Swami teaches... Swami's Directions to Youth

[Guest guest]

Light and Love

 

Swami teaches... (25 December 2004).

 

Swami's Directions to Youth

Man knows the news of every land but he is ignorant of the nuisance that

he himself is to himself and others. When you stand before another, his image is

in your eye, and your image is in his; haven't you observed this? You are in me,

I am in you, that is the truth this phenomenon proclaims. When you have faith in

this, and when you cultivate love, humility, reverence for life, and tolerance,

you are on the right path.

What does the priest do in the temple every day? He cleans the utensils and

sacred vessels in the shrine. He sweeps the room and washes the altar. The

senses are the utensils for the puuja of the God within; they have to be

cleaned and assiduously kept free from dirt. Inner cleanliness is Godliness.

That is possible only through sense-control, and mind-control; or what amounts

to the same saadhana, dedication of all desires and activities to God.

When God is recognised as dwelling within, every one will perform his duty

as an act ofworship. Children have to revere their parents, that is their duty.

Parents have to bring up theirchildren as bright and willing citizens capable of

earning their own food and helping others indistress. There is also another

responsibility that devolves upon the parent. He must live the householder's

life, as laid down in the Dharma Shaasthras (Scriptures on Righteousness), so

that a picture of a pure happy life may be imprinted on the young mind.

 

Do not lean upon others; lean on your own strength and skill. Live on your

own earnings, yourown resources. Self-reliance is the best food for growing

young men.

Do not imagine that it will be possible for you to live happily, without any

anxiety or bother. Do not build castles in the air, and hope to live in them.

There is no bee without the sting; clevernessconsists in gathering the honey

nevertheless. Troubles and travail will haunt you, but you mustnot allow them

to deflect you from the path of duty and dedication.

 

Man is the image of God; when you injure His image, when you discard him, or

dishonour him,or keep him at arm's length, how can God confer Grace on you?

Annie Besant said once thatmore than man seeking God, it is truer to say that

God is ever seeking man, a man who loves and serves His Children, and treats

them as endearingly as He does.

Every culture has a body of customs and conventions laid down by the sages,

to maintain peace and prosperity in the community. They are tested in the

crucible of experience, and they are often grouped under the word, Dharma

(duties). Or, they are known as neethi (ethics). To go against them-is to break

the rule which binds man to man, and man to God. Have patience; do not in

your hurry to enjoy cheap joys fall into error and unrighteous deeds.People ask

of men for favours; they extend their hands towards others and plead dhehi

(give). But, dhehi also means, "He who dwells in the dheha (body), that is to

say, God!" So, don't humiliate that Dhehi by calling out dhehi before others.

Food got by foul means, clothing procured through falsehood, these will only

injure you. Do not think that ease and comfort are the main things in life.

Disappointment, disease, distress are the lot of all, rich and poor, educated

and uneducated, young and old. Let not your pure, immaculate hearts be rendered

dirty by falsehood and wrong. Do not soil your tongue using it for uttering

dirty words. Utter the name of God. All evil thoughts, and wicked plans and

plots will disappear like fog before the Sun when the Name of God is remembered

sincerely. (Compilation with extracts from "Sathya Sai Speaks," Volume 12,

Chapter 14, pp. 37 - 41).

 

Namaste - Reet

[Guest guest]

Thank you very much for sharing Swami's directions to youth. Sai Ram.

sherry jagdeo,Trinidad, West Indies.