Discipline Is Essential Duty

9 October 1976

Published English.

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Swami: If Swami is important, then why should you attend the college? You could as well come to ; but, why should you come to this college and the hostel?

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Follow Discipline Of The Institute Discipline pertaining to Swami is not different from discipline of the college, or the hostel discipline. These three make a trinity, which means they are concurrent. Three fingers of a hand when separated will not be able to do any work. It is possible for man to achieve a high position only with the combined strength of physical, mental, and spiritual abilities. , , are referred to in this regard. These are also known as gross, subtle and causal principles. They appear in various entities. We must unite these three aspects. Take for instance the word ‘’ (Woman). is a combined form of three qualities. It is the combination of ‘Sa’, ‘Ta’ and ‘Ra’. First comes ‘Sa’, then ‘Ta’ and then ‘Ra’. Together they form ‘’. This unification dispels the concept of weakness and suggests the aspect of divine strength. is the combined strength of , and . Therefore, it is necessary first to undergo training pertaining to these aspects. In the contemporary period you may find it difficult and tiresome. But, in the future, this will bestow a divine and glorious life to you. You tend to exceed limits in some disciplines in a state of frustration.

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Devotion is essential, no doubt! You all have devotion. There is a limit even to this devotion. There is a limit for everything and anything. The temperature within our body has its limit. We call 98.4 degrees as normal. When it goes up to 99, it means there is some disturbance in the health. Similarly, the heart is considered healthy when the pulse rate is 75 or 76. If this rate goes either up or down, it is an indication of some disturbance in the heart. There are some limits to the air we breathe, the food we eat, and so on. Even (devotion) should have a limit without which it develops some sort of disease. You are all devoted no doubt; but in certain aspects, you tend to exceed limits. You have the right to pray to Swami to come. You can surely do or prayer for any length you desire, that is outside the college and hostel timings. On the contrary, if you are engaged in evading college, then you will be subjected to ‘remark’. Even Swami will not give you any ‘marks’. Within the hostel also, you must observe punctuality with regard to things like and (meals). You should not mix up these things. You should not resort to them as and when you like. should always be conducted in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere conducive to mental tranquility. Even if you do for a few minutes in such a condition, it will go straight to God. There is no use in doing in a reckless manner. Then, it is like playing a gramophone. It is painful to singers as well as listeners. Therefore, the hostel discipline is a bit harsh in certain aspects. I am aware of this. Take for example the case of a violin or a .

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Their strings require the correct amount of tightness. They produce unpleasant sounds when the tightening becomes either more or less. This optimal discipline is essential in the case of girl students, because they are going to foster children who are the future leaders of Bharat. Only when you practice good principles in the hostel you will have the authority to inspire your friends and followers on an ideal path. It is not safe for girls to roam around in the streets. It may be tolerable in case of boys. Nobody bothers when four boys move around, each resting hands on the other’s shoulders. But when even two girls move around laughing loud, they are bound to attract remarks. Our college students must observe certain regulations, even if it involves some rigor so that in the future, they can bring good name and happiness to their husbands and in-laws. You should not feel bad that your principal or warden had spoken harshly at times. They may be circumspect, but they do not bear any ill will towards anybody. They too had come for the sake of Swami. They too intend to imbibe Swami’s ideals! They too have devotion. They are also eager to have Swami’s . Therefore, you should not have any difference of opinion in this regard. There are so many other things that are not being reported; but Swami knows everything. Teachers sometimes resort to punishments for the sake of discipline that Swami likes. We must observe discipline for the sake of Swami but not for anybody else. Only those who do hard work in their youth will be able to enjoy comforts in future life.

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Mend Character In Tender Age I shall narrate a small story at this juncture. Once, there was a poor woman who was a fish hawker. She was selling fish keeping the basket on her head while keeping her boy child in her lap. Another hawker woman, who had a mango basket on her head, happened to pass by. At this moment, the boy had picked up one mango from her basket and started eating. The mother saw this and started praising him for the deed. Then the boy felt thieving as a praiseworthy thing. From then onwards, he was engaged in the art of theft; and over a period of time, he became a notorious murderer. Finally, he was caught and was sent to the gallows. Before his execution, he expressed a wish to see his mother. The mother came weeping. He asked her to come close to him. When she came near, he gave her a big slap on her cheek and told the shocked mother that she was the cause behind his ruinous life because when he first stole a mango, she praised and encouraged him instead of detesting the act. The mother had encouraged in his initial stages of wrongdoing. It was like sowing bad seed in a tender heart which had grown into a big tree of destructive and deplorable practices. Therefore, you must not deviate from good discipline. You must get up early in the morning; attend (Morning Prayer), , and other scheduled programs of the day. Also, you must observe principles of cleanliness like regular baths etc.

