Category: Speech_excerpts

Datta maata 29: The three criteria for entering spiritual field

In good magazines, there are many advertisements about jobs. In that, the prerequisites of the post are mentioned. Generally, a part/page of the newspaper is allotted for this. A person who wants to pursue a job opens that page first. Each and everybody likes to see whatever they want to – like movies, politics, ads, jobs etc.

Similarly, what is the actual eligibility criterion to live in this world? Let us now know about the eligibility required for the worldly and spiritual lives. In this eon of Kali (Kaliyuga), for man to live happily, he must possess intelligence and knowledge. Sometimes, we may need to praise others only to satisfy them even if they are unfit. We cannot help it. Few people approach big Gurus to achieve success in the spiritual field. They may go to them either for fame or to satisfy their selfish motives, but they will not progress in that just because they have approached a big Guru. Having kindness, patience and a steadfast mind are the mandatory virtues in the worldly life. By possessing these qualities, one must search for a Guru otherwise; it is of no use at all. This means that we must be kind at least externally. In spite of listening to others, one must have a deep concentration on one’s goal. Remember that even if you have hatred in your mind, you must be very soft and patient externally. Else, you cannot sustain in this worldly life. Remember this! By being so, you can prosper and thrive. But in the spiritual field, for a seeker to progress ahead, he must necessarily possess the virtues like vairagya (dispassion), disposition and jnana (knowledge). Let us understand about these three qualities.

The first is vairagya. It is to understand that the worldly life is temporary. One who does not learn this has no entry into the spiritual field. This is the basic eligibility.

Secondly, we have disposition. Giving up deception in the worldly life indicates good disposition. Only then it is possible for us to attain vairagya.

The third is vijnana (knowledge). The spiritual field has more importance for jnana than in the worldly fields. In the worldly life, it is enough for the deeds to be pure. But, in the spiritual life, one’s thoughts also must be very neat and clean.

These are the main qualities that decide the eligibility into spiritual field. Basing on these, we can examine ourselves whether we have entered the spiritual field or not. We may also know whether we have progressed in spirituality or not in case we have entered. Hence, you yourself must check whether you have such eligibility in you or not. I pray Lord Datta to bestow his grace on you in this effort. Our inner self must be checked like a computer time and again about our growth with respect to our patience and disposition. These two are the tests for you. If we behave as per the eligibility mentioned for the spiritual and worldly lives, then alone we succeed.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-29-the-three-criteria-for-entering-spiritual-field/

Datta maata 28: Understand that friendships are temporary

In the book, ‘Datta darshanam’, there is a story about Bhadrasheela, who was the son of a sage. He had the memory of his previous birth. Since his childhood, that child used to stay alone. He never played with children of his age. If he was called upon by somebody, he would cry by uttering ‘Sri hari! Sri hari!’It was very strange for the people around. However, the reason for not playing with other children was not lack of interest but it was because he knew his previous birth. Hence, he disliked mingling with anybody.

Coming to the story of normal human beings – Our minds are always attracted towards the friendship of some or the other because of our existence in a society. We never like to be alone. Why do we befriend others? Why Bhadrasheela did not befriend anybody? The reason is that we do not know about our previous births. As soon as we are born, we see a world and consider this world to be everything because we do not know anything else. As we grow up in this life, we have many necessities. To fulfill those, we show affection towards few for our own selfishness. We love some others even if that is not required. This is our state of confusion.

Bhadrasheela not only knew about this world but also had the memory of his previous birth. He knew very well about the impacts of selfishness in his previous birth. Because he had abundant experiences, he understood that there are no benefits with such friendships. As a result, he never developed any special affection towards any individual.

