All posts by Ramakrishna Math Halasuru

Moral Stories

First practice and then preach

A woman brought her child to see a saintly person and said, “The doctor has told me that my child is a diabetic and must stop eating sugar and sweets, but in spite of what I tell him, he won’t stop. Since you are a saintly person, I am sure that if you tell him to stop eating sugar and sweets he will listen and his life can be saved.
Surprisingly, the saintly person replied that he could not tell that to the child. He can supposedly help him if they come back after 2 weeks Disappointed and confused, the mother took the child away and returned back after two weeks. But this time also sage asked for some more time.
When they came back again after two weeks, the saintly person looked sternly at the young boy and said, “Stop eating sweets!” The boy was so startled that from that day he never again ate sweets and sugar.
When the curious mother inquired from the Sadhu, “Why didn’t you tell the same thing on the very first day”? The Sadhu replied, “I myself was fond of eating sugar. Until and unless I practice this myself, how could I tell this to somebody?”
That’s true, example is better than precept. A leader cannot tell the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. A beautiful flower is not very pleasing, if it is without fragrance. Similarly good instructions are not very acceptable, if they are not themselves practiced by the speaker. First practice and then preach

FAQs

What is in your view the real remedy?

Question: I have been going through internal struggle for quite sometime: If we do Soul searching today..or in last 50-100 years……in India …we see the situation in the Country has gone down rapidly ..from worse to Worst…in all spheres of life…Socially, Educationally… (Terribly poor quality), politically, communally, racially …. Results … Country…. Most of our population .. is living in Terrible traumatic conditions. Things are constantly .. worsening … looking doomed…Poverty levels are alarmingly increasing.
These situations generate …pain..agitation…and i wonder why Ultimate reality…Divine Bliss…God…Supreme soul .. Brahman .. Whatever you Call it… has created such situations … or all those names .. are mere our imaginations…or may be entirely different set of rules govern our …lives…mankind…universe..etc..etc..I have no answer to all these … what do you honestly think about these issues?
What is in your view the real remedy? or we are helpless?…How India and world at large would become Peaceful and blissfully livable ..for entire mankind. or This would remain our dream only!!!!
Or may be a stark Reality of present times will remain…for thousands of years to come..
Your kind views on above would be highly appreciated.

Answer: My Dear ****** *********, The world is a dog’s tail. The absolute sorrow, misery and poverty can never be removed. In fact, you can never point such a place on the earth. But we in the process of removing poverty and misery, become better and better persons. Even though education improves the lot of the people, we also see simultaneously how inhumanely they behave in their dealings. In fact, the wars & conflicts are not the contributions of illiterates, but, of the so called civilized. In fact, I am a believer of Karma Theory & each one face for what he has done. Somehow it only seems to me a rational theory. So, let us be good and go on doing good.
RESPONSE to Above REPLY: Thanks very much for your kind response. My mind runs numerous varied thoughts all the time and generates restlessness. I need to practice some spiritual discipline to achieve some peace of mind. May be attending spiritual retreat once in a while or spending few days in solitary place might help.
Certainly I fully agree with you on Karma Theory, we do our good and surrender to God and God’s will. I need to learn to live on this principle imbibed in my heart. Of course, this would again depend on God’s grace. … …

FAQs

Query on Advaita Philosphy

Namaskar Swamiji,
I recently read the book Jnana Yog and Karma Yog by Swami Vivekanandji.I was deeply inspired by the books. And I’ve a few queries about the philosophy of Advaita. I couldn’t comprehend the relation of Maya with Brahman. Is it a part of Brahman or is it seperate. If it is seperate from Brahman , won’t there be a duality which is against Advaita? If it is part of Brahman, won’t Brahman also have qualities apart from Sat-Chit-Ananda , because Maya is endowed with Rajas and Tamas as well? Swami Vivekanandji has said in Jnana Yog that our minds are finite and Brahman is infinite ,is it because of this, that this contradiction seems to arise?
Though I have these queries , I still find that Advaita is a most complete explanation of this universe , only because of lack of comprehension I have these queries.
In the Big Bang Theory of Universe, all observable matter was said to originate from a single point . But if we look at this from duality , we still can’t account for empty space (or Akasha), when did the space come into existence is the question that comes to the mind. But Advaita seems to be the answer to this query. That Akasha(i.e space) and Pran (i.e matter) are all one. All part of the absolute.

Answer:
Namaste.
Nice to read your questions with regard to Advaita Philosophy!
Maya means “that which is available for experience but that which does not exist actually, and therefore that which is inexplicable”. Inexplicable means that which can’t be explainable. Can you explain about “mirage water”. Does the mirage water is different from the “sand”, or one with the sand? If it is different from the sand, then you should be able to use it as water for your thirst. If it is one with the sand, then you can’t call it as “mirage water”. You should call it is sand only. The fact is when there is no mirage water at all, then why we should attempt to find a place for it. It is a mere appearance, from the stand point of the fact. What people call as “mirage water” is nothing but sand.
Similarly, you can’t talk about “Maya” which is a mere appearance. Because what the ignorant people call as Maya is nothing but Brahman for the wise-man . The very attempt to find a “place” for Maya shows, that it is taken for granted, that it exists as a second entity. Maya does not exist at all from the Absolute stand point. Wise man does not have any confusion. For him, this Maya is Lord’s power (like the power of a magician) from the Relative stand point of Creation-preservation-destruction. Same Maya does not exist at all from the Absolute stand point.
Don’t try to understand “Maya”. It is neither “existing” nor “non-existing” entity. It does not come under any definition. Without definition, we can’t understand anything as an object. You can’t understand it unless you the Subject recognize your Infinite nature as Brahman.
Moreover, don’t try to understand the Scriptures in an academic way by “self-study”. These academic informations can not solve the human problems. Getting Self-knowledge from the Scriptures depends upon the following questions:
· Are you guided by any Spiritual Teacher?
· Are you a sincere seeker of the Truth?
· Do you have devotion to the Lord, who is the Ultimate Truth of the appearing world?
Therefore, our suggestion is, first of all, find a Gurudev for your spiritual journey.
“Leading a clean life with the practice of moral values, Prayer, Namajapa and Satsangh are means for attaining Gurudev in our spiritual life. Try them and wait for the Lord’s Grace. He will certainly bless you with a Spiritual Teacher. Offer your mind to Him and pray Him to manifest in your mind and make your life a purposeful one and with peace”.
With Prayers,
Yours in Service,

Moral Stories

Facts of life

A professor stood before his Philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”
The golf balls are the important things-your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else–the small stuff.
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls”.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked”.
“It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a cup of coffee with a friend.”