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You must not forget that this stage is a very sacred part of your life. In case you are unable to develop good qualities at this stage, how can you aspire to be good in your old age? Will anyone be able to do (reciting lord’s name) at the last moment when the (orderlies of the God of death) start dragging out the life with their ropes, at a time when relatives hasten to pull and throw the body outside and at a time when spouse and children start crying? It is impossible indeed. And about controlling the senses at that stage, it is unthinkable. In fact, the senses will flatly refuse to come to your aid in a condition of trauma. To win over the senses is like winning over the whole world. Without acquiring the prop of God, there is no point in having physical and mental prowess. One must control desires and develop proper discipline in order to acquire God’s support, and Dharma’s (righteousness) support. Without discipline, it is not possible to acquire these two kinds of support.

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Parent’s Service Is Paramount I am sure you are all aware of ’s story. was fully engaged in the service of his parents. One day he was immersed in pressing his old father’s feet and legs to make him sleep well. At that time, Lord had come. But did not move out to greet Him. Then spoke to him thus, “Dear! I came with the intention of granting you my . But you are not giving proper attention to Me; and you continued to serve your parents.” Then said, “It is 18 years since I was born. Have you visited me at least once during this period? On the other hand, my parents have brought me up even while they were undergoing hardships. I cannot leave such parents and attend to you who had come for giving a moment’s .” Then was very much pleased and said, “Dear! You had put the dictum ‘, ’ into practice. I am present in your father and mother as well. Therefore you first attend to them. I shall wait here until you finish your services to them.” showed him a brick that was lying outside the house and asked to make Himself comfortable on the brick until he came.

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stood on the brick until finished his services to parents and came near Him. In the same manner, you must pay utmost respect to the college and hostel by observing proper discipline. There is no use if you get ‘marks’ in the college while you invite ‘remarks’ in the hostel. You must learn to conduct yourselves in consonance with the circumstances.

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Once upon a time, an artist in the tunic of a recluse had visited the king of that land. He had enlightened the audience on various spiritual matters. The king was happy and offered him a plateful of gold coins. Then the said, “Oh benevolent king, I did not come here for the sake of these gold coins. I am happy that your heart is purified; that is my reward, I do not want anything from you.” Saying thus, the recluse went away. The same artist had come to the king the next day in the attire of a danseuse and danced wonderfully before him. Then the king was pleased and gave him some silk clothes and jewelry as presents. Then the dancer said, “Oh great king, the presents are not sufficient because they are not befitting your stature and my performance.” The same person came to the king the previous day in the garb of a . Therefore, he refused the presents. But as a dancer, he demanded more in accordance with the role he was playing. Renunciation is the quality of a recluse, and greed is the nature of a danseuse.

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We also have some post-graduate students here. It is my advice to them that they should be ever ready to help their juniors without any reservations or pride. After finishing education, you will be proposed for marriage. At that time you should not agree for any kind of dowry. When there is any demand for dowry, you must tell them boldly, “we don’t entertain such things. We are prepared to sacrifice our lives for the sake of sacred ideals and we are prepared to serve the family with selfless love and humility. We have come from Women’s College”. More than doing , you must be able to spread the discipline and principles of the College in the family and society, and you must shine like diamonds. That is what Swami likes and expects of you. Discipline is important. The doctor, along with the prescription, puts restrictions on diet also. It does not mean that the doctor is merciless. It is for the good of the patient that the doctor adopts an attitude of harshness.

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You are all living in a (the land of ). Everybody is a pilgrim. Pilgrimage involves travel to a sacred place. When you think well, you will know that the sacred place to which you are traveling is your heart only.

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What is the purpose of education? It is to foster self-confidence, destroy ignorance, and experience bliss. Every person in the world struggles to escape from sorrow and runs towards happiness. But, are we going in the right direction to achieve this? For those who are determined to re-establish the sacredness of Bharat and to make it vibrant, ‘politics’ is not the only way to follow. It is possible only by fostering the two qualities of selfless service and self-confidence which are deeply embedded in our national fabric. In fact, divinity alone is the permanent aspect of the world. All other things are ephemeral and are like mirages. One does not get satiated by chasing a mirage. Even while sitting on the bank of the river , we are unable to quench our thirst. Even while sitting across a heap of food, we are unable to satiate the hunger. Even though we have the divine light of Soul within us, we are groping in darkness. The reason is that we lost our awareness, discrimination, and faith.

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Woman is responsible for the betterment of family and nobility of individuals. Women are embodiments of all the three qualities of *, *and . But the educated women must strive to promote and subdue and in a spirit of endurance and patience. When you control your own senses, it means you have conquered the world.

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You must not develop the attitude of slavery. What does it mean? Doing something with love is one thing. Servitude is different. A mother stoops down to lift the child. It does not mean surrender to the child. Similar is the case of an . means the descent of God to earth in a physical form. Why should he descend? You may wonder why an airplane should land at all. The plane lands in order to take eligible travelers with it, and to take them to the destination. In the same way, God comes down to earth in order to take with Him the sacred people to their sacred destination. It is to give them liberation.