A child travelling in a train befriends the neighbors. This is the train friendship. The depth of the friendship is so much that he cannot leave his friend even after the journey ends. The elders however know that such friendships are of no use and hence they simply pass time by chit chatting with the neighbors but they do not develop any deep friendship. The situation of Bhadrasheela is analogous to the friendships of the elders during journey. He had the knowledge of witnessing the journey of the soul from one body to another. Hence, he never developed any affection or love on anybody. Even though, we do not have the memory of our previous birth like Bhadrasheela, we have the faith on the scriptures that tell us that there are previous births. As this faith builds up in us, we too acquire the mental state that Bhadrasheela had. Just like we travel from one place to another, we travel from one body to another.

In this journey, none of your relatives, friends or passersby shares your sins or merits. That is not at all possible. You are always alone. Hence, you must live with detachment by doing your duty and putting in efforts to reach God. You must remember this very well.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-28-like-bhadrasheela-we-should-understand-that-friendships-are-temporary/

Datta maata 26: Who is valourous (veera)?

In many stories, the heroes are said to be very brave. Usually, all of them appear very attractive and valorous externally. But, what is the true meaning of valor? It is not merely waving the sword. It is in fact related to many virtues like compassion, charity, dharma (righteousness) and bravery in battlefield. There are many sub divisions in valor. Just like there are many upa nava rasās (sub divisions in nine attributes), the valor too is classified in a similar fashion.

Waving sword indicates bravery. How can one become a yuddha vēra (one fights a battle bravely), just because one has killed hundreds of people? Those who possess infinite compassion and uphold righteousness to protect the people by sacrificing their own lives are said to be valorous. Many people keep on saying, “I will do service even if I lose my life?” They do not know their own duty properly. How will they do service after they die?

Similarly, those people who have lost their assets cannot be called charitable. It is not so. One who offers help to others by offering oneself with a broad perspective only must be called dāna vēra (valorous). One who lost the assets for helping others is the true dāna vēra. Likewise, for daya (compassion) and dharma (righteousness), the traits of selflessness and sacrifice are very important. Remember this very well.

Adharma (Unrighteousness) appears as though it will triumph but being steadfast in one’s righteous activities will make one truly valorous. When winning by following dharma is doubtful, if one succumbs to adharma, then it will be called cowardice.

Few people perform many good deeds in different ways by doing charity whereas few others do the same with compassion. Out of them, only few of them have to fight for their goal. But, for any activity of anybody, dharma is like the foundation pillar. Hence, one who strictly adheres to dharma irrespective of victory or defeat is a truly valorous person. Only such a person is brave whether he wins or loses. Even if one wins by following adharma, such a person is considered a coward because he does not have the bravery to win over his own selfishness. Hence, any task undertaken by sticking to dharma will be termed as a brave action. May you all obtain that bravery! Everyone must attain this state. We must practice this. How should be our bravery?

If one loses one’s life and assets merely because someone gets benefitted, then such a person is the real valorous person. This is what we have understood so far. Many people win over others with adharma. It is not nice. Winning over by following the rules of dharma is good. You observe this carefully. Stealing a person just to do charity to another is not the real charity. How is this possible? If your earning is according to dharma, then you can do charity. By earning with adharma, you cannot be called ‘Daana veera’. This is what we must understand.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-26-what-is-veeratvam-valourous/

Datta maata 25: Elders should always lead by example

As the children grow, it becomes difficult for the parents to handle them. Their minds undergo strange transformations. Why does this happen? The question here is that as the children get older, why does it become difficult to handle them? It should have been otherwise. As the students grow up, it is very difficult for the teachers to teach them as well. They ask many questions. It is not just that. If we send the children to college for pursuing education, they also get lured by many other fields. As soon as they enter into college, their mind becomes broad. What is the reason behind this? This is the second question. Their minds get diverted to different areas other than education. Similarly, in spiritual practice, as the disciples grow higher, it becomes difficult for the Gurus to maintain them in that path. They read different kinds of books. Even if mahatmas talk about the important subjects like Vedanta, people are busy doing archana (worship) – the small spiritual practices. Despite learning about Vedanta, people go behind archana, pooja etc. Why is this so? This is the third question.

