Issue 243 - August 29, 2021 | | ātmano mokshārtam (Emancipation of one's self) | | Excerpt From Divine Discourse | | "Your belief become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny." - Mahatma Gandhi
| | Simply Follow the Wise Words
Guru is an inextricable part of every individual's life. It is the Guru, who shows, guides and helps one to traverse on the spiritual path till one reaches the ultimate destination. It is impossible to reach the goal without the guidance and grace of a Guru.
Not all born on this planet are bestowed with this blessing, to find a true Guru who is realised and established in the Truth. It is given to a few chosen ones, who are personally hand-picked by the almighty Himself.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya in His literary work vivekacūḍāmaṇi says,
शास्त्रस्य गुरुवाक्यस्य सत्यबुद्ध्यवधारणम् । सा श्रद्धा कथिता सद्भिर्यया वस्तूपलभ्यते ॥
śāstrasya guruvākyasya satyabuddhyavadhāraṇam | sā śraddhā kathitā sadbhiryayā vastūpalabhyate ||
Meaning: Sages define śraddhā or faith as—acceptance with firm judgment, the truth behind the words of the scriptures and the Guru, which alone leads to the experience of reality.
Only when the disciple completely surrenders himself/herself at the lotus feet of the Master and believes in His words without questioning Him, and tries to imbibe His teachings in daily life, the disciple can reach the ultimate destination.
Earlier Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and now Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai has been reminding the entire human race that everything and everyone is Divine. His mantra is—ahaṃ brahma sarvaṃ brahma—I am Divine and so is everyone else.
Let these words be etched in every single heart, so much so that it manifests itself as reality. Having received such a rare and blessed opportunity to learn under the direct tutelage of a Sadguru, let us sanctify every moment of our lives with the experience of His teaching. | | Belief Breathes Life into Words
A milkmaid used to supply milk to a learned brahmin priest living on the other side of a river. Owing to the irregularities of the boat service, the milkmaid could not be punctual in supplying milk to the priest, many a day.
Once, when she was rebuked for her late arrival, the poor woman said, "What can I do? I start early from my house, but I've to wait for a long time at the river bank for the boatman and co-passengers."
The priest exclaimed, "Woman! There are people who cross the ocean of life by uttering the 'name' of God, and can't you cross this small river?" The simple-hearted woman instantly became glad on learning that there is such an easy means to cross the river—the name of God! From the following day, she continued to supply milk early in the morning, at the right time that she was supposed to. One of the days, after observing the consistent punctuality of the woman, the priest asked the woman, "How is it that you are no longer late now-a-days?" The milkmaid replied, "I cross the river by uttering the name of the Lord as you asked me to do. Now, I don't need the assistance of a boatman to cross the river."
The priest could not believe this. He said, "Can you show me how you cross the river?" The woman walked up to the river bank and continued walking on the river like as if she was walking on the land. Witnessing the unbelievable sight, the priest thought of trying it out. So, he went near the river bank and lifted his dhoti (lower garment) and kept his feet on the water. The very next moment, he drowned himself in the river.
Words that are spoken without belief are empty and lifeless. It is only belief that matters. Dust you think, dust you are. God you think, God you are! | | | | | | |
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