All of us are fortunate and blessed, indeed! The world is very large with crores of ‘jivas’. But, our life is totally different from others’ lives. What is the reason for this? This is because Sri Krishna has taken us into His fold - as His very own! This is the reason that we have secured a Satsang. A great fortune, indeed! But can we remain complacent about this? When we see someone without hands we heave a sigh of relief over our own fortune, “Ah! We have been blessed with hands. We must safeguard these hands.” Well! this is true. But we have to go beyond this and perform good deeds with these hands. Should we not? Only such a person is deemed to be intelligent! Similarly, realizing our fortune in having obtained a Satsang (Guru) we must make the best use of it. What does ‘making best use of Satsang’ mean?

Are we, who are in a Satsang any different from the rest, if, in spite of Satsang we continue to nurture desire, hatred, remain lazy and fail to conduct our lives in a dharmic way? Our life should be an exemplary one. Our life should be an enviable and wondrous one and not be an object of ridicule. While we may proudly declare that we have come to the fold of a Guru and been in the Satsang for long, we should not fail to judge our own progress. Of what use is it in having just grown in age if no progress has been made and no peace of mind experienced?

Some people begin a work very enthusiastically but after a time just drop it undone because of the arduous labour involved. A person tries to keep his newly constructed house clean and tidy. But as time passes he becomes indifferent and the house is filled with cobwebs and dust. Anything obtained newly enjoys great value and attention. But as it grows old it ceases to hold the same degree of attention. One becomes indifferent to it. Likewise, there is no use of dropping our sadhana after having followed it scrupulously in the initial stage of having received the upadesa from the Guru or entering a Satsang or having listened/read about the ways of sadhana from a book. The performance of sadhana should grow in intensity as time passes. We should not rest until we attain the goal.

Mind (‘manas’) is very vacillating by nature. Many a time the ‘indriyas’ (senses) pull us away from our goal. At such times we should not feel dejected but face and handle the situation very courageously. Whenever the mind wavers we should pray intensely. Such prayers are surely answered. We can find our mind getting one pointed when we sit for Nãma japa or dhyãna. At such times if we pray with all our heart and mind it will surely be answered. What I mean here is that when we pray for the removal of the block in the course of our dhyãna, it is surely taken care of. Bhakti or Jnãna is easily acquired in the mind that has become one pointed. One should not talk much. No work can be done by one who keeps chatting dime a dozen. Such a person’s mind will also be very fickle.

Only clean clothes should be worn. Good food should be consumed in right quantity and on time. We should be pleasant faced and majestic. We should never get bogged down by anything. Abuses should not worry us. Instead, we should realize that this is the way of the world and learn to ignore it. We should never get angry. We should be humble and affectionate to all. We should be forgiving. We should never waste our time. We should have a positive attitude and see only the good in everything. There is no violence worse than using strong language that will hurt others.

If we desire Sri Krishna we have to be like this. If we lead such a life we will become soft like the cow or the deer. We should not behave like the wild tiger or the lion, instilling fear in others. We should never criticize others. If we spend our time playfully, joking around without any seriousness then our life will also pass away playfully without any purpose. Seriousness in everything is a must. We should not develop negative attitudes like ‘I am a sinner, I do not enjoy good luck, I cannot do this work, etc.’ ‘I can accomplish everything’ - we should possess this confidence and courage. We should not run away from problems. We should act with courage and maturity (viveka).

I always say, “Everything happens as per the Will of Bhagavãn and He bears the burden of our family!” If you do not understand this in the right perspective you will only become lazy! Bhagavãn waits to bear the burden of only that bhakta who leads his life ever in the thought of Bhagavãn and has totally forgotten the world. Bhagavãn has not promised to bear the burden of the one who thinks that he is a bhakta because he chants few Nãma, wears gopi and tulasi mãla but goes about watching cinema or television, visits houses to while away his time in gossips, speaks of Jnãna or Vedanta with the little knowledge that he possesses, eats anything and everything and leads a lazy life. Therefore, if you do not understand ‘spirituality’ properly you will only become lazy!

Do not get deceived by wonders and miracles. These are not everlasting. Through books narrating the lives of Mahãtmas we may find that Mahãtmas have cured the diseases or solved the problems of many. This is indeed true. But there is another side to it! What is it? Don’t we see many of their close devotees suffer? It is sheer waste to feel attracted to ‘kãmya bhakti’ (devotion with a worldly end in mind) bereft of any ‘tatva’ (philosophy). Bhakti should be done knowing the ‘tatva’. I do not feel proud of having a large following of ignorant ones but feel great indeed to transform even if only a handful, for the better.

I am involved in many activities (Mahotsav, establishments). But all these do not make me as happy as when I succeed in making a person chant Hari Nãma. I consider only this as a great feat! I have taken the vow of helping all, even if they abuse me or cause me trouble, in all possible ways. I desire all of you to be like this.

All those who are involved in this Satsang should live a dharmic life. You should perform Nãma japa and Nãma Kirtan daily. You should be generous and sacrificing. You should be disciplined and exercise self-control. Only if we lead such a life would Bhagavãn lend us all the help needed. I do not desire you all to do great work. Let the work be small. But, all that I say is - “Do it with deep involvement and love!”

Heaven is not anywhere else. If only we could learn to lead our lives properly then this itself would become heaven! Otherwise, this would be hell, indeed! If there were no life after death we could live as we fancy. But there is life after death. Of this there is no doubt at all. Unless we live as per Bhagavãn's wish we cannot reach the Lotus Feet of Bhagavãn.

IF ONLY YOU WOULD TAKE A VOW TO LEAD SUCH A LIFE I WOULD DEEM THAT TO BE YOUR CELEBRATION OF THE JAYANTI MAHOTSAV!

“JAI GURUNÃTH PÃDUKA! JAI GURUNÃTH PÃDUKA!
JAI GURUNÃTH PÃDUKA! JAI GURUNÃTH PÃDUKA!”

**This article is the translation of the Message of Sri Swamiji, published in the Tamizh Madhuramurali Jayanti Special, November, 1995

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