The
Right Knowledge
The
bookish knowledge that many feverishly acquire is relevant only for the day of
the exam. As you enter your professions armed with this knowledge, you will
soon discover that you only have superficial knowledge on any subject and your
general knowledge is almost zero. Without general knowledge and practical
wisdom, you cannot discriminate.
World today needs
practical knowledge. Water is formed from two parts of hydrogen and one part of
oxygen. You can prove this in the laboratory. But when you sit for lunch, do
you mix two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen to drink water? By sipping
just a drop, you can even comment on the purity of the water and its taste.
Thus discrimination and general knowledge is very essential to make sure your
daily life and behaviour does not have any lapses. You must experience the
enjoyable life in the right way at the right time.
The
Buddha
Lord
Buddha experienced the unity of all creation. There was total transformation in
Him once He attained the vision of oneness of the atma/soul. He realised that
all worldly relations were false. He transcended body consciousness. That is
why he earned the appellation Buddha
(the enlightened one). Man should use his intellect to understand this
principle of unity.
Intellect
is of two types: one that sees diversity in unity is worldly intelligence. You
should develop spiritual intelligence in order to realise the underlying unity
of all creation. It gives you the experience of the atmic principle which is
the same in the entire creation. Buddha attained the vision of the atma. Truly
speaking, Buddha is not just one individual. All of you are Buddhas’. You will
see unity everywhere once you understand this truth.
The
Right Answers
The
world is a mixture of good and bad, of right and wrong, joy and sorrow, victory
and defeat. In a world replete with such opposites, you must constantly make
the choice between what is right and proper, and what is wrong and undesirable.
You must not let yourself be guided by the mind. You must follow the directions
of the intelligence.
Youth
often tend to go by the inclinations of the mind, neglecting their intelligence
and consequently are subject to agitations and frustrations. Discrimination is
a big help to avoid such situations. Ask yourself “I am a human being; how must
I conduct myself in this situation such as to win the respect and regard of
others?” and act in accordance. You will certainly find the right answers on
what you should do and where you should go. Humility and discrimination are the
indices of an educated person.
What
is Culture?
The
observance of morality in daily life, the divinization of all actions and
thoughts related to life, and adherence to ideals - all of these together
constitute culture. Culture means that which sanctifies the world, which
enhances the greatness and glory of a country, and which helps to raise the
individual and society to a higher level of existence.
The
process of refinement or transformation is essential for improving the utility
of any object or life. For instance, paddy has to be milled and its husk
removed before the rice is fit for cooking. This is called transformation. This
means, doing away with unwanted elements and securing the desirable ones. With
regard to people, culture means getting rid of bad qualities and cultivating
virtues. The cultured person is one who has developed good thoughts and good
conduct.
“Silence”
is our gift…
Do
not indulge in arguments and disputes; one who clamours aloud has not grasped
the Truth. Silence is the only language of the realised. Practice moderation in
speech that will help you in many ways. It will develop Love, for most
misunderstandings arise out of carelessly spoken words. When the foot slips,
the wound can be healed; but when the tongue slips, the wound it causes in the
heart of another will fester for life.
The
tongue is liable for four big errors: uttering falsehood, scandalising, finding
fault with others and excessive talk. These must be avoided if there must be
peace for the individual. The bond of brotherhood will be tightened if people
speak less and speak sweetly. That is why silence was prescribed as a vow for
spiritual aspirants by the Scriptures. As spiritual aspirants in various
stages of the road, this discipline will be very valuable for you.
Maintain
Nature’s balance
Just
as a child is entitled to enjoy the milk from its mother, there can be no
objection to man enjoying the resources of nature. But as a result of
uncontrolled desires and reckless exploitation of natural resources, Nature is
exhibiting frightening disorders. Natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, droughts and floods are the result of disturbances in the balance of
Nature caused by this reckless exploitation.
Mankind
today appears like a foolish man who is wielding the axe at the branch of a
tree on which he is sitting. You have to develop a sense of spiritual oneness.
Out of that sense of oneness, love will grow. Man today does not recognise this
sense of oneness. ‘Man’ is not the body alone. One has the mind, intellect and
the Spirit too. When the balance among these constituents is upset, people are
plunged into troubles. On the other hand, when there is a balance, true
humanness blossoms.
