Sanctify Your Body By Cultivating Virtues

If wealth is lost, one can earn it again by some way or the other;
If a friend is lost, it is possible to acquire many more;
If wife is lost, one can marry again;
If land is lost, it can be acquired by human effort;
All these can be acquired again;
But if the body is lost, it cannot be regained.
(Sanskrit Sloka)

Embodiments of Love!

Human birth is the rarest of all living beings. Human body is most sacred, precious and wonderful. It is your foremost duty to keep it healthy and fit. The body is the means by which you can do what you want. Without the human body, you cannot perform even a small task. The body is more valuable than gold, wealth and other materialistic acquisitions. You must therefore sanctify it by putting it to proper use.

The days and nights that have passed cannot be retrieved. You cannot obtain even a drop of Ganges water once it has merged into the ocean. A fruit once consumed cannot be taken out. Similarly, if the body is lost, it cannot be regained. Men are more valuable than all the wealth of the world. It is man who lends value to wealth, gold, land and all other assets. What value can be attached to these items if man does not exist in God's creation? Human life is very difficult to obtain. That is why it is said Janthunam Nara-janma Durlabham (birth as a human being is the rarest). There are many tasks to be accomplished in life. It is therefore most essential to understand the value of the human life. The body is your most precious possession as divinity itself is enshrined in it.

"The human body is like an iron safe, which protects the precious jewels of virtues contained in it. Safely placed in it is also the priceless jewel of Divinity." (Telugu Poem)

Treasured in the iron safe of the human body are jewels of noble thoughts, lofty feelings and sublime virtues. These valuables, if lost, cannot be got back easily. It is the virtues that lend value to human life. Human life is valuable because of the presence of the human values like love, compassion, forbearance, sympathy, sacrifice, etc., in man. But today, man does not bother to understand the importance of these values. The human body is a clock in which the seconds hand represents days, the minutes hand, months and the hours hand, years. With each passing hour, the clock tolls and warns us of the impending end. No one knows when it will sound the final toll, signaling the termination of life. So, you must make the best use of the human body while it is healthy and strong. It is the means by which one performs the long journey of life. You have to face many a trouble on the way if you do not keep this body safe and sound.

Man should strive to find the answers to questions like: "What is divinity? What is purity? What is steadiness? What is selflessness?" Without making any effort to find answers to these questions, man makes use of the human body for self-interest and for selfish ends. God has not given this body to man to lead a life of selfishness. Paropakarartham Idam Sareeram (human body has been given for serving others). You should resolve firmly to serve not only yourself but also your fellow human beings. When you work selflessly for others, your needs will be automatically taken care of. Unfortunately, man does not know the very meaning of the words 'help' and 'service'. The essence of all the eighteen Puranas is condensed in just two sentences: Help ever. Hurt never.

God has given the human body for the purpose of serving others. Devoid of the spirit of service, man is sunk in selfishness. All his thoughts, feelings and deeds are prompted by selfishness. Man has become a puppet in the hands of selfishness. How can one who is enslaved by selfishness ever be free? So, you must reject selfishness and accept selflessness. Then alone can the human life find fulfillment.

The human body has three important constituents - the heart, the mind and the speech. The heart represents Easwara, the mind, Vishnu and the speech, Brahma. Hence, man symbolizes the Divine Trinity. It is rather strange that man, who is the embodiment of the Divine Trinity, is unable to understand his true nature. How can one understand others without first understanding oneself? One should first and foremost know the real meaning of 'I'. Once a devotee prayed to Swami, "Swami, I want peace". Bhagavan said to him, "Remove I which stands for ego; remove 'want' which stands for desire. What remains is peace." Man identifies his I with his body and gives a name to it. But this is his assumed name (Pettina Peru) and not the real name (Puttina Peru). Since he forgets his real name, he identifies himself with his body. When the body perishes, the assumed name also perishes as do all the names and forms of the world.

