Getting Spiritually Better

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ANALYSE THE RISK, BEFORE YIELDING TO ATTRACTIONS AND DESIRES

Some of the points mentioned earlier must no doubt have seemed scary. However,

we should not take an unnecessarily dim or gloomy view of the current state of

affairs. Rather, we must learn from history what we must do and what we ought

not to do. If there are deficiencies in us, we must firmly resolve to correct

ourselves and eliminate those defects. That is the right and proper thing to

do.

OK, agreed we have to transform; but how to go about it? Actually, there is no

shortage of rule-books that prescribe all the Do's and Don'ts. In fact, such

rule-books have been there from the distant past; yet, mankind today is deep in

trouble. Why? Because man today is not convinced that following spiritual

discipline is beneficial to him.

Swami says this absence of conviction is the result of a lack of deep analysis.

Man analyses in depth when he has to buy a house, or make a financial

investment. But when it comes to matters spiritual, he has no time to enquire;

he takes the easy way out by ignoring the ancient golden rules. Some would say

that man today is guided more by "short-term" gains rather than "long-term"

benefits. Swami says that if man clearly understands the dangers involved in

some of the actions that seem so attractive, he would refrain from engaging in

them.

Baba gives a nice example. There is a marriage feast, and a tasty sweet pudding

is about to be served. This is the dish that all guests have been looking

forward to. The serving has commenced. Just then, a person who is associated

with the host announces: "Attention everybody. We regret to inform you that

while the pudding was being prepared, a poisonous insect fell into it.

Therefore, kindly do not eat the sweet dish. Please reject it. We are very

sorry and we apologise." Baba says that the pudding which till then everyone

was eagerly awaiting, is now looked upon with revulsion. Why? Because, everyone

is aware of the danger. In the same way, all things of the world that promise

sensual pleasure of one kind or the other, have lurking dangers associated with

them. Once the dangers are identified by clear analysis, then people would not

be tempted to do what earlier seemed very attractive.

This is true, and the revulsion to smoking that followed the discovery that

smoking causes lung cancer and heart diseases proves the point. However, not

all are convinced, and that is because they have not analysed matters in depth.

Some take an escapist view. Take corruption, for example. In a corrupt society,

an individual often says, "What is the point of my trying not to be corrupt?

OK, I will not take bribes, but to get anything done, I have to bribe left and

right; otherwise, nothing happens. Under these circumstances, does it make any

sense for me to be idealistic? In fact such a step would be stupid, and like

Don Quixote tilting at the windmills." This kind of argument is quite common.

Basically, such arguments arise because the individual concerned (a) does not

have faith in the power of Dharma, and (b) does not realise that one day, he

has to pay the price, even though it might not be immediately. In fact, it is

the false sense of security provided by the idea that one can 'get away' that

makes most people to ignore in-depth analysis, the price one eventually has to

pay, etc. The consequences of evil Karma, Swami says, will finally chase one

like the 'bloodhound from hell'. There is no way to escape from that

bloodhound. But people labour under the illusion that there is no such

retribution, and that they can really get away with anything, provided they are

smart. Dharma can never be outsmarted, nor cheated. To think so is utter

stupidity; yet, 99% of the people firmly believe that there is nothing to

worry.

The seeker must get rid of such false notions. In fact, the true seeker should

say: "I don't care about success or failure. I will NOT violate Dharma under

any circumstance, because that would mean being untrue to myself." Shakespeare

said therefore, "Above all, to thine own Self be true." Who is this Self that

Shakespeare is talking about? It is none other than what Swami refers to as the

Real Self, the true Inner Being, the Atma, etc.

Following Dharma requires courage, especially when Adharma becomes the norm.

That courage can be got through prayer. One must be determined and have the

feeling, "Come what may, I shall not flinch." Suppose a soldier decides that

his life is precious and flees during battle, even though it might cost his

country. Would the average citizen accept such behaviour? He would feel

revolted. Yet, this very same person would not mind reneging on his own duty!

One cannot have one set of rules for others and a different set for one's own

self. But this precisely is what many people seem to want these days. No, if a

soldier has the duty to sacrifice for his country and Society, so does every

member of the Society; no one is exempt, though individuals may imagine that

certain rules apply only to certain people. The entire Universe is delicately

built around a chain of balanced give and take, of selfless

sacrifice. No one has the right to tamper with this delicate balance.

Taking everything together, it should be clear that spirituality is intimately

related to many day-to-day matters, matters that affect individuals as well as

society. It is thus a very practical affair and not something far-removed or

esoteric, as many mistakenly imagine. If any proof is needed, then Swami's life

provides the best example. The million things that Baba does as a part of His

daily routine that everyone takes so much for granted, reflect nothing but the

principle of selflessly giving the most and receiving the least.

ADDITIONAL NOTES RELATING TO THE ABOVE

The above material deals with the problem of avoiding what is bad.

Drinking is a bad habit. Nobody is born a drunkard. People get addicted to drink

after they have first tasted it. It is the faulty first step that is often very

fatal.

One must be careful even while walking. If one is not careful, one would

stumble. And if one is unlucky, the stumble may even result in a bad injury

like a fracture, for example.

Likewise, while going through life, one must be very careful. In particular, one

must have a clear agenda of Do's and Don'ts. One must be able to say: "This I

shall do, and this I never shall!"