The answer to all the above three questions is one and only one. Every being will acquire certain attributes after birth. The effects of such attributes do not leave the mind and it follows the soul in the future births as well. This is called ‘samskāra’ or ‘vāsana’. This samskara attracts humans to different fields. As the man becomes older, the power of the samskāra becomes stronger. If the samskāra is bad (dussamskāra), then its power is much stronger. Hence, it is difficult to teach the children at home, at school or at temple going against the bad attributes. However, a person always has an opportunity for freedom irrespective of the power of samskāra.

Sadgurus utilize this opportunity and teach their disciples, good lessons. One must have good expertise to utilize the opportunity at hand. Scolding forcibly will not change the samskāra and instead there are chances of opposing. Our elders have observed this a lot.

Hence, mahatmas descend down from their level and teach the people around by doing the tasks that ordinary persons are ought to. As a result, the disciples get inspired and they too follow their footsteps. Here, the samskāra of the disciples gets surrendered through love. Hence, the results are permanent and sweet at the same time. Sadgurus struggle a lot for their disciples to get the profit.

The behavior of a person depends on the samskāra. Hence, there is no use of forcing anybody to change their behavior. We must show the good results directly by taking up the tasks for ourselves. If we do so, it will attract the samskāra and bestow auspiciousness. Hence, the elders must try to first follow and lead by example. Irrespective of the field, all the leaders, Gurus, teachers and all those who teach about good must lead others by example.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-25-elders-should-always-lead-by-example/

Datta maata 22: Walk on path specified by Sadguru to reach ultimate destination

Some people say that God exists and few other say that he does not. We have been listening to such arguments everywhere now. Sometimes, we too get doubts about God’s existence. A teacher teaches his science students that the Earth is round. He tells them that people live in America that lies in a straight line to India. The teacher gives explanation that it is the gravitational pull of Earth that makes the people stay in America without falling. He explains them that even though they are upside down, they do not fall down because of the Earth’s gravitational pull. Few students believe the teacher’s words while few others do not. For them to believe, they themselves have to go to America. There is perhaps no other way. Once they see themselves, they will certainly understand.

Similarly, to get rid of the doubts about the existence of God permanently, we must try to see him perfectly. However, it is not so easy. If we wish to go to America, we obtain the passport, VISA; ask others about the flight charges, etc. Likewise, to experience God, we must follow the path that Sadgurus followed and with their help, we must practice and follow the righteous (dharmic) path. We must not go in the way we want. We cannot argue about going to America without passport, VISA or without taking flight. We cannot go by bus. That is not possible. Those who want to go independently without the help of anybody cannot reach the goal.

You must practice in the way the experienced persons tell you. Only then, you can get the realization. You cannot argue saying that, ‘I will do as I wish’, ‘I will follow only this mantra’, ‘I do not need a Guru’ and so on. If you do so independently, you will not get to know the way. Instead, you can listen to the experienced persons and better yourself in it. Without leaving the friendship of experienced persons, if you share their experience and follow the path, then you can definitely reach the goal.

Instead if you argue that you do not need passport, VISA or flight, you cannot go to America. Same is the case with the spiritual practice. One cannot argue saying that, ‘Why should I do only this?’ Why should I do these many lakhs of mantra?’ ‘Will I reach God only if I do these many vratas (austerities)?’ If you argue so and do as you wish, you can never realize God. Sadgurus will teach the disciples the way they adopted. They will narrate their experiences to their friends and fellow human beings. If we follow them, we will reach the goal we want to. Otherwise, we cannot.

In the spiritual life, by following Guru, we must trust each and every word of him. If we follow each and every step of Guru, we can experience the true bliss and realize God. Only then you will grow spiritually and can certainly see God.

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-22-by-walking-on-path-specified-by-sadguru-we-will-undoubtedly-reach-the-destination/

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