June 13, 2017 archive

Jun 13 2017

Datta maata 10: What should be our attitude during charitable activities?

June 13, 2017

Dāna (charity) is meant for yourself. What does this mean?

The system of honouring the people involving in meritorious deeds is practiced since ages in many countries. They are given the titles like ” Dāna vēra shūra karna”, “Dāna chakravarthi” (king in doing dāna) etc. There are two benefits in this. Firstly, the one who has accepted the charity expresses gratitude. Secondly, seeing people being honoured provokes others around to donate. Many people are honoured and many others are happy because of this.

But, these two benefits are useful only to the receiver of the charity and not to the giver. The veneration shown by others will cause a great loss to the giver.

The one who gives in charity has the ego that the donation money belongs to him and he also has a feeling of “I am donating” in his mind. Charity is done either for fulfilling a great desire or for attaining good name. At this juncture, the admiration of others too comes on the way. As a result, the giver strongly believes that the receiver has greatly benefited from him and that it is the duty of the receiver to be thankful to him. He always wants people to respect him and praise him. Because of this, the ego that was latent so far will now increase a lot because of the act of praising by others.

It is natural to be honoured by people when you make a small donation but the mind will boast of its charity because of the egoistic nature. All the superior goals along with the desire to attain godhead will go in vain. This means that the noble intention with which the charity began has now been destroyed. As a result, all that is done with a good mind will become fruitless.

When giving away in charity, the giver must have a right attitude. Only then, it will be useful.
A charity done with selflessness will bestow doubled benefits for the giver.
the giver must never ever think that the receiver will get benefited because of his charity.
You must keep in mind that you are doing charity only to wash off your sins.

Hence, in the olden days, the receiver was first worshiped for accepting the donation and the giver was always grateful to the receiver for agreeing to accept charity.

In those days, many were not accepting dāna. They refused to accept cows, houses, money etc as dāna. Hence, if there was somebody who accepted the charity, then they were worshiped. Through this lesson, may you all get the right attitude to do dāna.

All those who are doing charity, must not await others to praise or honour them. Instead, one must only feel grateful for others for accepting one’s dāna.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-10-what-should-be-our-attitude-when-engaging-in-charitable-activities/

Jun 13 2017

Datta maata 9: What is meant by selfless service (nissvartha seva)?

June 13, 2017

The word “Seva”(service) has strange definitions in different languages. What is the meaning of seva in reality?

We may define seva as doing anything by not accepting money. But, then we have to consider the free services rendered by the people as seva when they are threatened to be killed by a street rowdy. We may define seva as work done out of love without accepting money. But again, the seva done by people who wish to earn good name also might come under this category.

Hence, we can define seva as beneficence that is done out of love and is completely devoid of selfishness and fear. If someone is doing seva just because the rowdy will kill him, then it cannot be called as seva.

Hence, if one person serves another in this world, the one who serves must possess affection on the one whom he serves. Hence, we must develop mental relationship with God irrespective of our selfish motives. We must try to reach that stage in our love towards God. If that kind of relationship develops gradually, then one will automatically realise that the God whom one loves is the one who is behind the creation and he is the one who is present in each and every being. Such a kind of person can never loathe anybody in this creation. Not just that, he would love all the beings selflessly. That love is permanent. For that love to be permanent, we must always remember that God dwells in the hearts of all beings.

If one can do seva universally, then it is possible to attain godliness irrespective of the physical body. Those who have desires and wanting for power will never get that universal feeling of love. Only those who wish to reach Paramatma can get such feeling. One can realise Paramatma if and only if one possesses selfless devotion. With the grace of Datta Sadguru, may you all reach that state. This is the resolve of the Lord.

