Be Aware of Thought, Word and Action

[Guest guest]

More Ammachi in the Times of India! and her Indian

tour hasn't hit the media circus of Bombay yet

"Speaking Tree" is the Times of India's op-ed page.

 

Jai Ma!!

 

Keval

 

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SPEAKING TREE

Be Aware of Thought, Word and Action

 

 

MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI

 

[ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2002 12:09:08 AM ]

 

WE acquire knowledge, but we lack awareness. Awareness

arises when knowledge accompanies action. Mere

acquisition of knowledge does not mean that such

knowledge will translate into action.

 

For instance, most of us know that if you smoke

cigarettes, you are susceptible to cancer. Cigarette

smokers see the statutory warning imprinted on the

cigarette packs: ‘‘Smoking is injurious to health’’.

 

Nevertheless, they continue to smoke. But if one day,

the smoker does begin to suffer from ill-health on

account of his smoking, then, the knowledge turns into

awareness — through direct experience — that smoking

could indeed be injurious to health.

 

It is either because we lack this awareness or we are

unable to translate awareness to action that we commit

mistakes.

 

We should enjoy freedom and be enthusiastic every

moment of our lives. Our lives should become a joyous

celebration. But normally, you will only hear tales of

sorrow.

 

Attachment leads to sorrow. One of the best ways to

attain material prosperity, spiritual progress, peace

and liberation is through meditation.

 

Meditation is not just sitting motionless in perfect

posture with closed eyes. Maintaining awareness of our

actions, words and thoughts is real meditation.

 

Our thoughts are like countless water droplets that

form a river of words and actions. We have little

control over this river. It is so strong that it can

even wash away huge boulders that lie in its path.

 

However, it is easy to block or change the direction

of a river’s flow at its source with just a stone.

Therefore, we must be careful with our thoughts.

 

If there is a defect in a mould, everything that is

made from that mould will be defective. In the same

way, unless we first purify our minds, our words and

actions will not be pure.

 

Therefore, the first thing we have to do is to control

our minds through meditation. And through discriminate

actions we can become successful in life.

 

The root cause of our problems is the ego, but the ego

does not have any objective existence. Only humility

can help us get rid of our ego. When one says or

thinks, ‘‘I am the master’’, one is, in fact, becoming

a slave to the ego.

 

The greatest obstacles to enjoying life are this kind

of an attitude and self-centred thoughts. Because of

this, we are unable to serve others.

 

Bharat (India) is the land of rishis (seers). They

have handed down to us a timeless culture that stands

for the welfare and uplift of the whole world. Our

ancestors advised us: ‘‘Matrudevo bhava’’ — regard

mother as God, ‘‘Pitrudevo bhava’’ — regard father as

God, Acharyadevo bhava — regard preceptor as God and

‘‘Atithidevo bhava’’ — regard guest as God’’.

 

The underlying love is the important link that unites

society. Today, that link is weak. More and more

individuals are isolating themselves from one another.

We need to shower love on our children and enhance

their awareness at the same time.

 

A plant in a dark room will grow in the direction of

sunlight. Likewise, children yearn for love,

acceptance and attention. We should revive the love

that upholds family life, social life and nature.

 

Bonding between family members, young and old, student

and teacher and between members of society is

important to help us reach out to one another,

strengthening our links with one another.

 

Today, stress is common in every sphere of life. This

is mainly because we are obsessed with our own selves

— we are driven by our ego. Freedom from tension is

possible only through surrender to God.

 

He guides us from within. But we do not have the

patience to pay attention to that divine voice.

Because of this, we keep repeating our mistakes; we

experience sorrow.

 

Arjuna and Krishna grew up together. Yet Krishna did

not impart the Gita to Arjuna during that time but

waited for that moment when Arjuna awakened the

disciple within him.

 

To be a disciple is to surrender. Then everything in

the cosmos becomes our guru. Every experience becomes

our guru. But no amount of experience can help us

realise our mistakes unless we cultivate and adopt the

humility required to be able to surrender our selves.

 

 

 

 

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