Thought for the day
Victory comes when a sadhaka has conquered the darkness of ignorance.

Awareness Article # 1

Swan and Crow

Some time ago,Swamigave a photograph of His hand, withVibuthipouring from it. I have written about this before. Then, some days after this, He gave another photograph. This time many hands were seenstretched out asking forVibuthi. The Vibuthiis seen pouring in one hand, many hands around it. There written in red pen was:-

“TheVibuthiI materialize is a manifestation of Divinity with potent significance. It is what is left when everything worldly,transient and changeable has burnt away.” ...Dust thou art and unto dust shall thou return

TheVibuthithat Swami gives to all is materialized anddivine. This entire creation is impermanent, temporary and ever-changing. Man is born, grows, lives and finally dies. After death, he becomes ash. How many sorrows, difficulties, happiness and different states of mind he goes through? All is constantly changing. Man passes through all only to finally become ash. If a man were to truly write down whatever thoughts appeared in his mind from morning to night, how much would be there! It is these many different thoughts, which become his nature and the deep impressions. These are the Samskaras, which are the cause for him to be born and die repeatedly. There is nothing in this world that is permanent; all is ever changing. Just like a man who is born and dies, a plant becomes tree and also finally dies. It is the same with the animals and birds. There is nothing in this world, which is permanent. Yet, man passes his time by collecting temporary things. Husband, wife, children, relations etc. However,

one day all becomes ash. Why to suffer so much for this?  All who have come from God must once again attain Him. Until that time, man must be born and die again and again.

In this world, each one is unique; no two people are the same. This is also the same for twins. All are individuals. Thus, man must live according to his own nature. Yet, he lives in a false way, looking at others and copying them.  The first lesson which is taught in Kindergarten is not to copy others. Why does the copying of others come about? It is because all compare themselves to others. An example. A man buys a car, his neighbor then thinks that he too will buy a car.  The son of a man studies in convent school, another thinks, ‘I will send my son to the same school’. A woman buys a piece of jewellery, another tells, ‘This month I will also buy a new jewel’. Thus, when one compares himself to others, it makes him copy them. It is the same in spiritual life. One person goes each day to an ashram, another thinks, ‘I will also go’. Yet, all these things will not bring about any real change in the individual. We must learn good habits from

othersand must change ourselves. We are only born to transform ourselves. All must attain God throughanindividual journey. Wecannottake anyone along with us on this journey.  All must correct themselves. This is something that Swami has taught through the story of the swan and crow. The walk of the swan is verybeautiful. Thus, poets

compare the walk of a graceful woman with that of the swan. Once a crow saw a swan walking and wanted to walk like it. The crow made great efforts to learn, yet, it became very tired in its efforts. Finally, the crow stopped trying and returned to his crow walk.

However, try as he might, he could not remember how to walk like a crow.  In the same way, if you copy others, you will lose your own nature. This is what Swami warns all in a strong and forceful way. Thus, do not copy others.Try to attain all through your own nature. Copying others is only done for show. God knows the feelings of all; so do not be a hypocrite.  An example. Two Jain ladies came here and asked if they could stay in the Ashram. We agreed. They stayed one night and left the next morning.  Then today, they came back to the Ashram, on their return journey. The two only walk wherever they go. Two men came here in a van with their luggage.  The ladies did not ask, ‘Whose ashram is this? Who lives here?’ They did not pay attention to any of these matters. Those from their religion prepare places everywhere where they can stay. The two took rest, and then continued on their journey. They did not pay attention to anything here; they are on their own path. We must be likethis. Nothing should be an obstacle on our path. We should not look at what others are doing.

18 April 2013 Evening Meditation

Vasantha:Swami, why are people like this, looking at others and copying them? Shall I write about this?

Swami:Write it as‘Awareness Articles’.

Vasantha:When I see the gardener, my heart melts...poor people Swami, please change them?

Swami:When you see him coming, tears come, when you think of him coming compassion flows. These two things will surely change him. A mother keeps a sick child or one that is unknowing on her lap and looks after them. She never worries about the other learned children.

Vasantha:Swami, it makes me angry to see those who are learned looking at and copying others!

Swami:This is one mothers’ nature.

Vasantha:Swami, I am the ‘unknowing child’, You always keep me on Your lap.

Swami:You are always on My lap or chest.

End of Meditation

Now let us see about this.  Each day the gardener comes to the Viswa Brahma Garbha Kottam at 6. 00 amand is there when we come. After Arti, he goes about his work. Before, he was an alcoholic and smoker, but when he came here, he said that he left his bad habits. I am very happy when uneducated, unknowing village folk come here and change in this way.  Thus, I pray to Swami for them. When I see him, tears come to my eyes. The greatest God came here to redeem those who are like him.  They are innocent villagers, are without pretense and realize their faults. Thus, I pray for them.

The child who is ill or who does not know anything is always kept on the lap of the mother, who takes care of it. She never worries about the other older children, the learned ones.  Swami compares my state to the mentality of the mother. When the learned or those with knowing, make mistakes, anger arises in me. When simple people transform themselves, I see this and want to pray more for them. Swami gave an example for this. Even if we pour rose water on a garlic plant each day, its nature will

never change; the smell of garlic will always be there. This is what Swami says.  Thus, whatever we do, old vasanas will never leave us. Even if you bathe garlic with rose water and cover in with Badam halwa, an almond sweet, yet, the smell will never go. In the same way, if you look to others and copy them, you will meet your downfall. There will be no redemption; that vasana will never go. You are just cheating yourself. This is something that is not done in spirituality. One wants Japa, another meditation,

someone else service activities;so, do not look at and copy others. God must be attained through our own nature. Before I wrote a song:-

Howmanykinds of peoplearethere?

All are proof of God’s grace

All have different natures

Some have an animal hiding inside

Other’sa Deva hidingwithin

Yet, all is God’s play

Learn the good habits from each person you see. Imbibe good qualities from him. Do not copy his deeds, copy his qualities.This greatest Avatar came here for those poor, who do not know anything. They go on the wrong pathwithout knowing it. Swami and I must change them. My tears and prayers are for them only.  For all others, there is only the wisdom I write. Read, realize and transform yourself! Swami said if the ignorant make mistakes, they are told and will change. But,those who are learned do not realize their mistakes and only try to hide them.

Jai Sai Ram