Lead a Meaningful and Virtuous Life

3 October 2000, Dasara, Prasanthi Nilayam, AP

Published English.

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Though modern man knows everything, in daily life he does not practice it. He appears to be totally ignorant. For example, yesterday in My discourse, I said that students should not address the audience as brothers and sisters artificially without meaning it. Today speakers changed their way of addressing itself and avoided the usage of these words. Today they started addressing the audience as ‘devotees,’ ‘august assembly’ and so on. This is a mistake. ‘Brothers and sisters’ is the correct phrase. Every student considers as Mother, Father, and says so. When once is Mother for you, aren’t these people ‘brothers and sisters’ for you? It is not wrong to address the assembly as brothers and sisters. too addressed the gathering in Chicago as brothers and sisters in the true spirit of Indian Culture. In the it is said that,

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“ Tvameva bandhuścha sakha tvameva Tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva Tvameva sarvam mamadeva deva” So, when God is both Mother and Father, all are certainly brothers and sisters. Why don’t you have a broad mind and noble feelings? Even though you have a broad mind you are not able to understand these things properly. Had you understood this, you would not have changed your way of addressing today. Truly speaking all are brothers and sisters. This is the truth. Let anyone say anything, never swerve from the path of truth. Today students are not able to understand the meaning of certain words. They blindly follow whatever is told to them.

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In this world, there is no greater malady than miserliness. This can be understood from the history of . In , and were very powerful and wealthy rulers. Yet they were lacking in good qualities. Their greed was responsible for their ruin and that of their entire clan. So wicked qualities not only ruin a person but also bring a bad name to his kith and kin. We can derive happiness only when we share with others, whatever we have. also proclaim this, “.” Authority and position cannot confer happiness upon man. Only sacrifice confers happiness. But today we don’t find even an iota of sacrifice in man. What is the reason? He has become a miser within. The absence of the feeling of sacrifice is due to miserliness. pleaded with the to spare at least five villages for the . When he had this vast country of could not have spared five villages? He even refused to give space enough to place a needlepoint. How greedy he was! Actually, speaking the kingdom belonged to . considered the kingdom as his property though it did not belong to him and refused to give their share of the kingdom. His greed was responsible for the war of .

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also illustrates how the greed for pleasure led to the destruction of . was very affluent. He lived in a golden fort. appeared like heaven. Because of this affluence, he developed excessive desires. In spite of being the king of a vast kingdom and having a virtuous wife, he aspired for . was not his property. In fact, she belonged to . She was in the possession of God and abducted her. was the daughter of Mother Earth and the fundamental basis of Earth. disregarded this fundamental basis and aspired for because of his lust and greed. This quality of led to the loss of his life, kingdom, and riches. and also were victims of anger and greed. What happened to them at the end? They were responsible for the downfall of the entire clan. Today man has lost his character by becoming a slave to lust, anger, greed, arrogance, and desires. When a child is born, the lap of the mother is its school and temple. It is safe and happy in the mother’s custody. Once it leaves the lap of the mother and submits itself to the world, suffering becomes its lot.

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In our daily life, we have to recognize the Truth relating to happiness. Everyone aspires for something or the other. He doesn’t recognize that all that he aspired for is there already within him. Man today focuses his vision outward. He probes into the external world. So he is not able to recognize the Truth. Man is deluded by the thought that sacred qualities are outside him. Peace, happiness, purity, and bliss are there within him. His outward vision is the root cause of his worries. Once he turns his vision inward he can find everything within. Today God is taken to be present in a temple or or . But where is ? In ‘’ it is said, ‘One’s own happiness is one’s heaven, one’s sorrow is one’s hell.’ If such is the case, then why do you search outside? You say something but don’t practice it because of which you suffer. Speak the truth, it gives you happiness.

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God does not dwell outside. Your heart verily is His residence. But you neglect this aspect and go to temples. You search for God in stone and thus degenerate to the lowest levels of humanness. The day you end your narrow-mindedness, good qualities will blossom in you. These qualities prompt righteousness in your conduct. Righteousness confers unity and unity in turn grants peace. Peace makes you virtuous and this truly is the royal road to Bliss. Though in possession of virtues, as you don’t realize it, you lack peace. O man, bliss is acquired only by virtues, virtues are conferred by unity and unity is acquired by discipline, which in turn is acquired by righteousness. Hence, we should endeavor to be righteous. Today man doesn’t understand the true meaning of ‘.’ As you are all children, you should follow the related to your stage of life.

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The best place for a child is its mother’s lap. To listen to the mother is best for the child. This child gradually grows to the stage of youth. As youth, you should follow the of the youth, transcending the of your childhood. For each stage of life, there is a corresponding . Youth leads to adulthood, which in turn leads to old age. The old people should follow pertaining to their stage of life. It is incorrect to assume that is the same for everyone. What is the of youth? It is the character that is important for youth. The end of education is character. Cultivate a heart with good thoughts and a life with good conduct. Your heart and your actions are in your hands. Both joy and sorrow are in your grasp. People with character enrich the country in values. As are the feelings, so does it happen. In the midst of elders, youth should conduct themselves with humility. Humility should be reflected in your speech too. You should aspire to achieve that which befits youth.