Actually, it is quite easy to draw up such lists. Moses gave a famous one

thousands of years ago. The problem is in following the list! Baba's approach

is very practical. Analyse the risk before you venture to do anything.

In many areas of the world, troubles erupt. These may be famous tourist

destinations but when troubles erupt, many governments issue travel advisories.

They say: "We advise our citizens to avoid travelling to such and such a

country." And most citizens take such warnings quite seriously. Why? Because

they are afraid that if they did go to that destination, they would be in

danger. They are not prepared to take the risk of travel.

But curiously, people who are quite prepared to take seriously the warnings of

governments, do not take seriously the warnings of the Wise or even the

Conscience. This shows the power of the senses to delude.

The senses are outward looking. That is the way God has made them. However, they

easily overstep their boundaries, and tempt man. If the Mind is not strong, then

the Mind falls for what the senses say, and trouble follows immediately.

What Baba is saying is that one should not just jump when the senses tempt. One

should think calmly and reflect. One must analyse the dangers and then only

act. Once one clearly understands the danger involved, one would surely not go

astray.

Some people are very much under the control of the senses. Yet, deep within,

they want to change. They say: "I want to change but I am unable to. What

should I do?" There are many strategies one can adopt. Supposing there is a

poor man who wastes all his money on liquor. This poor man has a child whom he

loves very much. The child becomes very sick. Money is needed for treatment.

There is little money and if even that is spent on drink, the man has to lose

his child. In such a case, love triumphs. The man says, "Enough is enough; I

must save my child's life. I will not drink. I shall instead use that money for

treatment." This is a case where love provides the anti-dote.

Love for God, love for Baba can do similar if not greater wonders. Thousands of

people who thought they could not live without meat, who thought they must have

their smoke and drink, have given it all up, because they felt that they must do

so, if they truly loved Baba.

People may argue: "Listen, all this is more easily said than done. Have you not

heard of withdrawal symptoms? You can't always just cut off from drinks and

alcohol that easily." Swami has a solution for that! He tells a story.

Once there was an opium addict. One day, a Wise man came to the village where

this addict lived. This man desperately wanted to give up the drug habit but

try as he might, he could not succeed. He then decided to seek the counsel of

the Wise one. The Wise man heard the young addict patiently and said, "You

don't have to give up the opium habit overnight. But you must strictly follow

my instructions if you really want to get over the habit." The young man

agreed. The Wise man then told the addict, "Take a piece of chalk and with it

write the word OM three times. After that you can take opium, but only

corresponding to the size of the chalk; not one bit more." The young man did

precisely that; day by day, the amount he consumed decreased until one day, he

was totally cured of the habit.

It must be mentioned that not always is such a slow withdrawal the proper

procedure. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to let go instantly. To stress the

point, Swami says, "You pick up something thinking it is a rope and then you

suddenly realise it is a cobra. Would you keep holding it or slowly release or

let go instantly?" The answer is obvious.

In modern times, people often get drawn to bad habits on account of two

important reasons. First there is the strong persuasion from what might be

called the Sin Industry, especially via most distracting advertisements. Second

is peer pressure. The young, particularly, want to "belong" and be counted by

their peers. So, for gaining acceptance, they readily plunge into doing things

they would otherwise not quite be willing to. As a matter of fact, peer

pressure is the consequence of fashions, which are often shaped by the

Desire-cum-Sin Industry. In short, there are many rackets to trap the gullible,

and it therefore becomes all the more important to analyse thoroughly for

oneself, the various risks involved in giving in to the temptations proposed by

the senses.

Today's situation is such that often these battles against temptations have to

be fought alone. This is where inner courage becomes very important.

People can be quite careful when they want to. For example, Westerners are often

shocked by the way people drive in South Asian countries. With great

astonishment they ask, "Don't these people understand that if they drive like

this they are likely to kill and also get killed?" But unfortunately, what

seems blatantly obvious to them, is not to the crazy drivers! It is the same

with giving in to the senses. In this game, the Wise are like the westerners

while the foolish and indulgent people are like the crazy drivers. What is

obvious to the Wise is not so to the people who are led by the senses.

It is worth stressing that while risk analysis is important and necessary, there

must be a greater compelling force urging one to stay on the right path. One

must stick to righteousness and not pander to the senses because it is one's

DUTY to do so! This is a very important point and must not be lost sight of.

A person who truly loves God must say, "I will simply NOT do this, because God

would not like to see me do it!" That is the way to fight off temptation. If

love for God is strong, even the greatest of temptations can be kept at bay.

In short, risks apart, we have a DUTY to be moral. We must avoid being immoral

not because it would be advantageous to our health etc. No doubt, preserving

one's health is an important point. However, the over-riding consideration must

flow from one's conviction in morality.

POINTS TO PONDER OVER

List some of the common attractions that people easily yield to, and then

analyse the defects in them in the sense Swami wants us to.

Devotees regularly swear that they Love Swami; yet He often declares that He is

all the time waiting for a true devotee! Is there something wrong about the

Love that people profess? If so, what precisely is the defect?

Source Radio Sai Listener's

Journal:http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/01Jan01/03_SPIRITUAL_BLOSSOMS/GETTING_SPIRITUALLY_BETTER/spiritually_better.htm

 

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