Teachings of Pramukh Swami
DHARMA
Dharma is that which spreads love for one another. There would be no
differences if everyone followed their Dharma. By becoming deeply
spiritual you will never want to make another unhappy or snatch away
another’s property. We are all atmas – souls.
Vayam amrutasya putrãhã! – We are all sons of the Eternal!
Of which caste is the atma? Which is its family? Which is its country? Dharma teaches us that the body, for which we perform all manner of harmful actions, is itself not going to live forever. Then why do wrong, believing ‘this is mine and this is yours’? Share one another’s fortune and misfortune, help one another rise. All this is taught by dharma.
Dharma is only one – humanity and sadachar (righteous living).
If one does not have values in life then it won’t take long to lose one’s wealth.
Eating a dry millet bread earned honestly brings peace, instead of earning abundantly through dishonest means.
When one sees God in everyone, then the sentiments of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ are born. Then no one is seen to be different.
Of which caste is the atma? Which is its family? Which is its country? Dharma teaches us that the body, for which we perform all manner of harmful actions, is itself not going to live forever. Then why do wrong, believing ‘this is mine and this is yours’? Share one another’s fortune and misfortune, help one another rise. All this is taught by dharma.
Dharma is only one – humanity and sadachar (righteous living).
If one does not have values in life then it won’t take long to lose one’s wealth.
Eating a dry millet bread earned honestly brings peace, instead of earning abundantly through dishonest means.
When one sees God in everyone, then the sentiments of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ are born. Then no one is seen to be different.
GURU
The guru is the gateway to moksha. He possesses God.
Through the guru God can be attained. Such an Ekantik Satpurush takes one to God.
God is everywhere, but only by associating with one in whom He is manifest does liberation become a reality.
Even though there are heaps of books, knowledge cannot be gained from them. A true Satpurush and his holy association are required for that.
As long as doubts remain toward the Satpurush, the light of Brahman is not seen.
Many think: ‘Why should one endeavor in this birth in order to reach God?’ But where did the astronauts train themselves in order to go to the moon? On earth, of course. Similarly, one should realize God and His Satpurush in this human birth.
When one is extremely hungry, will diamonds, precious stones and gold satisfy the hunger? Similarly, the atma hungers for peace; and hunger cannot be satisfied through material things. Only association with a holy Satpurush bestows peace.
CHARACTER
Through the guru God can be attained. Such an Ekantik Satpurush takes one to God.
God is everywhere, but only by associating with one in whom He is manifest does liberation become a reality.
Even though there are heaps of books, knowledge cannot be gained from them. A true Satpurush and his holy association are required for that.
As long as doubts remain toward the Satpurush, the light of Brahman is not seen.
Many think: ‘Why should one endeavor in this birth in order to reach God?’ But where did the astronauts train themselves in order to go to the moon? On earth, of course. Similarly, one should realize God and His Satpurush in this human birth.
When one is extremely hungry, will diamonds, precious stones and gold satisfy the hunger? Similarly, the atma hungers for peace; and hunger cannot be satisfied through material things. Only association with a holy Satpurush bestows peace.
CHARACTER
Without character and morality as the first step, no one can attain God.
Character is the foundation, if it is kept firm and intact the monument of life built upon it will be unshakeable. If character is lost, the monument will soon tumble. Keep all thoughts and actions pure.
Youth should think first of character. They should have no addictions. All those who have become great have first molded their character – built their life. There is no outcome if you serve society with a lack of character. Even if you talk to somebody, you cannot hope to influence him if you are lacking in character.
Immorality may give you great gains, but a dry piece of bread given with morality will guarantee peace of mind. Do not become lazy and negligent. Fruits obtained without effort do not give peace and joy. Do not be trapped by greed and superstition. Walking through life in consonance with instructions given by God will ensure that we are not met by misery.
This body should not be made into a hell, but into a mandir. The jewels of the body-mandir are compassion, character, and satisfaction. What is the point in being intelligent from the outside and impure from inside? One’s birth will be worthwhile when one purifies one’s inner self and installs God within.
One who gives is divine, whereas one who has the motive to take another’s wealth is a demon. By doing good to others one invites goodness upon oneself.
Till one does not become pure and pious, one does not get good thoughts, and so how can one get nearer to God?