So, here we learn that there must not be any traces of selfishness even if you render thousands of services to the society. You must not announce that you have done this, that and so on. You must not say that because of your services, your future generations and people around will be happy. It is wrong to talk about your help and services rendered. You must not expect anything in return. You must not say that you were not thanked by the one whom you fed. He ate the food and satiated the hunger and that’s all. Instead, you should not wait for others to appreciate you and show their gratitude. This is selfless service (seva). When we follow such behavior, we can get enlightenment.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-9-what-is-meant-by-selfless-service-nissvartha-seva/

Jun 13 2017

Datta maata 8: What is pure, selfless devotion?

June 13, 2017

There are few people who renovate dilapidated temples. They feel proud that they could bring life to the ruined and neglected temples. They think that they have satiated the hunger of hundreds of people by feeding them. Even those who do great charities, think in this manner. They say that they have brought back life to that temple, this temple, so on and so forth. Such people always want others to know that the credit of doing such noble tasks goes to them. You can tell about the meritorious deeds undertaken but being freed of the doer-ship is most important. Getting the feeling that “I have not done anything” is very rare. If that kind of feeling is absent, then all the noble tasks and charities will only become pompous shows. All these people compete with others regarding the charities and renovation of temples they undertake. Though this kind of competition is a bad trait, it will benefit the world to some extent but utilising the thing at hand fruitfully is the real talent. Our elders have advised us to use such competitive spirit for the benefit of the self. In this context, we have to remember an incident from Sri Krishna’s life history.

One day, Sree Krishna was suffering from severe stomach ache. There was no relief from the pain at all. He himself told a remedy that by drinking the pāda-thērtha (water obtained by washing the feet) of his devotees will reduce the pain. But, no one turned up because by giving their pāda-thērtha, they will become sinful and will have to go to hell. Radha got to know the news of Sree Krishna’s suffering. Without a second thought, she gave her pāda-thērtha dismissing the thought that she would have to go to hell for doing so. Even without drinking the thērtha, Sree Krishna’s pain vanished. Everybody understood the value of Radha’s devotion and expressed great joy.

To understand this secret, one must know the definition of Bhakti (devotion). Devotion is not a plan meant for one’s own selfish motives like self-satisfaction, self-development and reaching heaven or attaining liberation. Devotion is a flow of love for Paramatma (God) which is devoid of any traces of selfishness. Radha Devi is an embodiment of such devotion. Hence, we must compete ourselves with her in devotion. Here, competition is not possible but we must develop selflessness like her. We must give up the feeling of doer-ship by cultivating the feeling of complete self surrender coupled with devotion. Nobody gave their pāda-thērtha because they thought they will accrue sin but Radha did only because she wanted Sree Krishna to be relieved of the ache. Similarly, when renovation of temples are taken up with a feeling that it would be useful to the society, then alone it would be really beneficial. Everything will go in vain if the same noble activity is done with a sense of “I” ness. This is the key to develop immense devotion in us.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-8-pure-selfless-devotion/

Jun 13 2017

Datta maata 7: Only when noble deed is undertaken with faith, sins are destroyed

June 13, 2017

Many people think that they are impure and sinful. They think within themselves and get distressed that their body and mind have become impure. They keep on saying that they are dissatisfied and that some filth has occupied their minds. Such kind of thinking is also good because they know that they are impure, so they search ways to purify themselves. They are always in search of good ways to transform themselves. This seems to be good. Few people say that by thinking noble thoughts, one gets purified. They say that one is not sacred because one lacks such noble thinking. Few others opine that by involving in Daana (charity) and Dharma (righeousness), one can become pure while some others believe that Pooja (worship), Abhisheka (ablutions to the Lord) and Pradakshina (circumambulation of temples) will bring inner purification. There is one section of people who strongly argue that practice of Yoga is the best way. In this way, we hear many opinions about purification.

There is a school of people who believe that mere bathing in holy rivers will wash away the sins and thereby makes one scared. When we listen to such opinions, we feel that it is a good and easy way. So, we show more interest towards that because we too believe that mere bathing in a river will wash away our sins. Lakhs of people run to the sacred rivers like the Ganga during the Kumbhamela to take a dip in them. The Ganges (Ganga) is considered the most sacred river amongst all the rivers. Hence, people strive a lot to go to the Ganga. But, none think about the way of getting purified.

