Belgaum, the second biggest district of Karnataka after Bangalore is now known as Belagavi. Retd. Justice from Bangalore High Court, Mr. Pachhapure Arvind along with an NGO ‘Hitaishi’ had organized various programs here for people from all walks of life. Lead by Swami Suryendu Puri Ji these talks were respectively addressed to, a) lawyers from Advocates Associations, b) soon-to-be doctors from JN Medical College, c) up-and-coming engineers from The Institution of Engineers and well of course, d) commoners. A glimpse from the sublime talks is presented here.
February 9, Advocates Association, Chikodi: Generally when you talk about ‘service’ it is considered to be a job, a paid service, or a government job maybe. However for us, service is defined little differently. We are talking about selfless service here. Taking this through an example, when we spot a blind person, how do we choose to help? We usually ask him that how can we be of any help to him, can we help him cross the road, or where would he like to be dropped, etcetera. Now would that service help this person? Maybe for some time and then, back to square one. Then there are certain more sensitive people. They might get him a stick, or might help him learn braille. But would that suffice? Even with a stick many a times he may fall, tumble upon something, or may meet an accident. In other words, he still has to fight his own battle. It’s not so easy. And then there is a third kind of service. When you talk about spiritual service, what does that mean? Spiritual service somehow brings light to his eyes. That is the ultimate service; because once you give light to his eyes you need not do anything else. He is now able to live his life perfectly, and independently. That is true service, and that is all about spirituality.
If you help someone from outside, he’ll still remain to be weak. Real help is to awaken the courage within. And this is the kind of help we try to do. We help people to learn how can we live free from diseases; completely free. We help them learn how can their mind be stable in every situation. And believe me there are definite ways. They are not tough. At Ashram, none of us uses medicines. We barely eat and wear light clothes irrespective of weather and temperature. There are techniques. When we talk about yoga, it doesn’t just mean doing some asana. And once you learn them, you gain control over your body, mind and life. Some lawyers might here get into thinking that instead teaches us how to control judges 😉 . And for that, the technique is by being truthful.
Generally people say this is Kalyuga. Honesty, sincerity, and morality have no values here. Because those people who follow such values they suffer. Right? For them, the question is do you believe in yourself? Once upon a time, there was a judge who was bribed enough to put an innocent man behind the bars. Later that day, the brother of this innocent guy who was put behind the bars came to the house of this judge just so as to yell at him. The judge himself got agitated and said, how dare you insult me in my own house? … Now, the astonishing part here is that while committing the mistake one doesn’t feel insulted. While when someone is fronting on the basis of truth, the same person feels insulted. Point being that words do not insult you. It is your worth that gains respect or insult for you. And that’s why the question of immense significance here is do you believe in yourself?
To believe in yourself first you have to know yourself. And who are you? What is your real identity? You are not a lawyer or a judge 24×7. This is just a profession and has nothing to do with your reality. As long as we do not realize so, we’ll be stuck in the whirlwind of good people being the sufferers and bad people being the fun-fruit bearers. If you ask, what is the definition of their fun? More and more money, is it? However if we actually get to sneak peek within their lives, they are no less miserable, and are dis-eased. Their kids are often off-tracked, and hardly respect them. On the contrary, if the money is earned truthfully that person becomes master of the money. Even if and when this person is robbed, he would have courage to fight it back for because he believes in himself. So, the crux of the matter is that we need to work on our definition of joys and sorrows. The worldly goals and therefore problems are all transient; they are bound to cease either today or tomorrow. However, the real goal of human life is to become one with the One. It is when you leave selfishness and become selfless, and you expand your limits and embrace everyone, you meet God. Because even animals are busy eating, sleeping, dreading, and mating; so, what’s the difference? It’s a fact that one who is dependent can never be happy. But, if we connect with ourselves, with the God within our body, mind and so our behavior will change. And just then we’ll begin to appreciate our relationships whether personal or professional. There would be no more anger, fights or cheating to be done with.
Summarizing, real happiness does not lie in money. It lies inside you. And good people are those who go inside. Once you go inside, you’ll be happy. You will not compare with others. This jealousy, hatred, complains come when we compare. It’s all an illusion, which binds you. Good people don’t suffer. Good people rather have more opportunities to help others. (Bhagwad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 14-15) We have heard this world is made of five elements. From these five elements, we have five subtle physical elements: sound (Shabda), touch (Sparsh), sight/light (Roop), taste (Ras), and smell (Gandh). When we connect with any of those there is bound to be either joy or sorrow. We’ll feel hot or cold. But if we could come into terms with this, thinking that irrespective of what may come, it is fleeting and therefore digest them without getting disturbed by these extremities of the world just then we can realize His almighty. Nobody else can. And so the question, why good people suffer and why bad people enjoy the fruits, will be out of question.