Discipline - Backbone Of Life

Though birds and animals have no education, they follow their whole discipline, intelligent man doesn't have the common sense, to follow the minimum discipline.

Discipline is the very life of every being. Discipline is the backbone without which society would be ruined. Discipline means following a particular regulation. With Discipline, progress is sure.

Discipline cannot be obtained from texts or teachers but by discharging one's duty. Discipline is essential from dawn to dusk. Only discipline unifies men and societies. Discipline must be maintained in activities like bhajans and games. The words we speak or write must be disciplined. We must be careful that what we write today does not harm anyone in the future. When you follow discipline, discipline will protect you. While walking, for people who zig zag, a 40 ft road is not enough. We should walk along the footpath. If you don't, you will put others to danger. Help ever; hurt never.

Discipline is essential at this tender age. How should we sit before others? Boys sit with bent backs. One should sit straight. This permits the easy flow of thoughts to the intellect and the maintenance of concentration. There are 33 rings in the spinal column. Between rings 9 and 12 is the sushumna nadhi. If one sits straight, the kundalini will ascend and reach sahasrara. Kundalini remains at the mooladhara. During the yogic breathing exercise, if one controls the breath, the kundalini has to move up because there is air supply. Kundalini is not a serpent but more of a wind. To make sure the kundalini rises, sit straight. Sitting straight also improves the memory and concentration.

The body must be pure and clean. Soap alone does not cleanse the body. We can purify the body through good actions and the mind through good thoughts. When these two are pure the intellect will be pure. The first thing regarding the body is aham or I. Aham is born out of the Atma. The Atma is the father of I. The mind is the son of I and so the grandson of Atma. Speech is son of the mind and hence the great grandson of the Atma. Thus when the spirit is pure, the mind and body are also pure.

From dawn to dusk, you follow a daily routine for the sake of the stomach. What joy do you get by this? Fold your hands and pray to God.

In eating, there should be discipline for food taken in excess causes indigestion. You chant Brahmarpanam before eating. When you eat too much, Vaisvanara says enough but you don't listen and suffer indigestion, laziness and breathlessness and then sickness. Sickness in all the parts of the body can be traced to the body's center, i.e. the stomach. The proper discipline is to keep a quarter of the stomach empty. Not only eating, but walking, drinking, talking and thus our whole life must be disciplined. This is karma yoga. Since man has authority over his actions only, he should use his discretion to make sure they are within limits. This makes you an educated person. Vid means wisdom. Other education is useless. Never pride yourself on bookish knowledge but fold your hands to God. The Namaskar (folding hands) is the first step in spirituality. Na Ma means not mine but thine. The significance of joining the hands is to unite the 5 senses of action and 5 senses of wisdom. This is unity in diversity which is the principle of the Atma. Modern man doesn't know what is discipline or sense control. You should teach your eyes not to have bad looks.

Without discipline you cannot attain Divinity. Truth is one not two. It doesn't distinguish between a Brahmin or a Shudra.

Ramdas said, "I should be servant to the servant". In the Bhagavatham it is mentioned that once Kuchela went to see Krishna with an offering of beaten rice wrapped in a dirty cloth. He felt bad that he offered such simple food to Krishna who was an Emperor and God. Some rice was left. But before Krishna could eat it, Rukmini rushed and grabbed Krishna's hand. Kuchela thought that she was going to prevent Krishna from eating. Krishna knew Rukmini's heart and so asked what she was doing. She replied that she as Kuchela's servant was taking her due. Krishna was Kuchela's servant and Rukmini was Krishna's servant so Rukmini was Kuchela's servant. So God is broad minded. When Kuchela reached home, he found a mansion and his wife and children beautifully dressed. His wife questioned him about his meeting with Krishna. He explained how Krishna rushed to the gate and hugged him. "What can I say about his compassion. Is there anyone else who would bestow so many riches after partaking a fitful of rice. Krishna is Love. Love is Krishna".

God's love is one of expansion. The devotee's is one of contraction and narrow minded. The hostel warden wanted to present a chair to Swami on His seventieth birthday. It was not ready so the hostel teachers presented it yesterday. Swami said tell me the cost. I'll give you the money and accept the chair. They cried. They brought with all sacred feeling and thought and so Bhagavan accepted it. Boys are good. They are highly devoted. Sometimes air pockets occasionally spoil the mind. Swami told the warden that He was giving 200 bags of basmathi rice to each of the three hostels. The warden said we will certainly pay. With a broad mind I give and you say you want to pay money what a mistake it is. Why? Students are Bhagavan's property. Bhagavan is giving for his children. Does a father buy new clothes for the children and then ask for money? You should have a broad mind. Once we say Swami we belong to you, you have every right. Otherwise if you study and go, it is of no use. All this study is useless. Whatever Swami says you should follow. The day when you follow Swami's command you will experience bliss. You should be ready. Bhagavan is always ready.

When a photographer wants to take a photo he says, "Ready". Up to that point you can fidget but once he says ready, you must be steady. Bhagavan as the Divine photographer will not say ready, so you must ready any time. When He will click you never know, so always be ready. That is your real quality. Then this picture will be imprinted on your heart.