Made of five elements, devoid of strength, you do not know when this human body will perish. Even though man's life span is said to be a hundred years, one can never be sure still. Death may strike in childhood or in manhood or in old age. That is a certainty. One should strive to know oneself before the death overtakes one. (Telugu Poem)

The real Self or Universal 'I' is eternal as it is identified with the Atma. It is this 'I' which you should strive to know by enquiring, "Who am 'I'? 'I' is not the body; it is neither the mind nor the intellect. 'I' is not the Chitta (reflective mind); 'I' is not the Antahkarana (inner motivator). 'I' is just 'I'. Once you understand the true meaning of 'l', you will understand everything in the world.

Embodiments of Love!

The most valuable, subtle and significant treasure is latent in the human body. But no one is trying to know this secret. All the powers and potentialities, which you find in the world, are within you. You cannot find anything in the world other than what already exists in the human body. It is foolishness to search for happiness in the external world. What you are seeking is within you; unfortunately, you are unable to trace that treasure.

The Vedas explain the real meaning of 'I'. The one who experiences and realizes the 'I' (latent divinity) in him is called a Vyakti. One who does not realize the divinity within cannot be called Vyakti at all. Hence, it is essential that you should foster your identity with divinity and thereby develop your Vyaktitva. In order to foster Vyaktitva, one has to adhere to the cardinal principle of Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (follow the truth and practice righteousness). Sathya and Dharma alone can lead man to the sacred path. God has given the body to man to foster Sathya and Dharma. Man should make a consistent endeavor to manifest the divinity latent in him.

No one is a scholar at the time of his birth. It is by consistent and constant effort that one becomes a scholar. The process of realizing one's innate potential is known as 'Educare'. Secular learning that you find today is merely worldly education. It is all artificial and external. Art is outside, while the heart is inside. Modern education is related to art, whereas Educare is related to the heart.

The scholar, in spite of mastering much learning, does not know his own Self. Such a one is a fool indeed! The wretched one, despite all his high learning, does not free himself from his meanness. It is foolish to acquire knowledge, which merely leads one to futile argumentation. Of what avail is all this secular learning if you do not become the master of the science of the Self? One should gain the knowledge, which bestows immortality! What is this knowledge? It is the knowledge of the Self, the immortal 'Universal I'. (Telugu Poem)

This is the kind of knowledge one should master today. One should know this 'I', which is deathless. The mind that originates from this 'I' also is deathless. You should not identify this immortal 'I' with the body, which is nothing but gross matter. All the materialistic and visual phenomena are ephemeral. Yad Drishyam Tannashyam (all that is seen is bound to perish). The entire creation is bound to dissolve. You should focus your attention not on the temporary but only on the eternal.

Once, Adi Sankara, during the course of his journey, noticed a man rigorously learning by rote 'Dukrun Karane', a principle of Panini's grammar in Sanskrit. Adi Sankara went to him and enquired, "Why are you learning Panini's grammar by rote?" "I wish to become a great scholar," replied the man. The conversation then proceeded as follows: "What do you gain by becoming a scholar?" "I will earn a lot of money." "What will you do with all this money?" "I will lead a happy life with my family." "And what after that? How will this money help you after death?" The scholar thought for some time and finally admitted, "I do not know." Adi Sankara then told him," O, foolish one! If your learning helps you only to eat, sleep and die like animals, why bother with all this trouble to acquire it? God has given you this human life not merely for eating, sleeping and dying. Chant the name of the Lord. That alone will save you and grant liberation."

"Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodha Mate
Samprapte Sannihite Kale, Nahi Nahi Rakshati Dukrun Karane"

(Chant the name of Govinda, O! foolish one! The rules of grammar will not come to your rescue at the time of death.)

The body is bound to perish one day or the other. One should prepare oneself for the hour of death right from the early age. Unless one is attuned to the chanting of the Divine name from early life, it is impossible to achieve this at the time of death.

When your throat is choked and you are in critical condition; when your relatives lose hope of your recovery and get ready for your funeral; when the messengers of death appear with the noose to snatch away your life; when your kith and kin are wailing and weeping over your plight; is it ever possible to utter the name of God at that dismal hour? (Telugu Poem)

Who will come to your rescue at the hour of reckoning? You must prepare yourself for the inevitable by remembering God from your early years itself. He alone can redeem you.

