Bangalore, India
When it is for ourselves, if we want a car or a job, we put in our full effort to get it. However, for other things, we say, if God wishes it will happen.
If it is about coming to the Ashram, you conveniently say, when Gurudev wishes, he will call me there. When have I ever told you not to come, or not to meditate, but you say, when the calling comes, I will be there.
If you have to go out for a movie or to a restaurant, then you don’t say that only when God calls you will go. For your own entertainment, you do things at your own will, but when it comes to doing your sadhana (spiritual practices), you say that only when God wills, it will happen. Your mind is very clever at doing this.
Whatever gains you want in life, leave it to karma or fate, but liberation is in your hands and depends on your purushartha (efforts).
All these negative emotions are distortions of love. They are off-springs of love. If there is no love, there can’t be jealousy. If there is jealousy that means there is love.
Arrogance is too much love for oneself. Jealousy is too much love for another person. Anger is too much love for another person or object. Greed is too much love for objects.
Anger is love for one‘s own concepts and perception. An angry person will think, ‘I perceive things to be like this’, and if they are not like that, then he gets angry.
So, almost every negative emotion is a distortion of love.
You can think about what are the things that cause violence and you can make a whole list.
Attachment also causes violence. Extreme passion without wisdom can cause violence.
You hear all these stories in the newspaper. Two people who initially love each other and they later become so violent to each other, that they kill each other. Haven’t you heard of these things?
All over the world, you hear of people who have fallen in love and then later stabbed each other. It’s unbelievable. So wisdom is essential. Just love or passion is not enough.
Love without wisdom is misery. If you don’t have wisdom and are not balanced, then that can cause violence. But if you are totally dedicated to something, then that is different. Then you don’t lose your wisdom.
Nowadays when you read the newspaper or switch on the television, every day, you get some such story, and there may be many more such incidences that go unreported.
I say it all the time and when you get up, that is when you give a chance to these thieves to steal. They come in groups. One will push the others, and pretend to show a lot of devotion and the other will pickpocket at that time.
Can you imagine that they have a gang? They have psychologically studied us very well. When Jai Jai Radha Raman (a concluding devotional song in Art of Living Satsangs) is being sung, everybody is totally immersed in the bliss of the Satsang, and that is the time when they will push someone and pick their pocket from behind.
You all should cooperate and stay seated to prevent such incidents. Anyway, I meet everyone.
I don’t feel comfortable when people fall over each other and elderly ladies and children are pushed down on the floor. Some people will run ahead and overtake the others and approach me before them, saying, 'Gurudev, please bless me'. Then I feel there is something wrong.
So one person will push and try to come forward, and his partner in crime will then pick your pocket from behind in the midst of this confusion.
Some of these old time devotees, though you can’t even call them devotees, they just won’t listen at all. They will jump over people to come to the front and sit and create chaos. I don’t know what to do.
(A member in the audience suggests that such people should be punished). Yes, I am thinking what punishment to give them. They spread indiscipline. It is not in my nature to say no to someone or to be harsh, but these people don’t let me be myself. I have never used any bad words other than calling someone ‘stupid’, or scolded anyone. I don’t know how to be stricter than this. But they are testing my patience.
It is okay. There are all kinds of people in this world and we need to accept everyone.
Like a cycle has two wheels, you need to balance both. If you are only trying to make others happy, then you yourself will become sad and if you are sad, then how will you keep others happy?
If you are only interested in keeping yourself happy, then the people around you will be sad and if they are sad, how can you stay happy? Both are dependent on each other, so take the middle path and be happy and keep others happy.
Take time out for yourself. Take care of your own health too and then you can keep others happy. You mustn’t be adamant to always get your way. Sometimes you need to give in and keep others happy too. You must not always insist that only what you say or believe should be followed. No, adopt the middle path. Sometimes listen to others, and sometimes also follow what you feel.
Look at the relationship of Shri Ram with his brother Bharat. It was such a strong bond but both of them were willing to sacrifice anything for the other. Such a relationship where there is no selfishness, is a beautiful one. In such a relationship, there is lot of love and peace.
When you don’t know that it is a banana or charcoal then there is a choice. But if you know that the banana is edible and the other is a charcoal, then where is the choice?
Knowledge brings wisdom which brings clarity. Confusion means lack of wisdom and no clarity at that moment. Then how to bring wisdom? Relax and meditate.
Look, sometimes, with eyes closed, we start dreaming and get transported into the fantasy world of our mind, which is called the Manorajya. With eyes open, we are in the outside world. In between the two is silence. Not too much of the outer world and not too much of fantasizing also. We need to meditate in between these two.