SATSANG
Character is the foundation, if it is kept firm and intact the monument of life built upon it will be unshakeable. If character is lost, the monument will soon tumble. Keep all thoughts and actions pure.
Youth should think first of character. They should have no addictions. All those who have become great have first molded their character – built their life. There is no outcome if you serve society with a lack of character. Even if you talk to somebody, you cannot hope to influence him if you are lacking in character.
Immorality may give you great gains, but a dry piece of bread given with morality will guarantee peace of mind. Do not become lazy and negligent. Fruits obtained without effort do not give peace and joy. Do not be trapped by greed and superstition. Walking through life in consonance with instructions given by God will ensure that we are not met by misery.
This body should not be made into a hell, but into a mandir. The jewels of the body-mandir are compassion, character, and satisfaction. What is the point in being intelligent from the outside and impure from inside? One’s birth will be worthwhile when one purifies one’s inner self and installs God within.
One who gives is divine, whereas one who has the motive to take another’s wealth is a demon. By doing good to others one invites goodness upon oneself.
Till one does not become pure and pious, one does not get good thoughts, and so how can one get nearer to God?
SATSANG
Only through Satsang can one discriminate between the eternal and ephemeral.
Soap cleans the body, but what of deceit and fraudulence that remain in the mind? Satsang is the soap that cleanses the mind.
For countless births we have been intoxicated with the world. This Satsang removes that craving. Can such intoxication be cured in three or four days? Unbroken Sant samagam leads to a cure.
When thirsty only water can quench one’s thirst, not even pearls and diamonds can. In the same way, only Satsang grants inner tranquility. Many have houses and cars and other wealth, but they suffer inner turmoil. This is because the soul is not fed what it wants.
Unbroken Sant samagam gives inner strength. The soul is strengthened. To the very last breath should we do Sant samagam. Just as we need food every day we should do Satsang every day. Grain nourishes the body, Satsang nourishes the soul. Without Satsang the soul becomes weak.
Knowledge cannot be had from books alone. Association with the holy Guru is a must. If by mere reading one could become a doctor, why do children have to go to school? To obtain spiritual knowledge you will have to do Sant samagam.
Soap cleans the body, but what of deceit and fraudulence that remain in the mind? Satsang is the soap that cleanses the mind.
For countless births we have been intoxicated with the world. This Satsang removes that craving. Can such intoxication be cured in three or four days? Unbroken Sant samagam leads to a cure.
When thirsty only water can quench one’s thirst, not even pearls and diamonds can. In the same way, only Satsang grants inner tranquility. Many have houses and cars and other wealth, but they suffer inner turmoil. This is because the soul is not fed what it wants.
Unbroken Sant samagam gives inner strength. The soul is strengthened. To the very last breath should we do Sant samagam. Just as we need food every day we should do Satsang every day. Grain nourishes the body, Satsang nourishes the soul. Without Satsang the soul becomes weak.
Knowledge cannot be had from books alone. Association with the holy Guru is a must. If by mere reading one could become a doctor, why do children have to go to school? To obtain spiritual knowledge you will have to do Sant samagam.
BHAKTI
What is devotion? Never seeing the Lord as one with human qualities,
understanding that ‘happiness’ has been given by God, and that
‘distress’ has been also given by God, and thus never feeling spiteful
or prejudiced towards anyone – this is devotion.
One should become a humble servant, as did Hanumanji, and then offer devotion. Only when the ‘I ness’ has been eradicated can we experience the bliss of God.
Knowingly or unknowingly, if one drinks nectar one becomes immortal. Similarly, devotion is always fruitful.
CURE FOR FAMILY ISSUES
One should become a humble servant, as did Hanumanji, and then offer devotion. Only when the ‘I ness’ has been eradicated can we experience the bliss of God.
Knowingly or unknowingly, if one drinks nectar one becomes immortal. Similarly, devotion is always fruitful.
CURE FOR FAMILY ISSUES
(Pramukh Swami Maharaj addresses an audience on family issues.)
No matter how wise and intelligent people may be, there is discord at home: father and son, husband and wife, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and brothers and sisters are often at conflict. People tend to want things their way. That is the root cause of family discord. It is also the main reason for all political and professional differences.
