Gujarat, (India) Nov. 5, 2010
More happiness we share with
others, more happiness we experience.Do you agree with it? Don’t just say yes. First you think and if you agree,
then accept that. One can travel the whole world, but only in the Indian tradition
you will see that even when the best of knowledge is spoken, one says, ‘You
think about it, only if you find it’s right, then accept it.’
After reciting 18 chapters of The Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, ‘You think about it,
analyze it, if it appeals to your mind and if you agree then you accept it.’
This means the strength that is within us; the strength of the soul is what
gives us this freedom. So now we have to utilize it in the right direction. So
whenever we are happy and joyful, we should make an effort to spread this
happiness, this joy to minimum ten other people. Will you all do it? Everybody?
In my opinion each person has the capability to give happiness to a thousand
people. Each one of you can bring light to the lives of a thousand people or
more.
Like I said, spirituality is the only way through which
we can be free from depression. Whether our society gets freedom from
misconduct, corruption, injustice or not, we must spread spirituality. In every
house, we must tell people to meditate, to get together and have satsang. In whichever
village, people have gotten together and done satsang, all negativities have
gone away. Mahatma Gandhi had once desired for an honest society that is now
becoming a reality in many villages in India. Even in Gujarat, in many villages,
this work is ongoing where people have left alcohol, drugs and with much joy
and love are serving others.
One thing that is very important for you to remember: In
everyday life, you may experience some lack here and there. Your mind gets
upset or someone has tears in their eyes… this is all part of life, which keeps
happening. It has never been like everything in life is perfect, ideal or rosy-rosy.
It has never been like that, but to deal with problems we need strength and
patience and that comes through sadhana.
Don’t think of life as separate from sadhana,
your life itself is your sadhana.
Understand this and move forward. Don’t think that just by closing my eyes for
a few minutes and doing something, sadhana
is done. No! Whatever you do, walking, moving about, getting up or sitting
down, smiling or getting angry, whatever you do in life is sadhana. We need to look from this perspective and then we
experience so much relief. When in yourself, this cool breeze of relief and
peace starts to flow then you will see how people around you will also start to
feel the same. Already many people are feeling it, isn’t it?
It is said that devotion was born in Tamil Nadu, raised
in Karnataka and blossomed in Gujarat. So here in Gujarat, devotion blossomed
and became complete. Where is the blossoming of devotion? It is in service! We
must do as much seva as we can. This
does not mean we have to do what we cannot do. No. We have to do as much as is
possible for us; and there is nothing as big or small service, the fruit of all
service is the same. We must not feel that I have to do that service which is
important or big, no, what is important is to have the feeling to be of help to
others, and we serve with that feeling. It is in your nature to help and you
are helping by doing that. That’s it!
If any of you are feeling ‘I am doing a lot of seva, remove that from your mind today. Who are you doing seva for? Without doing something we cannot live. That’s why we are doing something and if others are benefiting by us doing something, then it is a very good thing, isn’t it. So we must not feel proud of our seva or proud of our good qualities, this is what we need to offer into the fire of knowledge. So offer your negative qualities, also offer your good qualities and good actions, and live life smiling, feeling light and at the same time being immersed into the depths of knowledge.
You don’t have to work very hard to achieve love and
peace in your life; this is easily achieved in a state of rest and such rest we
can experience when there are no small botherations lingering in the mind. Then
you experience deep rest; and desires linger in your mind when you do not have
faith. When you are thirsty then only the desire for water arises, but what
will happen if you sit and think about water all day? Do you understand what I
am saying? What does desire mean? A lack of faith that I am going to get what I
need. So with satsang, sadhana and seva, our faith becomes very strong and all work gets done like
it’s getting done in your lives right now.
How many of you have experienced that what you desire is
getting fulfilled? So whatever you desire is getting fulfilled, then you should
desire for big things. What is the use of desiring for small things? There is
no fun in that.
© The Art of Living Foundation