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Good Vision Control your vision. This was what achieved first and foremost. He preached “,” Right vision. Right vision leads to Right thoughts, Right thoughts lead to Right Deeds and finally, Right Deeds lead to Right Conviction. So, Right vision should be cultivated first. Present-day youth say whatever they like, eat whatever they like and do whatever they like; can they call themselves human with this type of conduct? Unity of thought, word, and deed are the hallmarks of a true man. Hence aspire for it. Though highly educated, the , , , and had deficiencies in their character. They could never live peacefully. In fact, and were eminent scientists. No scientist of the modern age can equal . While the present-day scientists could reach only the moon, could reach even the Pole star. Though he was endowed with the power of intellect and physical prowess, he lacked virtues. Prowess without virtue is useless. The virtues, which we have to inculcate, are good thought, good conduct, devotion, discipline, and a sense of duty. Start by disciplining your vision first.

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Avoid Hypocrisy You tend to waste your time in ritualistic worship without trying to realize the underlying significance. The two speakers were praising . I dislike this and get a headache whenever I hear such praise. Develop good conduct and inculcate virtues that give Me happiness. Otherwise, it becomes a mockery and it amounts to cheating the audience. You describe God as your Mother and Father. Then, why don’t you address the audience as ‘brothers and sisters?’ You said, “the devotees who have gathered here.” How are you sure they are devotees? This is utter falsehood. When you have considered addressing ‘brothers and sisters’ to be wrong then calling them ‘devotees’ amounts to an even worse folly. I address the gathering as ‘Embodiments of love.’ You too can do it. “God created everything on the basis of Truth. The entire creation ultimately merges in Truth. One can never find a place where the effulgence of Truth is not perceived. This is pure, unalloyed Truth.” Only when you understand this principle of Truth, the sprouts of truthfulness spring forth in you; otherwise all sorts of artificialities get started. Matters which are relevant and which dispel the worries of people should be told in your talks. You may even narrate your own experiences with . But mere praise is never to My liking. Your speech and your actions should project that you are a devotee of . On the stage, you are a hero, but in practice, a zero. I will be happy if you were a hero in all aspects of your life. Only then I will be happy.

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Goodness and Greatness was a good person. He had acquired mastery over all types of knowledge. too was a great scholar but he ultimately destroyed himself by treading the wrong path. was good while was great. You should understand clearly the difference between goodness and greatness. Goodness is seeing divinity in all even in a demon. saw man in but recognized divinity even in . He told , “Oh ! is looking like in his majesty.” felt sad that was ruining himself because of one bad quality. Even his wife disliked his conduct. She advised him, “Oh ! You are a great emperor, you have great strength but you are doing such a mean thing. Why did you bring Mother here? It is the worst sin to abduct another’s wife. Just imagine what will be your plight if somebody abducts me? Since you have abducted His wife, has come to wage war against you. It is His duty to do so. Hence it is foolish on your part to be angry with Him.”

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Pride Vs Humility Depending on the situation you should lift up your head or bow down. When went to , he held his head high and acted as he pleased. He said, “Oh ! I will teach you a lesson. You think yourself to be very great but what you have done is very mean. I submitted myself to in order to see your court. Since I am in front of you, I am lifting up my head. But when I am in ’s presence I bow down my head since He is full of virtues. I do not care for strength, I respect the virtuous.”

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You should also teach the Truth in the same way. You are not monkeys, though your mind is like a monkey. Transform this ‘monkey mind’ into ‘mankind.’ Only then will you become like .

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You should understand that God does not need your praise; there are so many good people who have praised Him. God does not see your praise. He sees your behavior. Hence your conduct should be good. Develop good qualities. Then you will be a good example for the whole nation. There is nothing wrong in desiring a long life but you should cultivate good qualities suitably. It is better to have a short and good life than a long and bad one. You should inculcate broad-mindedness. Only then will your long life be meaningful. Today every man prays for a long life when he gets up in the morning but no one prays for divine life. Divine feelings should be inculcated for having a long life. These feelings should be practiced in a good way. You are young today. The future of the world rests on your shoulders. You have the strength to bear this weight. You should pray for the welfare of the whole world and not merely for the welfare of . The whole world is divine. Hence the whole world should be happy. You should not have any prejudices; you should not hate anybody. Develop equal love for all. Since you are following ’s words, He loves you. But sometimes He pretends to be angry with you. This is not because of any anger or hatred. This is because of your conduct. Sometimes your conduct displeases Me and hence I do not feel like looking at you. If your conduct is good, I will look at you and talk to you. Hence mould your behavior. Do not indulge in excessive talk. Too much friendship is bad. Do not have too many contacts. It will destroy you. You have come here to acquire knowledge. Set your mind upon your goal. You do your duty sincerely and I will talk to you. I am doing all this to set your mind right. I do not have any hatred at any point in time. You should not be a hypocrite. You should live your life in humility.

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Vinayat Yati Patratam Patratvat dhanam apnoti Dhanat Dharmam, Tatah Sukham.

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