Many are known to do great works under the stress of some strong emotion.  But one’s true nature is known from the manner in which one does one’s insignificant daily task.

The reality is one and the same; the difference is in name and form.  There are three or four ghats on the lake.  The Hindus, who drink water at one place, call it ‘Jal’.   The Muslims at another place call it ‘pani’.  And the English at a third place call it ‘water’.  All three denote one and the same thing, the difference being in the name only.  In the same way, some address the Reality as ‘Allah’, some as ‘God’, some as ‘Brahman’, some as ‘Kali’, and others by such names as ‘Rama’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Durga’, ‘Hari’.

Some men shed streams of tears because sons are not born to them; others eat away their hearts in sorrow because they cannot get riches.  But alas! How many are there who sorrow and weep for not having seen the Lord!  Very few indeed!   Verily, he who seeks the Lord, who weeps for him, attains him. 

The Atman that is absolute existence and knowledge cannot be realized without constant practice.  So, one seeking after knowledge should long meditate upon Brahman for the attainment of the desired goal…

While thinking of an object the mind verily identifies itself with that, and while thinking of a void it really becomes blank, whereas by the thought of Brahman it attains to perfection.  So, one should constantly think of (Brahman to attain) perfection.   Those who give up this supremely purifying thought of Brahman, live in vain and are on the same level with beasts.  Blessed indeed are those virtuous persons who at first have this consciousness of Brahman and then develop it more and more.  They are respected everywhere.  Only those in whom this consciousness being ever present grows into maturity, attain to the state of the ever-existent Brahman; and not others who merely deal with words.

The Middle Way

To those who choose the path that leads to Enlightenment, there are two extremes that should be carefully avoided.  First, there is the extreme of indulgence in the desires of the body.  Second, there is the opposite extreme of ascetic discipline, torturing one’s body and mind unreasonably.

The Noble Path, that transcends these two extremes and leads to Enlightenment and wisdom and peace of mind, may be called the Middle Way.  What is the Middle Way?  It consists of the Eightfold Noble Path:  right view, right thought, right speech, right behavior, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

The important thing in following the path to Enlightenment is to avoid being caught and entangled in any extreme, that is, always to follow the Middle Way.

Longing for God

My child, suppose there is a bag of gold in one room, and a robber in the next room; do you think that robber can sleep?  He cannot.  His mind will be always thinking how to get into that room and obtain possession of that gold.  Do you think then that a man firmly persuaded that there is a Reality behind all these appearances, that there is a God, that there is One who never dies, One who is infinite bliss, a bliss compared with which these pleasures of the senses are simply playthings, can rest contented without struggling to attain It?  Can he cease his efforts for a moment?  No.  He will become mad with longing. 

The Lord Said:  Many a birth have I passed through, O Arjuna, and so have you.  I know them all, but you know them not, O scorcher of foes.  Though I am unborn and eternal by nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, subjugating my Prakirty, I accept birth through My own maya. 

Whenever there is a decline of dharma (righteousness), O Bharata, and a rise of adharma (unrighteousness), I incarnate Myself.  For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the establishment of dharma, I am born in every age.  Whoso knows, in the true light, My divine birth and action will not be born again when he leaves his body; he will attain Me, O Arjuna.

If you desire to live in the world unattached you should first practice devotion in solitude for some time, - say a year, or six months or a month, or at least twelve days.  During this period of retirement, you should meditate constantly upon God and pray to Him for Divine Love.  You should revolve in your mind the thought that there is nothing in the world you may call your own; that those whom you think your own are sure to pass away some day or other.   God is really your own.  He is your all-in-all.  How to obtain Him should be your only concern.

God the absolute and God the personal are one and the same.  A belief in one implies a belief in the other.  Fire cannot be thought of apart from its burning power; nor can its burning power be thought of apart from it… Thus God the absolute cannot be thought of apart from the idea of God with attributes, i.e. Personal God, and vice versa.

The distinction between Brahman and Sakti is really a distinction without a difference.  Brahman and Sakti are one (Abheda), just as fire and its burning power are one… You cannot conceive of one without the other, or make a difference between them.

Wherever there is action ^_ creation, preservation, and destruction ^_ there is Sakti.  Water is water whether it is calm or disturbed.  That one Absolute Existence-Intelligence-Bliss is the eternal intelligent Energy that creates, preserves and destroys the universe …

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are those which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The supreme ideal of human life is to know God. Everyone must have this ideal firmly established in his life, and the ideal must never be lowered. He "who is smaller than the smallest, greater than the greatest" shines forth always and everywhere. He dwells within all beings, great and small; He dwells in the plants and herbs. He dwells everywhere in greater or lesser manifestation. Make that one supreme, all pervading Spirit your ideal. Even after a little effort to realize him you will see what fun it is! You will find in him an inexhaustible fountain of joy. You have seen enough of one side of life ^_ now see the other side, the real side. "Knock and it shall be opened unto you." A veil is hiding the reality. Remove the veil and you will find him. If you apply yourself to the attainment of this ideal, the whole world will be transformed for you.

Who impels the mind to alight on its objects? At whose bidding does life proceed to function? At whose behest do men utter speech? What Intelligence, indeed directs the eyes and the ears?

It is the Atman, the Spirit, by whose power the ear hears, the eye sees, the tongue speaks, the mind understands, and life functions. The wise man separates the Atman from these faculties, rises out of sense life, and attains immortality.

The eye cannot approach It, neither speech nor mind. We do not, therefore, know It, nor can we teach It. It is different from what is known, and It is beyond what is unknown. Thus have we heard from the ancients who instructed us upon It. What speech cannot reveal, but what reveals speech, - know That alone as Brahman, and not this that people worship here. What mind cannot comprehend, but what cognizes the mind, know That to be Brahman. What sight fails to see, but what perceives sight, - know that alone as Brahman. What hearing fails to grasp, but what perceives hearing, - know that alone as Brahman. What life does not enliven, but what directs light, - know that alone as Brahman.

 Prayer for Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console

To be understood, as to understand

To be loved, as to love,

For

It is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life