One lives well who sacrifices his own happiness for the sake of
others. When you sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of
others you live well. My friends! It is not the position, not
politics, not properties, not influence that makes you live well.
Only three things make you live well. What are they? Laugh often,
love much, more and more, and sacrifice your own happiness for
others. These three will make you live well.
The Greatest Blessing Of Life
What is the greatest blessing of life? Do you think the greatest
blessing is the Taj Mahal of India? Or to be born as a pyramid of
Egypt? Or the Eiffel Tower of Paris? Let me be born as the Eiffel
Tower of Paris! Let me be born as the Taj Mahal! Do you think that
is a blessing? Do you think that it is the greatest blessing of
life to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World? If I'm born like
that, do you think it is the greatest of life? No.
What is the greatest blessing of life? It is to be born as a human
being. That's the reason why Bhagavan tells always that, "Birth as
man is more valuable then all the wealth of the world." This is
the quotation of Bhagavan. (Man, of course, includes woman also.)
So, my friends, instead of thinking this and that is good, instead
of entertaining that and this are the blessing of life, let us
know the greatest blessing is to be born as a human being. Because
the Taj Mahal cannot take padnamaskar (Laughter) and pyramids
cannot come to Prasanthi Nilayam! However, a person, a man with
life would be able to come here. He can transform. One can
transform one's own self. But inanimate objects can never do that.
But unfortunately, we attach more value to the gold than to the
golden person. We attach importance to the cash more than to the
sacred ash, Vibhuti. We attach value to the bank more than to the
treasury of the merit of our actions.
So, life is more valuable than all the wealth of the world. In
fact, "Jantunam Nara Janma Durlabham." This is the often-repeated
quote of Bhagavan and it means, "The greatest blessing is human
life."
The Secret Of Contentment
What is the secret of contentment? "Swami, I'll be very much
contented if I get as much as I want (Laughter) and I'll be
contented when others lose! I may not gain, but if you lose, I'll
be contented." That is the psychology of the negative mind.
But what does Swami say? "All is well for the faith that is well."
If the faith is strong, everything is well and all will be well,
both tomorrow and 100 years henceforth.
So, my friends, the secret of contentment is faith. Faith will
help you to be contented. It means, I have this much of money. How
can I be contented? If I have faith in God, God will take care of
my life with the lot I have. Yes, you can be happy. Furthermore,
in spite of all the money you have, if you have no faith, you'll
be discontented. Many people are discontented. Why? They have no
faith.
To lead a life of contentment, faith is absolutely necessary.
My friends, these are the 'snacks' for the soul this morning.
Thank you very much! (Applause)
Om
Asatoma Sadgamaya
Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya
Mrtyurmaya Amrtamgamaya
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Sai Ram! Thank you very much!
© Anil Kumar Kamaraju 2004 - Here
reproduced for personal use of the devotees for the purpose of
seva.
Anil Kumar website:
http://www.internety.com/anilkhome/ -
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/
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