11 Nov 2010
More happiness we share withothers, 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 traditionyou will see that even when the best of knowledge is spoken, one says, ‘Youthink 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 whatgives us this freedom. So now we have to utilize it in the right direction. Sowhenever we are happy and joyful, we should make an effort to spread thishappiness, 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 thousandpeople. Each one of you can bring light to the lives of a thousand people ormore.
Like I said, spirituality is the only way through whichwe can be free from depression. Whether our society gets freedom frommisconduct, corruption, injustice or not, we must spread spirituality. In everyhouse, we must tell people to meditate, to get together and have satsang. In whichevervillage, people have gotten together and done satsang, all negativities havegone away. Mahatma Gandhi had once desired for an honest society that is nowbecoming 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 joyand love are serving others.
One thing that is very important for you to remember: Ineveryday life, you may experience some lack here and there. Your mind getsupset or someone has tears in their eyes… this is all part of life, which keepshappening. 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 andpatience 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 fora few minutes and doing something, sadhanais done. No! Whatever you do, walking, moving about, getting up or sittingdown, smiling or getting angry, whatever you do in life is sadhana. We need to look from this perspective and then weexperience so much relief. When in yourself, this cool breeze of relief andpeace starts to flow then you will see how people around you will also start tofeel the same. Already many people are feeling it, isn’t it?
It is said that devotion was born in Tamil Nadu, raisedin Karnataka and blossomed in Gujarat. So here in Gujarat, devotion blossomedand became complete. Where is the blossoming of devotion? It is in service! Wemust do as much seva as we can. Thisdoes not mean we have to do what we cannot do. No. We have to do as much as ispossible for us; and there is nothing as big or small service, the fruit of allservice is the same. We must not feel that I have to do that service which isimportant or big, no, what is important is to have the feeling to be of help toothers, and we serve with that feeling. It is in your nature to help and youare 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 andif 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 sevaor proud of our good qualities, this is what we need to offer into the fire ofknowledge. So offer your negative qualities, also offer your good qualities andgood actions, and live life smiling, feeling light and at the same time beingimmersed into the depths of knowledge.
You don’t have to work very hard to achieve love andpeace in your life; this is easily achieved in a state of rest and such rest wecan experience when there are no small botherations lingering in the mind. Thenyou experience deep rest; and desires linger in your mind when you do not havefaith. When you are thirsty then only the desire for water arises, but whatwill happen if you sit and think about water all day? Do you understand what Iam saying? What does desire mean? A lack of faith that I am going to get what Ineed. So with satsang, sadhana and seva, our faith becomes very strong and all work gets done likeit’s getting done in your lives right now.
How many of you have experienced that what you desire isgetting fulfilled? So whatever you desire is getting fulfilled, then you shoulddesire for big things. What is the use of desiring for small things? There isno fun in that.
I amnot saying do this, do that, I am saying do nothing. Now just five minutesbefore I said spread happiness, now I am saying you don’t have to do anything. Justrelax… the contradiction between these two states only is life. That’s why ifyou read the Gita you will understandeverything is contradictory. Gita isour very life; it is not only a holy text. Gitais for everybody, it is our life and in life there are contradictions.