By contemplating upon some sinful desires, people are acquiring sins and hence are devoid of purity. Again, with another strong contemplation upon pure deeds, one is able to get purified by warding off all the impurities. This means that we are getting rid of the sins that are committed either willingly, unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly. When we take up noble tasks with a pure mind, then we become pure. This is true indeed.

Only to make our mind concentrate upon such good contemplation, we indulge in several Yogas, Vratas (austerities), charities and other Satkarma (noble deeds). Even after doing so much, we again get entangled in confusions and forget about the true contemplation that we have to seek for. So, there is no purification at all. Few opine that it is very easy to wash away all their sins by merely taking a dip in Ganga river. But, many take the holy bath without knowing their own inner thoughts and feelings. They keep some wrong notions and thoughts in their mind. They wonder how a river bath can destroy their henious sin. Due to lack of faith their sins are not destroyed.

Hence, even after taking such a sacred bath, one is not satisfied enough. Here, there is no inner purification. They take the Ganga river bath again and again but with impure mind or by ridiculing the holy scriptures.

In this way, if there is no purity of thoughts, neither the Ganga nor Gangadhara (one who adorns Ganga on his head – Shiva) can grant you sacredness. With the grace of Lord Datta, may you all attain purity in your thoughts and become devoid of all impurities. Y

ou must do all the austerities, worships and take the Ganga bath too. But, when you take up such noble tasks with purity of thoughts, then you will be bestowed with the ultimate Yoga.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-7-only-when-the-noble-deed-is-undertaken-with-faith-sins-are-destroyed-and-purity-is-obtained/

Jun 13 2017

Datta maata 6: What is Self-realization?

June 13, 2017

Our mind itself is a mirror. Those who are in the spiritual path have the great yearning for realizing God in this birth itself at the earliest possible. This kind of longing indicates more about ego rather than devotion because that particular Jeevi (soul) has not questioned himself/herself about the eligibility to please God. It will be good if one can know whether one has the certificate of eligibility to realize God.

Few people do a lot of practice yet they cannot experience the Tattva (principle of God). Unable to find out the mistake within themselves, they become vexed. This frustration must give way to examination of oneself and not to depression. We must never be disheartened.

There must be a clear understanding about the manifestation of God. It is a biggest mistake to think that God will appear to us coming from somewhere. It is wrong to think that he stays at a place, stands there etc. The Puranas might have described him so. The main motto of such sacred texts is to tell us about the greatness of God’s power and it is not that God resides at a particular place or so and comes from there. It is only to purify our thoughts and feelings.

You must remember that God is an experience. Reflection of such feeling in your mind is itself the true manifestation of the God. That is why, the mind is referred to as a mirror. Reflecting is it’s true nature. A mirror can reflect an image only if it is clean and is absolutely free of dust, smoke or fog. Your mind is analogous to the mirror. This mirror called mind must not be moving. It must be stable and clean. It must not be covered with filth.

Cleanliness of the mind means concentration. So, we must rub off the dust on the mirror (mind) to see the image. This process is called destruction of the ego. Cleaning the filth refers to killing our ego. The inner meaning here is that we must bring this mirror called mind closer to God and when we reduce our attention towards desires, it will automatically reflect the image (God). This is called realization of God.

With the blessings of Datta Sadguru, may you all realize the God. This will happen if you clean the mind. Just like you do not see the image in a mirror when it is covered with smoke and dust, likewise you cannot see God in your mind when it is enveloped with ego. It must be removed in totality. God dwells in your mind but you cannot see him because of the ego. When ego is removed, you can see the God who resides right there in your mind. This is called self realization.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/episode-6-what-is-self-realization/