Experience your innate virtues by putting them into practice. Lead your life with good conduct and entertain sacred feelings till your last breath. The body is not eternal. It is made of flesh, filth and foul-smelling urine and faeces. Though the physical body is transitory, you have to keep it safe and sound for the sake of finding the treasures of truth and reality hidden in it. Acquire these treasures before giving up this body. It is said:

Neither penance nor pilgrimage nor the study of scriptures can help you to cross the ocean of worldly life. It is the service rendered to the noble alone that can take you across the ocean of life. (Sanskrit Verse)

So, devote yourself to selfless service. Anityam Asukham Lokam Imam Prapya Bhajasva Maam (having come in this temporary world which is full of misery, contemplate on God continuously). God has given you the body for spiritual attainments and not for running after ephemeral worldly pleasures. What is the end result of these pleasures? Here is an example.

In the war between Germany and France, the French were defeated though they were better fighters. The Commander-in-Chief of the French forces observed that the French lost the battle not for want of courage but because of sensual indulgence. You degenerate yourselves by succumbing to the pleasures of the body. How long will the pleasures of the flesh last? They are momentary, bound to vanish at any time. Hence, it is a serious folly to think that God has given the body for these fleeting pleasures.

Once Dakshinamoorthi was walking on the seashore. Dakshinamoorthi was the embodiment of intelligence. As he stood gazing at the ocean, he noticed that a gust of wind blew some dirt into the ocean. However, a mass of waves swept back the dirt on to the shore. This struggle between the dirt trying to gain entry and the waves pushing it back went on for some time. Watching all this, Dakshinamoorthi addressed the ocean, "O infinite and unfathomable one! You are so vast and deep; you lose nothing by accommodating a small speck of dirt. Why are you so selfish?" After uttering these words, Dakshinamoorthi sat in meditation. Then he heard the voice of the ocean saying, "Dakshinamoorthi, I am endowed with invaluable treasures like pearls, corals and many other precious stones which add to my form and beauty. But if I start allowing even a little dirt to enter, in course of time, it will become a huge dump, which will distort my very appearance. I do not want my fair form to be distorted in the least. For me, my waves are my beauty." Likewise, you too should not give room for even a fraction of evil, lest it should grow to huge proportions and distort your true nature.

To a village, the houses are its beauty; to the ocean, the waves are its beauty; to the sky, the moon is its beauty; to a woman, character is her beauty; to a devotee of Siva, the sacred ash on the forehead is his beauty; to a human being, virtue is his beauty. (Kannada Poem)

But man today is lured away by the flashy physical ornaments, disregarding the real ornaments of virtues, which constitute his true beauty.

Students!

As you are young, yours is a long journey. You have to keep your body in good shape to endure the long and arduous journey. Do not cultivate attachment for the body. But take care of your health and with a healthy body perform actions, which are worth performing.

Life is temporary; youth and wealth are temporary; kith and kin too are temporary; it is only truth and reputation that are eternal. (Sanskrit Verse)

Hold on to truth at all times. It is by dint of truth alone that you can acquire reputation. So, you must adhere to truth throughout your life and protect it as well. Today, many political leaders urge the youth to protect the country. Who can protect the country? It is only Sathya and Dharma that can ensure protection for the nation. When you protect Sathya and Dharma, they will protect you in turn. Dharmayeva Hatho Hanthi Dharmo Rakshati Rakshita (if you protect Dharma, you will be protected by Dharma, and if you destroy Dharma, you will be destroyed by it). But the youth today are neglecting Dharma completely. They have forgotten truth and justice. How can such people bereft of truth and righteousness save the country? You have put on the vesture of human body. You must conduct yourself befitting your form.

