Spirituality Through Love

A fool is well regarded in his house, a leader is respected in a village, the king is revered by his subjects, but education alone is worshipped everywhere.

The true learning is Atma vidya which is not bound by time or space. The knowledge of spirit or Brahma Jnana, is respected and has existed since ancient time. The German scholar Griffith said, Veda was the first word spoken by man. Max Muller too respected the Vedas and set up an ashram in which he translated them. He wrote a book entitled "India: What it can teach us". Wilson's works were based on the four pillars of Dharma i.e. Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara, Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava. As Wilson translated the Padma Purana, he came across a reference of a visionary, 5'4 in height, manifesting himself in Parthi. Wilson wrote a book called Manu's Law through which he discovered that Manu Samskruti which was unique to Bharath. That which is not found in India is not found anywhere else.

Adrushtam is that which is not seen with the eyes. Therefore for Adrushtam, good thoughts are the basis. Thus good luck and bad luck depend on thoughts. Therefore thoughts should be noble.

Who is a fool? The one who knows what is good but doesn't practice. e.g. Duryodhana and Dushasana knew all the Dharmas but didn't practice them. It is also foolishness to forget Divinity and follow the worldly way. Who is God? God is Divine love present in all. Love is infinite and beyond all measure. However strong, intelligent, or wealthy, one cannot buy, lend or borrow love. Today love has become a business. Veda teaches how to receive the Divine love. As air and water take the form of their container, Love depends on the form of the person. Man today concentrates on the container and not the contents.

What is bhakthi? It is neither meditation nor penance. Bhakthi is the nine-fold path of Shravanam, Kirthanam, Vishnu Smaranam, Pada Sevanam, Archanam, Dasyam, Vandanam, Sneham, Atmanivedanam.

Among all these, Sneham is essential to reach Atma nivedanam. What is friendship, Mythree? It is two bodies and one life. Mythree is My+three, i.e. the same principle is present in the body, the mind and the spirit.

So long as you consider God and man to be separate it is so. There is a Divine spark in every creature. To follow the principle of Mythree, you need to follow the command of God which is the true path.

Purandaradas sang, "O lord! You do everything. You bestow knowledge, you protect, punish and correct. Since I am yours, you have right over me." Knowing such truth, one should make every effort to be in the company of God. Only when desires are fulfilled you call him God. Yama and Rama are one. Vibhishana regarded Rama as his protector but Ravana viewed the same Rama as his destroyer. Similar was the case with Prahalada and Hiranyakashipu, and Ugrasena and Kamsa.

Once an ICS student by name Chatur Veda Shastry called Max Muller. At the time, Max Muller could not comprehend a sloka from the Gita. When he learned that Chatur Veda Shastry had come, he felt it was his lucky day. When asked for his help, the student replied that the Vedas were useless. Hearing so, he lost the urge to visit India. Foreigners attach more importance to the sacred texts than Bharatiyas.

One thinks Swami gifts rings and watches. They are for your future like the ladder which takes you up. They are devanugraham. Sita asked Rama why he bore a bow and arrow while he donned the garb of an ascetic. The bow and arrow are objects of violence. In the forest where all animals are moving naturally, would it be proper to harm them? The Divine form is the real jewel for the neck and charity is the real jewel of hand.

Culture is that which is refined. Paddy is not eaten directly but refined by removing the grass and husk and then cooking it. Each refinement adds value to the paddy. A bag paddy costs Rs 200. The same paddy if refined to become rice, costs Rs 1000. The removal of bad is refinement. Silver must be melted and hammered before it becomes a valuable silver plate. Culture means using useless things in a useful way.

Before entering a house we wash our feet to safeguard against the many poisonous insects. Many Brahmins sprinkle water around their plate before eating. The practical significance is that the water prevents insects from creeping in.

In Sanskrit there are no meaningless words. The name gives meaning to the object. Akshara does not mean a letter. In Vedic parlance, Akshara is A + Kshara = Not + Perishable. Akshara is the imperishable i.e. Atma. In this perishable, there is temporary and in the temporary there is permanence.

Gajendra the elephant prayed to God. Many foolish intellectuals say that God was present at a distance from which He could hear the cry. God takes form depending on the mode of prayer.

Once Shirdi Baba assured a devotee that He would be behind him. After some distance, the devotee turned around and didn't see Baba. He went back and accused Shirdi Baba of lying. Baba said that when he turned around, his back was still facing Baba. God's words are very subtle. You cannot understand them. So just follow.