However good a family may be, wealth drives a wedge between brothers. One begins to find fault with the other. This shatters the fabric of the family business, causing it to slide from riches to rags. If one lets go, there would be peace.
There are many such family issues. So, the only way to get peace is to cultivate wisdom, understanding and to know the glory of God as He is. One should realize that one is atma, worship Parmatma and believe that he is the all-doer. All the pleasures and pains one experiences are due to the will of God. With such understanding there is no misery.
It is the ego which is at play in all quarrels. Even if one is not at fault, one has to forgive and forget. One should also cultivate sankhya understanding, otherwise there will be no peace. Gunatitanand Swami rightly says that only right understanding leads to happiness. If one has it, even the poor feel happy, and without it even the rich feel ill at ease.
When does such understanding develop? Daily satsang and reading of our scriptures will solve all problems. We should also turn the mala, worship, visit the mandir and hold ghar sabha for harmony in the family. Ghar sabha is a cure for all discords, but this is not understood. Even if there are verbal quarrels, hold ghar sabha and sit together.
Parents spend money for their sons and daughters, but they have not reached their hearts. Parents don’t spend time for their children to share their thoughts and listen to them. This distances both father and son. So, when he grows up, he tells his father to leave home.
A boy once told his mother to ‘get out’ of his home. The mother said, “My son, do you realize what you are saying? I have brought you up and educated you by putting in hard work and by grinding grains to feed you. Now I have grown old. You should care for me. I have spent a lot of money bringing you up. And now you want me to get out?”
The son was well-educated, so he said, “You breastfed me. So just tell me how much I have to pay for the milk?”
If this boy had been brought up in a spiritual environment and persuaded to give up bad company, he would not have asked his mother to leave home. He would have thought of serving her, knowing that she had brought him up and fed him, while she herself remained hungry at times.
When we were kids, our mother washed our nappies and fed us, while going hungry herself. We cannot imagine how much she suffered. Is it fair to disown our mother when we have grown up?
This would not happen if parents take care to know their children and share their thoughts. Children should develop affinity towards parents. Such feelings are developed through satsang and ghar sabha.
Men tend to care more for their spouses after marriage. They should care for them, but it is their duty to care for their parents when they fall ill. A wife refuses to live with her mother-in-law. Where would the old lady go? You too are going to grow old, and will be treated likewise. You should spare a thought for this.
Ghar sabha and daily satsang are the sure cures for this.
Fathers also don’t get the respect they deserve. The son treats whatever the father says as nonsense. The father spends money to raise and educate the son, and in that the father’s wisdom is negated.
This is the scenario we have today. The only way out of it is satsang, ghar sabha and spiritual discourses. If the family members sit together, even for half an hour and hold ghar sabha, this will slowly change the atmosphere at home.
Every morning should begin with puja, worship and a visit to the mandir. Then, begin your work.
After dinner you should sit together to read our spiritual books and worship God. You should narrate stories from the scriptures and share news of each family member’s difficulties and successes; how they tolerated and cared for their family. Then only you learn to pass through such times remaining united.
God is the source of all peace. If we take refuge in him and worship him together, there will be no differences. We should sit together at least once a day. But we don’t even have time for that. Some waste time till late evening by dining out, taking drinks and eating meat, so how can there be peace in the family? So we should respect all the spiritual injunctions.
Ghar sabha is very important. But we find it tiring because it is often the same spiritual stories. Yogiji Maharaj used to relate a parable about a farmer. He had a small farm on which he grew only grams. So he had to eat grams in a variety of ways. Once, he didn’t have his lunch. By evening he was very hungry. He asked for food. His wife served the same food. The husband got angry saying, “The same food?” The wife said, “We have grams to make either dal or roti. Like it or not, it is only with this that you will be able to satisfy your hunger.” So, we speak of worshipping repeatedly, but that is the only thing which will bring peace and happiness.
PRESERVING DHARMA
No matter how wise and intelligent people may be, there is discord at home: father and son, husband and wife, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and brothers and sisters are often at conflict. People tend to want things their way. That is the root cause of family discord. It is also the main reason for all political and professional differences.
However good a family may be, wealth drives a wedge between brothers. One begins to find fault with the other. This shatters the fabric of the family business, causing it to slide from riches to rags. If one lets go, there would be peace.