Once an actor came to the court of a king and entertained him by enacting the role of a Sannyasi (renunciant). He preached philosophy and discoursed eloquently on Vedanta. He even made an elaborate commentary on the philosophy of Sankara. Delighted by his performance, the king offered him a tray full of gold coins. The actor then said to the king, "O king! I have played the role of a Sannyasi. It is not proper for a Sannyasi to accept gold coins. My conduct should be in accordance with the garb I have put on. Hence, I cannot accept your offer." The next day, the same actor came to the court as a dancer and danced to the joy of one and all. The king again offered him some gold coins. The actor said, "O king! I am not satisfied by this meager reward." The astonished king said, "Yesterday, I gave a good many gold coins; but you refused to accept them. Today you are asking for more. Explain your baffling conduct." Then the actor said, "My conduct should be befitting the role I perform and the dress I wear."

Students! You have put on the dress of a student and are performing the role of a student. Your conduct should be befitting the role you are performing. Your behavior should add to the stature of a student. You should be models of humility and obedience. Humility is the hallmark of a student. You must adhere to truth and righteousness and conduct yourself with utmost decorum and decency. "Education should instill sterling virtues, good intellect, truthfulness, duty, discipline and devotion. That alone is true education which fosters these qualities, and a student should imbibe all these." (Telugu Poem) If your behavior is not appropriate as a student, you are belittling yourself.

Embodiments of Love!

Students! I know that you stand as ideals and earn respect for the student community by your good conduct. But it is My duty to advise you, so that you do not become complacent. A student should cultivate right vision. He should not allow his gaze to wander here and there and should not watch each and every thing like a crow. Do not cast evil looks on women. At this age, all of you should live like brothers and sisters. Elderly women should be treated as mothers. The sun god, who is the presiding deity of vision, warns, "Whoever cultivates evil vision, I shall withdraw myself from his eyes." While walking on the road, let your gaze be fixed only in front of you and not wander hither and thither. While riding on a bicycle on the road, do not look at the cinema posters on the walls; an unwary moment may cause you an accident. You should control your vision. Buddha preached the need for cultivating Samyak Drishti (right vision). Evil vision will turn you mad.

Once Socrates was having an evening walk with his gaze fixed right in front of him. Since he preached right vision to his students, he also followed it strictly. He was deeply engrossed in self-enquiry. At the same time, an officer was coming from the opposite direction. Socrates did not notice the officer and collided with him. The officer, in a fit of rage, demanded, "Who are you?" Socrates promptly replied, "Sir, that is exactly what I have been trying to understand all along. Pray, kindly let me know who 'I' am." Socrates was an ideal man who never cast evil looks. He also did not hear anything bad. You should not see anything bad. You should not hear anything evil. You should not think evil. The Kauravas, who indulged in bad thinking and evil hearing, brought destruction upon the entire Kaurava clan. They harbored evil intention of destroying the righteous Pandavas. You should not utter evil words. You must always speak pleasantly. You cannot always oblige but you can speak always obligingly.

Students! Boys and Girls!

Virtues are the true ornaments of a student. It is the most appropriate age for you to cultivate any number of virtues. They will stand you in good stead in the future years. You should become the leaders of Bharat. The students of today are the citizens of tomorrow. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. As are the leaders, so is the nation. If you are good, the entire nation will be good. India has been a Thyaga Bhoomi (land of sacrifice), Yoga Bhoomi (land of spirituality) and Punya Bhoomi (land of meritorious deeds). Being the children of such a great nation, you must cultivate good qualities. For achieving all this, you must take care of your body. If the body is lost, you can never get it back. You can achieve anything when your body is strong and healthy. A devotee should never give up until he realizes his goal.

Having resolved, what ought to be resolved, hold on to it till you have succeeded. Having desired what ought to be desired, hold on to it till your desire is fulfilled. Having asked what ought to be asked, do not leave the hold till you get it. Having thought what ought to be thought, hold on to it till you have succeeded. Either you should pray with all your heart forgetting yourself or God should take hold of you out of your obsession for Him. You should strive incessantly without stopping on the way. It is not proper on the part of a devotee to give up his chosen mission halfway through. (Telugu Poem)

Treasure in your heart all that the elders, students, guests and teachers have spoken to you. Recall these teachings in the future years and benefit from them. Hoping and blessing that you will lead ideal lives, I bring My discourse to a close.