Light on Ananda Yoga
By
Data Dayal Mahari**** ****v Brat Lal
Copyright =A9 2007
Insight IX
The Virtue of Life
Work, thought and enjoyment are not the goal of one's Life. The goal
of Life is something else which is worthy of knowing and attaining.
Work, as long as you have a sound body and able limbs. Think, as long
as you have a sound mind and mental capacity. Enjoy, as long as you
are in a position of sound consciousness. But always bear in mind that
your work, your enjoyment and your thoughts are as much for the use
and assistance of others as they are for yourself. Therefore, if you
continue working, thinking and enjoying, it is virtue, otherwise it is
the opposite of it.
Selfishness has been spoken of in the Holy Scriptures as the greatest
sin of this age. Individuals, nations and communities are all selfish.
Professionals bear grudge and ill feeling towards colleagues. Two
within a trade never agree. This is why this age as a must, is an age
of misery and mishaps. Unrest, conflict and uneasiness are nothing but
negativity of the Real Self. In that case, intellect becomes an
instrument of destruction and the mind serves as the weapon of ruin.
As long as this condition continues to exist, so long will the human
race remain unhappy.
You are not alone in the world. No limb of your body is independent of
another limb, likewise, every individual is linked to the other and it
is therefore proper to work, think and enjoy in unison.
No amount of admonition, sermons and lecturing will bring the truth of
service to humanity home, better than one's own personal experiences.
Experience is a dear school and very few are able to learn from it.
But learn you must, whether today or tomorrow. For Life means
extension and manifestation. This extension and manifestation goes out
of its way to make Life beautiful and pleasant. Humans are born to
gain experiences and make observations, for they correct their lives.
And so they must extend their helping hand to those who are needy or
who look towards them for help.
A person who says, "I do not care for others. I am concerned for my
own personal happiness." This person should not be condemned for their
selfish expression. These views are held by almost all cultured people
today. They say, "Every man for himself and God for all". But they
forget that they cannot be happy if their neighbour is ailing, wailing
or bewailing his lot. Unless one makes one's surroundings pleasant,
one can never either make one's life happy or appear happy; therefore,
doing so is as necessary for me as it is for others.
Life means extension. You come into this world as a single
personality. In time you become married and over time you become two,
children are born and your concern with the world is increased. This
is nothing but extension and extension is nothing but one's own
action. Expressions, actions etc are noting but manifestations of
Life.
Life without manifestation is meaningless. How can you call Life an
existence unless it expresses itself and becomes manifest in words and
actions? These words and actions should work to increase the happiness
of their surroundings. This idea may appear utopian but it is
practical and should be committed to regular practice.
Eat, drink and be merry, there is no harm in it. But this epicurean
mode of life should have an ideal serving of humanity in one way or
another. And then this life will be a life of virtue.
A beggar, who begs for the good of others, is far better than a person
who hoards wealth for his own use. The beggar is enjoying their life
by begging, but the person bent on amassing wealth has no enjoyment
and consequently their life is empty.
Insight X
Life, Light & Love (Part II)
Rivers, trees, the sun and moon, all forces of Nature enliven others
as well as themselves. This is Life.
A tree does not produce its fruit for its own self, but others consume
its fruits. And while it stands suffering from the changes of weather,
it stands protecting others from it. This is Life.
The sun, the moon, and the stars ****ne not for themselves but for
others. This is Light.
The river flows meandering through deserts and dry lands, quenching
thirst, watering fields and gardens, giving life to all and taking
nothing in return. This is Love.
Love is not taking or grasping but it is giving, there is no
selfishness in love. Nothing is so holy, so pious and so good and at
the same time, so relish able and sweet as Love. God is Love, because
he gives and does not ask for return. The husband is Love, because he
gives his all to his wife. Parents are Love, because they sup****t
their children with affection and without any idea of return from
them.
In a certain cottage, people were suffering from malaria fever. A man
passing through the street, heard their cries, entered their house and
gave them milk to drink, without being asked. They felt refreshed,
blessed him, and there was mirth and happiness among them. They forgot
their disease for the time being. This is Life. Where Life enters,
death departs.
Several men sitting in darkness were discussing the meaning of Life
and could not come to any definite conclusion. A man with a lamp in
his hand entered their cottage. Darkness quitted the place and
everything was bright and alight. He addressed, "Brethren, Life does
not mean lip-service. It is something to live and which ****nes. Light
yourself like this lamp, when you are enlightened, you will give light
to others. Unless you have engulfed yourself and your heart is burning
within you, how will you be able to enlighten others with Light,
knowledge and wisdom? Knowledge and wisdom are both things to be used,
acted upon and absorbed. Those given to lip-service are wise in name
but not in action. To be wise in name is like an empty sack, which
will not stand on its own legs. If you are wise, learn this lesson
from my lamp, first become this Luminosity yourself and then spread
Light near and far."
In Love, there are both deeds and thoughts. Love works, but its work
is a master's work not a slave's work. Lover's thoughts are the most
disciplined. There is no profanity in them.
Three girls sitting on the side of a brook were praising their lovely
cups. There was a heated discussion amongst them and no one could
decide which the best cup was. A poor beggar woman arrived at the
spot. They requested her to settle their dispute. The woman replied,
"I am extremely thirsty, you better let me drink water from your cups
and then I will judge. Two of the girls refused to let her drink from
their cups, while the third, cleaned her cup and then filled it with
water, offering it to the woman. She drank out of it stating
afterwards that the cup which quenched her thirst was the best; that
the others were worthless. There was no beauty in them.
One, who loves one, loves all. One who does not love one cannot love
any. If Love has entered one's mind, there is room in his house, but
where there is no Love in the mind, there is no room in the house.
Love is beauty and Love is art. Love, lover and beloved are not three
but they are one and the same thing. Three-in-One and One-in-Three.
One single soul in three bodies pervading them all simultaneously.
They say, "Love is unselfish." And it is so, for, where there is Love,
there is no duality. They say, "Love is blind," and it is so, for
where there is Love, there is no reasoning or wrangling of words. Love
is self evident. It requires no proof for its presence or existence.
Love is a pervading principle. Had it not been present everywhere, the
world would not have come into existence. It is Love that creates, it
is Love that multiplies, and it is Love that finds room for everybody.
We are born, live, die and are absorbed in Love; For God is nothing
but Love. Had there been no Love, there would have been no God. Had
there been no God there would have been no Love. Love and God is the
same thing.
PART II =96 Unity
Insight I
Diversity in Unity
All is One and One is all. This is as true as Truth can be. But in One
and all there is diversity also. Diversity is a `fact' though it may
be called ephemeral or imaginary.
Opinions will differ and this is natural. If there is diversity in
Nature, how could all agree on one point? Everyone has their own angle
of vision and subsequently differences of opinions exist side by side.
One and the same view have never been held by even the followers of
the same Seer. They have differed and have differed reasonably. We
need not argue among ourselves simply because our views are different.
In the world of differences, one is different from another. No two
personalities are alike. No two forms exhibit a perfect resemblance to
each other. Within the grand scheme of Nature, there is without doubt
Unity in Diversity. But Unity does not imply that all should be alike.
For instance, I am a man and possessing a body made of many parts.
Cast a glance and you will find no two parts alike, for they have not
been made so. No two eyes are alike, no two ears, no two noses are
alike and so forth. Two leaves of any plant fail to resemble each
other when they are microscopically examined. All is One and One only;
everyone is One and One without a second.
Edited & Revised by Sant Harjit Singh
http://www.babafaqirchand.com/
|