There are many such family issues. So, the only way to get peace is to cultivate wisdom, understanding and to know the glory of God as He is. One should realize that one is atma, worship Parmatma and believe that he is the all-doer. All the pleasures and pains one experiences are due to the will of God. With such understanding there is no misery.
It is the ego which is at play in all quarrels. Even if one is not at fault, one has to forgive and forget. One should also cultivate sankhya understanding, otherwise there will be no peace. Gunatitanand Swami rightly says that only right understanding leads to happiness. If one has it, even the poor feel happy, and without it even the rich feel ill at ease.
When does such understanding develop? Daily satsang and reading of our scriptures will solve all problems. We should also turn the mala, worship, visit the mandir and hold ghar sabha for harmony in the family. Ghar sabha is a cure for all discords, but this is not understood. Even if there are verbal quarrels, hold ghar sabha and sit together.
Parents spend money for their sons and daughters, but they have not reached their hearts. Parents don’t spend time for their children to share their thoughts and listen to them. This distances both father and son. So, when he grows up, he tells his father to leave home.
A boy once told his mother to ‘get out’ of his home. The mother said, “My son, do you realize what you are saying? I have brought you up and educated you by putting in hard work and by grinding grains to feed you. Now I have grown old. You should care for me. I have spent a lot of money bringing you up. And now you want me to get out?”
The son was well-educated, so he said, “You breastfed me. So just tell me how much I have to pay for the milk?”
If this boy had been brought up in a spiritual environment and persuaded to give up bad company, he would not have asked his mother to leave home. He would have thought of serving her, knowing that she had brought him up and fed him, while she herself remained hungry at times.
When we were kids, our mother washed our nappies and fed us, while going hungry herself. We cannot imagine how much she suffered. Is it fair to disown our mother when we have grown up?
This would not happen if parents take care to know their children and share their thoughts. Children should develop affinity towards parents. Such feelings are developed through satsang and ghar sabha.
Men tend to care more for their spouses after marriage. They should care for them, but it is their duty to care for their parents when they fall ill. A wife refuses to live with her mother-in-law. Where would the old lady go? You too are going to grow old, and will be treated likewise. You should spare a thought for this.
Ghar sabha and daily satsang are the sure cures for this.
Fathers also don’t get the respect they deserve. The son treats whatever the father says as nonsense. The father spends money to raise and educate the son, and in that the father’s wisdom is negated.
This is the scenario we have today. The only way out of it is satsang, ghar sabha and spiritual discourses. If the family members sit together, even for half an hour and hold ghar sabha, this will slowly change the atmosphere at home.
Every morning should begin with puja, worship and a visit to the mandir. Then, begin your work.
After dinner you should sit together to read our spiritual books and worship God. You should narrate stories from the scriptures and share news of each family member’s difficulties and successes; how they tolerated and cared for their family. Then only you learn to pass through such times remaining united.
God is the source of all peace. If we take refuge in him and worship him together, there will be no differences. We should sit together at least once a day. But we don’t even have time for that. Some waste time till late evening by dining out, taking drinks and eating meat, so how can there be peace in the family? So we should respect all the spiritual injunctions.
Ghar sabha is very important. But we find it tiring because it is often the same spiritual stories. Yogiji Maharaj used to relate a parable about a farmer. He had a small farm on which he grew only grams. So he had to eat grams in a variety of ways. Once, he didn’t have his lunch. By evening he was very hungry. He asked for food. His wife served the same food. The husband got angry saying, “The same food?” The wife said, “We have grams to make either dal or roti. Like it or not, it is only with this that you will be able to satisfy your hunger.” So, we speak of worshipping repeatedly, but that is the only thing which will bring peace and happiness.
PRESERVING DHARMA
Whatever job or business you are doing, always remember your dharma,
your guru, and God so that you never do anything improper in life; never
do anything bad. This is the foundation and should not be forgotten.
Whatever your dharma, the instructions given in the scriptures, the
values learnt and the commands of our Guru should always be remembered.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, preserve our traditions and values. Our dharma is the Vedic Hindu Sanatan Dharma. This belief should remain firm throughout life. If dharma is practiced, God is pleased and one reaps positive benefits. So, preserve the values you have learnt and inspire them in others.
Practicing them intermittently does not achieve anything. If you plant a tree and move it every few days, its roots will not take hold. But if planted properly in one place and given sufficient water and nourishment, its roots become strong, and it blossoms. Similarly, if one nurtures one’s traditions and values daily, one’s life becomes virtuous and fragrant.
Virtues are one’s true wealth; they are one’s ornaments and they make one special. Preserve them in India and abroad. We should have pride in our Dharma and in our country.
THE GLORY OF GOD
Wherever you go, whatever you do, preserve our traditions and values. Our dharma is the Vedic Hindu Sanatan Dharma. This belief should remain firm throughout life. If dharma is practiced, God is pleased and one reaps positive benefits. So, preserve the values you have learnt and inspire them in others.
Practicing them intermittently does not achieve anything. If you plant a tree and move it every few days, its roots will not take hold. But if planted properly in one place and given sufficient water and nourishment, its roots become strong, and it blossoms. Similarly, if one nurtures one’s traditions and values daily, one’s life becomes virtuous and fragrant.
Virtues are one’s true wealth; they are one’s ornaments and they make one special. Preserve them in India and abroad. We should have pride in our Dharma and in our country.
THE GLORY OF GOD
People do many things to attain peace of mind. Some believe money
brings peace, some believe power brings peace, others believe
possessions bring peace, some believe a status brings peace, some
perform austerities for peace of mind, some practice yoga, but none of
these bring lasting peace. They bring worldly rewards. Lasting peace of
mind is attained by offering navdha bhakti. That is why mandirs are
necessary, because God is the only stable entity. Whatever stability
there is in the world is due to God.
UNDERSTANDING FOR TRUE HAPPINESS
Possession of worldly objects does not represent one’s greatness or
excellence. Our greatness lies in saintliness and devotion. The nature
of the jiva is such that attachment to material objects cannot be
discarded. But, Swami says, there is no alternative but to leave it all.
Understand this principle now or after two births, ten births or even
after 100,000 births; there is no alternative to it.
So, why not give it up in this birth and become happy.
Death will come and take you, however much you refuse and resist. You may hold on to possessions for a while, but at the time of death will they remain with you? So, understand and give them up. The fact that one will not remain forever on this earth is certain, so why cling on to things that are transient. Be satisfied with what you get to sustain the body. Only one who has true wisdom, understanding, and firm faith in God and his Satpurush will be truly happy.
PARENTS MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE
So, why not give it up in this birth and become happy.
Death will come and take you, however much you refuse and resist. You may hold on to possessions for a while, but at the time of death will they remain with you? So, understand and give them up. The fact that one will not remain forever on this earth is certain, so why cling on to things that are transient. Be satisfied with what you get to sustain the body. Only one who has true wisdom, understanding, and firm faith in God and his Satpurush will be truly happy.
PARENTS MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Parents are so engrossed in their own work, they have no time for
worship; not even at home. In the home one should at least have a murti
of God. Whoever one has faith in, pray, offer worship, read scriptures
and go to the mandir for darshan. If parents do not practice such
dharma, their children will not either. Today’s social environment is
such that even those of good character become bad. Time and money are
lost in bad habits and addictions. So, the greater the practice of
Satsang, the greater the peace you will experience.
HIGHWAY TO HAPPINESS
Whatever one’s faith may be, one should live piously. Bhagwan
Swaminarayan taught that by living with piety and remaining free of all
addictions everyone would experience bliss in life. The virtues of
piety, honesty, compassion, ahimsa, brahmacharya, righteousness, jnan,
detachment, bhakti and others are the basis of Hindu Dharma.
God has said that if we offer devotion to him, he will protect us. By cultivating the virtues he has described we will experience peace and bliss in society, God will be pleased and we will attain moksha.
Before God, we all must shed our ego and seek his refuge. Only then is everything achieved. If we overcome our worldly desires, worship Him and take firm refuge in Him then He will protect us.
God has said that if we offer devotion to him, he will protect us. By cultivating the virtues he has described we will experience peace and bliss in society, God will be pleased and we will attain moksha.
Before God, we all must shed our ego and seek his refuge. Only then is everything achieved. If we overcome our worldly desires, worship Him and take firm refuge in Him then He will protect us.
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